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Emma swung her feet under the dining table as she watched Tracy screw some parts into what seemed to be an arm. Her friend couldn’t find the right tools, so Emma had lent her some from her own toolbox. Curious, she stayed to watch Tracy work and to keep her company. She asked tons of questions, but she could tell Tracy didn’t mind talking about her project. She could never make something the way Tracy did, but just learning about the process was fascinating!
A creak from the old floorboards warned them that someone was coming, and they waited for the person to come in. At this time, most of the other survivors were discussing strategy in the library or resting from their games, but she knew that sometimes, they just wanted a snack.
She could remember many times where she’s snuck into the kitchens behind the dining room just to get a bowl of apple slices. Apples are her favourite snack, they always reminded her of Emily. She loved eating them with her, joking that they keep her away.
As she got lost in thoughts about Emily, the person stepped in, holding a letter with that familiar red wax seal. It wasn’t anyone Emma has ever seen around the manor before. He was a bit ratty looking and disheveled. He probably would’ve been around her height, if he wasn’t hunched over from the weight of his chain over his neck. He wore a prison uniform, and one of his eyes was swollen shut. He looked like he was constantly in pain, and Emma just wanted to drag him to Emily.
“Greetings. I’m pro—My name is Luca. Luca Balsa. Do you know where…” he looked down at his letter, “Where room 207 might be? I’d like to drop off my things.”
So he was new. The owner never told anyone when new survivors came, but Emma liked the surprise. She hopped out of her chair to greet him properly.
“Oh, welcome to the manor! I’m Emma, the gardener,” she said while sticking her hand out for a handshake, “and she’s Tracy, the mechanic!”
The shy girl at the table gave a little wave and shrunk into her seat. Emma was fine to do the talking, she knew she could make friends with almost anyone.
“Ah, I am—was an inventor.”
Tracy had perked up at that statement. Maybe she’d find someone to share her passion with!
“So that’s your role! Do you know what your skill in the game is?” asked Emma, “Oh! And I’d love to give you a tour of the ma—aaHH!”
Luca had firmly taken her hand accepting the handshake. She was fine with that. But the electricity that shot through her body took her to another place. She strapped down, next to a large machine, trying to struggle free from the unforgiving leather. In her left hand she clutched a doll that the nurses always tried to remove, but her grip was stronger than their will. There were strange attachments all over her body, she didn’t know what they did, but they brought her so. Much. Pain.
Just one more, Lisa, you’ll be all fixed afterwards.
She knew they were lying. It was never one more. She fought, the nurse coming back with reinforcements. There were hands, and they were all over her!
“Emma! Emma, are you okay?”
She was pulled out of the scene by Tracy’s voice, shaken and confused. Had that really happened?
Tracy had rushed to her side, and Luca was trying to pull his hand away, her grip crushing his fingers.
“Oh! That was quite a shock,” she laughed nervously, her head still swimming, “I… I need to go find… uh, Tracy! Could you show Mr. Balsa around? Maybe he’ll have tips for your robot… I’ll be with Miss Emily.”
And she left for her angel’s room. She stumbled as she walked, feeling phantom jolts of electricity. Emily would make the bad feelings go away! She always did, even when she was in- her head hurt. Something was trying to break through memories and she fought it, pushing it down. There was no point thinking about the past.
Even though her thoughts were a mess, her feet still led her to Emily’s room, having traveled to the place so many times before. Her hands trembled against the knob, unable to get the door open. Her eyes felt sore, tears welling up, blurring her vision. Useless! She was so useless, and sick, and she could never do anything right. That’s what they always told her, when the treatments never worked. It was always her fault. She never tried hard enough to get better.
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Emily was writing in that enforced diary when she heard strange noises at her door. Someone was struggling at the knob, but at the first sounds of an all too familiar sobbing, she knew who it would be.
Quickly, she opened the door to the collapsed mess that was Emma. She hadn’t seen Emma like this since… Taking a deep breath to steady her pulse, she stopped following this train of thought. She could fix this, she had too. With some coaxing, she got Emma to stand up just enough to bring her to the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Emily asked, her doctor instincts kicking in as she grabbed her file on Emma and a pen. Are your symptoms still persisting?
“I’m— there was a new survivor… he shocked me, I scared him… I think I remembered sparks… and so much pain... it can’t be real…” she hiccuped, tears still running.
Emily’s grip on her pen tightened. She couldn’t remember that much, could she? All that time avoiding the past. She couldn’t move or Emily would shatter and all that remained would be Lydia. Still, she gave a comforting smile through her own panicked thoughts. Hopefully Emma wouldn’t see her trembling hands or the fear in her own eyes.
She could control the situation. She could make her calm.
“Emma, breathe with me.”
She sat next to Emma on the bed and offered her hands out to her. Emma took them, and locked eyes with Emily, taking calming breaths together. The tears kept flowing, but her inhales were a little less shaky. Good.
“Tell me more about the memory.”
Emma gripped her hands tighter as she described the feeling of being tied down.
“You were there, you know? Everyone else was faceless, but I clearly saw you.”
Emily gripped back, alarmed. She knew?
“I’ve never met you before the manor.”
Emily wondered if Emma could feel her pulse speed up. She had already lied to her so many times before. Why was it so hard now?
“I know, but you were there, operating the scary machine. It was so real…”
“It’s not. And you know I just wanted you better, right? Everything I do is to make you whole again.”
Emma nodded and gave a watery smile, “I know you wouldn’t do that to me. There wasn’t even a Miss Dyer. You told me it was going to be ok. I believe you. ”
She pulled Emma into her chest, ignoring the tears that soaked into her shoulder. I love you so much. I will fix you.
They cuddled for a while, before a knock came from the door. Emily stood up to see who interrupted and it was Victor with a note.
She looked down at the note, “It’s the new survivor... They’re waiting in the library to meet everyone. Are you ok with going?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s a new friend!”
Emily frowned, “Wasn’t this the person you met?”
“No, but I’d love to meet them!”
“Emma... what were you doing before we cuddled?” Emily probed gently, hoping that she could avoid Emma’s past memories. She held her breath as Emma thought.
“Well, I was with Tracy… then I was here. Why are you asking?”
“It’s… it’s nothing. Let’s just go meet the new survivor,” Emily gave a pause before continuing, “and be careful.”
Emma left first, waiting outside for her, but Emily pulled out Emma’s file and quickly scribbled “memory loss” under the date. She knew this would be a step back in her treatment progress, but she couldn’t help but give a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t have to risk Emma remembering their tangled past.
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The new survivor was sitting in an armchair while everyone fought to explain what they knew about the manor.
“—stay away from my magnets.”
“Woah, you could be nicer you know, he’s new here! Why don’t you tell him something more useful? Like avoiding the basement, it’s not that hard to give useful tips.”
“Emma!”
They had just entered when the new survivor spotted them. Emma was startled, he was ratty looking, and she was sure she hadn't seen him around before. How did he know her name?
“Hey? Who are you?”
“I want to apologize for earlier, I should have warned—you are Emma, right?”
“Yeah…” Emma furrowed her brows, she didn’t know what ‘earlier’ he was talking about. What was he apologizing for? Did she do something?
“I regret not informing you sooner, there’s a current running through my body, and it usually is not a problem. Although, something with this manor is making it… excitable. Oh, and Tracy is a wonderful tour guide, and she has given me so many wonderful insights about the manor.”
Emma looked at Tracy, who gave a small thumbs up. She was so confused, why did he tell her about Tracy? She wasn’t about to pass up the chance of making a new friend though, so she stuck her hand out.
“I forgive you for whatever happened earlier! It’s nice to meet you!”
She thought he was kind of strange, speaking so properly, but with the oddest pauses in his sentences. The way he dressed didn’t match his speech at all, but she knew you couldn’t judge a book by its cover.
“Ah, I don’t think—” Luca started.
But Emily was already beside her, pulling her hand back with a concerned look on her face.
“It’s all good. I’m Emily Dyer, I’m the doctor here. What was your name again?”
“Forgive me for not introducing myself, there are so many people in the Manor. I am Luca Balsa, and I believe I am an inventor.”
Emma watched as Emily looked at him so clinically. She seemed stiff, the same way she acted around Mr. Pierson and Mr. Riley.
“It’s nice to meet you. Welcome to the manor,” said Emily with a polite distance to her words.
Tracy had wandered next to Emma as Emily began explaining her skill to Luca and the conversation in the room picked up again. She looked so excited, eyes bright and fiddling with the handle of her green toolbox. She handed it back to Emma.
“You’re all good now! I was kinda worried, but I guess Miss Dyer can really work magic, huh. Here, you can have your tools back, I’m finished with what I needed! I got so much done, thanks to Mr. Balsa, he had so many good tips!”
“Oh that’s great! Haha, I’m actually not too sure what happened. I don’t really remember… would you mind telling me?”
“Of course not! So, Mr. Balsa came in while we were, well, while I was working on my robot and you lent me your tools and—”
“Tracy? Can I have Emma back? She needs to rest a bit.”
Emily had finished talking with Luca and came back looking a bit unhappy. Automatically, she put a hand on Emma’s back and escorted her out of the door. After telling Emma to wait at the door, she headed back in to talk to Tracy. Emma knew it was bad, but she couldn’t help but eavesdrop.
“Tracy, next time she asks, just give something vague or brush it off. As her doctor, it’s better if she doesn’t remember. Part of her prescription.”
Emily returned soon after, and the both of them headed towards the garden.
“Why can’t we stay? I wanted to get to know Mr. Balsa! He looks like he’s interesting!”
“It’s better if you keep your distance, it’ll help your condition.”
Emma pouted, “Fine, but I’ll still want to be friends with him!”
Emily sighed. I know you will.
“Just be careful of his electricity, okay?”