[SCENE] [Flashback] SL9 Sisters In Three Parts
Lana: *It's February 19, 2015, a dismal yet warm afternoon in downtown Los Angeles. Senior Detective Lana Skye exits the Police Department's auditorium, her sister's hand in hers, and notes that the light drizzle from earlier in the day has escalated to a full-out thunderstorm. Rain comes down hard against the glass lobby doors, and there's even a flash or two of lightening. Despite the gloomy weather, however, Lana and everyone now milling out into the front foyer appear to be in high spirits--the annual prosecutor and police awards ceremony has just wrapped up and people are abuzz about the attorneys and detectives selected for recognition this year*
Lana: *as she heads to the doors, Lana glances to her fourteen year old sister and gives her a warm smile* How did you find it? It wasn't too dry, was it?
Ema: Nah, it wasn't too bad! That one guy talked for a really, really long time, though. I nearly dozed off halfway through! *exaggerates a yawn and then grins, her eyes sparkling as she looks around at the crowd of law enforcers around her* It's pretty exciting Mr. Marshall won that award, huh?
Lana: Yes, though it was well-deserved. *smiles, looking up into the sea of people and scanning the heads for the presence of one cowboy hat or another* We'll be heading to dinner now with him, Jake and a few others to celebrate. To a steakhouse, I think.
Ema: Oh, good! I hope they have milkshakes because I could really go for a strawberry one right now. *she stands on her tiptoes and also tries to spot either of the Marshalls. After a moment, she settles down on her heels, looking thoughtful* Hey, Lana, do you think I could call Mr. Marshall--the one you're dating--by his first name? Because otherwise it's confusing when I call both of them "Mr. Marshall."
Ema: People can't tell if I'm talking about the prosecutor or your boyfriend! *she says all of this very matter-of-factly*
Lana: *laughs lightly at that, though at the same time she appears somewhat embarrassed* You could just call him 'Detective' Marshall and address Neil as 'Prosecutor'... but I don't think he would object to being called 'Jake'. You can ask him yourself, at dinner. *spots a movement of tan and white to their left and glances to that direction-- it's the younger cowboy, approaching them*
Neil: *walks up to the two sisters with a wide grin, the King of Prosecutors award neatly tucked under an arm* Miss Skye! *touches the brim of his hat, glances down to Ema and dips his hat again* Little Miss! Afternoon. Great news--have you heard? *it's clear by the speed of his words and his motions that he's excited*
Lana: *with more than a hint of amusement* Yes, we were just at the ceremony, Neil. Congratulations.
Ema: *cheerfully* Hi, Mist-- um, Prosecutor Marshall! Congratulations on your award! *she peers at it* Could I have a look at it?
Neil: *chuckles with embarrassment* Sure-- *crouches down to Ema's level, passing the rather hefty award carefully to her hands* Here you go. Careful, it's a touch heavy.
Neil: *standing back upright to talk to Lana* And no ma'am, I was meaning different news--the officers we sent to bring in Darke yesterday finally got a hold o'him. Caught him tryin' to give them the slip on the highway, or so I hear. *shifts his weight from one foot to the other eagerly* They actually brought him in while the ceremony was goin' on, but didn't want to interrupt to inform us. He's in a questioning room right now, waitin'.
Lana: *holds a hand to herself, surprised* Darke...? *nods; she's all seriousness in an instant* I see. You'll be wanting to interrogate him immediately, then?
Neil: Well, yeah. Damon's already headin' up there. You comin'?
Ema: *while the two are discussing above her, Ema has been examining the trophy. She tunes in toward the end of their conversation and then looks up at her sister. Her expression has become serious* Darke? Isn't that the serial killer you've been trying to catch for months?
Ema: *adjusts her grip on the trophy so it doesn't slip out of her grasp. It is heavy* You'll be in the interrogation room for a while then, won't you? Want me to go home? I can take the bus.
Lana: *shakes her head even before she glances outside to confirm how strongly the rain is still coming down* No. The weather is terrible and it's getting late--I wouldn't feel safe with you on your own out there. *smiles* Besides... if we finish up early, we may still be able to catch dinner along with everyone else.
Lana: *to Neil* I'll take Ema up to my office--you and Damon can start without me. Have the other detectives been notified yet?
Neil: No, but I'll tell that brother of mine to play messenger and handle it. *to Ema* Here, Little Miss-- I'll take that hunk of metal from you before your arms start aching. *stoops, taking the trophy back into his hands. Standing, he straightens his hat and grins again* Alright, I'm off. With luck, we're gonna get one more reason to celebrate tonight! *he's already sprinting towards the elevators*
Ema: *watches him go, then looks to Lana* Well, all right. I don't mind hanging out in your office for a while. Can I play games on your computer if I get bored?
Lana: *takes Ema's hand and navigates the crowd as they head to the elevators themselves* Yes, you may. We'll try to wrap this up as quickly as possible. You're not very hungry yet, are you?
Ema: Nah, not really, but I'll try to work up an appetite. *smiles as they arrive in front of the elevators*
Lana: Good. *when the elevator arrives and they step in, she presses the button for the fifteenth floor, giving her sister's hand a squeeze* Don't worry. Even if we can't make it in time for the reservation, I'll make sure you get that strawberry milkshake.
Ema: All right, but then I get to have whipped cream and a cherry on top of it!
Lana: Agreed. *smiling, she steps out of the elevator when they reach the fifteenth floor. A swipe of her ID card later, she opens up the doors to her and Gant's office and turns on the lights* Come find me if you need anything. You know where I'll be.
Ema: Okay! Good luck with the interrogation, Lana. Get that guy to cough up everything. *she gives her sister a quick hug* I'll see you in a little bit.
Lana: See you. *hugs back in return and leaves the office, heading to the questioning room*
Ema: *watches her sister walk down the hallway before pulling the door closed. She goes over to Lana's side of the office and settles down at her desk, letting her eyes stray over to the large organ in the middle of the room. She taps her feet against the floor, as if she's pressing the organ' pedals. She's spent uncountable hours in this office daydreaming about playing it. It's tempting to her now, but she knows if she presses just one key ever so slightly it will resonate loudly throughout the entire department. Sighing, she swivels around in the chair to face the window. The sky has darkened to an inky black and it's impossible to see anything, not even the light of the street lamps below. Thunder claps, warning of the storm's approach. Ema silently counts in her head: one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four Mississippi, five Mississippi--another clap. Five miles away*
Ema: *for a while she just sits there, listening as the worst of the storm steadily comes nearer. Suddenly, muffled shouts come from the hallway and Ema turns. She pauses just a moment, waiting as the commotion crescendos in volume before hurrying to the door and pulling it open to see what's going on*
Ema: *the only thing she gets a chance to see is a flash of pale skin, hollow cheeks and two bright, maddened eyes before a rough hand twists her arm behind her back and a knife presses to her throat. She doesn't even have a chance to scream. She's dragged back into the room, toward her sister's side of the office. She can't think, she can't focus--all she can hear is her heart pounding in her ears and the soun
Ema: *there's a shout in the hallway and Neil Marshall runs in, skidding to a halt when he sees Ema and Darke. Ema is acutely aware of the blade pressing harder against her skin and she squeezes her eyes tight. Just then, she feels a body collide with her captor and she falls to the floor, catching herself on her hands*
Ema: *the lights flicker and go out, plunging the room into complete darkness. Ema pants, lifting her eyes up just as a jagged streak of lightening splits the sky, silhouetting the two men against the black night. In that instant, the lightening catches a blade as it's lifted above one of the men. One thought flashes through her mind: I've got to help Mr. Marshall!*
Ema: *instinctively, Ema pulls herself to her feet and lunges forward toward the man with the knife. Her hands connect with fabric, pushing him away as lightening flashes again and illuminates a strangely shaped shadow on the wall. Thunder claps again, now directly overhead as Ema falls to the floor and out of consciousness*
~~~
Ema: *some time later, Ema wakes up. She can feel a warmth surrounding her and she blinks slowly as her sister comes into focus above her* L-Lana?
Lana: *the hold lightens somewhat as Lana leans back and looks to Ema's face, searching out her sister's eyes as they flicker open. Her own features are pale, her eyes red... and though it can't have been more than an hour since the last time she'd parted with Ema, she looks like she's aged years in the interim. She speaks in a quiet, cracked whisper* Ema... oh, Ema...
Ema: *blinks again and swallows. The place where the knife pressed against her skin throbs and she winces, remembering* Lana, what happened? Is Mr. Marshall okay? *cranes her neck, trying to see*
Lana: Mr. Marshall... *there's a flash of dull recognition in her eyes, and it's clear that the name brings two people to her mind, not just one. She holds Ema close to her again, preventing her sister's view--though from the floor and the angle of the lights it's clear they're on her side of the office, by the window. There are hushed voices speaking nearby, officers and detectives already handling the crime scene. There's another rumble of thunder in the distance, outside*
Lana: *silently looks to Ema. There's something... strange in her expression, a questioning glance that carries with it a resignation and a still-existent but dulled horror. She hurriedly glances off to the side--whatever she's trying to say, she's having a hard time getting it out* Mr. Marshall is... no. *speaks more firmly, already rising and shakily lifting her sister in her arms* You need to get some medical attention right now, Ema. We'll talk about this... later.
Ema: I... all right. *frowns, looking bemused as she studies her sister's expression* But, Lana, something's wrong, isn't there? Something happened... *once again she cranes her neck in an effort to see, but Lana's arms constrain her*
Lana: Stop squirming. *the words come out a good deal more harsh than she probably intended; it's followed by a much more soft, tired tone* Please.
Lana: *she's already hurriedly carrying Ema out of the room, passing by more officers, by Gant standing by the door, who gives her a nod as she leaves... by paramedics and investigators and people rolling in a wheeled gurney and a black bag...*
Ema: *stops trying to see and falls silent, letting Lana carry her. Even so, she catches glimpses of officers and the gurney as they pass by. Her stomach clenches but she remains silent, closing her eyes and burying her face in Lana's jacket. The image of the two men silhouetted by the lightening burns behind her eyelids and she presses against Lana more so*
~~~
Lana: *no more than a few days later, Lana sits at the side of a long table, watching Detective Goodman talk to her sister. She has a cup of coffee clenched tightly in her hands--it's already cold but she hasn't sipped from it; it's there to stop herself from inadvertently biting her thumb, a habit that has resurfaced as of late. Everything hinges on what Ema can remember of the incident that resulted in Neil's death--or rather, what she cannot; Lana is the only person in the room aware of the magnitude of what is taking place*
Goodman: *sighs quietly and nudges the double paged evidence list to Ema once again. There's a rather messy stack of folders--autopsy, investigative-- nearby, as well as pens and markers, and his own mug of coffee, also long since gone cold*
Goodman: Let's try this again. When you're called up by the judge, you will be asked to testify about what you saw in relation to Neil Marshall's mur--. *there's a sharp glare from the other end of the table and he cringes, taking the time to adjust his hat and his language* ...Prosecutor Marshall's... ... the situation in your sister's office.
Goodman: Can you try explaining just what you can remember? *his tone is patient but there's exasperation there too* From the beginning.
Ema: *holds a marker in her hand, twirling it around nervously. She keeps her eyes on her fingers as she takes a shaky breath to try to tell what she saw again* I was waiting in Lana's office for her to finish up the interrogation when I heard a commotion outside. I opened the door and... *she swallows* Darke grabbed me and pressed a knife against my neck.
Ema: He... pulled me back into the office and then Mr. Marshall came in and jumped Darke. I-I got knocked aside and fell on the floor. The lights went out. And then... and then... *she trails off, staring at her fingertips*
Goodman: *frowns* And then?
Ema: And then... there was this great bolt of lightning. It split the sky behind the window and lit up the whole room. *closes her eyes for a moment and then opens them, looking straight at Goodman* And then I saw them. They were fighting and one of them -- Darke I'm certain -- raised his knife and was about to-- to-- *she shudders breaking off*
Goodman: *with one hand on the table he leans down to Ema, pressing insistently* About to? About to what?
Lana: *sharply, in a voice that could melt steel* What else could he have been about to do, Detective?
Goodman: *winces* I'm sorry ma'am. You know I'm just as familiar with the events of that night, and I know your sister wouldn't have any reason to change up her testimony on the stand... but we need to make sure she's able to tell the whole story up there. That includes what happened at the very moment of the murder.
Lana: *this only seems to provoke her further-- her voice raises* If she can't testify about the very moment, then she doesn't have to. We have enough evidence to convict Darke--there is no need to berate her like this!
Goodman: *fumbles, his attention now directed fully at the hostile, overprotective woman across the room* Detective Skye, please understand--
Lana: Understand what? *stands, walking over to him with a glare so frosty the trenchcoated man recoils*
Goodman: Th... that this is just procedure-- *and an argument erupts, sharp and jarring, Ema altogether ignored at the table*
Ema: *watches the two arguing, wincing as her sister's voice rings sharply in her ears. Her sister has changed so much in the past few days, almost as if she's aged an entire life time. But what's most disturbing is how she behaves: so cold, yet so quick to argue and fight and yell. Ema squeezes the marker tightly in her fist* Stop it, please... *they don't hear her, and she speaks louder* Stop arguing. *finally she reaches over to grab her sister's arm* Lana. Lana! Please, stop it.
Lana: *turns sharply at the tug of her arm. For one frozen instant the full force of her animosity is directed at her sister--all that anger, that frustration and something else in her gaze: a confused mixture of grief and guilt. And then the look softens and then fades altogether. She falls silent... and turns back to walk to her seat*
Ema: *recoils from Lana's gaze as if she's been burnt by a flame*
Goodman: *sighs out quietly, reaching for his cold coffee and taking a sip of it anyway* If... we can start from the beginning, Ema... try to tell me what you saw happen again.
Ema: As her sister walks back to her seat, Ema tries to focus on Detective Goodman again* The lightning flashed and... and... *she swallows, trying to describe the scene but the words just won't come. She closes her eyes again. When she opens them, her eyes fall on the evidence list and she reaches out for it suddenly, pulling it to her. She uncaps the marker she's been holding and begins drawing on it*
Goodman: *watches Ema draw, his eyes widening when the contents of the picture become more and more clear*
Ema: *after a few minutes she finishes, pushing the paper over to Goodman. On it is the scene in her mind that she can't quite explain, and the shadow that she saw on the wall a few moments later*
Goodman: *studies the picture, taking it into his hands in wonderment* This... we might be able to use this as evidence...!
Lana: Then we're done here. *stands up, setting down her mug onto the table with a clang. She strides over to Goodman, taking the list from his hands* I'll speak to Damon about this. *doesn't wait for an objection; she walks over to Ema, taking her hand and giving her a tug to get up* Let's go.
Ema: *lets Lana pull her out of her seat* *softly* Okay. Goodbye, Detective Goodman.
Goodman: *still looking rather uncertain, he nods to Ema, and to Lana's turned back* Goodbye. See you... at the trial.
~~~
Lana: *Late March, 2015. It's mid-afternoon, and Lana Skye sits inside of her idling car, hands clutched at the wheel. The car's clock reads 3:27, and she frowns sharply as she looks out the passenger window to the doors of Cromartie High*
Ema: *emerges from the high school along the few remaining students who have yet to leave. She hitches up her messenger bag so it sits more comfortably on her shoulder as she walks across the front lawn. She spots her sister's car easily; it's in the same spot where it has been every school day afternoon since the incident*
Lana: *when she finally spots Ema exiting out of the front doors of the school, she shuts her eyes, seeming to de-tense slightly. Then, she turns back to looking at the front dashboard of the car*
Ema: *sighs, finally reaching the car, getting in and throwing her bag in the backseat. The door slams as she closes it, preceding an awkward moment of silence before Ema speaks* Hey.
Lana: *doesn't look back when her sister enters. Her voice is like it's always been ever since mid-February* What took you so long?
Ema: *frowns, staring ahead* I had to stay a little longer so I could ask a question about a project I had in biology. It's no big deal.
Lana: It is a big deal. *depresses the clutch and shifts gears, driving off in rather a hurry* You were aware I would be out here; you should have given me a call to tell me you would be late. *she pauses, finishing off rather lamely* ...And you know I have to go right back to the office after this.
Ema: *sighs* It was only a few extra minutes. It didn't seem like it was worth the call. *crosses her arms over her chest* Besides, it's not like you have to pick me up from school. I could just take the bus.
Lana: It's just to be safe. *it's a line that she's used several, several times in the past month to justify many things to her sister-- on why Ema can't go out alone or with her friends to the movie theatre, the museum, the library; on why she should accompany Ema to every other place necessary for the young teenager to go*
Ema: *resists the urge to roll her eyes* Lana, there's nothing to be kept safe from. I can take care of myself. *a pause* You don't let me do anything anymore.
Lana: *several responses come to her mind-- some that she can say to her sister, some she cannot. However, all she does is clutch the wheel tightly, keeping her voice curt* This isn't up for discussion.
Ema: *takes a deep breath, glaring hard out the window* Well, it should be. You don't give me any space at all. If I'm out of your sight for five seconds you freak out on me. God, Lana, I can't even breathe without you being right there!
Lana: That's an exaggeration and you know it. *makes a rather sharp right turn, coming up to their street* Besides, it's all for your own good. And as I am still your guardian, you're going to have to bear it.
Ema: *snaps* You never used to do any of this before. It's all because of that... that incident. You try to act like it doesn't have anything to do with it, but it does, Lana! Ever since that day you've been acting weird -- you don't smile, you don't laugh anymore. I-I look at you sometimes and I don 't even recognize you...
Lana: *snappishly* It has nothing to do with that! *she seems to realize how utterly unconvincing her words sound given how worked up she is, and she falls into a cold silence as she pulls the car up to their driveway*
Ema: *sharply in response* Yes, it does! I'm not stupid, Lana; I can see when something's wrong. *a soft, slightly sad tone creeps into her voice, and she turns her eyes to her sister* Why won't you tell me?
Lana: *shuts her eyes--she's... afraid to look over at Ema, afraid of what the expression in her eyes may be, given that hurt in her sister's tone. She keeps her hands clutched onto the wheel. Her voice she manages to keep much more steady* It has nothing to do with you, Ema. Now... I have to get going. You'll find a container with dinner in the fridge.
Ema: *turns to face front again, squeezing her arms tight against her chest. She sits there for a moment, just staring straight ahead without seeing anything. Finally, she whispers as she reaches for the door handle, just audible enough for Lana to hear* Sometimes when you're like this I sort of hate you. *she gets out, not even bothering to get her bag, and slams the door shut loudly. She doesn't look back as she walks up to the front door*
Lana: *flinches--her breathing hitches somewhat and then picks up, but there's no other reaction than that. She waits and watches rigidly to make sure Ema enters the townhouse safely... then puts the car into reverse, backs out of the driveway, and drives off*
[[Goodman and Neil played by that crazy 1-5 woman.]]
Lana: *as she heads to the doors, Lana glances to her fourteen year old sister and gives her a warm smile* How did you find it? It wasn't too dry, was it?
Ema: Nah, it wasn't too bad! That one guy talked for a really, really long time, though. I nearly dozed off halfway through! *exaggerates a yawn and then grins, her eyes sparkling as she looks around at the crowd of law enforcers around her* It's pretty exciting Mr. Marshall won that award, huh?
Lana: Yes, though it was well-deserved. *smiles, looking up into the sea of people and scanning the heads for the presence of one cowboy hat or another* We'll be heading to dinner now with him, Jake and a few others to celebrate. To a steakhouse, I think.
Ema: Oh, good! I hope they have milkshakes because I could really go for a strawberry one right now. *she stands on her tiptoes and also tries to spot either of the Marshalls. After a moment, she settles down on her heels, looking thoughtful* Hey, Lana, do you think I could call Mr. Marshall--the one you're dating--by his first name? Because otherwise it's confusing when I call both of them "Mr. Marshall."
Ema: People can't tell if I'm talking about the prosecutor or your boyfriend! *she says all of this very matter-of-factly*
Lana: *laughs lightly at that, though at the same time she appears somewhat embarrassed* You could just call him 'Detective' Marshall and address Neil as 'Prosecutor'... but I don't think he would object to being called 'Jake'. You can ask him yourself, at dinner. *spots a movement of tan and white to their left and glances to that direction-- it's the younger cowboy, approaching them*
Neil: *walks up to the two sisters with a wide grin, the King of Prosecutors award neatly tucked under an arm* Miss Skye! *touches the brim of his hat, glances down to Ema and dips his hat again* Little Miss! Afternoon. Great news--have you heard? *it's clear by the speed of his words and his motions that he's excited*
Lana: *with more than a hint of amusement* Yes, we were just at the ceremony, Neil. Congratulations.
Ema: *cheerfully* Hi, Mist-- um, Prosecutor Marshall! Congratulations on your award! *she peers at it* Could I have a look at it?
Neil: *chuckles with embarrassment* Sure-- *crouches down to Ema's level, passing the rather hefty award carefully to her hands* Here you go. Careful, it's a touch heavy.
Neil: *standing back upright to talk to Lana* And no ma'am, I was meaning different news--the officers we sent to bring in Darke yesterday finally got a hold o'him. Caught him tryin' to give them the slip on the highway, or so I hear. *shifts his weight from one foot to the other eagerly* They actually brought him in while the ceremony was goin' on, but didn't want to interrupt to inform us. He's in a questioning room right now, waitin'.
Lana: *holds a hand to herself, surprised* Darke...? *nods; she's all seriousness in an instant* I see. You'll be wanting to interrogate him immediately, then?
Neil: Well, yeah. Damon's already headin' up there. You comin'?
Ema: *while the two are discussing above her, Ema has been examining the trophy. She tunes in toward the end of their conversation and then looks up at her sister. Her expression has become serious* Darke? Isn't that the serial killer you've been trying to catch for months?
Ema: *adjusts her grip on the trophy so it doesn't slip out of her grasp. It is heavy* You'll be in the interrogation room for a while then, won't you? Want me to go home? I can take the bus.
Lana: *shakes her head even before she glances outside to confirm how strongly the rain is still coming down* No. The weather is terrible and it's getting late--I wouldn't feel safe with you on your own out there. *smiles* Besides... if we finish up early, we may still be able to catch dinner along with everyone else.
Lana: *to Neil* I'll take Ema up to my office--you and Damon can start without me. Have the other detectives been notified yet?
Neil: No, but I'll tell that brother of mine to play messenger and handle it. *to Ema* Here, Little Miss-- I'll take that hunk of metal from you before your arms start aching. *stoops, taking the trophy back into his hands. Standing, he straightens his hat and grins again* Alright, I'm off. With luck, we're gonna get one more reason to celebrate tonight! *he's already sprinting towards the elevators*
Ema: *watches him go, then looks to Lana* Well, all right. I don't mind hanging out in your office for a while. Can I play games on your computer if I get bored?
Lana: *takes Ema's hand and navigates the crowd as they head to the elevators themselves* Yes, you may. We'll try to wrap this up as quickly as possible. You're not very hungry yet, are you?
Ema: Nah, not really, but I'll try to work up an appetite. *smiles as they arrive in front of the elevators*
Lana: Good. *when the elevator arrives and they step in, she presses the button for the fifteenth floor, giving her sister's hand a squeeze* Don't worry. Even if we can't make it in time for the reservation, I'll make sure you get that strawberry milkshake.
Ema: All right, but then I get to have whipped cream and a cherry on top of it!
Lana: Agreed. *smiling, she steps out of the elevator when they reach the fifteenth floor. A swipe of her ID card later, she opens up the doors to her and Gant's office and turns on the lights* Come find me if you need anything. You know where I'll be.
Ema: Okay! Good luck with the interrogation, Lana. Get that guy to cough up everything. *she gives her sister a quick hug* I'll see you in a little bit.
Lana: See you. *hugs back in return and leaves the office, heading to the questioning room*
Ema: *watches her sister walk down the hallway before pulling the door closed. She goes over to Lana's side of the office and settles down at her desk, letting her eyes stray over to the large organ in the middle of the room. She taps her feet against the floor, as if she's pressing the organ' pedals. She's spent uncountable hours in this office daydreaming about playing it. It's tempting to her now, but she knows if she presses just one key ever so slightly it will resonate loudly throughout the entire department. Sighing, she swivels around in the chair to face the window. The sky has darkened to an inky black and it's impossible to see anything, not even the light of the street lamps below. Thunder claps, warning of the storm's approach. Ema silently counts in her head: one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four Mississippi, five Mississippi--another clap. Five miles away*
Ema: *for a while she just sits there, listening as the worst of the storm steadily comes nearer. Suddenly, muffled shouts come from the hallway and Ema turns. She pauses just a moment, waiting as the commotion crescendos in volume before hurrying to the door and pulling it open to see what's going on*
Ema: *the only thing she gets a chance to see is a flash of pale skin, hollow cheeks and two bright, maddened eyes before a rough hand twists her arm behind her back and a knife presses to her throat. She doesn't even have a chance to scream. She's dragged back into the room, toward her sister's side of the office. She can't think, she can't focus--all she can hear is her heart pounding in her ears and the soun
Ema: *there's a shout in the hallway and Neil Marshall runs in, skidding to a halt when he sees Ema and Darke. Ema is acutely aware of the blade pressing harder against her skin and she squeezes her eyes tight. Just then, she feels a body collide with her captor and she falls to the floor, catching herself on her hands*
Ema: *the lights flicker and go out, plunging the room into complete darkness. Ema pants, lifting her eyes up just as a jagged streak of lightening splits the sky, silhouetting the two men against the black night. In that instant, the lightening catches a blade as it's lifted above one of the men. One thought flashes through her mind: I've got to help Mr. Marshall!*
Ema: *instinctively, Ema pulls herself to her feet and lunges forward toward the man with the knife. Her hands connect with fabric, pushing him away as lightening flashes again and illuminates a strangely shaped shadow on the wall. Thunder claps again, now directly overhead as Ema falls to the floor and out of consciousness*
~~~
Ema: *some time later, Ema wakes up. She can feel a warmth surrounding her and she blinks slowly as her sister comes into focus above her* L-Lana?
Lana: *the hold lightens somewhat as Lana leans back and looks to Ema's face, searching out her sister's eyes as they flicker open. Her own features are pale, her eyes red... and though it can't have been more than an hour since the last time she'd parted with Ema, she looks like she's aged years in the interim. She speaks in a quiet, cracked whisper* Ema... oh, Ema...
Ema: *blinks again and swallows. The place where the knife pressed against her skin throbs and she winces, remembering* Lana, what happened? Is Mr. Marshall okay? *cranes her neck, trying to see*
Lana: Mr. Marshall... *there's a flash of dull recognition in her eyes, and it's clear that the name brings two people to her mind, not just one. She holds Ema close to her again, preventing her sister's view--though from the floor and the angle of the lights it's clear they're on her side of the office, by the window. There are hushed voices speaking nearby, officers and detectives already handling the crime scene. There's another rumble of thunder in the distance, outside*
Lana: *silently looks to Ema. There's something... strange in her expression, a questioning glance that carries with it a resignation and a still-existent but dulled horror. She hurriedly glances off to the side--whatever she's trying to say, she's having a hard time getting it out* Mr. Marshall is... no. *speaks more firmly, already rising and shakily lifting her sister in her arms* You need to get some medical attention right now, Ema. We'll talk about this... later.
Ema: I... all right. *frowns, looking bemused as she studies her sister's expression* But, Lana, something's wrong, isn't there? Something happened... *once again she cranes her neck in an effort to see, but Lana's arms constrain her*
Lana: Stop squirming. *the words come out a good deal more harsh than she probably intended; it's followed by a much more soft, tired tone* Please.
Lana: *she's already hurriedly carrying Ema out of the room, passing by more officers, by Gant standing by the door, who gives her a nod as she leaves... by paramedics and investigators and people rolling in a wheeled gurney and a black bag...*
Ema: *stops trying to see and falls silent, letting Lana carry her. Even so, she catches glimpses of officers and the gurney as they pass by. Her stomach clenches but she remains silent, closing her eyes and burying her face in Lana's jacket. The image of the two men silhouetted by the lightening burns behind her eyelids and she presses against Lana more so*
~~~
Lana: *no more than a few days later, Lana sits at the side of a long table, watching Detective Goodman talk to her sister. She has a cup of coffee clenched tightly in her hands--it's already cold but she hasn't sipped from it; it's there to stop herself from inadvertently biting her thumb, a habit that has resurfaced as of late. Everything hinges on what Ema can remember of the incident that resulted in Neil's death--or rather, what she cannot; Lana is the only person in the room aware of the magnitude of what is taking place*
Goodman: *sighs quietly and nudges the double paged evidence list to Ema once again. There's a rather messy stack of folders--autopsy, investigative-- nearby, as well as pens and markers, and his own mug of coffee, also long since gone cold*
Goodman: Let's try this again. When you're called up by the judge, you will be asked to testify about what you saw in relation to Neil Marshall's mur--. *there's a sharp glare from the other end of the table and he cringes, taking the time to adjust his hat and his language* ...Prosecutor Marshall's... ... the situation in your sister's office.
Goodman: Can you try explaining just what you can remember? *his tone is patient but there's exasperation there too* From the beginning.
Ema: *holds a marker in her hand, twirling it around nervously. She keeps her eyes on her fingers as she takes a shaky breath to try to tell what she saw again* I was waiting in Lana's office for her to finish up the interrogation when I heard a commotion outside. I opened the door and... *she swallows* Darke grabbed me and pressed a knife against my neck.
Ema: He... pulled me back into the office and then Mr. Marshall came in and jumped Darke. I-I got knocked aside and fell on the floor. The lights went out. And then... and then... *she trails off, staring at her fingertips*
Goodman: *frowns* And then?
Ema: And then... there was this great bolt of lightning. It split the sky behind the window and lit up the whole room. *closes her eyes for a moment and then opens them, looking straight at Goodman* And then I saw them. They were fighting and one of them -- Darke I'm certain -- raised his knife and was about to-- to-- *she shudders breaking off*
Goodman: *with one hand on the table he leans down to Ema, pressing insistently* About to? About to what?
Lana: *sharply, in a voice that could melt steel* What else could he have been about to do, Detective?
Goodman: *winces* I'm sorry ma'am. You know I'm just as familiar with the events of that night, and I know your sister wouldn't have any reason to change up her testimony on the stand... but we need to make sure she's able to tell the whole story up there. That includes what happened at the very moment of the murder.
Lana: *this only seems to provoke her further-- her voice raises* If she can't testify about the very moment, then she doesn't have to. We have enough evidence to convict Darke--there is no need to berate her like this!
Goodman: *fumbles, his attention now directed fully at the hostile, overprotective woman across the room* Detective Skye, please understand--
Lana: Understand what? *stands, walking over to him with a glare so frosty the trenchcoated man recoils*
Goodman: Th... that this is just procedure-- *and an argument erupts, sharp and jarring, Ema altogether ignored at the table*
Ema: *watches the two arguing, wincing as her sister's voice rings sharply in her ears. Her sister has changed so much in the past few days, almost as if she's aged an entire life time. But what's most disturbing is how she behaves: so cold, yet so quick to argue and fight and yell. Ema squeezes the marker tightly in her fist* Stop it, please... *they don't hear her, and she speaks louder* Stop arguing. *finally she reaches over to grab her sister's arm* Lana. Lana! Please, stop it.
Lana: *turns sharply at the tug of her arm. For one frozen instant the full force of her animosity is directed at her sister--all that anger, that frustration and something else in her gaze: a confused mixture of grief and guilt. And then the look softens and then fades altogether. She falls silent... and turns back to walk to her seat*
Ema: *recoils from Lana's gaze as if she's been burnt by a flame*
Goodman: *sighs out quietly, reaching for his cold coffee and taking a sip of it anyway* If... we can start from the beginning, Ema... try to tell me what you saw happen again.
Ema: As her sister walks back to her seat, Ema tries to focus on Detective Goodman again* The lightning flashed and... and... *she swallows, trying to describe the scene but the words just won't come. She closes her eyes again. When she opens them, her eyes fall on the evidence list and she reaches out for it suddenly, pulling it to her. She uncaps the marker she's been holding and begins drawing on it*
Goodman: *watches Ema draw, his eyes widening when the contents of the picture become more and more clear*
Ema: *after a few minutes she finishes, pushing the paper over to Goodman. On it is the scene in her mind that she can't quite explain, and the shadow that she saw on the wall a few moments later*
Goodman: *studies the picture, taking it into his hands in wonderment* This... we might be able to use this as evidence...!
Lana: Then we're done here. *stands up, setting down her mug onto the table with a clang. She strides over to Goodman, taking the list from his hands* I'll speak to Damon about this. *doesn't wait for an objection; she walks over to Ema, taking her hand and giving her a tug to get up* Let's go.
Ema: *lets Lana pull her out of her seat* *softly* Okay. Goodbye, Detective Goodman.
Goodman: *still looking rather uncertain, he nods to Ema, and to Lana's turned back* Goodbye. See you... at the trial.
~~~
Lana: *Late March, 2015. It's mid-afternoon, and Lana Skye sits inside of her idling car, hands clutched at the wheel. The car's clock reads 3:27, and she frowns sharply as she looks out the passenger window to the doors of Cromartie High*
Ema: *emerges from the high school along the few remaining students who have yet to leave. She hitches up her messenger bag so it sits more comfortably on her shoulder as she walks across the front lawn. She spots her sister's car easily; it's in the same spot where it has been every school day afternoon since the incident*
Lana: *when she finally spots Ema exiting out of the front doors of the school, she shuts her eyes, seeming to de-tense slightly. Then, she turns back to looking at the front dashboard of the car*
Ema: *sighs, finally reaching the car, getting in and throwing her bag in the backseat. The door slams as she closes it, preceding an awkward moment of silence before Ema speaks* Hey.
Lana: *doesn't look back when her sister enters. Her voice is like it's always been ever since mid-February* What took you so long?
Ema: *frowns, staring ahead* I had to stay a little longer so I could ask a question about a project I had in biology. It's no big deal.
Lana: It is a big deal. *depresses the clutch and shifts gears, driving off in rather a hurry* You were aware I would be out here; you should have given me a call to tell me you would be late. *she pauses, finishing off rather lamely* ...And you know I have to go right back to the office after this.
Ema: *sighs* It was only a few extra minutes. It didn't seem like it was worth the call. *crosses her arms over her chest* Besides, it's not like you have to pick me up from school. I could just take the bus.
Lana: It's just to be safe. *it's a line that she's used several, several times in the past month to justify many things to her sister-- on why Ema can't go out alone or with her friends to the movie theatre, the museum, the library; on why she should accompany Ema to every other place necessary for the young teenager to go*
Ema: *resists the urge to roll her eyes* Lana, there's nothing to be kept safe from. I can take care of myself. *a pause* You don't let me do anything anymore.
Lana: *several responses come to her mind-- some that she can say to her sister, some she cannot. However, all she does is clutch the wheel tightly, keeping her voice curt* This isn't up for discussion.
Ema: *takes a deep breath, glaring hard out the window* Well, it should be. You don't give me any space at all. If I'm out of your sight for five seconds you freak out on me. God, Lana, I can't even breathe without you being right there!
Lana: That's an exaggeration and you know it. *makes a rather sharp right turn, coming up to their street* Besides, it's all for your own good. And as I am still your guardian, you're going to have to bear it.
Ema: *snaps* You never used to do any of this before. It's all because of that... that incident. You try to act like it doesn't have anything to do with it, but it does, Lana! Ever since that day you've been acting weird -- you don't smile, you don't laugh anymore. I-I look at you sometimes and I don 't even recognize you...
Lana: *snappishly* It has nothing to do with that! *she seems to realize how utterly unconvincing her words sound given how worked up she is, and she falls into a cold silence as she pulls the car up to their driveway*
Ema: *sharply in response* Yes, it does! I'm not stupid, Lana; I can see when something's wrong. *a soft, slightly sad tone creeps into her voice, and she turns her eyes to her sister* Why won't you tell me?
Lana: *shuts her eyes--she's... afraid to look over at Ema, afraid of what the expression in her eyes may be, given that hurt in her sister's tone. She keeps her hands clutched onto the wheel. Her voice she manages to keep much more steady* It has nothing to do with you, Ema. Now... I have to get going. You'll find a container with dinner in the fridge.
Ema: *turns to face front again, squeezing her arms tight against her chest. She sits there for a moment, just staring straight ahead without seeing anything. Finally, she whispers as she reaches for the door handle, just audible enough for Lana to hear* Sometimes when you're like this I sort of hate you. *she gets out, not even bothering to get her bag, and slams the door shut loudly. She doesn't look back as she walks up to the front door*
Lana: *flinches--her breathing hitches somewhat and then picks up, but there's no other reaction than that. She waits and watches rigidly to make sure Ema enters the townhouse safely... then puts the car into reverse, backs out of the driveway, and drives off*
[[Goodman and Neil played by that crazy 1-5 woman.]]