Getting Closer

Time: 9:23 PM

Date: 19 December 2027

Location: Ema's Appartment

The knock at the door startled Ema out of her book. Throwing a frowning glance at the clock, she stood up, wondering who could be visiting at this time. It couldn't be Lana, she thought as she slipped her feet into her slippers, because Lana always called to make sure it was okay to come over. And it couldn't be Phoenix because he didn't know his way (despite the fact that she'd given him directions so many times).

"Delivery for Ema Skye."

She blinked at the man standing at the threshold, a large, flat, rectangular box in his hand.

"I didn't order anything," she said, dumbfounded.

The man seemed uninterested because he thrust a clipboard at her. "Sign here."

Confused, Ema did so and once she was done, he snatched the board off her, thrust the box in her arms and took off without another word; if she hadn't been so intrigued by the delivery she might have Sackoo'd him.

Instead, she closed the door behind her and locked it while never taking her eyes off the box. What the hell could it be? Who would...?

Her eyes widened. "Oh my God."

No way. He can't have!

She bit her lip. There was no use stressing out about it when all she really had to do was open it and find out. Her legs slowly turning to jelly, Ema moved to the sofa and table at the centre and settled the box onto the surface while sinking into a seat herself.

"Alright," she muttered to herself, taking a deep breath. She reached out and ripped the wrapping paper away and when it was laying in tattered pieces all around her, Ema yanked the lid off, gasping when she did so.

Inside was a small but ostentatious card hosting familiar, elegant script, resting atop purple crepe paper. With shaking fingers, Ema reached out to pick up the card, her disbelieving eyes glancing beyond it at what she was certain was a dress. Still, hoping to be proven wrong, she decided to look at the card first:

Fräulein Skye,

Thrilled to know you will be by my side on Christmas.

I am sure you will not be displeased with the evening gown.

I am even more certain you will not disappoint me. The colour will suit you.

The show begins at 6. I request your presence at 5.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Truly yours,

Klavier Gavin

Ema sat there, staring at his signature, utterly shocked. The colour will SUIT her? What the HELL would he know about complimentary colours? And how dare he try to tell her what the hell to wear?

Spurred on by anger, she pushed the decorative, containment paper aside until she encountered the deep purple dress elegantly folded up, ready for her. Ema hesitated in her mishandling of the material when she saw the clearly expensive design and felt the silken backdrop. Gingerly, she lifted the dress up as she rose to her feet and it was when it was fully unravelled and suspended before her that Ema finally reacted appropriately:

"Oh."

.'.

Time: 12:56

Date: 23 December 2027

Location: Records Room

They seriously needed more staff to sort out the Records Room. Or at least a cleaner, Ema thought as she coughed, waving an arm around to allay the dust that had flown up when she pulled open one of the cabinets. Grumbling, the detective started to search through the many files, looking for the one Apollo had requested. If it wasn't for Phoenix, she would never bother. As if she didn't have enough to do without having to deal with nosy attorneys…

The sound of a cabinet being drawn open made her jump and she whipped around to see who had crept into the room without alerting her.

What the—?

Klavier threw her a small smile before resuming his search of the files.

Ema stood frozen for a few moments, staring at him, and a knowing smile graced his face that told her even if he wasn't looking at her, he was very aware of her gaze on him. Blushing, she turned away quickly and fumbled aimlessly at the files just to look like she was doing something.

Her mind was whirring. Ever since receiving the dress, Ema hadn't spoken to him beyond a word of greeting. She had meant to shout at him first but after speaking to Lana about it, changed her mind to thanking him. However, whenever she saw him at work, he was either busy or nowhere to be found and with each day that passed it became more and more difficult to acknowledge his gesture.

It didn't help that he kept throwing her those secretive smiles she knew were supposed to mean something but could never figure out.

Ema was beginning to dread the Christmas party in a way she hadn't dreaded anything in a long time.

The cabinet slammed shut and she became aware that Klavier was leaving: she could see him in the periphery of her vision. He paused at the door and looked at her and before she could even think to stop herself from looking at him, their eyes met.

He threw her another mysterious smile.

Then he was gone, leaving her to think of the least painful way she could kill herself.

.'.

Time: 4:47 PM

Date: 25 December 2027

Location: Lana's house.

"Oh, Ema, you look beautiful!" Lana breathed, looking her sister up and down.

The younger Skye was quiet as she stared at herself in the mirror. All of her friends had said (and she'd heard it from fashion-obsessed divas) that the right dress could transform you into a princess, but she'd never believed them. Ema had always thought that it was the right figure that could pull off a dress and she had certainly never thought of herself as having one of those.

But now that she scrutinised herself in the full-length mirror, she wasn't sure.

She'd never seen a dress that could accentuate her figure like this nor any material that could feel so good against her skin. It wrapped itself around her neck and clung to her figure tightly until reaching a few inches above her knee. There it fell apart loosely draping itself around her and swaying sultrily every time she moved.

Subconsciously, she ran a hand over the bare skin of her chest. The neckline was tastefully low so that there was no cleavage. Still, the abstract but subtle design emphasised the curve of her bust, the flatness of her stomach and the dip in her back right before the bend of her—

"I don't want to wear this!" she wailed, turning to Lana for the third time since beginning to get ready for the party. "He's a pervert! Look at what he's making me wear! This dress makes my backside look—"

"It does not look fat," Lana said firmly, turning Ema around until she was looking at herself in the mirror again. "You look stunning."

"It's too fancy!" she said frantically looking for an escape.

"Ema," Lana said sternly looking at her in the mirror. "Klavier knows what he's doing. Probably everybody is going to be dressed up. It is a rock-star's party."

Ema bit her lip, knowing Lana was right — everyone had buzzed uncontrollably when the invitations had gone out. They would be dressing up to impress.

Especially those bimbo girls, she thought disgustedly.

"Look at yourself."

She did.

"You're going to be the belle of the ball."

Her tousled hair framed her lightly made-up face. She had expressly forbidden Lana from applying anything other than naturals to her mouth and eyes ("I don't care if the dress is purple! I. Am. Not. Wearing. Purple. Eyeshadow.") Although, she had had to give in to the purple eyeliner ("Violet makes green eyes stand out, Ema! Now stop fussing!").

The silver jewellery Lana had lent her went very well with the dress. It was simple but sparkled complimentarily. The earrings were long but not abnormally so. The necklace fell halfway between her throat and the neckline, an endless array of knots that supported delicate chains of crystals. Lana had tried to make Ema wear a ring to match the elegant bracelet on her wrist but she has resisted — she didn't think she could take anymore.

"Do you want a lift?" Lana said, breaking Ema out of her reverie.

Ema turned to her sister with relief-filled eyes. "Would you?"

"Of course," she said warmly.

Ema gave herself the once-over and then picked up her purse and wrap, pulling it around herself as she followed Lana, thankful that she would at least have her sister's support and company for a little bit longer.

"What the…?"

She frowned, looking down at where she'd felt an odd breeze on her leg, and found some of it bared as the flowing material shifted. The slit ran all the way up to her thigh and when she bent her leg to test it, found that it hinted at the length of her leg without giving too much away.

Ema gulped.