Chapter Six: Truth

When Emma opened her eyes, she was shocked to find Nico with her.

“Hey Emma.. you're finally awake.” He said, smiling brightly afterwards. But it still did not take her confusion away because why was he there?

“Nico?” She puzzled and quickly darted her eyes about and back to him.

One thing was certain and that being how they were still within the school premises.

“How are you here?” Emma asked.

His hands which were curled about her waist felt soft to the touch. But Emma quickly collected herself and stood up from being held by him in that compromising position they were just in.

“You...” Nico halted and brushed his hair to the back with his hand, the other hand staying on his waist.

Why was he acting so nervous?

Emma pondered secretly on his behaviour.

“Well?” She pushed. “Spill it already.”

“Oh, okay. You see, Lu-”

Before Nico could say anything more, their talk got obstructed by elegant footsteps racing towards them.

“Emma!”

The runner called out, albeit in desperation as she pulled up towards them.

The minute she reached Emma's standpoint which was beside the main building entrance, she cuddled her up into a snuggling embrace.

“Emma. My god, are you okay?” Josie asked, squeezing her tighter.

Emma stood dazed, trying to make sense of what was up and how she was first with Nico and now Josie as well.

“I am fine I guess.” Emma said.

Shrugging out of the embrace, she rested her gaze on Josie. “How are you here, Jo? And I mean both of you? I thought you were headed home last I saw you?”

Emma asked because all she could remember was that man-Vlad and the others and how she'd run out and nothing more.

No! She'd rather not think back on how that man got his head ripped off his body.

Josie began her explaining.

“We decided to wait for you at the last minute so we began to walk back. Well, after what Lucy said about those girls, you know from the news? Also, Nico said you were taking too long so-”

“She's right, Em." Nico cut in at this point. “Lucky thing I came right on time to prevent you from falling to the ground. What happened to you?”

Ignoring his question, Emma began to muse silently about their talk.

“So it was like that... Then did they see Vlad? Or he left already? Glad he didn't hurt my friends.”

Just then Emma twirled her head back at the entrance and then back at the duo with her.

Next, she asked, “Where's Lucy?”

“Uhm she should be somewhere.. anywhere right now, putting a call through to your folks?”

"For god sake Jo, why in the world would you have her do that?”

Josie shot her with a worried face.

But the revving of a car engine soon cut into the heated talk of the moment.

Nico was the first to speak since he had his eyes looking right ahead.

“Uh.. Em? I think he's here.”

“Who is here?” Emma asked and then flipped her head about in view of the incoming vehicle.

Knowing who it was behind the wheels, she sighed softly.

“Great!”

It was then Lucy suddenly ran out of nowhere to block her view.

“Emma! My god, you are... Awake.” Emma arched an eyebrow at her.

“Look.." Lucy hesitated, “I know I can be a lot less sensitive at times but I was scared you got down with a panic attack.” She rushed those words as she stood barely a foot away from Emma and the others.

“It's fine, Lu." Emma settled. “He is here anyway.”

"Who is?” Lucy turned her face towards the man and saw him slam the car door shut. “Oh-”

“Emma.. I-”

“Let's just go, Uncle." Emma stated, not wanting to prolong the talk.

‘Today has been one hell of a day.’ She buried her talk inside her heart.

She quickly made it into the car, Peugeot brand, shutting the door against her.

Her friends watched on as she did so. Her Uncle stealing the spotlight to invite the trio for a ride as well. Once they turned him down, he walked to sit back in the car and the start of the ignition was what loomed in the air next.

They zoomed off.

“I wonder why Emma had to behave that way.” Nico introduced the talk. “Unless something happened in there?..”

The twins said nothing and merely shrugged off Nico's suspicions.

~~

Since the ride back home was a quiet one, Emma expected that things would stay that way. Slinging her bag over one shoulder and hurriedly too, Emma jogged ahead of her Uncle Alaric to get into the house in time.

Once in, her aunt Freya was who she met waiting by the door.

“Emma.. Are you alright?”

“I'm fine, Aunt Freya." She answered back reluctantly. “I need to go up now.”

“Up where? Your bedroom?”

Emma was way past her by now and headed towards the stairs. She was clearly not in the mood for a chat.

“We were worried about you, honey." The woman shouted from behind her.

Emma still would not budge.

“Did something strange happen today in school?”

Emma stopped on the first climb up the stairs.

Her Aunt Freya's words had caused her to relive that episode from before..

Taking a minute, she digested her thoughts and then parted her lips to talk briefly.

“Nothing happened in school today, Auntie. I'm fine.”

That being said, she jogged up to her room in a dash and once in, she flung her weight on the bed clumsily.

Laying on her back, she steered her eyes towards the ceiling and allowed her thoughts to sink in.

But not for long..

“Juno?”

The pretty dog would not let Emma be as she kept on licking her face all over.

Soon, Emma started to giggle, lightly at first but then loudly.

“You're such a naughty girl now, Juno... Hahahaha. Yes.. I missed you too.”

~~

Downstairs, her Aunt Freya stayed by the staircase listening to Emma's conversation with Juno. Something about the girl's behaviour did not seem clear enough in the woman's mind.

Her husband caught up to her standing in the way and locked his hands in both pockets.

“She didn't say anything to you. Did she?”

His voice startled Freya who quickly turned to face him.

“We don't know why they're after her but I think it's best we let her know the truth.” Alaric added.

“Soon honey." His wife told him, "I don't think she's ready yet..”