An Imminent Threat

*Emory*

I run off behind Nellie as she leads me to Kane’s office where I see a telephone sitting on its side. I’ve never been in here before, but I know it’s his office because it smells like him. My stomach clenches into a tight fist as I make my way across the room, terrified that something has happened on the battlefield, and this is how they are informing me.

Sitting in his chair, I take a deep breath and reach for the receiver as Nellie turns to go. “Wait!” I say a little too harshly. She spins back to look at me, her eyes wide. “Sorry. I just… will you stay?”

Nellie nods and turns to face me, folding her hands in front of her, but not speaking or sitting in the chairs that are closest to her on the other side of the opulent, carved, gold-gilded desk.

Kane’s tastes are not reflected in his office, at least, not from what I know of him.

I lift the receiver to my ear and say quietly, “This is Emory.”

“Emory!”

The sound of my own name explodes into my ear through the receiver, and i