Central Royalty

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Emma 

As I lay in Faith's studio apartment, she starts making me tea. Her bed literally five feet away from the kitchen. I look out the window, disgusted by the view. Buildings. I'm disgusted by this whole apartment, really.

"Now why would you do something like that?" Faith says.

"Listen, you don't have authority over me anymore, Faith. I'm not a prisoner anymore. That was a one time ordeal when I was freaking out. I'm over it."

"Emma... people don't claim power on others, it's all mutual. I'm you friend that you can talk to."

"I don't want to talk. Actually, I don't even want to be here. I'm leaving."

"You would be gone right now! I saved you for a reason!"

"Yeah, to try once again."

I walk out of the apartment and find myself walking towards the woods again. It's even later at night, but at least I'll die by the bridge or the psycho killer. I just don't get what the struggle is anymore. Is it real? Is it fake? Suddenly, my thighs start quivering and I scream. Just my phone. I get it out.

"Austin! At this time of day?!" I say.

"Babe! Are you missing?! Everyone's looking for you! Okay, not everyone. Just Emma #3 and Lainey." He says.

"And you're not?! You're with that skank! Aren't you?! Emma #4! I thought we were committed to each other!"

"Nora? Yeah, I'm with her! And you didn't say anything about commitment!"

"Bye, Austin."

I hang up the phone and sit on a log. I scream with frustration and throw my phone on the ground.

"Can somebody just kill me or something right now?! TIGER!" I scream.

A hand covers my mouth.

Austin

"Is she mad?" Nora says.

"I didn't get to the part where Iliana stabbed you and we're both in the hospital." I say.

"Figures." 

As I sit near the Nora's bed,  I see her hand. Open... and free. An urge is telling me to take it, and hold it. Be... sentimental. I grab it swiftly. Nora gasps and looks at me. I take it away.

"There was a zit on your hand so I popped it." I say.

"Huh?" She says.

"It's gone now!" 

After a pause, I decide to leave. I start to gather my things but Nora stops me.

"Wait... lay with me." She says.

"Nora... this is all so great and all, but I don't do these kind of these things. I'm a shark. I need to keep moving. I can't stay with one for so long. Thank you for understanding good bye." I say.

*Next Day*

Alex

Crap. Elise and Lainey still aren't back home yet, Emma neither. Maybe I pushed her too far, but it was only motivation. Extrinsic motivation, yes, but it got the job done. I reach down under my bed and see the gun Emma hid a long while. I never used a gun before, I didn't know what I was doing last night with it. With none of the Emma's here, things are quiet. I decide to use this opportunity to good use and see what's inside Emma's bedroom. Clothing and money galore. I march up to her room and open the door.

No! She's still here.

"Emma!" I scream.

"Oh, hey Alex." She says.