| Emma's POV |
How long had it been? I had lost track of any sort of time. Maybe weeks that he'd been here, maybe months?
"Don't you have a job" Aaron spat at me across the bedroom as I cower in a corner again, this corner has gradually became my best friend.
"Yes I-"
"Go to it then, you useless fuck" he screams pointing towards the door. I look at him completely confused, he hadn't allowed me to go out so why was today different?
I wasn't going to waste any time thinking about it. I drag myself up from off of the floor, gripping my ribs to stop the excruciating pain. He watches me from a far, smirking slightly at the pain he had caused me.
If I could run, I would, but I'm fatigued and each step feels like miles.
I don't know where I'm going but I'm limping somewhere fast, somewhere as far away from Aaron as possible. My eyes are blurred, half from my swollen and bruised eyes, the other half from the tears spilling out of them
"JAMES" I croak slamming my fist into his door repeatedly "James" I repeat but it comes out as a whisper because barely speaking sends sharp pains to my side.
My legs, like jelly, give way underneath me and my body crashes upon his doorstep.
"Hello?" James looks around and then his eyes trail towards me "EMMA!" He gasps rushing to my aid. All of my body is tingling and I look at him with hopeful eyes.
"Who was it?" Asks a voice from behind James, the figure steps forward and Grayson's face illuminates before my eyes roll into the back of my head.
—
My head hurts so badly, I reach up to grip it and find that my arm aches equally as bad. I force my heavy eyelids to open and look around the unfamiliar room
"Emma?" Asks a voice from my right and I snap my head towards it and find James looking on worriedly "you're at my house, don't worry, everything's alright"
I rub my eyes and shuffle myself up the bed
"I had the worst dream" I scowl as if I was trying to remember it. James sends me a sad look and reaches out to hold my hand. As he's about to say something the door bursts open
"You're awake" Ethan barely mutters, staring at me from the end of the bed still gripping the door. He's holding a cup probably meant for James but he doesn't move from his place.
My bottom lip begins to tremble and I turn to my best friend
"It wasn't a dream was it?" I croak and he shakes his head slowly and I try and stop a sob from coming out by clamping my hand over my mouth "what time is it?"
"8pm" James replies
"Fuck I'm so late" I cry, trying to wiggle myself out of bed in agony
"Emma sit down" James pressures but I'm sobbing
"No no you don't understand I need to get home" I scream pushing him off of me uncontrollably
"Emma you're not going anywhere." James says sternly. I swing myself off of the bed barging my shoulder into James as I frantically searched the room for something. I'm not quite sure what. "EMMA!" James shouts
"I'm going to be in so much trouble if I'm late. Please" I beg stumbling towards Ethan who is now guarding the door "he's going to hurt me if I-"
My voice trails off as my head goes dizzy and Ethan lunges to catch me, bringing me into his chest, holding me there as I continue to cry.
Everything hurts.
Not just the bruises or Aaron, no, Ethan too.
"Who did this" Ethan mutters into my hair as he hurriedly strokes it "Who did this" he repeats but he sounds like he's crying.
He pulls me away from his chest to look me in my eyes, both hands cupping my face. Like old times. But this time he's crying too.
"Chambie, was it Aaron?"
I don't know whether it was the fact that he called me that nickname once again or just the sound of Aaron's name but just as I reply with a,
"Yes"
My body begins to shut down, I start to seize and shake and then I black out.
