his pronunciation of cold sounding more like code. “Where the hell did Emma go?” Shaley suddenly looked worried. Each of the youngsters looked for signs of Emma. Shaley’s heart started to race in her chest. ~
Emma struggled to free herself from the claw like grip on her ankle. The cold from its appendage migrated up her leg and seeped into her torso feeling like icicles. Her lungs screamed for air and her brain fought to stay conscious. She kicked her strong legs and pushed her arms through the water desperate to reach the surface. She screamed into the depths with her last breath but of course no one could hear. She knew in her soul that this was how her life was going to end… ~
Both Shaley and Spencer ran as fast as they could to the edge of the dock. “Pippi get my Aunts!” Shaley called over her shoulder. Shaley didn’t stop when she reached the end of the dock and dove as far as she could into the lake. She’d become quite a strong swimmer over the past few years thanks to Emma’s tutelage. “Please Father help me!” Was Shaley’s mantra the entire time she swam to her Sisters’ suspected location. Something told her Emma was close by so she dove down searching with her hands and feet. She was relieved when she found Emma’s wrist and she tugged as hard as she could. The water was too muddy to see anything but in her minds’ eye Shaley saw the man who’d hurt Ruby, his evil smile showing his blackened teeth. “Let go of her you son of a bitch! You can’t have her.” Shaley screamed in her mind as she pulled on Emma as hard as she could. Shaley had promised her parents she would be there for Emma and she intended to honor that promise. Emma’ s hand which had initially been gripping her own started to go slack. “NO!” Shaley screamed in her mind again as a ball of bright white light shot out of her abdomen. The ball of energy was larger than a basketball and radiated from her heart to below her navel. A wave of translucent ripples radiated out and away from her center 360 degrees like a tsunami of pure power. Emma’s almost limp hand suddenly clutched her sister’s wrist and Shaley was able to pull Emma toward the light. They broke the surface simultaneously gasping for breath. Emma coughed and sputtered as Shaley looked her over carefully making sure she was really safe. “What the fuck happened?” Emma exclaimed when she was finally able to speak. Shaley still held her sister and began to swim toward the dock. Emma continued coughing occasionally as she tried to gulp copious amounts of air. Spencer took hold of Emma as they reached the dock. “Emma ok?” He asked with more than a little concern in his eyes for his friend. “Did you see anything Shay?” Emma asked. Pippi helped her friend out of the water then both helped pull Emma onto the dock. Pippi picked up towels and placed them across the sisters’ shoulders. Spencer climbed partway up the old pool ladder on the side of the dock and stood there looking at Emma. She pulled the towel tight around herself her lips almost blue. “Emma code” Spencer said pointing to his friend. It had all happened so fast Pippi hadn’t had time to go to the house for help. “Do you want me to go get Sona or Markie?” Shaley asked. Emma shook her head vigorously. “No I’m ok… just embarrassed mostly.” Emma replied. “Bad!” Spencer said shaking his head. Shaley put her arm around Emma’s shoulder and squeezed tight. ~
Emma wandered the upstairs hall. She still felt a little shaken by the afternoons’ events. She peeked into Shaley’s room. Her sister was lying on the floor on her stomach atop a plush pink area rug reading her e-book. Emma rapped gently on the door frame so as not to startle her. “Can I come in?” Emma asked when Shaley looked up from her tablet. “Sure! Are you