Dirty Little Secret

Chapter 8: An Explosion

Emma's POV

    Fear radiating through my body, I pull myself from my frozen state and jump from the bed, dragging Noah behind me. We burst through the bedroom door and across the hall to Amber's room where her and Liam are sleeping.

    "Amber! Liam! Wake up! We've got to get out of here!" I scream to them feeling 3 short vibrations form the phone in my hand. They both struggle to sit up, rubbing the sleep from their eyes and looking at me confused. 

    "What the hell Emma? What is your problem?" Amber demands, her voice rough and groggy sounding.

    "There is no time to explain! We have to get out now or we are all dead!" I scream as I rip the blankets off the bed and grab her hand to pull her up. Reading the fear on my face, she finally gives in and slowly stands from the bed, Liam following her and Noah and I drag them from the apartment. We run across the parking lot to where the Liam's car is parked and as we run, I can still feel the phone vibrating, 6 more vibrations at this point. Just as we reach the car, one last message comes through and a ground shaking explosion knocks us off our feet. Shards of glass and chunks of brick fly everywhere around us and we stay laying on the hot concrete huddled together; four friends fearing for their lives. With ringing ears, I sit up and turn slowly only to see a cloud of thick black smoke and flames where Amber and I's apartment once stood. A sob breaks through my lips as I bring my knees to my chest and I can feel Amber's arms around me.

    "What. Just. Happened?" Liam asks, his voice sounding miles away rather than right beside me. I tear my eyes away from the destruction in front of me and look at him and Amber. Another sob rocks my frame as I look at the confusion and fear on their faces. Because of me, the people I hold closest to my heart almost lost their lives and one of them lost everything she has worked so hard for. Guilt consumes me as I stare in their eyes and try to find my voice through all my crying.

    "Carla is what happened." I manage to choke out before the tears come in a fresh wave, flowing freely down my cheeks. Noah's arms wrap tight around me and I feel his lips press against the top of my head.

    "Emma got a bunch of weird texts a little bit ago and it's what led to us getting y'all and running." Noah answers their unspoken question and holds up my phone showing them the messages. I watch as realization crosses their faces as they read through the messages. By this time, the parking lot is full of people from the apartment complex, standing around, watching the flames lick at the sides of the building, praying that they don't spread any further. In the distance the sound of sirens fills the air and in a matter of seconds the roadside and parking lot is full of firetrucks, police cars, and a couple ambulances. Firefighters immediately begin trying to put the flames out and police begin taping off the area around our apartment to keep people out.

    "You need to call your dad before the police get over here." Amber whispers in my ear to keep from all the people around us from hearing. "You know how much he hates the cops dealing with you." Sighing, I take my phone from Noah's hand and send images of the texts to him before calling him.

    "Emma Lynn?! Are you okay sunshine? What happened? I just heard about a fire at your address! What's going on?" he demands, his voice filled with panic.

     "Did you get my pictures?" I asked, detached now from the situation. 

    "I'm looking at them now." he pauses and I can hear his breathing quicken. "If the police ask, you saw some kids outside playing with fireworks and then you saw flames and ran. I will have someone there in 15 minutes to pick you up and then someone else will be there to handle the firework cover up. I love you sunshine and I'll see you soon." the line goes dead before I can reply and I look up just as a couple of officers walk over and start questioning everyone standing outside. All attention turns to Amber and I as our neighbors tell the officers that is was our apartment. I give the officers the story my dad told me to give them and get permission to leave. I give them my information to be contacted later and we all climb into Liam's car. I shoot my dad a quick text and tell him to have his driver pick me up at the gas station across the street from the apartments. Liam drives us over there and parks, Amber turning from the front seat to look at me.

    "So do you want to tell us what the lie was about?" she questions me.

    "It's what my dad told me to say. He said something about wanting to handle the witch himself." I lie quickly on the last part. "I'll ask him more about what he thinks is going on when I get to his office. For right now though, do y'all think we could stay with y'all for a couple days till we find something else?" I ask Liam and then turn to Noah to see what he says.

    "Of course." they both say in unison. "Noah and I were actually talking the other day about finding a place for all four of us if y'all were interested, so this kind of works out." Liam says, reaching over and taking Amber's hand in his.

    "Thank you both. I will make sure everything is covered for all of us and Amber, I will replace everything you lost, I promise. I feel so bad about this. If that woman wasn't such a psychopath, then we wouldn't be in this situation. I hate myself for this happening to y'all."  I ramble on, my guilt taking over again.

    "Shut up woman." Amber says reaching back with her free hand and taking my hand. "What she did is not your fault and we are here and alive because you acted fast and saved us, so stop with all this s**t and let's just be thankful for our lives." I squeeze her hand just as I see my dad's driver pull up. 

    "That's my ride." I say, pulling my hand from Amber's and kissing Noah on the cheek. "I'll see y'all back at y'alls place and I'll let y'all know what my dad says and if I hear from the officers. I love y'all." I say as I climb from the backseat of the car and walk the short distance to the waiting car. Moving like a robot, just going through the motions, still in shock. Closing the door behind me, I turn to buckle myself and see my dad sitting in the seat beside me, his face wrinkled in frustration.

    "Hey daddy." I say quietly, scooting across the seat to sit closer to him. His arms wrap around me immediately and I feel safe and protected here with him. The tears begin flowing again, soaking his shirt.

    "Hush now, sunshine. I've got you and I promise to get this taken care of." he whispers into my ear as he rubs calming circles on my back.

    "Why is this happening daddy?" I cry out, a sob breaking through.

    "I don't know sunshine, but it's going to come to a stop. I promise you that. Just take a deep breath for me now and we'll talk more when we get home." he pulls me closer to him, laying my head in his lap and continues to rub circles on my back. The next thing I know I'm waking up in my childhood bedroom, the smell of grilled cheese filling the room.