Emily sat curled up on the window seat of the tiny apartment, her arms crossed tightly around her backpack. The radio played quietly in that background as she stared solemnly at her knees, trying to avoid Zach’s gaze as he lectured her.

“How many times have I told you not to go out on your own? Between the dealers and the freaks, you’re just asking to get yourself killed.”

“What do you expect me to do, then? Stay in house arrest?” Emily retorted, glancing out the window at the glowing lights of the city. “There’s life out there.”

“There’s also death.” Zach replied sharply. “Something you almost became very well acquainted with tonight. You know I don’t want you to stay in here forever, but there are rules: only go out in daylight, and…”

“Never go near the freaks. I know.”

“And you still didn’t listen.” Zach responded grimly. “What were you out there for anyway? I checked all of your usual spots before I found you.”

Emily pursed her lips for a moment, squeezing herself even tighter. It was obvious she had no desire to speak.

“Well…?” Zach inquired impatiently. “Are you going to tell me, or am I going to have to weld your door shut, so you can never see the light of day again?”

“Can’t see it anyway with all the smog in the city.” Emily responded before she could help herself.

“That’s not the point. Why were you out there?” Zach returned seriously.

Emily sighed. “I was going…to meet someone.”

Zach’s eyebrows raised. “Really? That must be some guy for you to be willing to risk your life like that.”

“It’s not a guy.” Emily replied quickly before clapping her hands to her mouth. She took a moment to kick herself on the inside as Zach’s eyebrows rose even higher.

“It?” He asked, then let out a deep sigh, slowly shaking his head. “Of all the freaks in this wretched place, why would you ever deal with that thing?!”

“Because it’s the only thing that can help me not be me!” Emily shouted back. “Or did you forget that it was normal once too?”

“Yeah, and look how that turned out. Those monsters who almost killed you are nothing compared to that thing. They were born the way they are, probably, but that thing chose what it is. Everyone who makes a deal with that thing becomes just as twisted as it is; its own personal science experiments. You don’t want to end up like that, do you?”

Emily said nothing. She’d heard this spiel before, and she knew what she wanted. She also knew, deep down, that Zach was right, not that she wanted to show it. It was a matter of principle.

Zach raised his fist as though he was about to slam it down on something, but he stopped himself before he could follow through. Instead, he just clenched it tightly, revealing a massive spider web of veins bulging along his forearm.

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He didn’t speak for the longest time. He just stood there fighting his rage. When at last he unclenched his fist he allowed himself to speak.

“Did you really think it would work?” He sighed, puffing out his cheeks. There was no anger in his voice, though, just frustration.

“I just thought that, maybe, it could help me. It helped itself.” Emily responded, somberly. She looked down at her knees as she spoke.

“Exactly Emily, it helped itself. People don’t help others out of the goodness of their hearts, and they prey on the weak. I didn’t bring you up to be weak. I didn’t bring you up to be stupid either, which is why I can’t figure out why you won’t stop this nonsense. You don’t need more power, you just need to be better and smarter than those around you.”

“Yes!…and that’s why I need something, anything. You saw those freaks tonight, if you hadn’t come I’d be dead right now. If I had something I wouldn’t have needed you, I could’ve handled them on my own.”

“So you want to rely on a freak just like them to help you?”

“It managed to help itself when it needed to be stronger.”

“Yeah and how did that turn out for it? Power always comes at a cost, Emily. What were you going to give it anyways, no one works for free, you and I both know that?”

He motioned toward the backpack that sat clutched in her arms. She squeezed it tighter, pulling it away from Zach and toward the window.

“Come on.” He said, moving quickly over to her and snatching the bag easily from her grasp. Slowly he opened it, rifling steadily through the contents. It took a moment of searching before his frown creased deeper as he threw out a wad of cash rubber banded together.

“Where’d you get this?” He inquired sternly, his eyes piercing deeply into hers.

She looked sheepishly away, once again staring out into the city.

“Well…?”

“I just took a little here and there whenever you needed me to get something.”

“Just a little here and there?” Zach asked incredulously, his fist once again balling up with rage. “Do you realize how much this is? You couldn’t make this much from dealing. I’ve been breaking my back for months, and I’ve just barely been able to keep this roof over our heads.”

“Well, it’s not my fault you don’t keep good track of your finances.”

Zach’s muscles bulged with rage, his eyes looked as though they might pop out.

“If I hadn’t promised to take you in before your dad died, I would throw you out right now! You almost put us out on the streets because of your stupid plan. I thought I raised you better than this, better than to risk everything for a stupid, hair-brained scheme! Do you have any idea how rare someone like you is, someone who’s normal?! You should be proud of what you are, but, no, you just can’t be happy with what you’ve been given!”

Zach sighed, calming himself down once again. Emily just stared down at the floor, too ashamed to respond. The quiet just hung there for what felt like an eternity, filling the room with a suffocating tension.

“I’m sorry.” Emily whispered at last, shattering the tension.

“Just, go to bed.” Zach responded. “We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.”

Emily stood up from her perch, shuffling slowly to her room and softly closing the door.

Zach sighed again as it shut. He looked around the tiny apartment. Aside from Emily’s room there was only one other room that acted as a combined kitchenette and living room. Even with a small dining table and an even smaller sofa the room was crowded. It was modest by most standards, but Zach had broken his back for all of it. Ever since his brother had died leaving Emily in his care, he’d made it his goal to do whatever he could to give her the best he could; even if this was it.

Zach went to the sofa, which acted as his bed, and stretched himself out across it. It was entirely too short, with his legs hanging precariously off the end and his upper body being forced to hunch in a half sitting position. It was hardly comfortable, but he did what he had to do for Emily.

Quietly resting on a tiny side table, the radio continued its seemingly endless chatter.

“Massive crowds have gathered in front of the municipal building. Many are holding signs and chanting anti-government slogans. The city is holding its breath, hoping things won’t escalate into violence…”

Zach sighed as he switched it off. Ignoring the radio, his thoughts turned to Emily. He shook his head slowly as his mind focused on her. One of these days she would learn. He just hoped she wouldn’t get killed before that happened.