Chapter 81

*Demi's POV*

"Hey Riss, is Austin there?" I asked, as she answered her phone.

"Dems! How are you? How was the flight?"

"It was good. We're all good. Is Austin there?"

"He's not here now. Why? What's wrong?"

"I need to talk to him, Rissa. Can you give me his number, please?"

"Demi, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. That's why I need to talk to him. I don't know what he did to her, Riss. She's scared shitless. I need to know what he told her. I need to talk to him" I rambled. Emma just burst into tears and eventually cried herself to sleep in my arms. I lay her down on my bed, as I called Marissa.

"Who? What? I don't get it"

"Yesterday. I told you he told her something. She's totally out of it. She's scared of everything. I need to talk to him"

"I'll sent you his number in a text"

"Thank you. Bye"

"Bye. Love you" she hung up and I didn't have to wait long for her text. I immediately called Austin.

"Hello?"

"Hey Austin. It's Demi"

"Oh, hey. How was your flight?"

"What did you tell her?"

"What? Who?"

"Emma. What were you talking about?"

"I told you I was just telling to her to watch out for strangers"

"Austin, she's scared out of her mind. The poor girl didn't let go of my hand, from the second we left our house, till we arrived here. She jumped in Wilmer's arms when she heard someone say her name, cause she was scared. She won't let any of the kids be alone, without me, Wilmer or herself in the room. What the fuck did you tell her to make her so scared?" I was almost crying.

"Oh god, are you serious?"

"Yeah"

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen. I just wanted to tell her to watch out for strangers. Is she with you now?"

"Yeah"

"Can I talk to her?"

I looked over at Emma and saw her with her eyes open, still sleepy.

"Yeah, sure" I sighed, "Sweetheart, Austin wants to talk to you" I shook her out of her daze, as she took my phone. Not before I put it on speaker, though, so I could follow the conversation.

"Hi Austin" Emma whispered.

"Hey Emma. How are you?"

"I'm good. You?"

"Me too. So, what's going on with you?"

"Nothing"

"Don't play games, sweetie. We gotta get this straight, okay? What scared you?"

I saw Emma debating with herself, as she looked at me. I gave her an encouraging nod, meaning for her to go on and tell him.

"Everything"

"What part of what I told you, scared you the most?"

"Your classmate" she whispered, trying to hold back her tears.

"Are you scared something like that will happen to you or anyone in your family?"

"Yeah"

"Listen to me, sweetheart. I didn't tell you, to scare you off. I told you, because I don't want that to happen to you or anyone of your family. I told you, because I want you to be careful. Not scared, just careful, honey. Your mom told me you got really scared when someone said your name at the airport. Tell me, what went through your head, at that moment?"

"I thought it might be someone pretending to know me"

"Like what happened to my classmate?"

"Yeah"

"Okay, and did you know the person?"

"Yeah"

"So then why were you scared?"

"I didn't see her face, yet"

"See, Emma, that's very important. If someone might want to pull that trick on you and you're gonna show that person that you're scared, it's gonna be much easier for him or her to get you. First look at that person, make sure you don't know that person and that's when you take action. Showing angst only makes it easier for that person to achieve it's mission. And Emma, you shouldn't be so scared. Not every person on the street wants to hurt you. Those kind of stories happen sometimes, but it's not very often. There's not such a big chance that it'll happen to you. You're being paranoid and it's not good for you. You should walk outside, being confident, showing people they can't mess with you. Please, darling, work on that. I really didn't mean to scare you. Now, is there something else bothering you, that you don't want the kids out of your sight?"

"Yeah"

"You're scared something will happen to them?"

"Yeah"

"Like what?"

"Someone kidnaping them. Getting in through the window and taking them away without us noticing" she whispered, breaking my heart into a million pieces. That's why she wanted to sleep with us. She was scared someone will come into her room and get her. That's why she didn't leave Toria. She was scared someone will get her. Poor baby, the world may be cruel, but nothing will happen to you. I promise, me and dad will protect you and the other kids. Don't be so scared.

"Okay. Thank you" I heard Emma say, making me realized I missed Austin's respond.

"No problem, Emma. I'm here if you want to talk about anything, yeah?"

"Yeah"

"Okay, good. Now enjoy your vacation and take lots of pictures to show me afterwards. Oh, and you can also just Skype me, or something, while you're doing something fun, so I can join you. I won't mind" I could hear the smile on his face.

"Okay, we will. Thank you. Bye" Emma handed me back my phone.

"Thank you, Austin" I said, as I turned off speaker.

"No problem. I think she needs a little more reassuring that everything will be fine and she doesn't have to be scared, but I think she's okay. She'll be back to normal soon, I hope. If not, give me another call and I'll see what I can do"

"Thank you so much. I really appreciate it a lot"

"No problem, Demi. I gotta go now. Enjoy your time there and keep us updated over here, yeah?"

"Sure. Bye"

"Bye" he hung up.

I turned back to Emma and she gave me a small smile, too fake to even look real.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I know what you're thinking" she sighed.

"What am I thinking, then?"

"That I'm totally insane"

"Why would I think that?"

"Cause I'm scared of someone climbing into the window, kidnaping Toria"

"Emma, that doesn't make you crazy"

"It kind of does"

"To me it doesn't, tiger. It's just a fear. I once met this girl and she told me that she's scared of people. I asked her what she meant, she explained it to me. She told me, she walks outside a lot. To and from school. To the store. To a friends house. Wherever. She walks a lot, but she's always scared. Why? She had this fear that every person on the street walking past her, could be a rapist. She was so scared, especially for older men, being sure they were pedophiles, out to get her. Every time she walked, she tried not to look at the people around her, being scared that if she'll look someone in the eye, that person was gonna take her and lock her up somewhere and no one would find her. She was scared that every person carrying a briefcase, had a bomb inside of it and was gonna explode her. That every person with something in his or her pocket, had a gun and it gonna shoot her. Now tell me, Emma, is this girl insane?"

She thought about it for a minute and then shook her head, no.

"And why not?"

"Because even though not everyone is a criminal or a sex addict, you never know who to trust. The most normal looking person, can do the craziest things. She's right to be careful. Maybe she's a little too paranoid, but she's not insane, cause she's right about her fears"

"There you go, baby. That girl is like you. Just a little too paranoid, but right about your fears. It's not weird to be scared of stuff like that. It's just being very careful. You're not insane, Emma. You're watching out for yourself, your brother and your sisters and there's nothing wrong with that. You just have to learn how to control that fear and be able to walk around the street, without being scared that someone's out to get you. The thought of that should always be in the back of you're mind, so that you'll be careful, but you shouldn't let it control you. Cause like you said, the most normal looking people can do the weirdest thing, but the most weird looking people, can be nicest, kindest people you'll ever meet. Now, I'm not saying to go talk to every weird person you see, but I'm saying that you shouldn't let that fear control your mind. If someone stops you to asks you directions or whatever, don't go running because you're scared, but answer that person confidently. If someone want you to come with then, don't go, but don't show them that you're scared. Show them that you're confident and strong and that they can't mess with you. And you have to remember, baby, not everyone is out to get you"

"I know" she whispered, playing with her hand.

"Good. Now go to sleep, tiger. You need your rest"

She nodded and I saw her debating with herself again, as she slowly stood up from the bed. I knew what she was debating about. She was still scared and wanted to sleep with us and feel our protection around her. But she was scared to ask. Thinking I would tell her no, tell her that she shouldn't be scared, tell her that she's paranoid.

"Go on now, tiger. I'm tired, so if you want to cuddle before I fall asleep, you gotta be fast" I said, knowing it would make her feel more comfortable to ask.

"You're okay with it? I'm not being too scared?" she asked, knowing I already knew she wanted to sleep here.

"Yes, Emma, I'm okay with it. I know we tell you not to be scared, but I also don't expect you to be over your fear that fast. It takes time and that's okay. Now, go put on your PJ's and get your ass over here" I shooed her out of the room and got changed, just as she came back in her pajamas.

"Come here" I lay down in bed and she snuggled into me.

"Why are you so scared of having this baby?" she asked.

"Can we please not have this conversation now? I'm tired" I groaned, not really wanting to talk about it with her.

"Okay, mama. Sleep well. I love you"

"I love you too, baby" I whispered, as I closed my eyes.

"I hope we wake up here tomorrow, if at all" I swear I heard Emma say something like that right before I fell asleep, but I was too tired to realize what she was actually saying.

-----Next update: Friday

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