───── NORMAN ──────

I wanted to help him. But I don't think I can, I don't think anyone can. So I left him with his thoughts. Guilt struck my heart as I walked away. Ray and I, we repel. We're not meant to be near each other. Anger, confusion, sadness, pain. That's all we'll ever feel together.

      Walking out of the library, my heart skipped a beat as I saw Emma lying on the grass, crying. Her bright green eyes welled with tears. I closed my eyes, and walked away. Emma doesn't deserve me. If I'm the one that made her cry, then... she shouldn't stay with me anymore.

      "I love you, Emma. I'm sorry... It's for your own good..." I whispered. I started to run, panting, sweat dripping down my forehead. I wasn't supposed to run. I'm not allowed to. But how many things have I done that I'm not allowed to do? Running a few meters made me sweat like crazy, it made me out of breath. But I felt like running. I yearned for the sensation of wind streaming through my hair. 

      But some things just weren't meant to be. I started choking, my throat burning up. I needed water. Quickly. "Help!" I croaked, my voice breaking. Tears streamed down my face, tears of pain. "Emma!" I groaned, collapsing to the ground. I'm sorry... 

      Minutes seemed to pass, hours even. Coughs rose through my throat as I groaned, heaving my body to stand up again. But I couldn't. I lay there, blades of grass brushing against my face.  Thoughts ran through my head. 

      Emma, I'm so so so so sorry. I didn't mean to make you think we all hated you. Hated our family. I- I just don't have the courage to do anything about it, unlike you. You're so brave and amazing, Emma. 

      Ray, you'll always be my friend. I'm so so sorry... I love you too. I just... I've been too caught up with my feelings for Emma. But now... I don't think I have any. They've been drained out of me. She's all yours, Ray. Yours to keep. 

      Thinking about my feelings toward Emma, made me realise something. This had all just been a fantasy. I don't love her. I never did. My feelings were just something I could blame my problems on. Especially with Ray. Maybe he did love her, really. But I don't think I do anymore. She may have been my centre of attention, her bravery, and enthusiasm. But we were just friends. Just friends. And I think that's why I love her. 

      For choosing someone as feeble as me, to be friends with. 

      Thank you, Emma. For everything. 

───── EMMA ──────

My family was going to die and Phil knew something about it. 

      Why Phil? Gosh, he's too innocent. Fear tore through my heart, shattering it in millions of pieces. Trauma flashed in my head. It doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that my family was going to die. Die. I know and right now, I'm doing absolutely nothing about it. 

      But... Maybe Phil knows more? They say curiosity killed the cat, but I'm willing to take my chance. I glanced back at Isabella, my fake mother, and smiled, "Don't worry, Mama! I'll be fine!" Best not to act off. Isabella stared at me, surprise bursting through her expression. I could sense the suspicion. 

      But she let me go. "Alright, Emma. Make sure to tell me if anything is wrong next time." She smiled but confusion and suspicion clouded her bright purple eyes. Her long black hair seemed amiss. As if her kindness had left her soul. As if she was my doom. As if she knew. I nodded and smiled back, sprinting towards the library. 

      Phil has something to do with this and I have to find out why. As I entered the library, dark, empty coldness washed over me, the feeling of betrayal perhaps. I shivered, my heart shuddering. "Phiilll?" I called. 

      "Yeah?" A sweet childish voice echoed through the hallways. "Yeah, Emma?" Phil asked, standing by the alleyway with Ray. He tilted his head innocently, but I could sense the fear burning in his bright blue eyes. 

      "Phil, what do you know about it?" The question came out a little bit harsher than I expected, "How do you know about this?" He widened his eyes, and Ray stood in front of him protectively. 

      "Stop it, Emma. You're scaring him." 

      Realisation flooded through my head a I realised what I was doing. My fingers were tense, almost shaking and my eyes narrowed suspiciously. Oh no... "Phil! I'm so so sorry!" I rushed over to him, smothering him with hugs and catching him by surprise. He took a few steps back. 

      "It's fine, Emma. I know what you mean. And yeah. About the demons. About everything? I'm not exactly sure how I know. But it came to be in a dream. My family, being hunted by demons. And Mama Isabella leading them. At first, I only thought it was a dream... Until I overheard you guys talking about it. I was pretty shocked, yeah. But... relieved at the same time? It would've made things worse if I didn't realise what was happening when it happened."

      "I'm so sorry you had to deal with this, Phil. But if you don't mind me asking... What type of dream?" I questioned, my mind going back to my dream about my family being hunted by demons. 

      What if we had the same dream? What does that mean?

──── <3 ────

OMFG- THIS CHAPTER WAS ALMOST 1000 WORDS LONG LMAO- SORRY, I COULD NOT STOP WITH THE DRAMA HEHE. ANYWAYS, OMG- LIKE- THE PLOT LINE HAS GOTTEN SOOOO SIDETRACKED BUT BEST NOT TALK ABOUT IT!!

until next time, my lil' donuts!!
-emma <3

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