Page 40 of Emi's Hero

A chill rippled down Emi’s spine. She wasn’t ready to return to that dark place she’d lived in for the past eight years, but she was ready to find Sara and get her out. “Yes, I’m ready.”

“Good.” Sachie released Emi’s hands. “First, I want you to lie down on the sofa and close your eyes.”

Emi swung her legs up onto the sofa and laid her head on the throw pillow. She laced her hands over her torso and closed her eyes, her pulse pounding through her veins.

“Take a deep breath and let it out slowly,” Sachie said.

Emi drew a deep breath and let it out as slowly as she could.

“Now,” Sachie said in a soft, calming tone, “breathe in through your nose and release it through your mouth.”

Emi did as she said.

Sachie had her repeat the controlled breathing several times.

With each repetition, her pulse slowed until it was almost back to normal.

“Focus on your skin, the fabric touching it, how the air caresses it. You’re in a safe place where you can let yourself relax and feel everything around you without fear.”

Emi thought of George somewhere past the door of the room. Knowing he was there made her feel safe and allowed her to fall under Sachie’s spell. The therapist talked her through several awareness exercises designed to relax her even more.

By the time Emi was so relaxed she could have fallen asleep, Sachie said in that same, calming voice, “Remember, you are in a safe space. No one can hurt you in that space. I want you to take me back to that day you fell in the ocean. Hover over the boat and describe to me what you see.”

When Emi’s pulse increased, she breathed in and out like Sachie had taught her.

“The yacht is shiny. The sun glints off the chrome surface, right into my eyes as I come up from below deck.”

“Look around and describe the furnishings and the layout.”

“The main deck has white leather couches and tables screwed to the deck. You can’t move them. There’s a bar in one corner.”

“Go around the room slowly, looking closely at everything. Is there any embroidery on the furniture or writing on the bar or walls? Remember, you’re safe. No one can hurt you.”

Emi looked down at the white couches, the bar and the walls. “There’s an emergency data card on the rear wall next to a fire extinguisher.”

“Can you read the words on it? Maybe the name of the company that produced it?”

Emi shook her head. “No. The letters are too small.”

“That’s okay,” Sachie said. “Keep moving around the room. Are there any distinguishing marks or designs anywhere?”

Emi continued around the room, looking for anything that stood out, her body tensing when she came up blank. “No. Nothing.”

“Don’t worry, just keep moving. Take me to another space. You say you came up from below deck. Can you describe where you were?”

“They bound my wrists behind my back with zip ties and blindfolded me. I was transported from the compound to the yacht and carried down to Fallon’s suite. I sat there for what felt like an hour before someone cut the zip tie and told me to put on the red swimsuit. Fallon was waiting for me at the helm.”

“With your hands free, you were able to remove the blindfold,” Sachie said. “What do you see?”

Emi looked around the room. “The bed is covered in white satin sheets. The cabinets and drawers have shiny brass hardware.”

“Are there any monograms or logo designs on the cabinets, sheets or walls?”

Emi swept the room and found nothing like that. Her heart sank. “No.”

“It’s okay,” Sachie said. “Where did you go from there? Take me up the stairs. What do you see? Are the stairs metal, wood or carpeted?”

“Metal,” Emi said.

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