Dead Love

Building Strength

Just as his brothers assured him, Emmit woke up good as new. His ribs were healed and he felt no pain or even soreness. Nonetheless, the memory was fresh and his anger had not subsided. Emmit was determined to get stronger than Vermin and win him at his own game. 

Getting strong meant training. And training meant missing school. 

As the rest of the unit gathered their school bags, Emmit leaned against the outside of the house, looking at the graves. Dr. Vermin and the unit filed into the backyard. Henry gave Emmit a sideways glance. 

"Let's have a good day," Henry pleaded quietly.

Emmit ignored him and looked at Dr. Vermin . "I'm staying home today, Doc." It took all his will power not to charge Dr. Vermin right then.

Dr. Vermin simply responded, "Are you now?" 

"I'm not feeling well," Emmit lied.

Dr. Vermin's head tilted back and he let out a laugh. "That's literally impossible, my boy. The caso mortal rids the body of all infectious disease and bacteria.

Emmit shrugs. "I'm not feeling up to school right now."

The unit anxiously looked from Vermin to Emmit, wondering what was to happen next. Dr. Vermin raised a brow before lifting his arm to check his wristwatch. "Very well," he said, surprising everyone including Emmit. "I'll be at my day job while the boys are in school. Will you be okay, alone?"

Emmit nodded coolly, not wanting to show his excitement. "Yes, that's fine."

"You're not to leave this area," Vermin said firmly. "If you so much as take a foot off this land without informing me, you will face the consequences. Let's not repeat last night's incident." His eyes softened. "It doesn't bring me joy, Emmit."

Emmit only nodded, fixing his sight on the ground to maintain his anger. Take deep breaths, Emmit thought.

"I'll check up on you later," Vermin concluded before walking to the parked van. 

James looked at Emmit. "Keep it classy." Emmit shoved him, laughing. 

Henry was the last to make his way to the van. He looked at Emmit. "I don't want to have to come saving your ass again. Alright?"

"Ain't nothing you can save me from, Pony Boy." Still, he nodded gratefully. "I appreciate at you, though." He recalled Henry's method of "keeping Grace save"--dropping her straight into her predator's nest. "...I think."

Henry patted him on the shoulder before jogging to catch up with the group. Once Emmit heard the roar of an engine, and the car gunning down the road, he knew he was in the clear.

 Emmit rushed back into the house and shuffled through Vermin's cellar for masking tape. The cellar was dark with the dim green light shining as Emmit last remembered. Awaking in the cellar already felt like a distant memory. 

He made way to Vermin's desk and shoveled through drawers until he finally found the tape. He slipped his hand through the center and looked for his next item on the list. A chainsaw. 

Early this morning, a plan began to formulate in Emmit's mind. He was going to go out in the woods, create his own personal gym, and eventually become stronger than Vermin. It was shameful getting beat by him, and Emmit didn't want to go through that twice. 

Emmit knew Vermin had a chainsaw. The doctor would sometimes go out into the woods, behind the graveyard, and retrieve bark for their fire escape using the tool. Emmit hastily looked around. Just when he was to give up, he noticed the closet in the far corner of the cellar.