Malediction

34 - Secrets & Lies

"It'll take time" Danny defended "once we figure this out and the prospect of someone else dying is no longer there, it will get better"

I opened my eyes to face him "You do realise that even if this doesn't work out, I could still die, it's just a matter of letting the curse do it, or me"

His fingers readjusted over the steering wheel "I'll do everything I can so neither of those options are viable"

"Your mum was right though, distance doesn't work" It was starting to way heavier on my mind

"So far it is, so we'll keep doing what we're doing"

I scoffed, looking out the window, frustrated "If I'm going to die Danny, I'll make it worth something"

"Don't say that" Danny lowly grumbled as we pulled up into my driveway

"If we don't find another way, and I have to make a decision right there at the end, that's what I choose" I shrugged "my family will loose me, it would be selfish of me to then allow you to continue loosing your own family when I can do something about it"

He shook his head as he placed the car in park "I don't want to talk about it anymore Emilia, because the thoughts alone keep me up at night, they drown me every single day, it's more than enough"

"Tell me though, honestly, and then we don't have to talk about it anymore, if the roles were reversed, what would you do?"

He was tapping his fingernails against the steering wheel, his eyes ahead out the windshield as he thought about it, sucking in his bottom lip

"That's what I thought" I sighed "I'll see you tomorrow" pulling the hem of my jumper up to leave it in his truck

"No" He held his hand out, stopping me "take it with you, it's cold out there, give it back later" He offered as the chilly air from outside rushed back at my skin

"Thanks" I smiled

"See you tomorrow" He repeated before I began to walk up my driveway.

Like it had earlier, the house remained dark and quiet from the outside, until I entered through my front door. I could hear Luke and Mum laughing when I began to make my way up the hall.

"Is that you Em?" Mum called, my attempt at a subtle entry failing

"Yes it is" I yawned as I poked my head into her room, a lamp lit, her and my brother sitting under the covers together as the television lightly played a black and white movie

"Cute jumper" Luke teased

"Come, sit" Mum offered, patting the spare space beside her

"I'm actually really tired, I'm just going to go to bed" I tried to escape

"Emilia" She called "please, come sit"

I paused in the hallway, my head held back, deciding which door to take

"You aren't in trouble" She called again with a sigh

I grumbled quietly and turned back around, entering her room where I sat on the bed beside her

"I heard about the dance" She began as she placed her hand on my knee, the movement similar to what Danny had not too long ago done, only the feeling entirely different

I shot Luke an obvious glare "Can you keep your mouth shut about anything?"

"It wasn't even me!" He defended as Mum held her hands up in between us

"Enough Emilia, it wasn't him" She quickly gained control of the situation "Mr Harlow called me, he was concerned for what you've gotten yourself into"