Free Bound in Blood 1 Clandestine by Nicole Rae

couple practically jumped out of their seats.
They looked at each other and back at Emily, curiously.
The girl cocked her head to the side, she looked at Emily as
if considering something. “Don’t you know?”
“No,” Emily retorted,perplexed. “I don’t mean to pry… I’m
justconfused.” She really was, but more than that, she was
concerned. Even though what just happened was a mystery,
everything about it was wrong, she was sure of that.
The girl shot her boyfriend a questioning look. He shook his
head furiously. With finality, she insisted, “I don’t know what
you’re talking about.” They turned, looking out the side window
away from Emily. Their rigid posture made it clear that they
weren’t going to budge on the subject. It was also equally clear
they did know what was going on, acting brain washed.
She was going to make a second attempt, when an alarmed
voice sounded in her head. Leave…it…alone! Emily shuddered.
The voice said the words slowly with barely suppressed anger.
Confused, she returned to a frontward position. Like before, the
voice wasn’t her own. It was almost like her subconscious, only
the voice was male. Weirder still, she seemed to recognize it,
though she had no memory of ever hearing it. It was filled with
warning.
A picture of deep blue eyes, which reminded her of the sky
on a cloudless day, flashed in her mind. Emily knew those eyes
but she couldn’t place them. Oh great, apparently on top of the
weird bus episode, the development of schizophrenia and
delusions could be added to the list. Part of her wanted to yell
back at the voice. It would have been easy to freak out, if she
hadn’t been occupied, trying to remember whose voice it was.
Maybe it belonged to the same person who owned the gorgeous
eyes?
What a horrible day this was turning out to be. All she
wanted was go to work, take a bus ride to Wal-Mart and pick up
shampoo and razors. This day had been drastically wrong from
the start, which was becoming more of a pattern lately. She
wished she could take a vacation to a heavenly place that was
warm, beautiful and remote. She could really use some R and R.
Unfortunately though, that would never happen. For one, she
didn’t have enough money and even though he wouldn't admit it,
her dad needed her.
The familiar blue, Wal-Mart sign came into view and Emily
breathed a sigh of relief. She was thankful when none of the
remaining passengers got off the bus with her. The trek across
the parking lot would give her time to clear her head; this was
too freaky for Emily. Absently, she longed for days of normalcy.
Well, at least what she classified as normal.
When Emily crossed through the automatic doors, the
greeter cheerfully bombarded her. She was in absolutely no
mood for pleasantries. This was a get in and get out mission. It
would be getting dark soon; she only had so long before the bus
came back.
CHAPTER 6
    The sight of twilight approaching was in full view, when
she made her way out of the store with two bags. Crap, she had
taken too long and her cell had died. She had gotten caught up
browsing through the bargain book bin. They were having a two
for one sale, which never seemed to happen, ever. I am such a
trader to George, she thought with a sarcastic smirk. She had
purchased a whole bag of books and was going to Hell for sure.
At least she’d have something to read during her stay in
purgatory. It really wasn’t her fault that she was a book addict.
Besides, George doesn’t even like her. So why should she be
loyal to his greediness? Also, what good old George didn’t know
wouldn’t hurt him… or her.
    After asking a nearby man what time it was, she was in a
mild state of panic. It was seven; she needed to hurry, the last
bus of the day would be leaving in like two minutes. Emily
quickly put both shopping bags into her backpack and started off
at a dead run, across the parking lot. She was just behind the
shelter for the bus