The Unfortunate Life of Emerson Shields

1

Emerson Shields

I had no idea where I was trying to go or what I was trying to accomplish by running away since there is not anything even chasing me. Maybe its fear or the sudden adrenaline rush I had. I have not stopped and it had to of been almost half a mile by now. What was I thinking leaving Ellie behind like that? I have no idea what went through my mind in that moment or what even happened at all.

First, we were studying in Ellie's personal library, yes that is right. We have a midterm tomorrow in English that is why we were there. I think. Yes, I think tomorrow is English, I cannot remember.

We were helping each other since we both don't do so well in English. We were supporting each other in that moment of time.

Second, we went to the kitchen to get some coffee, since we had almost fallen asleep from looking at the same study guide for half an hour. We needed something else to rely on and Ellie had thought her special brew might work. It did, of course, how else would I be running right now? Actually, I think it did more than just give us energy. But I'm not the one to ask, Ellie is, where ever she may be.

Third, there was a knock on the door. "Expecting a visitor" I ask, "No" Ellie responds. Maybe it was a package her mother had forgotten to tell her about. It was in fact not a package, but instead a human. A tall one, who seemed hungry for something, and he let himself in. We weren't sure what he wanted and didn't ask. We were too scared he might do something. He was dressed in a pretty formal outfit: a gray button-up shirt which was tucked into his black pants, and he wore polished black shoes. The man was about six feet, which was alarming to both of us. With the man standing eight inches above us, he made it quite clear that he was the dominant one in this situation.

Fourth, he shoved Ellie into the door he just slammed. He asked her a question, but he whispered so quietly that Ellie could barely hear him. In response, she just let out a small squeak. Not satisfied with this answer, he asked the question again, this time louder so we both could hear.

"Where is Tabitha Underhill, Rosenberg?" the man glared at Ellie.

"Ellie!" I said something, and the man directed his glare at me.

Fifth, the man knows Ellie, but their relation is unknown.

"I don't know" Ellie scoffed, "she went missing years ago, you know that, Cunningham."

The stranger now has a partial name: Cunningham. It was getting somewhere. This Tabitha Underhill has gone missing at some point.

Cunningham retaliated when Ellie scoffed at him and swung is wand out of his pocket. It was silver with shiny green leaves curling around the bottom.

"You're all words, Cunningham! Like hell I would tell you where she resides!"

I was never told what this Cunningham dude needs anyways, or what information Ellie is hiding from me and everyone else. I was just a witness.

Sixth, this Tabitha seems special to Ellie and maybe Cunningham too. They were fighting over her for an unknown reason.

Seventh, Ellie told her to run so I obeyed, I can't say no when there is a glint in her eye like there was when I last saw her. Ellie is terrifying when she is in that state. I knew that I was going to be in danger if I had stayed put.

"Run," Ellie told me, clenching her jaw.

I didn't move, maybe out of fear... or shock that Ellie would ever be angry at me. Or both, I don't know.

"Listen to me, Emerson! Why don't you listen? Run!"

I didn't hesitate when Ellie raised her voice and sprinted through the back hallway, into the back room, and tried my hardest to open the old window. It was stuck a little but only because it hasn't been opened in a while. There were footsteps getting closer to the room I was in and my hands started to fumble and slip.

"Disappear!"

There was a flash in the hallway, probably Ellie and her magic tricks. It caused me to pause but got me out from my fumbling state. I managed to pry the window open and I hopped out. I wasn't safe here.

Eighth, I was here now. There was no going back. Cunningham was somewhere, Tabitha Underhill was missing and unknown, Ellie was God knows where, and I was here in the woods. I don't know where imp going. I don't even a place to go. Ellie is my home. Ellie was my savior. Ellie is everything to me; my life source, my breath, my actions, my words. Ellie was never afraid of this Cunningham; she has always wanted to be an actress.

Ninth, I don't know anything, like always. I will always be left behind in the dust. I will never be informed about what is going on. I will always be the one to try and piece everything to together by herself. I am an off-brand Sherlock Holmes to say the least. No Doctor John Watson, no keen logic skills, no adventures. I just have a clutter of clues with nothing to build off of it and an unlimited amount of confusion.