Emma's POV:
I look over and see my family sound asleep. They all looked peaceful, especially the kids. I hadn't seen them this at peace while sleeping in a long time. They usually still wake up in a panic, but instead of not being able to go back asleep, they just cuddle up closer to Mila and me and fall right back asleep. Looking over at all three of them now, I wish I was sleeping peacefully. For some reason, especially recently, sleep seems to be a stranger to me. Most nights recently have consisted of me faking sleep till the others are officially asleep, then I lay there staring at the ceiling.
I think it mostly has to do with stress. Work is definitely my biggest stressor right now. Tomorrow, well, I guess it's actually today now.... So, later on today, the council will be giving their final decision on whether or not the portal to Alium will officially be closed or not. I would understand if they decided to close them, but I'm really hoping they don't. Because I know if they do this, the chaos it is now with the hysterics from people will only be exacerbated.
I'm also worried about Elisia and Chloe. Especially now that I found out they are both pregnant. This virus is so contagious and deadly; I'm scared that they may become infected. The scientists/doctors we hired have a theory that this virus was actually man-made. If that turns out to be true, dear lord, things will turn ugly. Mass hysterics time a million. Then there will be a manhunt to find out who did it. How would we even find a bioterrorist?
In a way, if we are dealing with a man-made virus, that most likely means there is a cure to it. However, we would have to find the person who created it first, and that's only half the battle. Then we have to get the information for the cure out of them. My head is reeling right now. There are so many what-ifs in the balance right now. I just wish we had concrete answers and information. But no, just theories, unanswered questions, and what-ifs; swirling around my mind, making me absolutely restless. Making me feel like I am completely losing my mind.
I look over to the clock and exhale deeply. It's already five in the morning now. I didn't even realize a whole hour had already passed since I last looked at the clock. I thought I was only ruminating in my thoughts for a few minutes. It's pretty much time to get up anyway, so at least now I don't have to pretend to wake up when the kids go to wake us up. I'm just going to shower and get ready for the day early.
I hurried to get myself ready and was completely done about twenty minutes before six in the morning. That's usually when the kids will get up on school days. Even though they don't have to be at school till eight in the morning. I'm just going to make my way downstairs.
"Oh, hey. I didn't think anyone else would be up right now." I was surprised to find Mila's mom already up and cooking breakfast.
"You know how the twins are; they'll be up soon. I couldn't sleep much last night, so I decided to get an early jump on my day." I sat down at the island, and she handed me a cup of blood. She did this so casually too. She took the whole supernatural shit super well, to be honest. When Mila told her, I thought she would freak out, but no, she was completely calm.
"Thanks. I haven't been sleeping well either. Work seems to be keeping me up a lot at night. What's keeping you up at night?" Anita paused for a moment and took a deep breath.
"I don't know. Call it mother's intuition, but something isn't right. I can't place my finger on it yet, but I feel something bad is lurking around the corner. I don't like feeling like this. It keeps me up at night, thinking up a million scenarios as to what it may be. And with my overactive imagination, it's always graphic and nothing ever good." I understand what she is feeling completely.
"Honestly, I think I feel it too. With everything going on at work especially. The council is finalizing a huge decision today, that depending on what they decide, can cause the mass hysteria we are already experiencing to increase significantly." I was slouched forward at this point. I always seem to carry all my stress in my neck and shoulders.
"What are they deciding on?" I gave her an apologetic look.
"I can't talk about it until they make their final decision; I'm sorry. I'll be able to talk about it once I'm back home for dinner this evening." Anita gave me an understanding look and didn't question me any further. Which I am entirely grateful for.
Soon the kids and Mila were downstairs. The kids were eating breakfast, and Mila had just started drinking her coffee since she had finished drinking her cup of blood. I looked around at everyone, the kids and Mila were smiling, talking about something, and you would think I would smile too. I couldn't, though, because I looked at this moment and I felt disassociated from it. Everything felt off. I looked over and caught Anita's look, and I could tell she was feeling the same. Both watching but not really hearing what was being said. Sitting right beside them all, but not really there.
The drive to work felt longer than usual. It felt like time was lengthening all of a sudden. It was moving at the same speed it always did, but when I was looking out at everything, for some reason, it was in slow motion. I didn't realize how off I truly felt until Anita mentioned it this morning. My instincts were trying to tell me something was wrong, and I was going crazy because I couldn't figure out what it was that was causing me to feel this way. Maybe it just had to do with this big decision the council would make; maybe it was something else. All I know is I hope it has nothing to do with the people I love.
"Hey, Em. Are you ready for this?" I scoffed at Lance.
"Not one bit. Whatever they decide is going to have a huge impact. Regardless there will probably be backlash. And you already know that it will be us who have to deal with whatever mess they cause." He threw his arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah, you're right. But hey, at least we'll be doing it together. Now let's rip the bandaid off and get in there." I picked up his arm and took it off of my shoulder.
"Let's get this over with." I huffed out. I am not looking forward to this.
"So, we have all come to a decision." The council members were all at their own podiums. Leaders from all across the Earth and Alium were on the screens.
"After careful consideration. We have all decided to close the portals to Alium." Then, the people who were present in the conference room started murmuring.
"Quiet down, please." The main person on the council looked over at everyone in the room. Once it was completely quiet again, they continued. "We will make this announcement today over every form of communication. Every supernatural being must remain on Earth. Earth is now officially quarantined from Alium." Fucking great. I leaned over to Lance.
"Damage control is going to be massive," I whispered out to him.
"Yeah, we're fucked." I couldn't agree more, brother, couldn't agree more.
"Are there going to be any exceptions?" I asked my thoughts aloud.
"I could see some possible exceptions for some supernatural beings to be granted asylum to Alium. You and Lance stay after, and we can decide on what exactly those exceptions will be." I nodded and didn't say another word. They carried on with the rest of the meeting. Briefing all of us on the number of infected people and the current death toll. Everything they were addressing was all around depression news; nothing was good.
"Now, Emma; Lance." The council acknowledged both of us by looking at both of us as they said our names. "What do you think some exceptions should be?" I had been racking my brain around exceptions most of the meeting.
"I have a couple of suggestions. One, families visiting and having a permanent residence in Alium, pending a test before they go back. If they are negative, they can go back to Alium. Two, families with kids. Any family trying to keep their kids safe, again only if they all test negative, I believe, should be granted asylum to Alium. Of course, as it goes on, we can think of more exceptions, but right now, those are the main ones I'm thinking about at this moment." The council members started whispering amongst themselves.
"Lance, do you have any suggestions?" He nodded.
"I do. Pregnant woman. I feel they should be able to go to Alium." I looked over at him. I should have thought of that. Again the council members were whispering amongst themselves.
"We accept these exceptions. All other exceptions you both may think of must be brought to us first before finalizing them. All applications will go through a process, and you both will look it over once more before passing it along to us for final approval. We will announce the portals to Alium closing and the current exceptions that could grant people asylum into Alium. You both are dismissed, thank you." We immediately got up and made our way out of the room.
"This is going to be a shit show and a half," I said to Lance as soon as the doors closed behind us.
"Yeah, it is. I say we head home early because come tomorrow. We won't be getting home till late." I nodded in agreement with him. We locked up our offices and walked out to cars together.
I decided that I would pick up the kids instead of Mila. She's been stressing a lot lately about her grand opening tomorrow and hiring new employees. I'm glad she has Lori to help her out. I know she's always been a huge help. I still remember when she first came into our lives, and she's grown into a very strong woman. I'm very proud of her. I'm very happy that Mila promoted her too. She definitely deserves it.
"How was school?" I asked the twins as soon as they got buckled up.
"It was alright. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday. Do you think Asha will be able to stay over?" I shook my head no.
"No, I'm sorry. She and her grandma are heading to some lake house that they own. They are going to spend the weekend there and spread some of Asha's mom's ashes." Alyx just gave a sad expression.
"Oh. Okay then." The car became quiet after that. Nothing but silence until the announcement came over the radio. It was exactly what we had talked about in the meeting. They said the portals to Alium were closing; every supernatural being on Earth is now quarantined here and to be kept from Alium in hopes that the virus won't spread there. They also went over the exceptions that could grant them asylum. I already know this is going to be an absolute nightmare come tomorrow. I'm glad Mila isn't doing her grand opening till later in the evening tomorrow because I know that I'll be staying late after work.
Getting home, we fell into our regular routine. Anita cooked a wonderful dinner, and we all discussed the closing of the portals. I could feel the stress rise within Mila, but her mom helped her stay grounded. I'm thankful that Mila's mom is here. I don't think she realizes how much she is truly helping us out. When Mila told me that she was staying longer, relief washed over me. That night when I went to bed, it was different. I let what Mila's mom said repeat over and over in my head like a mantra; "Just keep breathing." For some reason, just those few words helped me find sleep.