Chapter 26

Emma sat silently recalling that terrible night. Why did she go to that stupid party? Her friend Abigail had convinced her to go and she only went because everyone was on her about spending so much time in her books and having no fun. She avoided the popular kids and stayed childhood friends with Abigail, Mia, and Alexander. Emma loved simple settings and was not big for dances, parties, and popularity. When she arrived at the party she stayed away from the crowd and found peace in being alone. Emma was beyond shocked when Isaac Edmund approached her. She regretted even talking to him and giving him the time of day.

“Emma Harris, I can’t believe you are here?” he grinned standing next to her.

“Yes, here in the flesh,” Emma said wondering why he was even talking to her. Isaac was a popular basketball player and hung out with the popular crew. Her gut told her something was off but she remained polite.

“Do you want to take a walk with me?” Isaac asked shocking her beyond words.

“Why?” Emma asked wondering what this was all about.

“Come on Emma, I just want to talk?” he smiled.

Emma was a bit annoyed. She found Isaac to be completely arrogant and cocky for her taste. He saw himself as God’s gift to the girls in her high school. However, she saw nothing remotely attractive about him.

“Have you knocked your head or smoked something real strong tonight? I am not your type and your interest in talking to me is confusing,” Emma pointed out.

Isaac laughed it off and said, “Preferences change drawing closer to her.”

Other girls found Isaac attractive and would go crazy from his attention. On the contrary, Emma found this rude, and intrusion of her space.

“Isaac, I am sorry but I am not interested,” Emma said walking away.

Emma thought that would stop him in his tracks but she found herself seeing him at odd moments throughout the night.

When Abigail, Mia, and Alexander met up with her they found her pretty jumpy.

“Are you good?” Abigail asked sensing she was not her usual self.

Emma thought she was being paranoid so she did not mention the strange encounter to her friends.

“One more hour and we are out of here,” Alexander said walking over to his girlfriend Sarah. Mia and Abigail agreed because they were conversing with two other boys.

Emma went wandering off by herself only to be approached by Isaac once again. “What do you want?” she said growing weary of the situation.

“Emma, I would like to take you out on a date. I think you are beautiful,” he said staring at her intensely.

“No thanks. I am not interested. Please leave me alone,” she said.

“Peace offering. I got you some lemonade. I notice you are not drinking,” he said, temporarily fooling Emma with his act of kindness.

She was thirsty and the party did not leave much options. Emma never imagined that he would do anything to harm her. It was his home and he would know where everything was.

“Thanks,” she said walking away with the bottle suspecting nothing.

After a few sips, Emma felt groggy and lightheaded. She leaned to the wall and felt Isaac's hands around her.

“Are you okay?” he said escorting her to one of the bedrooms. “Not really,” she said falling into his arms.

Emma was out of it and Isaac made it seem as if something was going on with them as he walked with his hand around her.

When they were in the room alone Emma could only remember the door locking behind them.

“Isaac, what are you doing?” she said unable even to fight back. Everything went dark and her head went spinning. She did not know what happened next.

When Emma awoke her head and body ached. She was naked and started to panic. Isaac was pulling up his pants with a huge smirk on his face.

Emma felt the tears stream down her eyelids massively. “What did you do to me?” Emma cried.

“What did we do together,” he corrected her. Emma started gathering her clothes ashamed.

“Emma please relax, we had sex and it was even better than I could imagined. You are so gorgeous. Every part of your body was sweet,” Isaac licked his lips looking at her from head to toe.

“I never agreed to sleep with you. What did you put in my drink? You raped me and took my virginity,” she cried devastated.

“Well, I don’t know how you are going to spin that web. Everyone watched you come willingly into my room. It’s your word against mine,” he said calmly not even bothered by her words.

Emma felt like she was suffocating and needed to escape that room.

With no more words to say she swiftly put on her clothes and headed towards the door. Isaac blocked her causing her to feel fearful. “Listen, after you think about us, we can have something together. It’s something special about you Emma and this was not nearly enough for me. I want you again,” he smiled running his fingers along her arms.

“Don’t come near me again,” she said heading out the door perplexed about what had happened.

Walking out of the room was even worse with all the eyes watching. When she found her friends, she begged them to leave. However, she did not reveal what had happened.

Emma was crushed and did not know how to handle being raped with little evidence to prove what had happened.

That night Jasmine walked the house feeling troubled in her spirit. She could not sleep and felt burdened by each of her children. She just did not feel right and wondered what was going on. Austin got up troubled by his wife who hardly slept that night.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” he asked getting up groggy noticing she was not in bed.

“I am worried about our children. Something is going on with each of them and I don’t know exactly what it is. The holy spirit just had me to pray for AJ, Katlin, Ryan, and Emma. Honey, it’s huge and somehow we need to prepare ourselves,” she said. “Call it mother’s intuition but it can’t be good,” she cried.

Austin Sr. knew better than to question his wife's gut feelings. Over the years as they grew in their faith and relationship with God, he found she was always right. “Let’s pray together and ask God’s direction for whatever happens,” Austin said holding her hands.