The Aftermath: MPHFPC (editing)

T W E N T Y - F I V E

E M M A

"Will you hush?" I snapped at Jitters, who I had long since lost my patience with. I nodded towards where both Enoch and Annie were standing near the front door of the building having what looked to be a heated conversation.

"I'm going with you whether you like it or not." She hissed at him quietly.

"No you're not." He retaliated.

"Good luck stopping me then," She said, crossing her arms stubbornly.

I had to keep myself from laughing. This was great. She was bossing him around and he wasn't even doing that much about it. I was starting to like this Annie more and more by the second.

"It is my duty to guard him." Jitters responded to me quietly. "Lieutenant Sinise told me that this was my last chance before he..." Jitters shuttered.

"Before he does what?" I asked impatiently.

"Before he kills me."

"Why do you want to work for someone that wants to kill you?" I asked.

"I don't. Things like this happen to those of us who are not fortunate enough to have a ymbryne."

I felt a twinge of guilt, but I just looked ahead towards where Enoch and Annie were standing and said, "Quiet."

"I must guard him." Jitters prodded.

"Enoch is capable of protecting himself," I said brusquely.

"But I have to!" Exclaimed Jitters loudly, grabbing the attention of Enoch, whose head snapped up. He narrowed his eyes in our direction. He couldn't see us, but he obviously knew somebody was there.

I glared at Jitters, "Did you really have to do that?" I straightened up, revealing where I was crouched down behind a corner.

"Emma." He greeted tersely, casting me a sharp look.

"Enoch," I replied. "What are you doing up?"

Enoch shifted uncomfortably, "I might ask you the same question."

I sighed, "Oh, I don't know, Enoch, maybe because I hadn't seen either you or Jacob the whole night and when I finally found you, you left me with this man-" I pointed my finger at Jitters, who cast me a bitter look, "-and when I turned around, you were gone." I glared at him, "What kind of idiot does that?"

"Don't be rude, Emma." Replied Enoch, although his tone suggested he didn't really care what I had to say.

I scoffed, "Like you of all people have the right to accuse someone of acting rude." I cast a questioning look at Annie, who was eyeing Jitters like he was about to stab someone.

"So what have the two of you been doing?" I asked, giving both of them a suspicious look.

Annie's eyes narrowed nervously, "What do you mean?"

I gestured towards the door, "Well, you are both standing near the front door. Are you going somewhere?"

"Oh," Annie sighed, although I could tell there was some relief in there somewhere, "Um..." She glanced at Enoch.

"We needed some fresh air." He said, leaning up against the door and frowning at us.

"Right," I said slowly. "You know, if you two are going to try and sneak off to snog somewhere, you're going to have to come up with better lies than, 'We just needed some fresh air'," I said wryly.

Annie's face turned crimson and she glowered at me, "We- we weren't- why would you-"

"Just tell me what you're planning on doing, and I'll leave you alone," I said, crossing my arms.