Pretty soon, Howard became isolated by Emma. He devoted a large percentage of his time to her to keep her happy and for fear of what she could do to him. Howard thought if he was to meet a woman, it'd be a dream come true but it was more like a nightmare. It was as if he was experiencing that nightmare of Precious Lilywhite but far worse. Precious at least gave him a little freedom, but Emma was keeping him on a short leash. He was even finding it hard to sleep because there'd be times she'd impulsively want to go out in the middle of the night and she told him not to question it.
"Oh my God Howard! Where've you been?" Vince exclaimed, stopping him before he could leave.
"Um… nowhere. I've been here, what do you mean?" Howard said
"No you haven't, you've been anywhere but here. What's going on?" Vince demanded.
"I have to go Vince, really I do," Howard stepped to the side.
"No you don't you don't have to jump every time Emma snaps her fingers! She doesn't own you!"
"Maybe you're right…"
"Of course I am you Goon! What's gotten into you? Someone's replaced the Howard I knew and put someone sad and easy to manipulate in his place!"
"I don't know where the other Howard is… maybe he's being caged by someone scrawny and small with big eyes…" he grimaced.
"Who me?" Vince frowned.
"No of course not. This person looks like a chipmunk with oversized eyes and her breasts are the size of soy nuts and she has this high-pitched, screechy voice that doesn't quit and…"
"Alright, alright, calm down Howard. Just calm down," Vince said.
"I can't stand it Vince! She's driving me insane! Look at my eyes, I haven't slept in days," Howard pointed to his eyes.
"God you don't look at all well. You seem a little thinner too. Have you been eating?" Vince asked.
"She only wants me to eat when she does," Howard shrugged.
"That's fucking ridiculous Howard!" Vince scowled.
"I know, I know, but what am I supposed to do?" the troubled maverick asked.
"Get rid of her!" Vince exclaimed.
"I couldn't Vince, really. I'd rather be with her than be by myself."
"Am I really hearing this? Howard! She's a hazard to your health!"
"It's not so bad, well at least when she's not having a bad day…"
"Ugh! I can't believe this! I'm guessing the sex must be pretty remarkable!" Vince shouted sarcastically.
"I told you before we haven't done anything! She suddenly gets weird when we get close… it's peculiar. I don't understand it," Howard said.
"Wait a tick, you haven't done anything at all? What's going on here Howard?" Vince asked.
"I believe I've said too much already…" Howard nervously looked over at the window and noticed Emma glaring at him outside.
"Wait a minute Howard, wait a minute! What is she doing to you?" Vince cried.
"I must be off…" Howard looked back at Emma and backed towards her.
"Howard!" Vince shouted. He shook his head in disbelief.
"Do you smell that?" Naboo asked as he walked down the stairs.
"Smell what?" Vince replied.
"That girl of Howard's was just here right?" Naboo sniffed the air again.
"Yes?" Vince said.
"Well every time she comes here, I always smell something like… evil," Naboo said.
"Evil you say? What's it smell like?" Vince asked.
"It's very bitter and harsh yet somewhat like… cinnamon…" Naboo mused.
"Cinnamon?" Vince repeated with a wince.
"Well let's see you try and sense evil!" Naboo crossed his arms.