Emoni McLaris

Chapter Nine: A World on Fire

Everything's in disarray. My emotions are getting tangled with my feelings and the confusion is so overwhelming it's nearly disabling.

I can't sort out my thoughts. I can get the beginnings of an idea and then it just-well, it doesn't even vanish, it just stops.

My mind is functioning like a computer program right now and 'error' keeps displaying. The thoughts slow down and become more incomprehensible and then scattered words are thrown at me chaotically.

All I can think about is how satisfying it felt to break his stupid nose on his stupid face. He made me so mad I just wanted to snap his damn neck. But that crack, that crunch, oh, it was the sound of joy.

Pure bliss.

I imagine what sound a spine makes when it breaks. Maybe The Silent Man will indulge me, and I'll hear my own.

All I want is to die. If I had a genie and one wish-wait, genies grant 3. And I'd probably just use the first one to wish that this never happened. That it was still the morning we left for camp. Hmm, what's the point? Genies don't even exist so why hope...

"Hello?"

Jump-scare! Shit, I didn't even notice the wall-door opening. It's Andy, of course it's Andy.

I take a minute to catch my breath-when did my breath leave? -and I speak uncertainly; "Hi."

"Ok, I've fixed the camera, we've got about 10 minutes, but I'll make it quicker. Emoni, please listen to me, what I'm about to tell you is the truth."

Andy sounds scared. Talking fast and moving faster towards me, they continue.

"I'm working with your brother." We're really doing this again? I refuse to believe he's real.

I scoff. "Oh, so I'm supposed to believe it's true then? Because now you're saying it too? Why are you all in on lying to me? I'm already cut up and messed up physically, my mind can't take much more."

Andy begin to loosen all the straps trapping me. They look up and I see hurt and confusion in those big silver eyes. "He's real, Emoni."

Something in them, their eyes, seems to be telling the truth.

"No Miss McLaris?" I stab. Usually I feel better around Andy but right now I'm just pissed off.

"I-I helped Lowen run and hide, and I promised him I'd protect you when you came here."

How could they have told him...? Is Andy still in contact with him?

"You...told him I was here? How?"

Andy pauses and sighs. "I doubt I'll have time to explain it all right now, but I need you to trust me. A few months before he turned 18, I found out that Haycinth was planning to kill him. Something about how dangerous he was becoming."

They get back to work on-well I'm not sure what Andy's doing actually. Flittering around the room moving and rearranging things.

Curiosity wins out. "What are you doing, Andy?"

"Setting up, we must be prepared. This must go right." They seem to have finished because they walked back to me and kept on about Lowen.

"I-Haycinth wanted me to do it. He wanted me to be the one to kill your brother, Emoni. Lowen and I-," they struggle to find the right words "we had developed somewhat of a relationship over the years. We were actually in the same class when we were younger." Andy smiles and I am saddened.

"I couldn't let it happen-so I helped him get out. And before he left, he made me promise that I would come back with you, this month. Tomorrow at dusk. So, just try to rest up, preserve your strength. Be ready."