chapter 10

Disclaimer: As always, I don't know anyone from GH and I don't own the characters.

Author's Notes: I know this part took eons for me to upload to FanFiction.net and I truly sorry for taking so long. Real life bit me in the butt and I'm just recently getting back into my 'fanfiction groove'. Thanks to those who reviewed and have been waiting patiently. It is greatly appreciated. =)

Chapter 10

Emily woke up to the sound of her alarm clock buzzing, signaling the start of a new day. She raised a hand to her clammy forehead and grimaced. Every little movement she made sent waves of pain through her battered body, but she couldn't let it bother her. Slowly, Emily got up and moved herself into an upright position. Making her way towards her bedroom door, she made sure that it was locked this time. There was no use in having someone barge in on her again.

Meanwhile.....

Carly tossed and turned as she dreamed about the past and things that she regretted. Jumping out of her sleep, Carly strangled a scream. Sweat poured down her face in streams. Shakily, she got out of bed and went to look at herself in the mirror. He face was pale and chalky. Shaking the feeling of foreboding out of her body, she prepared to face another day in the Quartermaine mansion.

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After breakfast, Emily quickly made her way outside the mansion to wait for Lucky, who should arrive at any moment. The looks she got at the breakfast table from Carly were enough to make her go insane. She could take a look of hatred, but not sorrow and pity. Leaning up against a tree outside, she waited for her best friend. Then she got that weird feeling again. She was being watched. Emily hoped it wasn't Carly. Emily was sure that Carly had told someone that something was wrong with her and she didn't appreciate it. All Carly did was meddle and now people were going to get hurt. Thinking of this Emily began to cry. She swiftly brushed her tears away when she noticed a familiar truck coming up the road.

Lucky watched as Emily slowly leaned off the tree and started walking towards his truck. Emily approached Lucky's truck with caution. He had a look on his face that did not bode well. Emily got into the truck and gave Lucky a smile. "What's up Lucky?", she said. Lucky turned and gave her a look like she had just grown a third eye. "I think that I should be asking you that question Em. Was gym class bad yesterday?", he asked, thinking about how slow she had been walking. It looked like it pained her to attempt any kind of movement. He'd have to talk to Jason about this.

Emily watched the emotions play across Lucky's face. He was thinking about something really hard. "Uh..yeah Lucky, I'm really beginning to hate gym.", Emily said. Lucky grunted and started his truck. As they dove down the private stretch of road Lucky noticed the car that was following them. It was one of Jason's men, Johnny. Pete had the day off. So engrossed in trying to look casual around Lucky, Emily didn't notice him. Digging through her backpack, she did notice a note that was placed in it. A note that she didn't write. Emily visibly paled.

Lucky glanced at Emily, happy that she did not notice that they were being followed, but swallowed a curse when he got a look at her face. Taking one hand off the wheel, Lucky gently tapped her arm. Emily almost jumped out of her skin when Lucky touched her. He had mistakenly touched a fresh bruise that hurt immensely. Swallowing a cry of pain, Emily turned to Lucky. He was saying something to her, but she couldn't hear the words. She was too wrapped up in watching AJ watch them across the street. He had a look on his face that promised retribution.

Lucky watched Emily's face go blank and craned his neck to try and see what held her attention. AJ had already left. Seeing that Emily snapped out of her trance. "Oh, sorry Lucky. What did you say?", Emily asked. Lucky narrowed his eyes. "I was asking you if you were okay. You're white as a sheet.", he said. "Are you okay?", Lucky asked again.

Giving Lucky a wan smile, Emily nodded. "I'm fine Lucky. I was just thinking about school.", Emily said, realizing how stupid it sounded just as she said it. Sure, she liked school, but she wasn't obsessed with it. Lucky knew this too, but he decided against it. They had reached the school.

Emily noticed that and jumped out of the truck as soon as Lucky stopped it. She was in so much pain that she didn't even bother to give Lucky a smile, at least one that he couldn't see right through. "Later Lucky.", Emily said as she left to make it to her first class before the late bell. "Bye Em.", Lucky said. AJ drove by Emily's school and watched as she went inside.

Once inside the high school, Emily walked to her locker and put her stuff inside. Carefully removing the note she found, she read the three words, "Its your fault." Emily wallowed her tears and stuffed the note into her backpack. Not able to hold her tears any longer, Emily raced to the girls bathroom to cry.

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After that episode in the girls bathroom, Emily's day did not get any better. Before now, school had actually been a place where she could escape from her life and now it was tainted. She knew AJ was watching her now and it showed. Emily walked down the halls like a ghost. Her face was pale and she knew that everyone probably thought she was on drugs again, but Emily didn't care. Her attention was riveted on the shadows she passed, praying that no one was hiding in them, waiting for her. Emily knew that AJ wasn't in the school, but that knowledge didn't comfort her. She was paranoid.

Meanwhile......At the docks.....

AJ Quartermaine hurried to the meeting spot to wait for his contact. Pretending to be reading the daily newspaper, AJ sat on the bench to wait. His eyes had an almost maniacal gleam to them as he thought about Emily. "The little b**ch! I'll teach her to cross me. Jason isn't the only one who can get things done.", AJ thought to himself. So caught up in his thoughts, he didn't see the person casually approach him. A well dressed man in his mid thirties to early forties passed by him and casually spoke. "Mr. Moreno will see you tonight.", the man known as Sorel said as he walked away. AJ smiled behind his newspaper.

End Chapter 10