Chapter 36.3

"Hey, I'm home," Emily called out. After hanging out with Asami for a little longer, Emily came home with tired feet while inwardly cursing the high heels she wore today. In her attempts to impress Jason, she decided to wear pencil stilletos that were a tad tight and, as a result, her feet were beyond sore.

"Hey, sis, how was your day?" Jared popped his head out of the kitchen and asked with a kitchen knife in his hand was while the other held a tomato.

"Tiring, I hung out with a very … energetic friend," Emily answered.

"Yeah, I can tell," Jared said while looking at Emily's new haircut.

"Something wrong with it?" Emily asked while showing off her short hairstyle from different angles.

"Nope," Jared said. "It's nice. Better than that girly look you had before."

"You brat! Are you saying your gorgeous older sister doesn't look good in long, stylish, highlighted hair?" Emily asked with a hint of a threat and Jared ducked back into the kitchen to avoid her wrath while a girl, who was a little younger than Jared, jumped from the stairs and into her arms. "Hey, Mia. What, you miss me already?"

"Course I missed you," the mousy brown-haired girl said, her cheeks puffed with adorable anger. "Last time you were caught in the Carnival Attack and now another happened! I was scared! Ooh, nice haircut! I want that same cut next time!"

"Wait, hold up," Emily frowned as she raised a hand to slow Mia down. "First, no, you're not getting this haircut till you're older."

"Aw."

"Second, another attack? What do mean by that?"

"You didn't know?"

Mia began explaining everything as Emily headed straight for the kitchen. She shooed Jared away from the kitchen, but not before patting his disgruntled head when she saw him cutting some vegetables in large, uneven chunks.

"A missile hit a building? My God, Why? Which building? How many are injured?" Emily asked while putting an apron on.

"Don't know the exact number but they're saying over thirty people were injured and seven died due to the fire that spread," Mia said and Emily gasped in horror.

"That's …"

"Details are scarce, but it hit a penthouse in the fancier parts of the city," Jared added. "They're also saying it's a terrorist attack, unlike the last time."

"I see …" Emily said but didn't ask for more information. She wasn't aware that the penthouse in question was the very one Jason and Alina lived in. And right now, she was only concerned about making dinner for her siblings.

Checking the fridge, Emily realized that there wasn't much left and she thought about what to make. There were vegetables like tomato, zucchini, and cilantro as well as a chicken breast from the leftover roast. Putting them all together, Emily decided on making pasta with veggies and shredded chicken.

Jared, who was watching her carefully, clenched his fists but said nothing. Emily had just come back from outside, and she immediately went to the kitchen for their sakes, something he understood. He knew she wasn't treated well since she was a foster child, and he hoped that she would focus on herself rather than them.

Stronger, Jared thought. I want to get strong enough to protect both of them. I have to - I need to.

The one thing he learnt from home and school was that strength of everything. Like most Esper students, he believed in the saying, 'Might makes right'.

Soon, Emily was done and dinner was served on the table. As all three sat down to eat, Emily looked at Jared.

"Mom and dad?" she asked casually.

"Don't know, don't care," Jared replied.

"Hey," Emily said with reproval. Regardless of her feelings over her foster parents, they were Jared's biological parents and she disapproved of his disrespectful attitude towards them.

Jared didn't say anything but grunted while digging into his plate. He ate the pasta with gusto, stuffing his mouth so fast it looked like he was going to swallow his own tongue.

"Easy now, there's no need to eat so fast," Emily said while watching him with amusement. "There's plenty in the pan."

"Hmm," Jared made a noise while swallowing his mouthful when he stopped and looked at Emily. "Hey, you okay sis?"

Emily saw Jared's concerned gaze and followed it down to her hand which was on the table. Unknowingly, it had been shaking this entire time. She quickly pulled her hand back and placed it under the table where she clasped it tightly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just ... tired," Emily said while smiling. She then turned to Mia and listened to her excitedly explain how her day in school was.

After dinner, Emily returned to her room which was shared with Mia. Fortunately, Mia was watching TV in the living room, giving Emily her privacy.

Damnit, it's back again, Emily thought as she gritted her teeth. The heroin she purchased was within her grasp and, since then, there was this insatiable feeling of needing to inject herself with it. As much as she fought it, the feeling would return, stronger than ever, and her body would go through spasms, especially her hands.

Just a little bit, Emily thought as she pulled a syringe from her purse. Bastard gave me two doses … but I'll use only one-fifth of the suggested dose. Just enough to stop the shaking.

Emily injected the drug into her arm and an exhilarating sensation passed through her even as she felt the pain of the needle digging into her skin. It took her a moment to realize that was the feeling of satisfaction and she didn't stop until she noticed that she used one-third of the syringe.

No! Emily thought as her eyes flashed with worry. I didn't control the dose.

Soon as this thought appeared, the drug started taking its effect on Emily and she quickly hid the remaining amount in her purse before sitting back and sighing. The feeling of content along with euphoria, similar to what she felt when taking Accelerant, returned and Emily closed her eyes blissfully as lights went off in her mind.

Just this once, She thought as she leaned back in her chair. I'll use it more carefully next time. Next … time …