Page 19 of Broken By The Devil

“Ka—”.

I’m jolted awake violently by a strong body straddling mine, pinning me to the mattress with their hands around my throat, squeezing it with such force I think I might pass out.

“You dare scream a man’s name that’s not mine! I have put up with a lot over the years, Emilia. No more! I have been watching you, and the disrespect I get from you is not acceptable!” He screams into my face. The rage similar to a savage animal. What started as an amazing dream is becoming my real-life nightmare.

“You fucking whore! First Cass and now your Sergeant!” His grip on my throat doesn’t ease, he’s going to kill me this time. I struggle against his wrists, clawing, kicking out with my legs. I can’t get enough leverage to move my head for a strike either.

“You’re mine! You will always be mine, and I’m going to make sure you belong to me forever,” he spits out. His rage is preventing me from doing anything. My vision blurs, I see spots where his face is, and my arms suddenly go limp. Darkness completely engulfs me, it welcomes me home, comforting in some respects. I think this is what it feels like to die. I feel numb, not sad or upset, just relief. Part of me feels happy the darkness has taken me, but then fury takes over my soul.

I will not let him take me. He has taken everything, he will not have me too. Wrath will overcome everything. I haven’t had the chance to take my vengeance and I will have it. Even if I have to claw my way out of the abyss, I will have what I want, and I will take him with me if I must.

I gasp awake, pain throbbing in my neck and my head. No sign of Satan in my apartment. It must have been a nightmare. It was so vivid, it felt like I was actually choking. I look at myself in the mirror, my neck covered in a mixture of blue and purple hues. Not a nightmare then, it actually happened. I don’t know how I’m going to cover those. I can only bide time, I haven’t been able to get into his safe yet. To get back everything he’s using against me. I have to do something soon or he will wipe me from this earth too. I can’t let it happen. I won’t.

KADE

I’m sitting in my office going through everyone’s supervisory reports when Cyrus bursts into the room unannounced. I don’t even question it anymore.

“What the hell happened at the grave? And what did Tom say to you yesterday?” I feel like I’m being interrogated.

“I’m not going to get into specifics about the grave, but her mother and her sister did kill themselves, I just don’t know why. As for Tom, he seems to think Emilia belongs to him, I just politely explained to him that she doesn’t, and if he insinuates it again that I’d deliver his severed head to his mother.” I grit my teeth in anger, it’s surprising I haven’t worn my teeth down to their roots.

Cyrus scoffs in amusement, “I’d love to see that. There’s something about him, the slimy bastard. She seems to follow him though, what’s going on there?” He quizzes. I don’t know any of these answers. Every time I try getting close to her, she pulls away.

“I’m going to try and talk to her at the charity event tomorrow night. Only she can tell us what the hell is going on.” I sigh.

“You need to not piss her off before tomorrow night then. I know that’s going to be difficult for you” Cyrus taunts. I noticed the viper hasn’t come in yet, she’s normally early to every shift.

I don’t get to finish that thought when I hear over the radio “Fire downtown, multiple persons inside the building. Fire department can’t contain it, need backup for evacuation.”

“Everyone out! Downtown unit on fire, assist with evac now! Cyrus you’re with me. Where the hell is Emilia?” It’s not like her to not show up on time. Something is wrong. “Cass, have you seen Emilia?” I shout towards him as he’s sprinting towards me and Cyrus.

“No, I haven’t and I wanted to ask if I could go check her apartment. Something is seriously wrong if she hasn’t shown up yet.” His face is scrunched in frustration and his shoulders are tense, he’s rattled. We need everybody for this fire, but I need to know if she’s alright, so I nod in agreement.

Just as Cass turns, I see Emilia running down the corridor towards us. “I’m here, I’m here. I’m sorry, I overslept. Where do you need me?” She pants like she just ran through town to get here. I examine her from head to toe, looking up and down until I’m satisfied she’s alright. I look to Cass and he still looks concerned, but he nods in my direction. “You go with Cass, we assist with evacuation and that’s it, nobody goes in. We let the fire department deal with it, clear?” I hear, “Copy that,” from everyone, and we head out.

I see the smoke before we get there. Huge hues of black smoke smouldering the landscape, it’s impossible to see past the adjacent buildings. Cyrus parks the SUV, using it to block off the area, acting as a cordon.

“Cass and Cara, upper street cordon off that area. Nobody in unless they’re fire department or EMS. Cyrus and Emilia, I need you in the middle. Same order, nobody in.”

“Copy that, Sarge.” Emila and Cass acknowledge in tandem.

I have officers stationed all along the cordon. Nobody is getting in there uninvited. I need to liaise with the fire commander. This is chaos.

“Who the fuck is in charge here?” I shout over all the screaming. The fire commander is trying to instruct his own officers. “We have multiple persons reported in this building. I have people in there trying to get them out. We have the fire contained, but this is the only building still ablaze.”

“Copy that. My officers are on cordon, just shout if you need us for anything.” He nods in thanks. That’s when I hear it, a high pitched scream. It sends shrills through my body. It sounds like a baby crying. I’m not the only one who hears it. Everyone turns towards the burning building.

“Emilia, don’t!” Cyrus bellows from my right. I see Emilia jump over the cordon barricade and dart towards the building. Shit. Cyrus is about to jump over the barricade but I’m already over it and headed in her direction. “You stay here! Make sure everyone is following orders!” I demand. I knew this would happen as soon as I heard that baby. I knew it would be her risking her life. She is going to be the death of me.

EMILIA

Idon’t think, I just act. That baby is somewhere in this building, scared and alone. No way am I going to just stand there and listen to its screams and do nothing.

The smoke is thick, black, filled with darkness and sinister promises of death. I climb and dodge debris from the building falling overhead. Beams have collapsed and are still ablaze making it impossible to move. I hear the baby screaming to my left and head in that direction when someone grabs my arm.

“What the hell are you thinking!” he seethes between coughs. I didn’t ask him to follow me. Granted I didn’t follow his orders, but he wouldn’t understand.

“There’s no time for this, you can berate me for my insubordination later,” I tell him. That baby has no time. Some of the smoke clears when I hear a female voice “Please! Please help my baby, please help my son!” she cries.