Lost in Paradise

Chapter 3

The three were sat around the glass dining table, all with a drink in hand, hoping that one or the other would break the ear-piercing silence between them. Yasmine spoke first. "I saw a picture of him on the news, he's been arrested for Gina along with a girl called Leela."

"So he's definitely alive?" Dylan asked, his eyes narrowing.

"He must be," Yasmine said.

"How far gone are you?" Emma asked, running her finger over the rim of the mug she had clasped in her hands.

"Seven months," Yasmine smiled, "and what about you? You had a baby didn't you?" 

"I did," Emma looked down at her tea, her reflection was brown against the rippling surface of the liquid. "He died when he was two. Nothing could be done."

"I'm so so sorry," Yasmine replied.

"Don't be, it's over now. Besides, I wasn't supposed to be pregnant anyway. It was a miracle that even happened."

The silence returned, creeping through the air, snatching away what was left of the conversation.

"So you have a new husband? What's he like?" Dylan asked Yasmine.

"His name's James. He's really nice. He works for a computer company, not sure exactly what he does." 

"Sounds good," Dylan replied.

"And what about you and Romania? Are you back together?" 

"Not exactly, no. I went over there and it turns out she wanted her ex more than me, so," Dylan sighed. 

"What do we do now?" Yasmine asked, looking back and forth at me and Emma.

"I guess we find Robert." Emma said.

_______________________________________________________

"Are you sure about this?" Emma asked, looking between Dylan and Yasmine. They'd traveled up from the Isle of Wight that same day and decided to stay at Yasmine's for a couple of nights before they figured out what to do. The town was eerier than Dylan and Emma had remembered, the lampposts had almost lost their amber glow and the trees had lost their Autumn leaves. They stood at the end of a garden which lead up to a big block of flats.

"And you know he lives here right?" Dylan asked Yasmine. 

"James hacked the living contracts for the building, he lives in B7."

"Okay," Dylan sighed making his way up to the building doors. 

"I think I'm just gonna stay in the car, it's too much stress to handle with the baby and everything." Yasmine said. Emma nodded.

The building smelt like burnt out wires, the floors were murky and dingy from liquids that had been spilt over the past years. There were stairs leading up a few floors. As they traversed the corridors, they didn't speak. The mere thought that any of them could talk about what had happened a few years before made them feel sick. Emma's screams smashing through bricks at their home, the sight of the dead baby, Emma trying to rock him back awake. It was too much.

"Here we are, B7." Emma stopped at a brown door, a few dents from clear punch holes. They both took deep breaths before knocking.

Shuffles and bumps could be heard from inside, the sound of someone placing something down and storming over to the door. "I told you Jenkins! I do not owe you -" the door swung open.

"Surprise," Emma said. 

Joe looked shocked to see the both of them. He had changed considerably. His jawline had peaked through his skin, stubble rose up like trees from his chin and his hair was matted with grease.

"What are you two doing - can I help you?" He asked. Seventeen year old Joe was no where near as happy as twelve year old Joe.

"Yeah I guess," Dylan said, walking past Joe and into the room. He was immediately greeted by the stench of stale cigarettes and sweat, cocktailed with rotting fish. 

"Sorry about the smell, Jenkins still has to get the drainage fixed."

"We've come about your dad," Emma said, moving a sodden towel from the sofa and onto the floor. She looked disgusted at the place. 

"What about him?" Joe enquired.

"You know he's alive right?" Dylan asked.

"Well, I didn't know he'd died," Joe laughed at Dylan's remark, moving over to the coffee table and closing his laptop. 

"When he fell off the cliff?" Emma said.

"Wait, you thought he'd died? No no no, he's alive. He suffered a few injuries, the doctors said it was a miracle he missed the rocks."

Dylan and Emma glanced at each other. They knew that the new lives they had created, John and Bella, had been for nothing. They'd ran to a different country in fear of being caught only to return and discover that they weren't even being looked for.

"Wait a minute," Joe paused, thinking. "You ran away didn't you? You ran away because you thought you'd killed my dad?" 

Dylan stammered. "I err, I.."

"Yes, we thought your dad was dead." Emma said, sternly.

"We heard your dad's out on bail, we just want his address Joe," Dylan said.

"And why should I give you that? Yeah, I remember," Joe paced the room, "I remember how you took your daughters and you left me stranded in that car that night, Dylan. And as for you Emma, how can you sit here and pretend like everything is okay. Charlie was right about you-" 

"Charlie? Charlie's dead," Emma interrupted.

"Wait you thought he was dead too? He's very much alive Emma," Joe grinned "and he wants to see his baby." That's all he had needed to say before Emma flew from the room and outside.

"You're not like how I used to remember you," Dylan spat, standing up and walking towards the door.

"Likewise." Joe smirked.