Finding Emery

Six days. It had been six days since the Quake's had seen Emery. They were all excited to see her and bring her home. They had dealt with the red snakes and it was bloody. They had taken their time slicing up the leader of the snakes to make him pay for killing Marcus and going after Emery. There was no member of the red snakes left alive after the Quake's were finished with them.

The first day they tracked the leader and that night struck. Usually gangs go after the members killing the leader last. But this was personal for the Quake's so they targeted the leader and caught him literally with his pants down. They started with the physical torture first, breaking bones and pulling teeth and finger nails. Seb had even sliced holes into his tongue because he wanted to to be able to hear his screams. After two days of torture slicing toes and fingers off. Then crushing his testicles with a literal nut crusher, Seb would slice parts of his body and then use rubbing alcohol and salt to make him scream.

After that, the higher members were tortured with fire and psychological games. They literally had to kill their own members thinking they would survive if they did only to be killed by a Quake. The worst was when they found a lot of women and kids who had been captured so the red snakes could traffic them. That took the Quake's days to sort out and find them safe places if they didn't want to return home.

They had also found another three snakes in their gang and had eliminated them in front of the other members. They were sending a message and it was received loud and clear. You mess with them and you and your family would pay. They had literally skinned them alive and then Seb spread the skin around the property for all to see. Once that was done, they were set on fire and so was the skin.

Uncle Mike had told his family to all to pack a bag as they would be spending a few days with Roberto, so the property could be cleaned before Emery was to return. Uncle Mike had been in contact with Roberto who had informed him that Emery hadn't spoken once since they arrived. He was hoping that deep they would bring her out of her shell that she had retreated in to.

Roberto hadn't told him the full extent of what was happening with Emery. She hadn't been speaking nor had she been eating. It was a struggle to get her to have sips of water. She had had maybe four bites of food a day at breakfast and dinner. She hadn't come to lunch at all. She had spent all day in the garden sitting looking off into the distance. When the sun began to set she would retreat into the garden shed and then would fall asleep. Once she was asleep Kody or Taz would bring her into the house. Emery would not allow anyone to touch her at all while she was awake.

It was just before lunch when the rest of the Quake's arrived at Roberto's safe house. Maria, Roberto's wife was making food while Roberto was doing his work. Kody and Taz were sitting in the garden watching Emery. They couldn't get close thought as Emery would scream bloody murder. Taz was able to put food and water down near Emery and Kody was able to touch her bear, but that was it.

The boys were excited to see Emery, they were bouncing in their feet and scanning the area for where she could be. Roberto walked out of his office to greet them all. "Pa, as much we love seeing you, where is Emmy?" Seb rushed out. He wanted to hold his baby cousin. "I suggest we all sit down and have a chat before you see Emery" Roberto stated.

No one really wanted to sit down but didn't want to disrespect the old man. They reluctantly sat at the kitchen table looking to Roberto who seemed upset by something. "I wasn't completely honest with you Michael. Emery is how do I say, alive is the best way to put it but she is far from ok" Roberto stated causing the Quake's to frown at his choice of words. Maria joined her husband for this conversation as she was extremely worried about the little girl as well.

"Emery has not said a word since she arrived. The first night she arrived sleeping and clung to Taz. When she woke up, she distanced herself from Taz and Kody as well. She refused to speak to them at all. She will not allow anyone near her and will become hysterical when approached. She had fainted three times while here when she has been touched. No one is allowed to touch her and she barely eats. This morning she had two bites of food and a small sip of water. She spends the daylight hours sitting in the garden looking at nothing and then when it gets dark she heads into the garden shed to sleep. Once she is asleep Taz or Kody carry her to her bed upstairs. The minute it is light she is outside again" Roberto explained.

The Quake's were silent, they all felt responsible for the change in Emery's behaviour. Uncle Mike stood up first and headed outside. It couldn't be as bad as Roberto had said right? He just assumed Emery was uncertain of being here because she didn't know Roberto and Maria. When he saw Taz and Kody sitting in the garden and both watching Emery he greeted both before heading towards the little girl who was sitting against the tree.

Emery could see someone approach her but she didn't bother to acknowledge them assuming they would stop a certain distance away just how she liked it. When they didn't, she tensed up ready to scream. When Uncle Mike was about 10 feet from Emery she began to scream hoping the person who she hadn't bother to look at would stop. Uncle Mike stopped and looked at Emery. The others had run outside to see why Emery was screaming.

"Emmy, baby, it's me, uncle Mike. We are back" uncle Mike told his niece hoping she would stop screaming when she knew who it was. This just made Emery screamed louder and jump to her feet. She wasn't going to let him or any of them near her because she now knew she was alone in this world. They had left her just like her daddy and this time she wasn't going to let them in again. She rather be alone, just her and Nix.