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Emil took a deep breath and reached a shaking hand up to knock on the door. This was the first time he had seen Aunt Flora and Uncle Alba since he left Luin with Marta at the beginning of their journey. Alba opened the door and scowled at him.
“What are you doing here you demonic little brat?”
Emil took a shaking breath and explained about Raine giving everyone time off and the others telling him to come here.
Alba sneered and dragged him into the house. He threw Emil into the table in the middle of the room. “You think you can just come back here and expect us to be sorry? You think we did anything wrong? You’re a freak! We did nothing wrong! We didn’t ask for you! We didn’t want you! You’re a burden.” He raised his fist and punched Emil in the side of his head.
Months of experience with no memories of anything before this kind of treatment had Emil automatically curling into a ball and taking whatever his Uncle threw at him, his body easily remembering and reacting to old muscle memory. The old feeling of helplessness and powerlessness swarmed his mind, taking all rational thought from him. He didn't think of pulling his blade or his fists on the man attacking him, he'd spent two years being trained and taught that he should just curl up and accept this treatment, so that's exactly what he did.
.oOo.
Marta looked around the group, worry now too much to ignore. “Where’s Emil? He’s two days late. He didn’t even show up when we arranged to meet in Altamira.”
Lloyd frowned and looked around. “I’m worried. I don’t know Emil as well as the rest of you but I didn’t take him for the type to stand up Marta or to run away like this. I’m worried something happened.”
Raine shook her head. “Nothing could have happened. He was only going to Luin to see his Aunt and Uncle.”
Zelos stiffened. “Wait... what did you just say?" The laidback, and usually quite carefree, young man was suddenly tense and pale, his eyes widened in fear. "We have to get to Luin. NOW!” He turned and ran out of the inn and down the street. He pulled out a rheaird as soon as it was safe and took to the sky. The others quickly followed suit.
About an hour later they touched down near Luin. Zelos jumped off his rheaird and ran into the city. He grabbed the nearest person by the arm. “Emil’s house. Where is it?”
The boy looked at him suspiciously. “Why do you want to know?”
Zelos glared at him. “He’s a friend and I’m worried. He was supposed to meet us two days ago. Where is his house?”
The boy sighed and pointed at the inn. “Upstairs there.”
Zelos ran to the inn, ran up the steps and kicked the door in without hesitation, the others still followed close behind. He glared at the woman at the table and stalked deeper into the house, looking for Emil’s room. The other’s looked at Flora and apologised for Zelos before they heard the red-headed Chosen call out. Raine ran to where he was calling from and froze in the doorway.
.oOo.
Emil forced his eyes to open and looked at the blurry figure above him. Red... “R-Richter?” he whispered.
“Nah... sorry Emil. Just me.”
“Zelos...”
“Yeah... Emil. Why... why didn’t you fight back? Why did you let him hurt you like this?”
Emil sighed. “I’m... sorry.” He took a few shuddering breaths and felt the spear wobble where it was lodged in the right side of his chest. He was vaguely aware of people talking but he could only hear Zelos. He was the only one close enough for Emil to hear clearly over the dull roar of his slowing heartbeat thundering in his ears.
He felt a sharp pain as Alba’s spear was removed and felt the cool relief of healing spells fly over his body. Too little too late, he knew, but... He sighed in contentment and closed his eyes. At least someone cared.
.oOo.
Marta let tears drop from her eyes and land on the little red orb in her hands... It was surprisingly light, considering the weight it carried. Ratatosk and Emil, both of them here, contained in this tiny little ball. or was Emil there at all? Was everything that made him who he was gone forever now, and only Ratatosk remained?
How could they let this happen?
They were all so concerned about Richter killing Emil that it never crossed their minds that someone else might do it first. Emil always seemed to capable
Zelos sighed from the other side of the fire. It turned out that Emil had told him about how Alba treated him. Zelos could relate, in a way, to bad parents who blamed their kids for something that wasn't their fault.
Why did it have to be like this?
Why did bad things always happen to good people?