{Emily}

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock going off. I got out of bed and walked over to the clock on the other side of the room. "Remind me why I decided to put my alarm clock on the other side of the room?" I grumbled when I hit the button to turn the alarm off.

When I walked over to the bathroom with my change of clothing and started to strip my pajamas and got in the shower I muttered, "Oh yeah! That's right! I put it there so I don't oversleep for my boring office job! Yup, my life's been really great since I left A-Circle!"

A-Circle was a cult that I was involved in more like that I grew up in and five years ago I saw through their lies and bullshit. So when I figured out everything I had been taught was a lie, I did the most logical thing I could think to do, I left. Well it was more like I escaped from the cult. Thankfully I had made friends with people on the outside of the cult who had the resources to help me escape.

I decided to get a job as an Assistant to a guy named Toby Anakin. The company that I work for now is just a regular advertising company. This company puts out the ads for commercials and the type of ads a person would see on a billboard.

On the side I write books under the pen name Red87. Seeing that my books are pretty popular and someone's even set up a fan account for them, I use that to make money to make ends meet. So I'm able to live a nice quiet life in an apartment building with no one suspecting that I was the writer Red87.

I also have a dog named Red and that's where I got the first part of my pen name from and of course 87 is my birth year. My dog named Red he's a black lab but not a pure black lab. He's a German Shepard mix. I got him three months after I escaped A-Circle and I got settled into the apartment that I live in today. I mostly got him to keep me company cause I don't really hang out with anyone outside of work other than my dog sitter who's a woman named Anna.

I got ready for work and it was three hours before my shift started. I always get ready around this time because it gives me plenty of time to get to work and avoid traffic. On top of that it gives me time to think of another chapter for my next story. This next story is going to be a sequel to the story, The Monster in My Family. I wasn't sure what I was going to call it yet, but I planned on making this into a series.

Anyway, I went to the kitchen and cooked some breakfast, eggs, bacon and orange juice to drink. Right as I was getting ready to think of another chapter for my book, my doorbell rang. I frowned and thought, It's a little bit early for Anna to be here. Maybe she's excited to see Red? Or she has something important to tell me, like maybe her boyfriend finally proposed to her?

I made sure to put my writing materials back into their hiding spot. I was going to go answer the door when Red stepped in front of me barking.

"Alright, alright," I said. "Red come here!"

Red stopped barking and looked at me. I nodded. "Good boy, now sit!"

Red did as he was told and I told him to stay so I could answer the door. "Sorry about that Anna, Red just seems a little-" I paused when I saw my boss Toby standing in the doorway. "Huh? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I figured since we have to be at the project we're working on together that we should arrive on time together," said Toby. "It wouldn't make sense for both of us to drive separate cars to the project site and then drive back to our company just to clock out."

I shrugged. "Alright then, sure whatever you say boss."

I motioned for him to step inside and when he did Red's hackles went up and he started growling at him. I looked down at Red. "Red, calm down boy!"

That didn't stop him from barking. I knew what to do because I did this all the time when a stranger walks in the door. As long as they show they're not a threat it's fine. I went over to the counter and grabbed Red's favorite treats from the top cabinet. I took out a treat from the bag and handed it to Toby. "Here, try this, just give it to Red and that should calm him down. Sorry Red doesn't like strangers much."

"Okay then," Toby took the treat from me and held out his hand to show Red that he wasn't a threat.

Red didn't move from where he was sitting and looked at me for approval. I rolled my eyes and nodded. "It's okay Red. You can have it."

Red happily took the treat from Toby and everything was all good for him. I was getting ready to say something else when the doorbell rang again. This time it was Anna and I couldn't help but think that everyone just decided that it was 'show up at Emily's apartment way too early day!'

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Red started barking at the door but this time his hackles weren't up probably because he knew who was behind the door. "Alright Anna I'm coming!"

As soon as I opened the door Red ran up to Anna and jumped into her arms like he always does when he sees her. "Aww you're such a good boy Red! Yes you are!" She said this as Red wagged his tail and licked her face.

When she finally set Red down she smiled at me and then looked over at Toby. "I came here early to tell you some news. Well good news and bad news, but I see you have extra company over today. So who's the hot guy standing in front me? I didn't realize you had a boyfriend Emily!"

I must say it was kind of comical to see Toby's face turn red. But instead of laughing I did a facepalm. "No, I don't have a boyfriend Anna! This guy is my boss. Anna meet my boss Mr. Anakin and Mr. Anakin meet my friend Anna."

"Hi," Toby said. He shook Anna's hand and she grinned. He raised an eyebrow. "Okay, what's that look for?"

Anna shook her head. "It's nothing Mr. Anakin." She looked at me. "Um, Emily, can I speak to you in private for a quick second?"

"Okay," I said. I followed Anna out of earshot from Toby. "You might want to make this quick because Mr. Anakin and I have to leave soon."

"I said I had some news but I think it can wait until you get home tonight," said Anna. "But seriously you should consider getting a boyfriend soon. Look, it's been five years since you escaped from them and I'm doing everything in my power to keep you safe. I think it's time you at least try to find some sort of happiness in your life. Mr. Anakin is-"

"No," I cut her off. "Besides I have no idea if he's seeing anyone and it's none of my business. You can however send me a text message and tell me what the news is okay?"

Anna nodded. "Okay fine but listen you aren't going to become a skeleton hanging on Dominic's front door anytime soon if I got something to say about it!"

I shuddered at that thought because the last time someone escaped the A-Circle cult before I did that person wound up dead. Not only did they wind up dead, Dominic took that person's body and boiled it down to the bones and hung their skeleton on his front door.

When I composed myself I said, "Thanks for that, but I should probably get going. Just send me news via text message. And please make sure you wear Red out this time! I don't want another repeat or yesterday. I would love it if the pillows on my couch stayed in tact."

Anna snorted. "Sorry I took a nap because I was tired! I didn't realize he would get bored within a half hour."

I nodded and ended our conversation with a hug and then grabbed my things that I needed for work.

"Ready to go?" Toby asked.

I nodded and when we got downstairs to the lobby I paused when I saw a limo waiting outside.

Toby chuckled, "Yes that limo is for us. Come on, let's go or we're going to be late."

***

{Toby}

I guided Emily to the limo and opened her door for her. I figured even though this was a strictly business trip that I should at least act like a gentleman. Who knows, maybe could I score her as a girlfriend out of this?

During the ride to the site where our project was going to be I couldn't stop thinking about the conversation I overheard between Emily and her friend Anna. I wondered if someone was threatening her from what I heard. I mean, five years since Emily's escaped from them? Escaped from who? She's not going to become a skeleton on Dominic's front door? What the hell does that even mean?

I had half a mind to ask her about it but I knew I shouldn't pry even though I really wanted to. So I figured I'd resist the urge to ask her about that for now.

When we got to the site we did a walk through and figured out where the different advertisements would be and then we started figuring out what the advertisements were. Then we figured out what the theme of advertisements were and seeing that the ads were going to be put in a hospital waiting room every ad was going to have a doctor or a nurse on them. Finally when everything was said and done we had the company take care of the paperwork. Once the contract was signed we went back to our company that we worked for to clock out for the day.

On the drive back to Emily's apartment I couldn't stop myself from asking, "Mrs. Key, is someone threatening you?"

She blinked. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Well I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation but, your friend said something about you not becoming a skeleton on someone's front door?" I said.

Her response confirmed exactly what I thought. Her face turned as white as if she were a ghost. I narrowed my eyes. "Who's threatening you?"

"Why do you want to know? Even if there was someone threatening me it's not like you could do anything about it," Emily said.

I opened my mouth to respond and then shut it because I knew she was right. I couldn't even begin to do anything to help her other than increase security in the building when she's at work. But then again I don't really know exactly what the threat is. I'm going to assume that if it's something to do with turning her skeleton it might be a death threat.

"Uh-huh that's what I thought," said Emily. "Listen I appreciate your concern but I think I'm fine here-"

Before she could finish her sentence when her ringtone on her phone went off. She looked at her phone and she seemed to panic a little.

I frowned. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing again thanks for the concern but I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes I'm fine and please don't ask again."

I didn't say anything else. We reached Emily's apartment and I escorted her to her door and made sure she was safely inside her apartment before I left.