Emma

Chapter 30 - Emma needs help

Mike held the phone to his ear, but for the first few seconds, he couldn't understand anything Emma was saying. All he could hear was her crying through the speaker.

"Sob... sob..."

Her breathing came in short, uneven bursts. "Hic... sniff..." She tried to speak, but another sob caught in her throat, swallowing the words before they could come out.

Mike immediately sat up, his expression changing. He pressed the phone tighter against his ear and listened carefully.

"Emma?" he asked. "What's going on? What happened?"

"S-sob... Mike..." Her voice trembled as she tried to calm herself. "I... I don't know..."

Another shaky breath escaped her. "Hic..."

Mike swung his legs off the bed. "Hey, don't cry. Just breathe for a second, okay? Take your time and tell me what happened."

Emma sniffed, but her crying only grew louder.

"Sob... I-I can't..."

Mike's stomach tightened. Something was seriously wrong.

"Emma, I'm here. Just tell me what happened."

The crying continued for a few more seconds before Emma finally managed to force the words out.

"Please... help me. I don't know what to do." Her voice trembled as she struggled to keep herself together. "Just come, Mike. Please."

Mike's brow furrowed. He was already reaching for his clothes.

"Emma, where are you? What happened? Tell me—"

A sudden rustle came through the phone.

Then Emma's voice disappeared.

Mike froze.

"Emma?"

There was a brief scuffle on the other end, followed by the sound of something knocking against a hard surface.

"Give me that."

The voice was sharper, colder, and far more controlled than Emma's.

He knew that voice.

Vanessa.

The crying in the background became muffled, as if someone had pulled the phone away from Emma. Mike's grip tightened around it.

"Vanessa?" he said, his voice hardening. "What the hell are you doing with Emma?"

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then Vanessa let out a quiet, almost mocking breath.

"What....."

Mike's jaw tightened.

"Put Emma back on the phone."

"Why?" Vanessa replied. "So she can keep begging you to come save her?"

Mike stood up, his heart pounding harder with every second.

"Vanessa, I'm not playing games. Where are you?"

A faint sound came from the other end.

"Mike..."

Her voice was barely audible before Vanessa cut her off.

"I said shut up."

Mike's expression darkened.

Something was very wrong.

He grabbed his jacket from the chair and headed for the door without ending the call.

"Vanessa," he said, keeping his voice steady, "if you've done anything to her, you're going to regret it."

A short silence followed.

Then Vanessa laughed softly. "Then you'd better hurry."

The call cut off.

The screen went dark in Mike's hand, leaving him staring at his own reflection for a moment. Emma's trembling voice seemed to linger in his ears, along with the faint sound of her crying.

His phone buzzed. Mike's eyes dropped to the screen.

Vanessa: Come to Emma's apartment. Now.

He slipped the phone into his pocket and moved.

He hurried down the dormitory stairs, taking them two at a time. When he pushed through the front doors, cool night air rushed against his face. The campus had fallen mostly silent.

A few students wandered along the walkways, their voices fading into the distance, while warm light spilled from the dorm windows into the darkness.

Mike barely noticed any of it.

He crossed the campus fast, his shoes striking the pavement as he headed toward the street that led to Vanessa's apartment. His thoughts kept circling back to the call.

Emma had sounded terrified. She could barely finish a sentence without breaking down. Then Vanessa had taken the phone from her and, in a calm voice, told him to come.

But why were they together in the first place?

Mike's face grew tense.

Emma and Vanessa had never seemed close. Mike had rarely, if ever, seen them together on campus. They usually kept their distance from each other, so seeing them together tonight made no sense.

What had happened? His pace quickened.

Whatever was happening, Mike had a bad feeling this was only the beginning.

He reached the edge of campus and turned onto the darker street beyond. He glanced ahead, his pace quickening as the familiar campus lights disappeared behind him.

He had no idea what he was walking into.

But he knew one thing.

He wasn't leaving Emma there alone.

The apartment building came into view under the pale streetlights. Mike pulled out his phone, checked the number again, and shoved it back into his pocket.

He ran up the stairs, taking two at a time. His footsteps echoed through the quiet stairwell as he rushed toward Emma's apartment. When he reached the right floor, He followed the hallway until he found the right door.

For a moment, Mike stood in front of the door.

He raised his hand and knocked.

Knock. Knock.

He waited.

Nothing.

Mike frowned and raised his hand again.

Before he could knock, he heard footsteps coming from inside.

Slow.

Quiet.

They stopped right behind the door.

Mike held his breath.

Click.

The lock turned.

The door opened.

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