That night Emma stayed up until 2 a.m. doing all the extra homework and studying she had been assigned. She had no idea how she managed to stay awake, normally she was asleep by eleven but the energy that had been pumping through her body all day kept her awake that night as well. When Emma finally brushed her teeth and got ready for bed her mind revisited the mysterious conversation she had overheard that afternoon.
Tyler had seemed completely sane and it was obvious that he and Mrs. White knew each other very well. What was the Circle that Mrs. White had mentioned? And were the objects Mrs. White agreed to protect for him the journals he had been babbling about?
Maybe she should tell Mark what she had overheard. Emma toppled into her bed and slipped under the covers. It was too late to think about this anymore. She had to wake up in five hours and that was going to be a hard enough problem to deal with. School was going to be fun tomorrow.
That night Emma woke with a gasp, her body covered in a cold sweat. Her eyes darted around her room, terrified of the shifting shadows, seeing a room that wasn’t there. After a few moments the familiarity of her surroundings began to sink in and she realized that she was safe in her own room. Emma collapsed back into bed, taking in a deep breath to calm herself. Another nightmare.
Energy thrummed through her body. She found herself tapping her fingers uncontrollably on the bed, wondering what time it was and if she could get up yet. Grabbing her clock from the bedside table she jerked it over and held it in front of her face so she could see the time. 5:04. It took a few seconds for that to sink in. 5:04. She felt as energized as if she had slept for half the day but in reality she had only gotten three hours of sleep. That’s not possible. She thought, shaking her head in disbelief.
Emma slowly sank back down into bed, trying to go back to sleep but it was no use. The nightmare had made her too scared to fall back asleep and her body felt like it was filled with even more energy than it had been yesterday. The buzzing returned to her head with a vengeance, even worse than the day before and Emma couldn’t stop her legs from shaking with excess energy. This was ridiculous.
Finally admitting she couldn’t stay in bed any longer, which was something she had never thought would happen, Emma swung her legs out from under the sheets and stood up. She stood for a moment trying to decide on her next course of action when her stomach growled loudly. She was starving. Deciding she might as well raid the kitchen since she couldn’t sleep Emma snuck downstairs and poured herself a bowl of cereal.
After three bowls of cereal and a banana that had been lying on the counter Emma snuck back upstairs, her hunger temporarily dulled. Emma’s energy hadn’t abated at all however. Staring longingly at her bed Emma accepted that there was no way she would be able to get back to sleep with this much energy.
Emma looked out her bedroom window. The sky was just beginning to lighten with the approaching dawn. It was light enough to see by though. Turning from the window Emma quickly changed into running shorts and a t-shirt. Normally she hated running but it was the one thing that always drained her of energy.
Grabbing her running shoes and iPod Emma snuck downstairs and put on her shoes at the bottom of the stairway. She paused to grab one of Morgan’s running hoodies out of the entry closet. She won’t miss it, Emma thought as she zipped it up.
Emma paused and looked up the wooden staircase at the second floor where everyone was sleeping. It was strange to be awake and active before everyone else. Almost surreal even. Emma took a moment to soak in the silence, then she unlocked the front door and walked out.
The morning air was a little chilly but it felt good on Emma’s too warm skin. Emma jumped up and down in the front yard to warm up as she unwound her headphones from her iPod. She had just stuck the left one in her ear when she heard a branch snap in the trees across the road from her house. The brush was so thick over there that she couldn’t see very far into the woods but she knew that something was out there.
Emma’s muscles tensed, ready to sprint back to the house if necessary. The bushes rustled as whatever it was came towards her. Emma was just about to make a run for it when a large furry form burst out of the bushes. Their neighbors giant St. Bernard, Gus, came trotting towards her, a happy canine smile on his face as his tongue curled in the air.
Emma laughed quietly, shaking her head at herself for being so skittish. Gus sat down next to her feet, gazing up at her adoringly. Emma scratched him behind the ears, smiling as he tilted his head into the caress.
“Good morning Gus.” She said sweetly. “You’re up early, aren’t you?”
Gus leaned against her leg and panted happily, his eyes half closed with pleasure as she scratched him behind the ears. Giving him one last pet Emma straightened up and put the other headphone in her ear, turning on her music to something upbeat.
When she finally settled on a good song Emma took off down the road for her early morning run. Just before she ran out of sight a man stepped out of the forest, watching Emma as she ran. When she disappeared around a corner the man looked over at Gus, still sitting happily where Emma had left him. In the blink of an eye the dog disappeared and the man melted back into the forest.
The next week on Thursday afternoon Emma sat in the coffee shop relaxing after school. She had managed to grab one of the smaller plush couches inside with a coffee table in front of it. Propping her feet on the table Emma leaned back and enjoyed her few moments of peace as she snacked on another slice of coffee cake and a ham and cheese croissant.
After Mark helped her with her headaches a week ago and the morning runs she now took every day before school, Emma had the headaches and her excessive energy semi under control. She also suspected Mark had switched her drinks to decaf but she wasn’t going to say anything about that. She still only slept about three hours a night but at least she was getting all of her homework done and waking up in time to go run.
Emma didn’t know what to do about how much she ate. Kathryn had started to comment about how she might have to start going to the grocery store twice a week if Emma kept eating this much. Emma thought that was a little insulting but Kathryn was right, they were running out of food much faster than they used to.
Emma was just finishing the croissant and was contemplating getting some more food when Jason plopped down on the couch next to her.
“Hey Jason.” Emma greeted him. She still felt a little on edge around him but she didn’t know why. Jason continued to be perfectly friendly to her so she tried not to let on that he made her nervous.
“Hey,” He said cheerfully. “I saw you sitting over here by yourself and I thought I would come say hi.”
“Oh, okay.” Emma said. A slightly awkward pause followed. Emma looked down at her hands that were restlessly tearing apart the small brown bag the pastries came in. Her mind was a complete blank, she couldn’t think of anything to say.
“I also had another reason for coming over here.” Jason said, breaking the silence.
Emma looked over at him, raising her eyebrows in surprise. “What’s the other reason?”
“There is a party this weekend and I was hoping you would go. I could use someone to talk to.” Jason said, watching her reaction carefully.
Emma paused thoughtfully. She hadn’t gone to a party in a long time, it could be fun.
“Where is it?” She asked.
Jason smiled, looking excited that she was considering it. “It’s near Lake Steven, so it’s a bit of a drive but I heard the house is awesome. I’ve been told it’s going to be a crazy party.”
Emma was interested for a moment, until she realized that he was talking about Chris Miller’s party. It was the biggest party of the year that everyone who was considered even semi cool made an appearance to. Emma had never gone.
“You’re talking about Chris Miller’s party.” She laughed, mostly at herself for actually thinking of going to a party. “Between Morgan and the rest of your friends I think you’ll have plenty of peo
ple around to talk to.” She assured him.
“But none of them are as fun to talk to as you.” Jason cajoled. “Come on, it will be fun.” He gave her a charming smile. “Amy will be there, and you can even bring your friend Mark with you.”
When Emma just shook her head Jason sighed and stood up. “If you change your mind the party is Saturday night. Give me a call if you decide to go.”
He began to walk away when he paused and turned back.
“I hope you will change your mind.” He murmured before walking away. Emma watched him go, wondering if she dared to show up to the party at all and why he wanted her to.
“A party?!?” Amy squealed over the phone. “I can’t believe you’re going to go! I’ve been inviting you to these parties for three years now!”
Emma laughed as she shut her car door and walked towards the garage. She didn’t have work that afternoon so she was home early for the first time that week.
“You make it sound like I never go out.” Emma said.
“Well…you don’t.” Amy replied, brutally honest as always.
“I do too!” Emma said indignantly. “I hang out with you all the time.”
“Wow, I really am your only friend, aren’t I?” Amy teased her. “You have a very sad life.”
“Thank you, I really feel the love. Besides I prefer quality over quantity.” Emma said with a laugh.
“Very true.” Amy agreed and Emma could almost hear her nodding her head. “And because I’m such an amazing friend I will go shopping with you to pick out the perfect outfit for Saturday!”
Emma rolled her eyes. Amy jumped at any possible opportunity to go shopping. It was her favorite thing to do, besides hearing the latest gossip of course.
“I don’t know Ayms,” Emma said as she walked up to the front door. “It’s just a party, why do I need to go shopping?”
“Because I wanted to get a new outfit for myself and now you get to come with me!” Amy informed her. “It will be fun! Please?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really.”
“Then I’d love to.” Emma said in a falsely sweet voice. “We can go tomorrow after school.”
Emma opened the door and heard Morgan yelling in the kitchen. “I’ve got to go Ayms.” She whispered quickly. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Hanging up the phone Emma wandered over to the kitchen, wondering what had Morgan so upset.
“Why are you making me clean the stupid attic?” Morgan yelled at Steve, who was calmly sitting at the table with the newspaper in front of him.
“Because it needs to be cleaned and you’re the only one in this house who doesn’t have a real job to keep you busy.” Steve replied calmly, turning the page he was reading.
“This is so unfair!” Morgan shrieked. “You’re punishing me for having a life!”
When Morgan saw Emma she pointed at her. “Make Emma do it!” She exclaimed. “Emma doesn’t have a life and she likes looking through old junk.”
Emma glared at Morgan who gave her an evil glare back but Steve ignored their silent exchange, replying calmly. “Emma has a job at the bookstore. And I didn’t ask her to do it, I asked you.”
“You’re so mean!” Morgan shrieked, running out of the kitchen. A few seconds later they heard the door to her room slam shut. Steve sighed and dropped the newspaper onto the table.
“Welcome home Emma.” Steve said. “How was your day today?”
Emma shrugged. “Pretty uneventful. Mrs. White didn’t need me at work today so I get to have the day off.”
“That was nice of her.” Steve said, his attention drifting back to the newspaper in front of him.
Emma walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a soda, as well as snagging a bag of chips from the cupboard. “So why are you making Morgan clean the attic?” Emma asked as she poured ice into a cup for her drink.
“Oh, your mother decided that the attic had to be cleaned this weekend. I’m not sure why but she seems to think it’s important.” Steve replied absently.
“So Mom told you to clean the attic and you decided to pawn it off on Morgan?” Emma guessed with a smile.
Steve grinned. “I decided that Morgan needed a lesson in responsibility. If that lesson happens to get me out of cleaning the attic…well, that’s just an added bonus.”
Emma laughed and grabbed her food to head up to her room while Steve returned to reading the paper. When Emma walked into her room she set the food down on her bedside table and grabbed the remote for the small television she had in her room.
She had been missing some of her favorite shows since she had started working in the afternoon and today was the perfect day to get caught up. Luckily she had them all recorded so Emma clicked on the show at the top of the list and got settled in. Grabbing the bag of chips she started munching on them as the show began playing.
“You really have no life, do you?” Morgan said from the doorway.
Emma groaned and dropped her head, reluctantly pausing her show.
“What do you want Morgan?” She asked, wishing Morgan would just cut to the chase and leave her alone.
“I heard you’re going to Chris Miller’s party this weekend.” Morgan said, walking into Emma’s room. She shut the door behind her and wandered over to Emma’s desk, leaning against it.
“Please come in,” Emma muttered under her breath. Morgan pretended not to hear her, instead she looked around Emma’s room disdainfully. Emma was instantly aware of how messy her room was. She shifted uncomfortably.
“How do you even know that?” Emma asked as Morgan’s gaze landed on the bag of potato chips Emma was eating. Morgan wrinkled her nose with distaste.
“Please, I know everything that goes on at that school.” Morgan sneered. “I’m glad Steve was so understanding when he found out you got another Saturday detention.” When Emma shifted uncomfortably again Morgan gave her a practiced look of surprise. “You did tell him about that, didn’t you? Because I’m a little surprised he would let you go to the party when he told you last week that if you got another detention you would be grounded.”
“I was going to tell him.” Emma mumbled.
“Really? Why don’t you tell him right now? Here, I’ll even help you.” Morgan said. She opened the door and yelled downstairs. “Dad!”
Emma leaped off her bed. “Morgan! Stop it!” She snapped, grabbing Morgan’s arm and pulling her back from the door.
“What’s wrong? I thought you were going to tell him.” Morgan said snidely.
“I will, I just…” Emma began before she caught herself.
“You just, what? You want to go to the party so you can see Jason and maybe get a chance to talk to him?” Morgan looked Emma up and down, laughing in amusement. “I’d be shocked if he even noticed you were there.”
“I never go to parties Morgan, can’t you just let me go to this one?” Emma asked, hating the fact that she was almost begging but it was better than letting Morgan get her grounded.
“I’m not the one who made you get detention. You did that all on your own.” Morgan pointed out, clearly enjoying making Emma squirm.
“Yes, I know. That was my fault but will you please let it go, just this once?” Emma asked.
“Fine, I won’t tell Steve.” Morgan said. Emma breathed a sigh of relief. “On one condition.” Morgan continued, crossing her arms over her chest.
Emma eyed her warily. “And what would that be?”
“You have to clean out the attic.” Morgan replied.
“Seriously Morgan?” Emma stared at her in disbelief. “You’re going to make me clean out the attic? Can’t you do one thing…” Emma began to argue. Pressure built in her head, threatening to turn into another headache.
“Morgan?” Steve’s voice came from downstairs. “Did you call me?”
Morgan raised her eyebrows questioningly at Emma but Emma just glared back at her. With a shrug Morgan opened her mouth to yell ba
ck down to Steve.
“Fine!” Emma whispered furiously. “I’ll do it.”
Morgan grinned. “Sorry Dad,” She yelled. “I thought I saw a spider. False alarm.”
Turning back to Emma Morgan gave her a smug smile.
“Great! Make sure you get it done tomorrow night while my parents are out having dinner with their friends.”
With that she walked out of Emma’s room, a triumphant grin on her face. Emma glared after her. Some day she was going to get back at Morgan. Flopping back on the bed Emma looked down at the bag of potato chips that crinkled when she sat down. Remembering Morgan’s look of distaste Emma pushed them away angrily and restarted her show.
Emma stood in the laundry room and stared up at the hatch that led to the attic. Emma hated opening this door. She had a fear of things falling on her head, or rather a wise distrust of gravity. Taking a deep breath and steeling her resolve Emma jumped, her fingers grasping at the string connected to the door. The door was surprisingly heavy and not very willing to open.
Using her weight Emma managed to get the hatch to slowly swing down. Grabbing the ladder that was attached to the inside of the hatch door she slowly pulled that down also until it rested on the floor. Emma sneezed as dust swirled down from the attic. No one had been up there in years.
The house was dead silent as Emma climbed up the ladder into the attic. Kathryn and Steve were having dinner over at a friend’s house, like they did every Friday night. Morgan was out with friends somewhere. Emma hadn’t asked where and Morgan hadn’t volunteered the information.
Usually Emma liked having the house to herself but for some reason the idea of going into the attic with no one else around wasn’t very appealing. Luckily Kathryn’s standards for cleaning the attic weren’t very high. She just wanted it dusted and the boxes arranged against one side of the wall.
Crawling into the attic Emma stood up and pulled the string to turn on the single light bulb in the sloped room. Emma was surprised by how spacious the room was, despite being filled with boxes. Aside from the dust it didn’t look like how Emma imagined it would.
Emma always pictured a room filled with old pieces of furniture and broken bicycles, maybe even a creepy doll propped up in a rocking chair. Instead there was just a lot of dust and neatly packed boxes. Deciding that the faster she cleaned the faster she would be done, Emma climbed back down the ladder to grab the cleaning supplies.
An hour and a lot of sneezing later Emma finally finished dusting the room. Now she just had to organize the boxes and stack them against the far wall. Most of the boxes were already labeled. Kathryn was both an organization and a cleaning freak, which was probably why she had the sudden urge to clean the attic. All the labels were typed and neatly taped on the boxes. Morgan’s baby clothes, wedding photo albums, childhood photo albums, old clothes, the usual things one would expect to find in an attic if they weren’t looking for creepy dolls.
Emma was almost done stacking the boxes against the far wall when she noticed one box in the far corner of the attic. The light barely reached back there, she must have just over looked it earlier. Emma walked over, careful not to hit her head on the sloping roof. She had to get down on her hands and knees but she managed to grab the box and drag it to the middle of the room directly under the light bulb so she could see it better.
There was no label on the side of the box. This box seemed different somehow, older maybe. Definitely more beat up, but it still managed to hold itself together. Curious about what was inside Emma opened the box. The first thing she saw was a neatly folded blue and white-checkered baby blanket.
Emma carefully picked it up and held it in her hands. Something about it seemed familiar, like it was part of a memory she couldn’t quite recall. Then a picture frame caught her eye and she carefully set the blanket on the floor. Emma picked up the picture and stared at it. In the picture was a young couple holding a baby that was wrapped in the blue and white blanket. They looked so young, maybe around twenty years old, but they were happy. In the photo the man stood behind the woman with his arms around her as she held the baby. They were looking down at the sleeping infant and it was easy to see how much they loved the child.
Suddenly it was very important for Emma to know who that couple was. Opening the back of the frame Emma pulled out the photo to see if there was anything written on the back. In the bottom corner in cursive was written The Forgeron Family. Emma’s hands started shaking. The Forgeron family.
That name, she knew it from somewhere. Emma frowned. Everything in this box seemed familiar, like she should know where it all came from but the memories were just out of reach. Now as she turned the picture over in her hand she wondered if Kathryn knew this box was here and where it had come from. Emma lightly touched the smiling faces of the couple. She wished she could have known them.
Carefully putting the photo back in the picture frame Emma gently placed it on top of the blanket and looked to see what else there was in the box. Only three other things were in the box. A small wooden box, an old leather journal, and a few newspaper clippings.
Emma picked up the small wooden box next, holding it in the palm of her hand. The box was plain, nothing out of the ordinary. Emma probably wouldn’t have looked at it twice if she had seen it lying around the house. Gently opening it Emma found an old bracelet inside.
The bracelet was made of leather, three strands woven together with flat metal disks evenly spaced throughout the design. The metal disks gleamed in the dim light of the attic, somehow capturing the light and drawing it in. It looked like one disk was missing though. There was a gap in the design. Emma traced a finger over one of the metal disks.
She quickly pulled her hand back when she felt a strange sensation pass from the bracelet to her finger. In the middle of the metal disk she had touched a black dot appeared. Emma blinked in astonishment as the black dot elongated and twisted across the surface until it had formed into a symbol much like the one on the metal disk Tyler had given her.
Quickly she rubbed the other two disks, watching wide-eyed as symbols appeared on their surfaces as well. For a moment Emma stared at the bracelet, not sure what the symbols meant or what to do with it now. Emma grabbed the box she found the bracelet in and looked to see if there was anything else in there, anything that might explain what she had just seen but the box was empty. Maybe the journal said something about it though. Eyeing the bracelet suspiciously, she replaced it in the box and placed the box on the blanket with the photo.
Emma picked up the journal and studied it carefully, hoping there weren’t going to be any nasty surprises if she opened it. Hard backed brown leather, intricate designs were etched into the cover and along the seam, similar to the ones on the bracelet but subtly different.
When Emma opened it the first thing she noticed was how nice the paper was. High quality, soft, this wasn’t factory made and bulk ordered. Emma didn’t know if she had ever seen anything like it. On the inside written in the same cursive as on the back of the photo was written Alexandra Savage. Her mother. Emma’s jaw dropped when she realized she was opening her mother’s journal. She had wished for years that she had something of her parents. Now she finally did.
Emma eagerly opened to the first page and began reading.
June 25, 1988
Dear Diary,
I feel a little bit silly saying that, like I am eight years old and writing to my imaginary best friend. I guess most people would still consider me a child, I’m only fourteen. The past few weeks have made me feel much older though, and the things I’ve seen…no fourteen year old should have to deal with these things.
Writing in a journal was the grief counselor’s idea, he thinks that writing down our feelings will help my brothers and I cope with what happened. As if writing about it would make things better. I think he’s an idiot.
The Blade thought it was a good idea though so he went out and bought journals for us. I think he was just trying to thin
k of something to do to help. Drake threw his in the fire as soon as The Blade handed it to him. The Blade should have seen that one coming. Drake doesn’t have emotions anymore, just anger. The Blade didn’t seem to care that Drake threw his away. I thought that was strange until I passed his room later I saw he had pulled out his throwing knives and was drawing a target on the front of his journal. I don’t think he’s going to be pouring his heart out into a journal either.
I was going to follow Drake’s example and do something dramatic like throw mine in the lake but when The Blade handed it to me he looked at me with those sad, solemn eyes of his and said, “Please, just try.” I couldn’t stand seeing the sadness in his eyes so I caved and took the journal. He actually managed to look happy for a moment, which in a way makes this worth it.
My brothers and I didn’t used to be so bad at talking about our feelings. Well, Drake was but that’s just who he is. The Blade used to be much more open though. Ever since what happened, we’ve all just kind of withdrew from each other. At first I tried to get the others to talk but after a while it was just easier to shut everyone else out too. I guess the reality of what happened finally sank in. In my better moments I worry about my brothers, I hope they are doing okay. I can never bring myself to ask them though. I guess I’m scared they’ll ask me the same question and I won’t know what to say.
Emma sat in the quiet attic and stared down at the journal in her hands. Alexandra had sounded so sad. Emma placed the journal on the blanket with the other things. Reaching into the box Emma pulled out the newspaper clippings. It was just a few articles about a car crash with a picture of the car. Apparently it had been hit by a semi and spun off into a lake. No bodies had been found but the passengers were presumed dead.
There were also a few articles from 1988 about the mysterious killing of Richard and Kate Savage. It mentioned the family fortune had been divided between their three children with the oldest son being given controlling interest in the family’s company. Emma wasn’t sure what those articles had to do with anything but she placed them back in the box and repacked everything else. She didn’t know how the box had ended up in the attic or if it actually had belonged to her mother but Emma was taking it to her room.
After some careful maneuvering Emma managed to get the box down the ladder without dropping it or falling down herself, a feat she was a little surprised she accomplished. Emma glanced at the clock. 9:50. Kathryn and Steve would be home soon.
Grabbing the box she hurried to her room and hid it in the back of her closet. She didn’t know why but a small voice in the back of her head warned her not to let anyone see her with the box. Going back to the attic Emma took one last look around to make sure it was clean, then she turned off the light and climbed down.
Just as she was closing up the hatch she heard Steve and Kathryn pull into the garage. Emma ran to her room and quickly changed out of her dusty cleaning clothes and into a pair of comfy sweats and a t-shirt. If Kathryn and Steve found out that Emma had cleaned the attic and not Morgan then both she and Morgan would be in big trouble. Emma stuffed the dusty clothes into her hamper and jumped on her bed, turning on her television just as she heard Steve yell.
“Hello? Anyone home?”
“In here!” Emma yelled back.
Emma heard footsteps approach her door, then the door opened and Steve stuck his head into her room.
“You alive?” He asked.
“Yeah,” Emma replied. “It was touch and go for a while but I managed to pull through.”
I’m glad you survived.” Steve said with a warm smile. “Do you know where Morgan is?”
Emma shrugged, looking uninterested. “Do I ever know where Morgan is?”
Steve chuckled. “Good point. Alright, I’ll leave you alone now.” Steve started closing the door but then he hesitated. Sticking his head back into the room he looked at her as though he was choosing his words carefully. “You know Emma, maybe you should go out sometime. You only go through high school once, you should enjoy it.”
Emma laughed. “Is this your way of telling me to get a life?”
Steve shrugged. “There are worse things you could do.”
“I actually have plans to go out tomorrow night.” Emma informed him. “And not just with Amy either.” She added when Steve looked skeptical.
“Oh really? And what are these big plans?” Steve asked, an amused smile on his face.
“I was invited to a party tomorrow night.” Emma said carefully, watching Steve’s face for any hint of disapproval.
Steve raised an eyebrow. “A party, huh?” He narrowed his eyes at her but Emma kept an innocent expression on her face. “All right, but don’t do anything stupid.” He warned.
Emma gave him a mischievous smile. “Me? Do something stupid? Never!”
“Hmph.” Steve grunted, but he was smiling as he shut her door.
Emma smiled to herself as she thought about seeing Jason at the party tomorrow night. Despite the nagging sense of uncertainty she couldn’t deny that the idea of seeing him excited her. It was frustrating wanting to be near someone but feeling so nervous around them that she just wanted to run away.
Her thoughts turned to the box of things she had found in the attic and she looked over at her closet. She had no idea why the box had been hidden in the attic but she wasn’t going to tell Kathryn or Steve that she had found it.
Remembering the bracelet she had found Emma rolled off her bed and hurried over to the closet. Digging through the box she pulled out the bracelet. The symbols still showed clearly on the surface of the metal. Emma pushed herself to her feet and walked over to her desk where she had placed the metal disk Tyler had given her. Emma picked up the loose disk in her right hand, surprised when the metal felt warm to the touch. She was always cold in her room, she wasn’t sure how the metal had gotten so warm.
Emma held the disk and the bracelet side by side. Sure enough, the loose disk matched the other three in the bracelet. There was one empty spot where the loose disk could fit into but Emma didn’t see any way to put them together. On a whim Emma pressed the disk into the empty spot. Light flashed, bright enough to blind her.
Emma dropped the bracelet, pressing the palm of her hands into her eyes. She heard a roaring sound in her ears and swayed on her feet as a major head rush hit her. Emma clutched the back of her desk chair in one hand to keep from falling over. In a moment the dizzy sensation passed and Emma could see again.
The bracelet wasn’t on the desk, it must have fallen onto the floor when she dropped it. Grumbling in annoyance Emma got down on her hands and knees to search under her desk. Whatever that flash of light had been she hoped it wasn’t going to happen again. Pressing her cheek to the floor she could just barely see the bracelet under the side drawers of the desk.
Emma reached her right hand into the space, having to flatten herself against the floor to slide her hand underneath. She felt the tips of her finger barely brush the bracelet. Emma grunted and scooted herself a little closer. She just managed to hook her middle finger over the bracelet to tug it closer to her.
Just as she tried to pull it out she felt something slither over her hand and circle around her wrist. Emma yelped and yanked her arm out from underneath the desk, clawing at whatever had latched onto her wrist with her left hand before she even saw what it was.
The bracelet hung from her wrist, innocently gleaming in her bedroom light. Emma panted in panic, her pulse racing. For a terrifying moment she had thought that some impossible creature like a fairy had latched onto her. Emma tugged at the bracelet, trying to figure out how to take it off but there was no clasp, no opening of any sort.
She tried rolling it off her wrist but it wouldn’t fit over her hand no matter how hard she tugged at it. Emma kept yanking at the bracelet, beginning to panic when she realized she couldn’t get it off. She pulled and clawed until her wrist was sore and throbbing. Then she grabbed a pair of scissors from her desk and trie
d cutting it off but the scissors didn’t even make a mark on the leather.
Next she grabbed a knife and tried sawing it off, but with no better results. It was as though the bracelet was made of titanium. Emma briefly considered breaking into an auto shop for a blowtorch before dismissing the idea. She wasn’t accurate enough with her left hand for a stunt like that.
Emma flopped back on her bed with a grunt, holding her wrist above her head to stare at the bracelet.
“What are you?!?” She muttered at it.
The bracelet didn’t respond and Emma rolled her eyes, dropping her arm back onto the bed. She would have to deal with it later. She was tired and she had a party to get ready for tomorrow.
CHAPTER SIX
The Forgeron Legacy Page 9