Going Somewhere?

Emma POV

These people were crazy! Totally and absolutely bat-shit crazy!!! There was no other explanation – no other possibility. Somehow, when I accepted the job opportunity with Mr. Locke, I somehow walked into a world of crazy people, a world of strange events and strange individuals, a world which almost seemed like an alternate reality. I should have known that all of this would have been too good to be true - regardless of their obvious support and well-wishes. It has become clear that whomever mysterious Ro is or was, that she was likely onto something, and her warnings obviously warranted. I should have listened when I had a chance, I really should not have been swayed. If only I had trusted Ro and Myra, I would have already been gone, safely somewhere with Leo, away from these crazy, cult-like people. Dear God, what did I get myself into???

I felt a great sense of frustration, unease and felt completely stupid for trusting them, trusting them with my brother, trusting them with my life. They brought me to their hospital, under the supervision of their doctor. Who knows what they actually did to me!!! I needed to get out of here. I needed to get out and escape as fast as possible, and I needed to protect Leo. This was all too much, and we needed to escape. I would find another job, change my name if I had to! I did not know what nefarious plans this group of obvious lunatics had for us, but I was not sticking around to find out, that was for sure.

However, now that they saw me here, now that they saw that I heard their outlandish conversation, I needed to play the part. The horror on their faces was the answer enough for me – they knew they had been caught and they knew that I now realized that something was off with them for sure. “Emma, please. We need to explain and clarify sweetheart… “Angie started talking, getting up from her chair. Her beautiful face was giving me a small smile – as always, she was dressed to perfection and looked like a model that had just jumped off the pages of a magazine. I was not going to get fooled again, but for now, I needed to bide my time and plan my escape. “Did I hear you correctly???”, I asked, the voice coming from my mouth sounding like it belonged to somebody else. “You were saying that Leo… I mean.. ugh… you said…” I watched all three of them carefully, noticing they exchanged worried glances, noticing that they knew I was onto them. Dr. Sina’s furrowed brow told me all I needed to know. Was this person even a doctor???

“You have done some research already on him, you saw all the articles and awards he won, of course he is a doctor!”, the ever-present voice in my head reminded me. I now did not trust her either. It was not a coincidence that my voice appeared just as I met these people, and fully present only after that accident. What were they giving me??? Was it some type of hallucinogenic pills or some type of drug that made you pliable, that made it easier to capture and be their victim??? My mind drifted to the file Ro and Myra gave me, all those children missing, all those stories, all those lives. Did they have to go through something like this too???? What was happening here and how did I get myself into this? More importantly, how do I get Leo and myself out of this? How do I make sure we run away, and they never find us????

Dr Sina looked at me with a warm expression, but I was not falling for this anymore. I needed to run away, but for now I needed to pretend, to at least pretend to believe them, whatever excuse they would come up with. I needed them to be complacent so I can make our run. Things started falling into place. All this “security”, all those people around, was really there to capture me, to capture Leo, that much was clear now. The question was – WHY?

“There is much we need to share with you Emma, a lot we need to discuss, but we would like to do so when Mr. Locke is here. I know you have heard our conversation, you must have many questions, is that right?”, he asked gently, in an even tone, that I could have easily mistaken for support, although now I knew better. He was trying to placate me. Well, two could play that game, I thought to myself. “I am sure I just heard wrong… I have been taking those pills.. and I just woke up.. I am sure it is all just a misunderstanding….” I answered sheepishly, trying to diffuse the situation. Three of them exchanged glances again, and I saw a small nod he gave Angie. “Look Emma, we are not at liberty to address everything, but I do want you to know something.. Something about me, for example… “she said in her velvety musical voice, coming closer to me, walking slowly, her eyes locked on mine. Instinctively, I stepped back, pulling back from her. “I am not going to hurt you… There is nothing I would do to harm you Emma, I just need… it is easier if I show you”, she said pleadingly. “Show me what??”, my curiosity got better of me, even though my mind was spinning, and I was trying to figure out the way out of this situation.

“May I hold your hands???? It works better that way”, she smiled gently. A dread came over me. Maybe that is something they were using, some type of medication which impacted you on the contact, maybe something like that existed. I had no idea what to think or believe, and at this time, I realized I had to play by their rules. I had to buy time, find Leo, contact Myra and run. But for now, I will have to do what they asked. I nodded, knowing I had no other choice. She took my hands into hers gently, her soft skin somewhat warm to the touch. As she did that, the voice inside me perked up, perked up with a humming energy of some kind, vibrating through my whole being, almost as a gentle electricity of some kind. A sense of recognition struck me, somehow, innately, I knew her, well not her really – I recognized who and what she was – I recognized her energy. It was a raw, primal feeling. Her energy was part of me, that much I could tell, but in a different way. It felt similar to what I sensed when I met Cassius, a sense of acceptance of some kind, sense of … a family?????

“She is one of us!!! She is like us!!!! She is a witch!!!!” the voice said excitedly, and before I could think, I yanked my hands away from her, startled by it all. She looked at me confused, with an almost hurt expression on her face. “Emma, what is wrong????? I did not do anything, I was just beginning……” “WHAT ARE YOU?????!!!!!” I screamed at her. “Why do I feel this???? This…. I feel…… What is happening???” I croaked, my voice breaking and tears starting to spill out of my eyes. Nothing made sense. None of this made sense. I was not afraid of her strangely, and part of me wanted to feel that again, part of me craved that energy I felt, that feeling of recognition. She must have done something to me, it must be something on her skin, some type of medication, some type of lotion or something which has these effects – I rationalized… They are manipulating me somehow…

“What are you???!!!!!” I repeated more forcefully, in a tone I did not recognize. She covered at the sound of my voice, stopping in her tracks and gently bowing her head down, exposing her neck as in submission.. WHAT THE FUCK WAS HAPPENING??? “You are commanding her Emma… She must listen to your every word right now”, Celia chimed in. “Commanding her??? Me?? How? What did I do??? I just asked her a basic question.. What was happening??? “If you do not believe me, you an test the theory”, Celia continued. “Can I command you??? All of you??? If that is true????” I asked, an idea forming in my head. She nodded briefly and I decided to test it out.. “OK, all of you! You must tell me the TRUTH!!!” I said again, my voice not sounding as my own. Celia tried to fight the urge, but after my words she slumped on her feet, neck bared. Dr. Sina too. This was insane!!! “What do you want to know?” Celia grunted, obviously straining to talk. I did not know why my words would cause her such discomfort, but at this point I did not care. I saw a way to find some answers. And if I could command them to do whatever I want, I would run away – in fact, I would make them let me leave! I just needed to find Leo. “What truth do you wish to know child”, Dr Sina’s soft voice came from behind her. I could see that he too, was straining to speak. “I want to know … about my brother… you said… you said…”.. I was mumbling.. “Yes, it is true… What we said is the truth, but please, I beseech you, could you please allow Mr. Locke to explain it to you?? It is very important you hear the story from him Emma, please!”, he replied, flooring me. These maniacs really believed that my brother was a dragon?? What???!!! “You are all INSANE!! ABSOLUTELY INSANE!!! A DRAGON???? I grew up with my brother. I know what and who he is. We are two orphaned children, and maybe we do not have much in our life, but we have each other. We are family and I will not let you take that away! We will not end up as your slaves or worse!!! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS DRAGONS!”, I screamed at all of them. As I did, I noticed that Celia’s nose started bleeding, but I did not care.. I needed to leave. NOW. Needed to run and find Leo, and run away from these people. They did not reply or move from their spots. “Celia.. did you drive here? Yes???” I inquired. She nodded, and that was all I needed.

“YOUR KEYS!!”, I yelled at her again. “I need your keys… NOW!” She was fumbling in her pockets, her hands trembling. Somehow, I knew she was trying to fight my order and I could notice that blood was now flowing freely from her nose. I was not sure as to why and even though it was not my intention to hurt her, I just wanted to leave. “Emma, you do not understand… It is dangerous…”Angie tried to explain and fight me, her whole body shaking, almost convulsing as she too was trying to defy me. “SPARE ME YOUR SANCTIMONIOUS BULLSHIT!!! KEYS!”, I roared, and Celia tossed them to me, and I snatched them quickly from the floor. “Now!!!! I am going to leave… AND NONE OF YOU WILL FOLLOW ME!!! YOU WILL NOT CALL ANYONE, YOU WILL ALL STAY IN THIS ROOM!!!”, I growled at them and felt a surge of energy hit them again, shaking the room in the process. I had no explanation for what was happening, and at this moment, I could not even begin to think as to why. This was my one chance. I needed to run.

I slowly moved out of the room, walking backwards, my eyes glued on the immobilized trio that stood in their spot. A pang of guilt hit me when I noticed a pool of blood around Celia, but I had to make a choice. It was them or me. And I was done putting my trust in random people. I left the room and quickly locked it after me, dashing for the elevators. I had to make sure there were no other guards around as I did not know if they had orders to stop me. I saw a couple of nurses and one of the security people, but they were engrossed in a conversation, allowing me to slip unnoticed into the elevator. The elevator wait was the longest in my life.. Those three seconds seemed like years and I kept nervously glancing toward the doors of my suite, luckily nobody coming. Luck was on my side and the elevator was empty. I quickly got in and pressed the garage floor. I had no idea what kind of a car Celia drove or where she parked, but I was confident I would find it. The elevator started moving down and I was on pins and needles, my adrenaline pumping, my palms sweating. Almost there.. Almost..

Finally, the bell chimed. I was on the garage floor! This is it! My way to freedom.. Finally!! Rushing out of the elevator, I did not pay attention where I was going and, without seeing, I slammed into a rock-solid wall of muscle. I slammed hard, dropping the keys in the process. The familiar, warm scent hit me and then I heard the husky, deep voice “Going somewhere Emma???” Mr. Locke asked.