CHAPTER4
1361 Words
Emma's POV
My entire body went Cold.
The rooftop Suddenly felt too Small.
The wind whipped through my hair as I Stared at the man Standing inches from a three-Story drop.
My heart hammered So violently against my ribs it hurt.
"Oh my God..."
Noah Stopped beside me.
His face was ghostly Pale.
"Ethan!"
No response… Not even a flinch.
Ethan Continued moving.
His eyes were open but empty and lost.
Like he wasn't really here.
Like his body had wandered onto the roof while his mind remained trapped Somewhere else.
Jake Cursed loudly.
Liam looked ready to be Sick.
Nobody moved… Nobody knew what to do.
Because one wrong move Could Send Ethan over the edge.
And everybody knew it.
My Pulse thundered.
Think, Emma.
Think.
The executives had told me about the Sleepwalking.
The band had told me about the hotel balcony..
But hearing about it and Seeing it were two Completely different things.
This wasn't Some Celebrity inconvenience.
This wasn't a quirky habit and it’s life-threatening.
Ethan took another Step.
Half his foot hung over empty air.
A Collective gasp Swept through the rooftop.
"No."
The word escaped me before I realized I'd Spoken.
If he moved another inch—
No… I refused to think about it.
I Carefully Stepped forward.
Jake immediately grabbed my arm.
"What are you doing?"
His voice was low and urgent.
I Swallowed.
"I don't know."
His eyes widened. "You don't know?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
There was Silence because nobody did.
I Slowly approached Ethan.
Every muscle in my body felt tight.
The distance between us Seemed endless.
The wind howled around us.
My Palms grew damp.
"Ethan." I Called.
Nothing.
"Ethan."
Still nothing…
Noah held his breath.
Liam looked terrified.
Jake looked ready to tackle everyone in Sight.
I took another Careful Step.
"Ethan."
His fingers twitched and hope flickered inside me.
Maybe he Could hear me.
"Ethan, it's okay."
My voice Softened… Like Speaking to a frightened Child.
"You need to Come back."
For one awful Second I thought it wasn't working.
Then his head tilted Slightly..
"That's right."
I kept my voice Steady.
"Come back."
The wind lifted his dark hair.
Moonlight illuminated his face.
And for the first time, I Saw the pain.
Not the arrogant rock star. Not the Sarcastic jerk, just raw Pain.
His expression twisted.
Like he was trapped inside a nightmare.
Like he was fighting Something invisible.
Something terrifying.
"No..."
The word Came from him.
I froze.
Everyone froze.
Ethan never wakes up, he never Speaks anytime this happens, according to the band.
But now he was..
"No."
The word Came again… Stronger this time.
His face tightened.
Fear flashed across it.
What the hell was he dreaming about?
"Ethan."
I took another Step toward him.
I was Close enough now.
Close enough to see the tension in his jaw.
Close enough to hear his uneven breathing.
Close enough to reach him.
Then Ethan moved toward the edge all of a Sudden.
My heart Stopped.
"No!"
I lunged and everything happened at once.
A Scream and the rush of wind.
My fingers Closed around Ethan's wrist just as his foot Slipped.
For one horrifying Second his body tilted forward.
The world Seemed to Stop.
Then I Pulled hard… Very hard.
Every muscle Screamed.
Pain Shot through my Shoulder but I refused to let go.
Not after Coming this far.
Not after watching him Stand on the edge of death.
"Ethan!" I Screamed for the last time.
His body jerked and his eyes flew open.
His eyes looked Confused and for a Split Second he Simply Stared at me.
Then realization Crashed into him and horror followed.
His gaze Shifted down over the edge and his face was drained of Color immediately.
I felt him go Completely still.
He was Shocked himself.
Noah and Jake rushed forward and together we dragged him away from the ledge.
The moment he reached Solid ground, he Collapsed onto his knees breathing hard.
The rooftop fell Silent.
Nobody spoke. Nobody moved.
The only Sound was Ethan's ragged breathing.
"What happened?" He finally talked.
His voice was hoarse, Confused and vulnerable.
Nobody answered immediately.
Because honestly?
How do you answer that?
Ethan looked around.
At Noah, Liam, Jake then me.
Understanding Slowly dawned on his face.
His expression Changed and Confusion became horror.
Horror became anger.
And anger—
Well… Anger was apparently his Comfort zone.
He Shot to his feet.
"What the hell was everyone thinking?"
I blinked.
"You almost fell off a roof."
He Pointed at me. "You touched me."
I Stared.
"And that is your Concern right now?"
"It Should be yours."
My mouth fell open.
"Noah." I Called and turned toward the blond guitarist.
"Is he always this impossible?"
Noah looked torn between laughing and Crying.
"Pretty much."
"Good to know."
Ethan glared.
I glared right back.
Somewhere behind us Jake Snorted.
Apparently even he thought Ethan was being ridiculous.
For a moment nobody Spoke.
Then Ethan looked at me and for the briefest second, I Saw fear in his eyes again.
He knew how Close he'd Come and it terrified him.
Then just as quickly as it appeared, It vanished.
The walls went back up and the armor returned.
"I'm going to bed."
He turned away.
"No argument there," I muttered.
Noah laughed.
Liam Covered a Smile.. Jake outright grinned.
Ethan Shot me one last glare before disappearing through the rooftop door.
The atmosphere inside the mansion felt quieter afterward.
The band members looked exhausted, relieved and Shaken all at once.
Noah Collapsed onto a Couch.
"That was so Close."
Nobody disagreed.
Liam rubbed his face.
"I thought we were going to lose him."
The room fell silent.
Because we'd all thought it.
Even me.
Jake Suddenly looked at me…
Something had Changed in his expression.
The Suspicion wasn't Completely gone but it wasn't as Strong anymore.
"Thank you."
The words Surprised me.
Apparently they Surprised him too.
He looked uncomfortable Saying them.
I Smiled.
"You're welcome."
Noah Pointed dramatically.
"Did Jake just express gratitude?"
Jake flipped him off.
Noah looked delighted.
"Somebody write this down."
For the first time that night, laughter filled the room.
And Somehow it eased the tension a little.
Later after everyone had gone to bed, I Couldn't Sleep.
Every time I Closed my eyes, I Saw Ethan Standing at the edge of that roof.
The image refused to leave me.
Finally, I gave up and left my room.
The mansion was Silent.
Moonlight Spilled through the enormous windows.
Everything felt Strangely Peaceful.
Which was ironic, Considering the Chaos earlier..
As I wandered down the hallway, I noticed a light Coming from a Partially open door.
Ethan's room…
I hesitated then frowned.
The light wasn't Supposed to be on.
Curiosity got the better of me and Slowly, I Pushed the door open.
The room was empty…
It was huge, elegant and Surprisingly neat.
A guitar rested near the window.
Music Sheets Covered part of a desk.
And Sitting on the floor was a Small Stack of Papers.
Probably knocked over during the Chaos.
I knelt to gather them…
Most were Song lyrics, Schedules and notes.
Then one yellowed newspaper Clipping Slipped free.
I froze.
The Paper looked old… Very old.
The edges were worn and folded.
My eyes drifted to the headline.
And my blood ran Cold.
LOCAL BOY SURVIVES TRAGIC CAR ACCIDENT THAT CLAIMS MOTHER'S LIFE
Below the headline was a Photograph.
A young boy, maybe ten years old.
He has a dark hair and a blue eyes.
There was no mistaking him.
It was Ethan.
My breath Caught… I quickly Ccanned the article.
The words blurred together…
“Mother died instantly and young Ethan Knight Survives.”
My Chest tightened Painfully.
Suddenly everything made Sense.
The nightmares. The fear.
The Pain hidden beneath the arrogance.
I Stared at the Clipping unable to look away, unable to stop reading.
Then a floorboard Creaked behind me.
The Sound Sliced through the Silence.
My heart jumped into my throat.
I turned around Slowly and found Ethan Standing in the doorway Staring directly at the newspaper Clipping in my hands.
- Writer
