Chapter 15

The next day, Emily’s mind was still puzzling over what the prophecy had told her yesterday, she tried to dwell more on it but the sound of her phone buzzed

 made her flange in fear. 

She stared at the caller ID, and it was a strange number. 

She doubted if she should pick up the call or not, but eventually, she swiped the green button pressing the phone against her left ear.

There was a few minutes of silence and she started wondering if it was a spam call. 

Just when she wanted to hang up, the caller called out her name. 

“Emma” A low voice greeted her. “We need to meet today,” the person added

Emma frowned at first because she had no idea who was talking. “Why? What is wrong? Who are you?” She rushed her question. 

“If you want to know me, just meet me at the hotel basement downtown. I will explain everything to you,” the person said, and her heart pounded.

“Who is this person?” she thought to herself but eventually agreed. “Fine, I will be there.”

With that, she hung up the call, and with a deep breath, she stood up and walked to the living room where her two parents were sitting. 

Her mother’s eyes glanced up from her coffee cup, curiosity filtering into her eyes. 

She walked toward them and folded her hand to the back.

“I need to head out for a bit,” Emma said, forcing a casual tone. “I am meeting a friend and aside, I need fresh air,” she lied hoping that her parents would agree. 

To her surprise, her father swiftly nodded, while her mother offered a smile.

“Don’t stay out so long,” Mr. Sinclair emphasized in each of his words.

Emma was happy as she beamed and quickly nodded. “Yes, I will be right back. In the next one hour,” she said and left the house.

Immediately, she stepped outside, and the feeling of uneasiness grounded her. 

The person who called her was a stranger, but she could not shake the feeling that whatever the person wanted to discuss would be important. 

Soon she got to the old basement downtown. It was dimly lit, and it was a damp well, echoing the faint drip of water somewhere in the distance. 

Emma descended the crinkled staircase cautiously. A hurt stone drained into her chest. The person who called her was already there, sitting at a dusty table. A stack of papers spread out before him.

“Take a seat,” the person said, gesturing to the chair across from him. His eyes were gleaming with something unreadable. Exhaustment or perhaps dread.

“What I am about to tell you now will blow your mind,” the man added.

Emma hesitated for a second, staring at the man if she should believe him or not. But of course, she was already there, so she just obeyed him. 

She pulled out a chair and sat down. Her eyes flickered to the person, to the paper on the table. Confusion etched across her face.

“What is all this? And how did you get my number?” She questions with a determined look. 

“You don’t have to worry about how I got your number. I mean no harm. But I would just like you to do one thing for me. Just look closely at the paper in front of you,” he muttered, sliding the paper up forward to her.

She hesitated for a second before collecting the paper and scanning through them, her breath was soft until her eyes caught a familiar sign.

If she’s not mistaken, this is her sister’s signature. Ever’s signature. It was scrawled on several pages, bold and unmistakable.

“What does this mean?” Her voice thumped as she began shaking.

He folds his thumb across his chest, staring at her deeply.

“It means Ever made a pact, a deal that allowed her to get away with whatever she wants, no consequences,” the guy exclaimed.

Emma stayed silent her mind’s reeling with confusion.

“That’s impossible,” she said, shaking her head. “Ever barely interacts with anyone. She’s always kept to herself,” she replied.

The guy's lips caught into a knowing smirk.

“That is what she wants you to think,” he replied.

Her confusion turned to anger, but before she could argue further, the guy slid a small cup of ice cream towards her.

“Here, cool down a little bit. You are going to need it.”

She took the ice cream, though her hand trembled.

“This still doesn’t make any sense to me,” she muttered, staring at the melting desert.

“It will,” he assured her, pulling out a small device from his pocket.

It was a CV recorder. He inserted a disc, and within moments, a voice filled the room, and the voice belonged to no one but Ever, her sister. Emma’s breath itched.

Her sister’s tone was so cold and calculated, the words cut through her like a blade as Ever discussed someone in verbal terms, her words dripping with malice.

“We will have to get rid of her soon,” Ever had said.

Emma’s blood ran cold.

“What’s this?” she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It is a conversation your sister had with somebody,” the guy said with a matter-of-fact tone.

“No,” Emma shook her head. “This is not real. This can’t be real. Ever would not, she would not do something like this,” she yelled.

“Believe it, Emma. This is who she is. But don’t worry, I have already set a trap for her,” the guy leaned back in his chair, his expression hardened.

“What kind of trap?” Her eyes narrowed.

“That is not for you to know yet. Not yet,” the guy smirked again, leaning back in his chair.

Anger fled within her, the man seemed like she was not going to reveal more, she clenched her fists, her mind swelling with questions and emotions, betrayal and conviction, and disbelief within her as she sat there staring at the man who claimed to know her sister better than she did.