Okay, time for the first chapter of my Clock Tower story. Once again, this is one of my first fanfictions so any constructive criticism will be appreciated. I hope you enjoy reading and I am able to create a very worthy Clock Tower experience.

I do not own Clock Tower, any music, books, brands or lyrics that appear in this story. I only half-own Emily. I say half because she's an O.C. replacement for Alyssa.

Chapter One

Emily's P.O.V.

The flight had been a long one, and I was beyond ready to disembark by the time I and Uncle Gotts arrived. One can only read "Of Mice and Men" so many times before one becomes bored, and I tried to pass the time listening to music on my MP3 player or sleeping. I wish I could have talked to Bates because he knows what I'm going through. I mean in a twisted way, they were his parents too. The only reason I didn't is because it worries Uncle Gotts. I'm not stupid. I AM wearing my Amulet and I have no intentions of ever taking it off. But instead I did my best to escape within my book and music.

After we arrived and I handed my MP3 player for Uncle to store in his pocket, Uncle Gotts gathered my bags for the move while talking about my Aunt Helen and her daughter Jennifer. I wasn't really paying attention to the details and soon we left the airport, took a taxi the rest of the way there and eventually took our first steps into the town of Redson. Redson... The town the Aunt I've never met lived...my new home...

Home...

It has been one month since the fire and no one STILL has any idea who did it or why. Uncle Gotts tried to help me, he really did, but I feel like I'm only happy when I'm doing something to escape from reality. Gaming, Reading, Sketching, Writing, Sleeping (I do a lot of sleeping.) and listening to my MP3 player. The only way I've been able to really deal with the loss of my parents was by talking to Bates. I don't trust him but... he's been surprisingly caring about the whole ordeal, in his own way of course. He hasn't asked me to remove the Amulet once.

Thinking on it now, I'm reminded about just how fresh my parents death really is. It feels like a whole other era. One where I could smile. One where I wasn't alone. Mom...Daddy...

'Do not fret Emily, everything will sort itself out soon enough.'

'Yeah sure, the crazy girl going to the family she's never met. What could possibly go wrong?'

'Everything? Nothing? Pointless worrying will solve nothing.'

'Doesn't really help my current situation Bates. Your half the reason I'm in this mess!"

'Those bastards had it coming. Besides, had you dealt with them I wouldn't have needed to step in.'

'They were just bullies Bates! Every school has them! They were jerks yeah, but they didn't deserve to die!'

'This conversation is pointless. Quit bitching and start walking, I believe our "Uncle has been trying to get your attention...'

I look up quickly to see my Uncle has stopped several feet ahead of me, with a worried expression on my face. He knows I've been talking to Bates again. Uncle says that every time I talk to Bates, I get this empty look in my eyes and stop reacting to outside stimuli until we're done speaking. Part of what made Uncle force me into this move is that my eyes have started to look empty ALL the time. Probably a side effect Bates being so much easier to talk to now.

"Sorry Uncle, what did you say? I was...thinking."

'Nice excuse...'

'Shut it Bates.'

"I was just saying that Helen called and wanted to eat lunch with us before taking you home. Is that all right with you?", he said giving me that same worried look.

"Yes Uncle, that's fine."

Uncle nods at me and we continue on our way to the meeting point, about a block away from the airport, though Uncle continues to watch me when he thinks I'm not looking. Deciding I would rather not worry him further, I begin to take in my surroundings. Redson seems to be a fairly small town, somewhere between rural and urban, and seems to be fairly self sufficient. I can see many family owned stores and farms in the distance and the entire town seems to be surrounded by a rather large amount of trees. In the very distance, I can see a fairly small, yet still impressive, mansion. My Aunts mansion. My new home... My feeling of apprehension grows.

"Uncle?"

"Yes Em?"

"Does my Aunt...know about Bates? About what happened? Does she know I'm crazy?"

"You are not crazy Em.", said Uncle with a very sharp tone. Causing me to give him a rather bored expression. I know I'm crazy. I've pretty much accepted it.

Seeing my look, he sighed and continued. "Yes, she knows about Bates...and about what happened."

"And what does she think about this?", I asked.

"Don't worry Em. Teach is a good sort."

Yeah that doesn't answer my question Uncle. And its not like it will just be me and Helen.

"What about her daughter? Does she know? It's her home too."

Uncle patted my shoulder. "Jennifer has seen her fair share of bad in her life. She knows what it's like to lose loved ones. And yes, she knows too. You'll get along. I promise."

CLOCKTOWERCLOCKTOWERCLOCKTOWERCLOCKTOWER

Eventually we arrived at our destination and were greeted by the sight of a Blue Mini-Van with two woman leaning against the side. The oldest woman, who seemed to be in her mid 40's or early 50's, had blonde hair that came down to her shoulders, kind looking icy blue eyes and dressed in a blue businesslike suit, matching blue slacks and black dress shoes. My Aunt I assume...

The youngest woman, who seemed to be in her late 20's or early 30's, had raven black hair that came down to the small of her back. Her dark eyes were more guarded than her companion and she would look around often as if something would pop out at any second. She wore a dark red dress that came down to her knees and black heeled boots that went up to her knees. This must be Jennifer.

Upon seeing us my Aunt grinned. "About time Gotts, I was just about to send a search party!"

"You could have waited for us at the Airport you know teach?", grumbled my Uncle with a smile.

My Aunt laughed. "In New York? We never would have found you Gotts, this was easier."

"Easier but not cheaper!", laughed Gotts.

"Oh hush, we payed for that airplane ticket you know.", scolded my Aunt with a smile.

"Eh, details., said my Uncle sheepishly.

My Aunt looked over at me and smiled kindly. "Is this Emily?"

I felt my Uncle push me forward. "Yep, don't let her clothes trick you. She's usually a lot more messy!"

I groaned quietly. "Uncle..."

Not like he was wrong though. Typically I wore random t-shirts, tank tops, shorts and skirts. Nothing uncomfortable or restricting. I also typically just let my hair lie however it wants to. Today though, I was dressed in a somewhat restricting black dress and white open toe heels and I had my brown hair pulled into a ponytail. Call it an urge to make a good first impression on my Aunt. Though that urge was uncomfortable and was making my feet hurt.

I must have looked nervous, because my Aunt came over put her hands on my shoulders. "You don't have to worry so much Emily, we don't bite!"

I tried to smile. "Sorry...It's just...Are you...okay with me staying here? You do know about my...situation...right?"

Aunt Helen smiled. "Yes, we heard. Don't worry Jennifer and I have spoken about this and we've agreed to take you in."

Jennifer smiled at me and nodded, though I could tell the smile was a bit forced. "Yep. We have. So, who's hungry? I know this really nice diner just down the road. How's that sound?"

My stomach answered for me, making me laugh. "I'd like that...Thanks.

CLOCKTOWERCLOCKTOWERCLOCKTOWERCLOCKTOWER

Turns out, Helen isn't so bad to be around. She knows about Bates and still treats me like I'm normal. Uncle Gotts was right, Helen's a good person. Jennifer though...

On our way to the diner, Jennifer kept glancing at me from the rear view mirror of the mini-van and now that we're at the diner, she seems to be watching me like I'm about to attack or something which... I guess makes sense.

I try to be as quiet as possible, only speaking when spoken to, and eventually we are approached by a waitress in her early 20's with curly red hair.

"Hey Helen! Hey Jennifer! You want the usual?", said the overly chirpy waitress before she noticed my Uncle and me. "Oh! Who's this?

Helen smiled kindly at the woman. "The usual's fine, this is my old friend Gotts and my niece Emily. Emily, Gotts, this is Becky. My niece is staying with us for now on."

Uncle Gotts smiled what I bet he thought was a charming smile before shaking her hand and introducing himself as "Detective Gotts" as I just smiled, slightly embarrassed by my Uncle's obvious flirting.

"I didn't know you had a niece! Don't worry honey! Redson may not be much but it's a nice town. Everyone here is really friendly! I lost my keys once and they were back in my hands within the hour!", said the possibly ditzy waitress. "So what'll you have honey?"

"Um...I'd like the Cheeseburger, fries and sweet tea please."

"Gotcha", she said writing my order on the her notepad. "What about you gramps?"

I don't know what did it, Uncle being called Gramps or the way his face fell. All I know is start to laugh, really hard. I laughed harder than I have in a whole month. Other than my laughing, I can hear both my Aunt snickering and Jennifer giggling.

"Yes er..Steak please.", Uncle says sheepishly."And Water"

"Got it gramps! I'll have those right out! Welcome to Redson Emily!" she says as she leaves.

Soon after, I'm eating my cheeseburger with my new family. Helen eating a steak similar to Gotts and Jennifer eating a chicken salad. The table is filled with joking and laughter. And Becky, who I've decided is my new best friend, keeps calling my Uncle, Gramps. Maybe Bates is right. Maybe everything will turn out okay.

'The dark haired one is still staring at us...'

'Her name is Jennifer and...I've noticed.'

'If she stares at us any longer I'll stab her eyes out.'

'Shut up Bates. She's just cautious, as she should be. You just threatened to stab her eyes out!'

'Maybe I'm just sick of people staring at us like we're a fucking lab experiment.'

'Because of what you did!'

'This again? I dealt with problem you were to weak to solve.'

'Shut up.'

' Just like in the fire. If I hadn't have taken control, we would have burned along with our parents.'

'I said...Shut. Up.'

'Just another fucking problem you were too weak to solve,'

'SHUT UP!'

"You okay Em?"

My Uncle's voice snaps me back to reality only to see both my Aunt and Uncle giving me worried looks and Jennifer just a hard stare. I look down and see that I had been squeezing my burger a bit to roughly which had caused part of it to break off and become mush. Dropping the burger I begin to clean my hands on my napkin.

"Sorry...", I say quietly.

My Uncle shares a look with Helen. "Is it Bates? Is he speaking again?"

I wish this had never happened to me. I wish I was normal. Maybe then I could have been a daughter my parents could be proud of. Maybe I would have actually had friends. I could be a girl Jennifer wouldn't have to be cautious of, I could be a girl Uncle wouldn't have had to watch. A girl who wouldn't be ashamed to meet her Aunt.

Maybe my Daddy and Mom would still be alive...

When I finally answer my voice is shaky, I can already feel the tears in my eyes as I keep my head down. I don't want to see the disappointment in my Uncle's eyes, the fear in my Aunt's or Jennifer's pointed stare. "Yeah..."

A moment passes and no one speaks. I can hear Bates trying to talk to me again and I'm trying my best to ignore him but it's hard. Eventually I can't take it anymore and some part of me snaps. My parent's death, my condition... all of it. I just start crying. Bates I can tell feels terrible. He knows he's hurt me and is trying to apologize but that just makes me cry harder. I'm pathetic...

I feel a hand lay itself upon mine reassuringly and I'm surprised to see that it is Jennifer who is giving me a sad smile. I look to see my Aunt giving me the same smile and my Uncle who is handing me a clean napkin to dry my eyes with. I'm confused. My Uncle, I understand but...

"Aren't you two afraid of me?... I'm..."

Jennifer squeezed my arm comfortingly. "Trust me. We've seen worse things than a unique teenage girl."

I see Aunt Helen and Uncle Gotts share a look. I sense a story there.

Her reassurances calm me and I give my new family the greatest smile I can possibly give. Maybe this crazy girl can actually make a home here.

END OF CHAPTER ONE

Hello guys! So this was the first chapter! Did you guys like it? I plan to have several chapters of Emily settling in and character building before the plot REALLY picks up. Do tell me if I can improve the characters in any way or am inaccurate about anything. Peace Out!