A/N: I decided to throw this in right away. I'm being good, see? Lol. I'll be going away this weekend for a Key Club convention so there won't be any updates and I might when I return depending on the reviews I get. This has been becoming an addiction for me so please don't stop! There's nothing worse than an evil cliffhanger mechanical writer. Oh yeah, it never stops. :grins: Thank you Halley for doing a great job and please don't forget to review!

Chapter Twenty:

All I Ask of You

For what felt like an eternity, the bell had rung.

Emmy took several deep breaths, butterflies fluttering madly in her stomach. This is it, she told herself. This is when Raoul offers his undying love and protection to save the damsel from the terrible monsters.

Emmy could only pray that this meeting would be a secret. If she could be communicated by him through dreams, then she would no doubt inform him of the betrayal.

This was a risk. A huge risk of life and death. The point of no return one would say. And it was time for Amelia Brooke Sawyer to cross and burn the bridge for good.

In hurried strides, Emmy race to the Media Center. She kept a sharp eye out for Trey as she stood anxiously for him. Every second ticking meant she was getting closer to liberation. And it would speed up too if he were there!

"C'mon Trey. Where are you?" Emmy murmured, her frantic hazel pupils darting around the corridors for the familiar flaxen-haired senior. Any second he should show up and everything will be over. Any second—

A clammy hand clapped over her mouth, an arm roughly thrown around her waist, dragging her away. She struggled to no prevail, the Media Center becoming distant from her sight.

NO! She shouted. Not now! NOT NOW!

There was a low creak and Emmy was hurled against the wall, her body pinned by a strong hand wrapped around her throat. The piney scents of cleaning ware permeated the stuffy room and she realized she was stuck in the janitor's office. Darkness covered her eyes but she didn't need to see to know who was with her.

A low, devious chuckle reverberated.

"Have you missed me?" The rhetoric question hissed in her face. "I know how petrified you might be, but let me assure you there's nothing to fear. You trust me, don't you Amelia?"

Her body trembled beneath his grasp. Still chuckling, he let go of her only to keep her in place with his solid frame. A cool finger traced her lower jaw; his husky "shhs" tickled her ear as he pressed further into her, his leg wedged between her own.

"You're mine," he growled, his lips practically touching her skin. "We made a bargain, you and I. A devil's pact and I kept my end. Why do you persist to fight the inevitable? You wanted this… and I gave it to you. Your body belongs to me."

"No!" Emmy choked.

He leered at her, his mask scraping her cheek. "I believe it's not up to you anymore, my dear."

"Yes… it… is!" With a groan, Emmy kneed him in the groins.

Erik moaned, falling backwards, clutching himself, allowing Emmy to run out of there.

A very faint wail of pain echoed in her head, but she ignored it, running as fast as her legs could carry. It was close… too close… he would have…

Her thought was left unfinished as she saw Trey by the Media Center, a frown staining his handsome features. A relieved smile broke out as she rushed over, her breathing labored.

"You okay?" Trey inquired as Emmy, flushed and panting stopped a couple inches away.

"Fine!" she blurted out. "I'm fine." Emmy winced at how lame it sounded. She knew she didn't certainly look fine. "Sorry for being late. I was… detained. But I don't know how much time we have left and I need to talk to you," Emmy rambled, her hands rubbing themselves.

"Right. I was wondering—"

"No!" Emmy cut Trey off and in a split second grabbed his hand, tugging him to follow. "We're not safe here. Come!"

Without questioning her, Trey went with a quizzical façade.

xxXXxx

The two teens headed to the West parking lot, located not far from the school's library. Emmy was a wreck as she dragged Trey along, her mind stumbling over what to say and checking to make sure they weren't being followed. Trey didn't comment and she knew he must understand how dire the situation is. She was lucky to have him on her side.

They reached the end of the lot and Emmy ducked behind a bronze Aztec, taking Trey down with her. He continued to stare at her as Emmy scanned the perimeter. Satisfied, she spun around, sitting on her bottom, her hands over her legs.

"What were you doing?" he asked.

Emmy pressed her finger to her lips, signaling him to lower his voice. "I told you. We're not safe inside the building and this is the only place I can think of where we would be unseen and hopefully unheard. I can't let him hurt you," she explained in a quiet manner.

Trey frowned. "Who?"

"I can't say! Listen to me, Trey, this is important. About that day—"

"Yeah. I wanted to tell you—"

"Keep your voice down!" Emmy reprimanded. "Do you want us to be caught? Look, he's someone you don't want to mess with and you know that."

"I do?" He repeated stupidly. A frustrated sigh came from Emmy. Trey Michaels was one of the smartest guys at Cherry Hill High and he wasn't getting the point much to her annoyance.

"Don't play dumb with me Trey. You know exactly whom I'm referring to or do I have to remind you what happened when you found me."

At this, he stared blankly at her. "Do you mean when Sarah and I found you unconscious in the choir room?"

"No! Maybe. I don't know!" she admitted. "My mind is foggy about that day. I don't know what happened word for word, but I have an idea." Emmy paused long enough to look him square in the eye, desperation seeping in. "I'm scared Trey. He's done something to me. Something so horrible and I can't seem to escape. He's there, everywhere! You're the only one I trust. The only one who can help me find the light again. You have to believe me when I tell you I'm dying…"

"Whoa! Wait, dying!" Trey interjected, alarm growing rapidly. Emmy reached out, grasping his hands as she continued.

"Shh! Not physically, but mentally. He did this, understand. Actually, both did this. They're taking me away. Everyday, a little bit, I find myself falling apart. A small part of me goes missing and I can't get it back. Oh Trey, I don't know what to do! I don't know how long I have left before she takes over. You have to help me. Please, that's all I ask of—"

"Easy Emmy! Sorry but I have no clue what you're talking about or what you thought I meant by seeing you," Trey said, taking her hands and setting them beside her. "All I wanted to tell you was my uncle knows this guy who's involved in theatre and whether or not if you're interested."

"What?" Emmy gazed at him, uncomprehending.

Trey smiled timidly. "You have an amazing voice. A lot better than Sarah's but don't tell her I said so. That's why I wanted to meet you after school and discuss this. Sarah would be pissed if I asked you and not her. She can be… competitive when it comes to singing as you might know." He winked with a laugh.

"Oh." Emmy mentally kicked herself several times. How else could she respond? Looking into his eyes, she saw for the first time there was no hidden concern. No hidden desire to keep her safe. There was no nothing of what she originally perceived of Trey Michaels's intentions. It was all in her head…

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I…"

"There's no need to get upset about it," he assured her. "You can go on if you liked."

"Go on?" she softly repeated. "Go on!"

Standing abruptly, Emmy glared down at him. "I was a fool in even thinking that you wanted to see me, perhaps fearful of what's happening to me. But you don't know! You don't know! You won't ever understand. Ever. I'm doomed. Oh God what was I thinking!"

Trey pushed himself up, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, I'm sorry if you misinterpreted me. But it's been over and done with. No use in beating yourself up. Now, clearly, there's something else that's bothering you. You can tell me if you liked, though I'm not promising I'll be of much help."

Real sincerity was exposed on his face and Emmy's heart melted by the sight. But as quick as it came it was gone.

If she were to reveal the truth, then he would dismiss her just like Maggie did. She knew her story was ludicrous sounding and he would think she had lost her mind. She couldn't afford to lose again, though she didn't have much to lose anyways. It would be better if she kept silent. For once, on her own free will.

"Forget it. I'm sure you have other things to do and probably with Sarah," Emmy muttered, averting her eyes away him. "I'm sorry if I wasted your time."

Trey's hands fell to his side, his face etched with confusion.

He was intelligent, ask anyone, and they would say that Trey Michaels always made the right decisions. Very rarely he would admit he made a fault in his choices and regret it.

This was one of those rare moments where he regretted as Emmy Sawyer walked away.

TBC…