Thick, angry tears rolled down Emma’s face. No matter what happened to her, something always managed to tear her down, to remind her how horrible her life was. “Why is everyone being so horrible?” she thought of Will leaving cash, and treating her like a sex worker. She hated herself for ever thinking she could mean something else to him. And Vivian, coming to attack her like that? All she wanted was to never see her again, but Vivian wouldn’t leave her alone. Emma wanted to throw herself in her bed and have a good cry. Her plan was to come to her room, pack a few things and go to the hospital to be with her father, but now she didn’t have enough time. Vivian was always around, getting in her way. Emma cleaned herself off, and went back downstairs. She’s hoped the driver would be gone, but much to her dismay he was still there. “Don’t you ever go home?” she asked, but then blushed as that was harsher than she intended. “I’m so sorry. That was mean.” “It
“She wouldn’t do that!” Will yelled. “She wouldn’t do that to me!” “I hate to be the one to tell you,” Bryan lamented.“Then you should have kept your mouth shut,” Derek added.“When did it happen?” Will asked, venom oozing from his every pore. His friends didn’t answer. They looked around at each other, wishing that they were anywhere else. “When?” Will shouted. “Last night!” Alex shouted back. “I happened last night, man. I’m sorry.” Will sank back into his seat, his head falling into his hands. Emma was almost afraid to breathe. What was happening here? “Why did you even say anything?” Alex reprimanded Bryan. “Because he’s got a right to know!” “Yeah, but you couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” The three friends stared at Will. He was breaking down in front of them. “How did you know?” he asked. “There was a party last night,” Bryan said. “Dude, shut up,” Derek muttered under his breath, but Bryan didn’t listen. “He proposed and
Emma regretted the words as soon as the words fell from her mouth. Her hands flew to her mouth, and tears of shame stung her eyes. Will stared at her with cold indignation. She’d hurt him, exactly as she wanted to. Who had she become? She had finally had the courage to stand up for herself and expressed her true emotions. But she had to hurt someone to do it. Before she could apologize, Will left without a word. “What have I done?” she cried, as she sank to her knees. Violent sobs quaked through her body. What would become of her now? She angered the man who held her life in his hands. He paid her father’s medical bills, and provided private round the clock care. She owed him $300,000, and was under a contractual obligation with him. After a few minutes of trying to catch her breath, Emma got her crying under control. “I have to get out of here,” she said to herself. She pulled out her regular phone and called Sabrina. “Hi, Emma!” Sabrina’s chipper v
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Sabrina sang. Emma groaned as she opened her eyes and was assaulted by sunlight. Pain throbbed behind her eyes, and each movement brought on a new wave of nausea. “Ugh, I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus,” Emma remarked. “You look like it,” Sabrina teased. “Here, I’ve got you a nice greasy breakfast, a tall glass of water, and some Tylenol.” “You’re an angel,” Emma said. She began by guzzling down the water and attacked her breakfast. Sabrina laughed. “Hungry?” “Starving,” Emma replied through mouthfuls of food. After she ate her food, and tossing back the medicine, she began to feel more like herself. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome,” Sabrina smiled. After a few moments, her demeanor changed and she stiffened up a bit. She looked at Emma with concerned eyes. “So last night was wild, huh?” “I…” Emma didn’t know what to say. She had lied to both Sabrina and Jess so much. *And for what?* She scolded herself. *None of it was worth i
Emma spent the next day moving her things from her old room into her father’s room. She was going to sleep in there now in case her father needed her at night. The room was large enough for her old twin bed, but Jane would allow her to move it.“This is my room now!” she screeched. “I will not share a room with that useless man!”Emma was given an old sleeping bag as a bed. Going through her old things was hard. Among her things were many mementos of her childhood. Photos of her mother, of the three of them together, and some of her mother’s jewelry and clothes, her old toys and baby clothes, and some of her father’s old things from before he let the alcohol take him. Her mother was beautiful. Emma wished she looked more like her. Skye Wells had long, thick and luxurious, shiny black hair. Her golden skin glowed in the sunlight, and her hazel eyes were bright with love. Pieces of a life, long gone and forgotten, were scattered around her. Emma sobbed for a long time, with the re
The world had frozen around her. Everything around her faded away, and the only thing she could see was Vivian’s hands rubbing all over Will. And she had no idea why it affected her so much. She wanted nothing to do with Will, and even less to do with Vivian. And yet a vile mixture of anger, hatred and jealously swirled around within her. Emma’s heart slammed against her ribs, and it felt like there wasn’t enough air in the club. “I need to leave,” Emma said, turning around to get out. All she could think of was how she needed to escape for her own sanity. Nothing good would come of any conversation with those two. “Emma!” Vivian called in feigned enthusiasm. “Why on Earth are you leaving? Come over and bring your friends and join us for a drink!” “Counterfeit bitch,” Sabrina muttered. “Don’t run from her. It’s what she wants.” Sabrina was right, and Emma had promised her father that she wouldn’t let anyone bully her anymore. She plastered on a fake smile, and tur
Emma was under his spell again. The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped her. It was dark, musky sort of floral scent. Like a meadow under a full moon. The hard lines of his body were pressed against hers and she could feel every inch of him. No one else existed around them. He could have made love her to right there in the club if he wanted. She wouldn’t have stopped him. She hated him, and the effect he had on her. But there was denying the way her body responded to his. “Just admit how much you want me,” Will whispered to her so that no one else could hear. The moment probably lasted no more than a minute, but it felt like an eternity. “It’ll make all of this so much easier.” Sabrina yanked Emma away from Will, and stepped between them. “I don’t know how you two know each other, and frankly I do not care. You will not bully my best friend in this manner. Keep it up, and you’ll have to answer to me,” Sabrina seethed. “She’s got a good right hook,” Alex comment
Of course, he would defend her. Why was she even surprised at that point? It was the last thing Emma wanted to see. It was all so confusing. Why was this affecting her so much? Isn’t this what she wanted? She was the one who gave Vivian the blessing to chase after Will. It was idea. Vivian would never have known how to even find Will. Emma essentially handed him over. So why was she so mad about it? Sabrina was fuming, and tossed back a drink. She poured another two for Vivian. “Drink up, bitch. Cheers,” she drank another. Alex touched fer face, and gave her a gentle kiss. “Slow down, babe. I don’t want you to overdo it and regret this in the morning.” He smiled at her, and Sabrina melted into his touch. This was very different from the flirty Alex she met. But she was happy for her friend. “You’ll take care of me either way,” Sabrina slurred. “You know I will,” Alex smiled, and leaned in to kiss her. Will leaned into Vivian, and offered her a drink. The
Six months later “Stewart Industries Landmark building construction was completed today. The twenty-story building boasts retail, commercial, and event space. The impressive building has already become a hallmark of the city with a silver tower as its crown. Glass windows glisten in the sun. And anyone in the city can enjoy the gorgeous public park that surrounds it. It is a gorgeous and shining collaboration of the best and freshest minds in the city. William Stewart has named the structure, ‘The Conrad Tower,’ in honor of his beloved late grandfather. The city awaits now for the building to open and for all the new opportunities it will create. This has been Susanne Winters for Channel 16 news.” They all cheered and toasted the completion of the building, gathered around Will and Emma’s living room. “Here’s to The Conrad Tower!” Will raised his glass. “And to all the people that helped make it possible! I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you all. Thank you.” They raised
The high from the success of the show had worn off, and Will felt himself spiraling. His pulse quickened; a sheen of cold sweat sprouted on his forehead. He held it together the best he could while around others. But alone, with nothing but his memories to accompany him… it was always the worst.As he arrived home and prepared himself for another lonely night, he was greeted by something unexpected. A large truck was parked in front of his home. Men moved in and out of it, bringing things inside.“…The fuck?” he muttered as he parked his car. “Excuse me,” he called out to them. “This is my home. What are you doing here?”“I hired them,” a voice said from the doorway of the house. He looked over towards the familiar voice, not daring to believe it. But there she was, bathed in the light from inside the house. “Hi, Will. I’m sorry if I startled you, but I w
Their days were filled with appointments. Every time they turned around, there was somewhere to be. Will had been discharged and had the company to take care of. With the building finally underway, Stewart Industries was thriving again. It was a rare moment that he got time to himself. And even when he did, everyone else was busy with their own hectic lives. Will floated around his giant, empty home. He went to work, came home, did his physical therapy exercises, and went to sleep. Alone. He found, in recent days, that alone was not a good place for him to be. Nightmares plagued his sleep, and he jumped at the slightest noises. Monsters had moved from under the bed and in the shadows to inside his mind.He hated it.Emma hadn’t been able to make good on her promise to move back. Things were hectic, and no one had time for anyone anymore. It had been almost two weeks before he saw anyone. They all called and messaged each other, but it wasn&rs
Will’s recovery was slow. The doctors had informed him that taking that bullet as such close range did a lot of damage, but it was the reason he wasn’t dead as nothing major was hit. He wasn’t out of the woods yet and would need a good round of physical therapy. The medical staff agreed that he needed to stay in the hospital for at least a week so they could monitor him. Emma and Alex fussed over him, making sure he listened and did everything according to the doctor’s orders.On the fourth day, he was restless and just wanted to leave. Alex was in the room with him, telling him off for not listening.“You’re being a brat,” Alex scolded him.“I just want to get out of this bed,” Will whined.“Try getting out again, and I’ll break both your legs.”“How very Mafia of you,” Will smirked.“Shut up,” Alex swatted at
Chaos exploded around them. Shouts and screams filled the air as Captain Whitlock ordered that Ghost be apprehended and an ambulance be called. Ghost dropped his gun and raised his hand in surrender as his fantasy came to life right before his eyes.“Beautiful!” he said over the din. “It’s more beautiful than I could ever imagine.”“Shut up,” Captain Whitlock spat as he wrenched Ghost’s hands behind his back. “You’re going to go away for a very long time. They may even make a case for the death penalty against you.”“I hope they do,” he said with a contented sigh. “I’ve done all I have ever wanted to do.”“Take this vile piece of shit. And read him his rights. This arrest needs to be perfect. I swear if this fucker gets out on a technicality, I’ll fire the lot of you!”An officer took Ghost a
Will turned around and the world moved in slow motion around him. About ten feet away from them, there he stood. Ghost. Denis. The man responsible for all the pitfalls in his life stood ten feet away from them, the sunlight glinting off the barrel of an ornate silver gun. How could he have been so careless?“Surprise,” Ghost sang.“How…” Will began to ask.“How did I get so close?” Ghost finished. “Without anyone noticing. Hmm…” he used the gun to scratch his temple for a moment and then pointed it back at them. “I’m the monster in the dark. The one under your bed. The one your parents warn you about. Oh wait… your parents wouldn’t warn you about anything. They’ve been trying to sacrifice you to the darkness for years,” he said with feigned contrition.“What do you want?” Will asked. His eyes darted around, looking for
They really thought they were smart, huh? They thought he would fall for their little traps. However, he couldn’t deny that they had presented him with the perfect opportunity. Will was serving himself on a silver platter. It would be so easy to just take care of him then. His ultimate fantasy could play out the way he’d always dreamt of. The very public murder of William Stewart was just something he couldn’t pass up.What reason was there even to hide anymore? They had revealed his identity. Everyone knew who he was. So, what purpose did the shadows serve him anymore? Perhaps it was time to come out into the light and end this charade. His last card against Will had been used up. He’d run out of games.“Let’s play,” he chuckled, loading his gun. “No plans. No backups. This is it.” His heart raced with elation as he envisioned a bullet ripping through Will. Hearing his loved ones cry as his body crump
The interview was a smash. The city was on high alert, and Ghost’s name was on everyone lips. The few times Sabrina went out, it’s all she could hear anyone talk about. She couldn’t help but feel a little proud. Captain Whitlock received dozens of calls and tips. Many people said how they knew Denis, and how there was no way he could be Ghost.Others said that they’re surprised they never saw the signs. Some offered clues and places that Denis used to frequent. He traipsed the city, following these clues. Most led to nothing. Just traces of an old that Ghost himself probably wouldn’t recognize. But there was one call…“Um… hi. Is this Captain Whitlock?” It was hesitant man’s voice.“Yes, how can I help you?”“I’m calling about Denis Ratcliffe.”Captain Whitlock received so many of these calls he was numb to them.
Will let the water wash over him as he tried to steady his frenzied heartbeat. The truth was that they were terrified. For Ghost to be so brazen as to just waltz into the police station and open fire did not bode well for any one of them. It was clear that Ghost was just as ready to end this as they were. He leaned his forehead against the cold tile, letting the rhythmic beating of the water of against his back soothe him.Soon enough, a shower wouldn’t be such an event. At least not the ones he took alone, anyway. Steam rolled off of skin as he emerged from the shower. Emma had laid out some clothes for him. Just a white t-shirt a pair of gray sweatpants. He laughed. Now that he was free and clean, he wanted to hold his baby.He went downstairs, back to the dining room where everyone was gathered.“Where is Lizzie?” he asked.“Right here,” Emma said. She stood behind him, holding a