Unnamed

"I must be mistaken," James said, attempting to laugh it off. "Wow, I forgot my friend—haha, it's really funny." But his expression betrayed him; shock flickered across his face, and he continued to hold his head, trying to act as if everything was normal.

I could tell he wasn't okay. The forced laughter did little to mask the unease brewing beneath the surface.

At that moment, the door swung open with a crash. "Brother, she's here! She woke up! The lady woke up!" Jennie exclaimed.

" Brother?" Tom said.

All of us turned to her, but I found myself running—running toward where she was. Shouldn't I be telling myself to calm down? I should feel relaxed, yet here I was, propelled by a surge of urgency. What if Jennie was mistaken? What if Emma had faked it to escape the house? But still, my legs carried me forward, driven by an inexplicable need.