Chapter 10 Poisoned

Emily's POV

The last time I was on my way to Joan's house, I was coming back from the court, and I had just divorced Henry. I remembered thinking I would see my kids in eleven years' time. Eleven years seemed long but never seemed longer.

I wiped the tears off my eyes, and I blew the mucus in my nose into the napkin given to me by Hozier. If I hadn't already caught sight of the odd color on the sheets, I wouldn't have noticed the little trace of blood on the napkin.

Odd...

I never had nosebleeds. This was truly odd.

I took my phone, took a picture, and sent it to Hozier, who, in my view, was the only person I could trust. I felt funny inside, and my head felt lighter than it should, but at least I was closer to the house now.

It had been a while since I last had a good night's rest; well, yesterday was an exception. I was lying beside a man who didn't even know me; it was worse than a one-night stand, and I felt safer sleeping next to him than I thought I would ever feel even for my ex-husband, Henry.

The car was parked outside Joan's house. And she must have been expecting me because she was at the door when I parked outside. I stepped out, shoved the napkin into my pockets, and then I headed toward her front porch.

Her eyes were red-hot; the news must have circulated and she must have cried her eyes out. All the way here, I had held myself from crying my eyes out, but seeing her made it even worse because I burst out in sheer misery.

"They were-they were supposed to be in school, who would do such a thing?" I cried out, I fell on her shoulders, and I wrapped my hands around her waist. She held my waist, crying profusely as well. Whoever did this must pay, they must pay for what they did, even if it means scratching the earth's surface to bring them out. I will do it.

***

Now we were seated at the kitchen with three empty bottles of wine, high on grief; tea won't cut it in moments like this.

"So tell me, what happened to you last night? I called you, and no one responded. It's quite odd because you are always with your phone, Joan," I asked my drunken sister, who was slumped at the end of the cupboard with a bucket beneath her mouth.

"Spoiled." She said. "It's spoiled." She slurred, she was drunk and wasn't too good with liquor. She had thrown up more times than drunk, but she wouldn't stop either.

I sighed, then took another bottle of liquor. "Do you think the person had remorse? I mean, I don't wish ill on any child, but who did I offend? They framed me, and they took everything. Who would do such a thing?"

"Heartless human." She stated.

Indeed, a heartless human, a person who hated me enough and knew me because they got my print, and if I had to be critical about it, I would say they took my print from something they planted. They knew I was going out of town; they knew I might have a delayed flight, they knew everything and it was so well executed except for Hozier.

They didn't plan the part where Hozier comes into the picture otherwise, I would have no one to defend me. Hozier came in one day earlier than he said he would, and only Henry and Chris were aware of this little fact.

My children's image flickered in my mind and as I thought about the trauma, I drowned it with liquor. I walked to the couch and crossed my legs. I turned the TV on, and my face on the news was the first thing to catch my attention.

I was at the airport, being pulled out like a damn criminal. I turned it off and I texted Hozier to see his progress concerning the case and he immediately stated he would be coming over to the house soon, which was also good progress because I just needed more tips.

Maybe it wouldn't be like in other cases that had no end, whoever it is needed to be killed and tortured.

And as I tried to stop the little hunger for more situated in my mind, I felt a strong urge to sneeze again. My chest has been hurting on my way here and taking the liquor has only made it more intense than it should.

I rubbed my hands on my chest, trying to stop that pain, and I brought out the napkin from my pockets. I haven't changed in hours and I only noticed when it was time to sneeze again.

When I pulled the napkin out, I blew into it again. I felt a pang in my head, it was intense! Almost paralyzing, and when I looked at the napkin, I saw more blood on it.

I looked over to the counter; my sister Joan had her head between her thighs.

Fear stricken I took another picture of the napkin and I sent it to Hozier, tagging it that it is getting worse, and I felt really funny inside.

"Joan?" I called out, my hands were shaking, and I was starting to lose sight of what was before me. My notification bell chimed, and it took me a great deal to look at my phone.

*Have you told anyone?* He asked. I managed to type 'not yet,' but with so many figures on the text board, it was obvious I must have added some extra letters while sending it.

*Hold on, I am outside your house,* he said.

"Are you okay?" Joan asked, I nodded, and then sagged back on the chair. I was barely seeing anything now.

"Hozier is outside. Open the door for him, please." I said, I coughed again, and I could swear I vomited into my napkin; my belly felt like melted glass had been thrown into it. And my blood was boiling.

"Hey, you must be Joan, right? Emily told me about you. Nice seeing you. I would like to talk with your sister. We have somewhere to be now." I heard Hozier's voice, and as Joan led him inside, I was barely hanging on.

Hozier walked toward me, he took me by my knees into his arms.

"Hang in there, you are poisoned."