Everything that happened afterwards was submersed in fog, Will felt he was out of his own body watching the whole scene. The police arrived with the paramedics, every one was questioned and examined in a crazy bustle of photographs, identifications, questions and some tears. Will did not seem to be present or to feel present for that matter, he was fully aware of what was happening in front of him but all the violence brought up repressed memories, with which he could not cope. The sound of the three bullets coming out of the gun echoed in his brain like deaf screams. But surprisingly he did not feel particularly disturbed, there was only a slight felling of strangeness in being in a scene of a crime again and in having a corps next to him once more.
It took a long time for him to get back to hearth, but this only happened when his wandering eyes found Emily standing against a wall crying softly. Immediately he forgot about his strangeness and returned to his body to help her with her pain.
"Emily." he called softly as he approached her slowly. She looked at him with her eyes red and swollen, she tried to speak but her voice had left her. "Let's get out of here." He grabbed her arm gently and led her through the store filled with cops, to the exit door.
She was visibly in shock, color had left her face, her hands were freezing and she shivered slightly. Looking at her Will could not help but to feel his own heart be filled with sorrow and pain, he could not know if it was because of his extraordinary ability to feel empathy or because Emily occupied a place in his heart, without his consent. He felt a strong urge to help her and make her feel better.
When they reached the street Will found Boris restless and whining softly. Upon seeing his owner, the animal showed obvious relief and happiness to see he was well. Will approached the dog and patted him vigorously while Emily remained standing in the street oblivious of everything happening around her.
"Emily, you're in shock. Everything you just saw was very traumatic, I know it seems that the images are never going to live your mind, but trust me they will, sooner or later." He said with a calm voice.
She looked at him incredulous and her eyes filled again with silent tears.
"I feel strange, it seems that strength left my legs but all I want is to run, to escape." A tear ran down her pale face.
"A glass of whiskey always worked for me." He remembered more to himself than to her.
She seemed to wake up from her trance, as if she had heard the solution to all her problems.
"Yes! That's exactly what I need." She exclaimed already feeling the strong flavor on her tongue. She didn't even question his statement, she started walking, to immediately stop in the middle of the street, as if she had remembered something. "I think I'm afraid to go alone." She said with embarrassment in her voice. She looked at Will who was still standing next to the dog.
He looked at her. She seemed so fragile and vulnerable, with her eyes red and her shoulders shanking softly. He felt pain pierce through his chest like a violent thunder and he wanted to cry with her.
"Want me to go with you?" Asked Will lowering his eyes. How strange those words sounded.
She seemed to blush a little, which brought some life to her face. She looked at him for a long time in silence and then to the dark street that followed through the night, empty and slightly scary.
"I don't want to bother. I know it sounds silly… I feel so strange." She stammered rubbing her eyes firmly as if she wanted to clean them from the images they had just witnessed.
"I know." He said simply lowering his head. "I can take you wherever you need."
She blushed even more as she tried to find the words to ask what she wanted.
"Don't you need a whiskey as well? I mean you were there too after all and those wounds seem to hurt quite a bit."
Will had forgotten of how sore his whole body and face were.
"I can join you if you want."
She seemed satisfied, that was exactly what she wanted, without having to say the words. She smiled simply in response.
"But I need to take Boris home first."
Not until then had Emily noticed the dog that looked at her with a happy gaze.
"Yes of course. We can find some bar on your part of town. Besides, maybe a walk will do me some good." She said approaching to stroke the dog who was wagging his tail happily.
The three of them walked in a comfortable silence through the warm night towards the other side of town. Emily no longer shivered and seemed to keep close to Will as if he was carrying some kind of warmth or security.