Symbiosis: When a Girl Meets an Alien (V.6)

Chapter 11: On the Run

Friday, October 2, 2020

Sacramento, California, United States of America

After reaching the capital of California, Emily abandoned the motorcycle, ditched her phone, and milled about. By now word had spread across the state - and likely the country - of the 'Redding Massacre' in which Emily found out she had killed all five of those government agents - who were actually mercenaries belonging to the EssenSecurity Group, and the Essen guys had killed four more civilians in pursuit of her.

The jig was up, President Francis Marsh had put all of California under martial law, ordered the Army to occupy Redding, and locked down several counties. Emily was on the run, using a literal paper map to get around, and was now enemy number one. The Arachnari had departed Earth, not interested in dealing with the chaos, and now the entire world knew what was going on. In the span of two days, Emily's life had completely collapsed as she had known it. The government wanted Venom for their own means, but Emily... Emily wouldn't give him up.

Giving up Venom meant going back to seizures, tremors and a cane. It meant going back to living at fear, at the mercy of others, having no control over her own life. This was unacceptable.

She spent her day in Sacramento laying low. She stole a hoodie to cover her defining features, but she was hungry, cold, and tired. She couldn't keep this up. Maybe there was a way. So she found herself at a lonesome payphone near to a post office on 4th Avenue.

Emily's fingers trembled as she fumbled with the coins, inserting them into the payphone and dialing her home number. Her heart raced with anticipation, a mix of fear and relief flooding her as she waited for her father to pick up. After what felt like an eternity, the line clicked, and her father's voice filled the silence, his tone filled with concern and relief.

"Hello?"

"Dad?" Emily's voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes as she heard her father's familiar voice. "It's me, Emily."

"Emily! Oh, sweetheart, are you okay?" Her father's voice cracked with emotion, the worry in his tone unmistakable as he spoke, "Where are you!? Your mother and I are so worried! Chloe and Scout too, we haven't heard from you, the entire world seems to be ending-"

"Dad I'm... I'm okay... maybe... oh I don't know!" She felt a tear roll down her cheek, "I'm so scared..."

"Just tell me where you are Emily, we'll come get you, okay? Everything will be alright,"

"Hm... something isn't right. I sense danger," Venom muttered, but Emily kept talking.

"I'm at a post office in Sacramento, near 4th Avenue-"

Then she heard voices in the background.

"Got the location! Send air units to intercept!"

"Emily, they're with them," Venom warned, his voice filled with urgency. "They're trying to capture us."

"Dad... please don't tell me you're helping them!"

"Emmie, I need you home, and I need you safe,"

"No! They're going to take him away from me!" She cried out, "I trusted you! I-"

"Emily. We need to go. Your parents aren't on our side now,"

"Emmie! Don't run! We just want to help you-"

Emily slammed the phone down and rushed away from the payphone, trying to stop herself from crying.

"They will be here in a little over an hour, if we're lucky,"