Page 11 of Black Wave

“Let’s find out what happened, Emma.” He holds me as he stops a firefighter coming out from around the back of the smoldering home. “Hey, can you tell me what happened? My girlfriend lives here.” He points over at me, and the firefighter looks on with sympathy.

“I’m sorry, miss, but three people were in the house when the explosion occurred. They didn’t survive.”

I crumple to the ground, holding my face. A scream releases from my throat, but I can’t control it. I can’t control the sound that escapes me. I feel Julian’s hands reach around and pick me up off the ground, and I move. He holds me against his chest as we return to the car. The door opens, and he places me inside the vehicle. I’m shaking from the shock. My mom. My dad. My sister. My everything. All gone.

I rock back and forth, willing myself to wake from this nightmare that is now my life. Julian hands me a drink.

“Here, Emma. Drink this. It will help calm your nerves.”

I accept the drink and look at the liquid in the glass. Wishing I had died in the fire with my family, I drink the remaining contents, welcoming the burn that the amber liquid provides as it slides down my throat and into my stomach. Its warm and intoxicating effects suddenly make me feel sleepy. I drop the glass as it slowly slips through my fingers, which are now tingling. I look up at Julian to find him watching me. He pulls me closer to him.

“Sleep, Emma. When you wake up tomorrow, it will be a new day full of new beginnings.” He whispers a lullaby into my ear.

To me, it is just the beginning of a nightmare. I go to respond but find that no words come out. I rest my head on his lap ashe pulls me close, tangling his fingers in my hair. I try to stay awake, but it is futile.

“Evie,” I try to call out. Her face is the last thing I envision as a black wave pulls me into the abyss.

CHAPTER 6

Emma

GRADUATION DAY

Ijolt awake. I try to stand but feel a wave of nausea and dizziness set in. Everything is black. I grab the bed I rose from to steady myself as sweat dampens my skin.

My eyes try to clear away the fog as I attempt to make out my surroundings. Slowly, things come into focus. I’m in a bed that I don’t recognize. I feel myself start to hyperventilate.

I go to the door, but it doesn’t open. I go to the window and pull back the drapes to see that it overlooks an expansive garden with decorative topiaries. I know this garden.

Then it hits me like a tsunami. My parents. Evie. The fire. No. No. No, it can’t be. I thought it was a dream—a nightmare. I go to the door again and start to pound on it. I hear heavy footsteps make their way toward my door. I step back just in time to see it swing open.

“Emma, calm down. You are safe.” Julian goes to approach me, and I can’t hide my distaste for him this time. I pull back on reflex, and he notices my shift in demeanor. I’ve never done this before, but now I can’t help it.

He steps back to assess me, like I’m a crazed woman escaping from a psychiatric lockdown unit depicted in movies.

“Emma, I suggest you calm down, or I will force you to miss your graduation today.”

“My graduation?” I say slowly. I place my hand over my mouth to stifle my expression.

“Yes, Emma, your graduation. I have someone making your breakfast so you can eat something to shake off the residual effects of the sedative we had to give you.”

“The drink.” I look up at him to see him sneer.

I knew there was something off about the taste, and then I don’t remember coming here or getting into the house, even less changing into these pajamas. Why does he have pajamas for me? That is freaking weird. I guess I should expect nothing less of this psychopath.

“Julian, I can’t go to my graduation today. My fam…” I trail off, breaking out in a gut-wrenching sob that almost takes my breath away as I collapse onto the carpet.

Julian bends over to grab my chin and makes me look up at him. Anger radiates from his eyes.

“You can and you will, Emma. I am taking you, and we will go over to make funeral arrangements afterward for your parents.” He stands again, grabbing me by one arm and lifting me.

“And my sister…” I touch the tattoos we got recently, and I feel my heart breaking. I go to speak, but he cuts me off. I look up at him and notice his expression changes only briefly. His mask is back in place.

“Don’t worry about the money, Emma. I will take care of it. I will take care of everything for you from now on.”

His penetrating stare makes me want to run as far away and as fast as possible, but I know it doesn’t matter. If I run, he will chase me and bring me back. I don’t want to be on the receiving end of his temper.

My uncle never did make it to us. Instead, they all died because of me. A wave of guilt crashes through me, attempting toconsume me. My choices killed my family, and now I must live with that.

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