EMERSON
We got to the school in less than thirty minutes. All the breathing exercises I did to calm my racing heart down didn't work.
The school was filled with bureau officers when we got there. We had to park the car outside the school because the parking lot was filled with cop cars.
A search for Armani was in full swing.
We'd just burst through the gates when Cheryl grabbed my arm, pulling me to the side.
"Just a sec," she said to my parents.
"Sure. We'll go ask Cara and Ender what's going on. Come on, Darren," Emily said, pulling Darren with her.
"What's wrong?" I asked Cheryl.
"Armani isn't my dragon."
"I know."
"I know you know. That's why I'm here to talk to you. Everyone else thinks I'm his rider."
"What does that have to do with him being missing?"
"Everyone will expect me to find him using the link between us, but we don't have that link. I won't be able to find him, so I was wondering if you could help. The bureau officers aren't close to finding him. Do you by chance know where he is?"
The nightmare flashed through my head, but after what Cheryl said, I wasn't so sure if it was a nightmare.
"I know the link between you two hasn't been developed properly, but can you try?"
"How do I tell where he is? Will I be able to see him and feel what he feels?"
"As time goes on, yeah."
"I think I might know where he is. Is there somewhere particularly cold in this school?"
"I don't know. The basement? But the officers have already checked the basement. He isn't there."
"Let's go see for ourselves. Maybe they missed a spot."
I hoped they missed a spot. If they couldn't find Armani, what were the chances that I would?
"Let's go get the boys to help."
***
ARMANI
I woke up with a throbbing headache, and the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was my mother's face.
"Armani!" Tears fell down her cheeks. "I'm so glad you're awake."
I sat up on the bed, propping my back against the headboard. "What happened?"
"How did you get into that basement? Who took you there?"
"Basement? I don't know what you're talking about."
"We understand. It's another one of your episodes, so you might not remember."
And by episodes, she meant I'd black out for some hours, at times days, and when I finally came to it, I'd find myself in some strange place I had no recollection of going to in the first place.
"How did you find me?" I asked. I usually returned home myself.
"We didn't." I turned to the door where my father stood, disappointment clear on his face. Did I put that there? What the fuck did I do in my hazed state?
"Who did?"
"Your rider did. Your real rider," Dad replied.
Could it be? Did she tell them?
"Real rider? What do you mean by that?"
"You lied to the entire kingdom, son. Cheryl isn't your rider. Emerson is."
She fucking told them after I asked her not to? It was my fault for believing she'd keep her fucking mouth shut.
"What if we weren't able to get hold of Emerson?" Dad continued. "You'd have suffocated to death in that wall."
"Where is she?" I asked, locking my jaw.
"Armani, calm-"
"Where the fuck is she?" I yelled, making my mother jerk back in fear.
I felt like a piece of shit for putting that fear in her, but I couldn't bring myself to apologize in my current state of anger.
"Armani, don't you dare yell at your mother like that. What the fuck is wrong with you?" Dad barked.
"Nevermind. I'll find her myself."
I could still feel her lingering presence in the building, so I knew she was still here. I stormed out of my bedroom, allowing her lavender body wash to lead me to my brother's bedroom.
"I'm glad he's okay, too. You should get some sleep. When you wake up, you can play with him," Emerson said, patting my brother's head.
"I see what the fuck is going on here."
She stiffened when she heard my voice before slowly standing from my brother's bed. She turned on her heels, giving me a small smile.
"You're awake!"
"Armani, whatever you're about to do, stop it," Mom said when she finally caught up with me.
"Why? You don't want me to tell her the truth about how she's a calculating bitch?"
Emerson flinched, but she said nothing in reply.
"Did I not fucking tell you to hide the truth from everyone?"
She looked genuinely surprised. "I didn't tell anyone."
"Of course, you didn't. The crop top you have on did all the telling."
She looked down at herself as if she was just finally realizing what she had on. "You're mistaken. I was having a girl's night with my sister, and we fell asleep around the time we were trying some clothes on. North called and told me you were missing, so I… "
"Why did you come?"
She reared back in shock. "Excuse me."
"You heard me. Why the fuck did you come?"
"Because you were missing." She gave me an 'isn't that obvious?' look. "I didn't think to wear something else."
"Why didn't you? You just had to brandish that mistake on your waist!"
"Armani!" Mom shrieked behind me, but I ignored her.
"Don't for one second think I buy your bullshit excuse. You knew what you were doing when you showed up dressed like that. You were jealous when I announced to the whole school that Cheryl was my rider. That's why you did all of this."
Her eyes blazed with anger. "If I wanted to show everyone this 'mistake' on my waist, I would've done so at school. I wouldn't have waited for the weekend. I didn't fucking know you were going to go missing. I… "
She trailed off, laughing to herself. "You know what? I don't owe you an explanation, Armani. So what if I did this on purpose? I shouldn't have to hide the truth. You're my dragon. I am your rider. What's so bad about me? Why do you not want people knowing I am your rider?" She had taken steps forward, poking me in my chest. "Tell. Me!"
"Everything!" I yelled, sending her step back. "Fucking everything. I do not want you, and I sure as fuck do not like you. Plain and fucking simple. You're pathetic, Emerson. Grow the fuck up. Don't save me, don't look at me, don't want me. It's that easy. I am never going to accept you!"
It tore my heart out to say these things, but I knew she had to hear these things. I didn't want or need her help. I didn't want her to endanger herself all because she was trying to save me from myself.
Hurt flashed in her eyes. "It wasn't that hard to admit how you truly feel, now, was it? I'm good for kissing and fucking, but I'm too pathetic to help you. I would never have come if I knew you didn't want might help. Maybe next time tell your friends not to call me." She swallowed. "The nightmares. I get them, too, you know. I just thought… "
She sucked in a deep breath like she was trying to fight back some tears. When I thought she was about to say more, she moved to the side to address my mother.
"It's getting late. My family must be waiting for me downstairs. Lachlan may or may not have eaten an extra candy bar."
She added the last part to ease the mood in the air, but it did nothing to help.
I resisted the urge to reach for her and tell her I didn't mean everything I just said. I balled my fists before I could go back on my resolve.
"Come on, honey."
Mom led Emerson away. Each step she took away from me felt like she was putting a thousand miles between us, and none of it was on her. It was all my fault. This was what I wanted, but why did it feel like my lungs were closing on me.
"You made Emerson sad," Lachlan said, his little face scrunched up in anger.
"I did."
"She's nice."
"She is," I agreed.
"Why do you not want her help?" He asked. "Mom said she can help you."
"She can't."
Everyone thought my rider would magically solve all the problems, but that could be farther from the truth. I was beyond salvation.