The Casanova's Class Clown

Chap. 20: Get Through This

GET THROUGH THIS...

The questioning took an hour to finish.

Emma honestly had very few information to give them, and she already knew about the recent attacks on sophomores around the area, and she already told them she'd be careful, but they still wouldn't let her go home. She was too important now, they said.

She was now part of a serial killing.

She felt a fear she never knew existed, and yet, she couldn't bring herself to show them. The realization just washed over her like scalding liquid, but she felt naked, and at the time, she thought that if she moved even the slightest bit, they'd see her exposed, vulnerable, and she didn't want that.

She had no idea why she wouldn't want it. They were the police, they didn't know her personally and vice versa, and they were probably used to people breaking down on them when they find out they were a part of a serial killing, but she didn't want to show them her vulnerability, she didn't want anyone to see her vulnerable, even in the most understandable times.

Everyone except him.

She gave herself a mental slap. Now was not the time to think about such things.

"Ma'am?"

She looked up at the investigator looming at the other end of the table.

"You're friend's waiting for you outside."

"I can see them?" Her voice cracked, and then she realized she was holding her breath, so she breathed. "Can they come in here? I don't think I can stand yet."

The officer nodded understandingly, then walked toward the door. "They'll be here in a few minutes."

And the door closed shut.

A few minutes. That was all the time she had to collect herself and try to ease their worries. That was all the time she had to get them to believe that they shouldn't be scared or troubled. That was all the time she had to make them realize that she was fine even though she wasn't.

Kat came in first.

Her tears cascaded down her cheeks.

"Oh, Emma." She heard the wallflower whisper as she closed the door behind her and walked toward her in long strides. She held her head in her hands and gave her a hug, letting her cry on her shoulder.

But Emma didn't want to cry. Heck, she didn't know what she wanted anymore. She sure didn't want to cry on Kat though. Her friend had in just as hard a time as she did. So she tried to keep her sobs back, only letting her tears stream but her mouth staying shut. It was hard, painful even, but she was determined, and she succeeded.

Kat let go when she leaned back, her look asking if the class clown would be all right.

She didn't know how to answer, so she shrugged. "I don't know what's going on anymore." She sniffed. "All this seems like a dream; a really, really bad dream. I can't believe any of this is actually happening."

"Did they tell you anything?" Kat asked silently. "What you should do next or where you should go?"

She glanced up at the CCTV on the corner of the room, then looked back at Kat and shook her head. "I think they're planning to let me stay here until everything cools down. Maybe you too."

"But what about Lucy?"

She shrugged. "She should be here too, but I don't know. I tried asking about her but they kept turning the subject back to who I think would want me dead."

The word sent a shiver down their spines.

Emma shook her head. "There was no point in fighting, so I tried as best as I could to answer, which I guess wasn't much use either since I don't know anyone who'd want to kill me."