HANDLE NAME: UNKNOWN

Chapter 1- To End It All

"Won't you get in trouble for this?"

Daphne shrugged. "Probably, so you best not tell anyone I'm doing this." She pushed the plate of food at Emmy. Emmy paused, debating if she even had the stomach for it. Gordon's gaze was still lodged in the back of her mind. Tears blurred her vision before finally falling down her face.

"Eat, sugar." Daphne scolded before she began to clean glasses and prepare for whatever group had rented the little area this Egyptian themed bar was in.

"My husband fucked all my friends. Hit me when I confronted him." Daphne murmured, glancing down to her inner arm as if the bruises were still there after all these years, "left me and my baby girl on our own. Best thing that ever happened to me. Got away from that scum and all his lies."

Emmy's eyes rose to meet Daphne's, and some sad recognition crossed the bartender's thoughts. "I'm sorry your sis did that to you, sugar. I'm sorry that man joined your family." Another shot of whisky was poured.

"Bottoms up love, it never gets easier, but we can try."

"I'm sorry too." Emmy whispered to Daphne before downing the shot.

.

.

.

Gordon had found her. She had done her best to skirt around the casino and avoid her hotel room. She hadn't wanted to deal with anyone trying to locate her and yet Gordon had still managed it. He clearly knew easily enough how to find her; she hated large crowds and usually sought quiet places. In Las Vegas, there wasn't a lot of options. The hotels were brimming with events.

But something big was being held in this city. 22,000 people or so had had flocked to the city and filled most every free space, she heard more than one person comment on the upped security for the amount of people... and the danger some of them presented. If she were more sober, she would have listened intrigued. But sobriety meant she'd have to face the reality of her thoughts. No. God no. Drown them away. Never let them see the light of day again.

"Emelia." Gordon said coldly, glancing down her dress which still had a dark stain on it, a red raised welt that split her upper left cheek. She was sure he noticed the bottle of Crown she had bought. She sat by a large outdoor fountain. The night air was warm but not fully enjoyed. She craved the colder weather of home.

"Fuck off," she said quietly, drained, staring into the abyss of the water before her. Laughing people walked the other side of the pool, but otherwise her little spot had been quiet. Until now.

"Your mother and stepfather haven't left dinner yet. I told them I would find you."

They don't want to deal with me. Emmy's mind whispered angrily. None of them do.

"You used to be levelheaded, had a plan in life." Gordon whispered. "You've let everything go. You dropped out of college, wasted your scholarship, all your money, look at you right now," he said stalely, "you look like a real fucking winner."

Gordon shook his head, waiting for Emelia to reply but she didn't. He continued aggressively, "You want to make me into the bad guy? Make me responsible for everything that happened to you? Well, you can't. I didn't do this to you. Everyone else moved on. Everyone else has forgiven me. But not you, instead you have completely and utterly let yourself go, become an eyesore for your family.... An eyesore to my family now."

Emmy finally turned and stared at Gordon, but again she felt numb. Only the ache of sadness remained. She wondered for a moment if she could just lean back into the pond, let the water cover her ears, stare at the stars in the sky... Maybe then she wouldn't hear his voice. Their voice. Her voice.