Page 108 of Inbetweeners
13
Emmett wasn’t sure whether to be pleased they’d got everyone out of the house without bumping into Greyson and Sophie, or worried that they’d now be going back when the pair were well aware of what he and Phoenix had done. Hopefully, neither Greyson nor Sophie had any idea where the two of them were living.
They all piled out of the car and everyone was led up to the flat. Emmett had wondered if some might decide to wander off, but for the time being, they were cooperating.
Harry rushed over the moment they walked in. “Wow, what have you been up to?”
“The guy who killed you and Rashid, also killed three of these guys. The other three and the woman were killed by Sophie,” Phoenix said.
Cat was winding his way in and out of the newcomers’ legs. A couple of them bent to stroke him.
“Did you catch the killers?” Rashid asked.
“No,” Emmett said. “We need to go back, but first we have to help everyone move on.”
“How?” the woman asked.
“I want you to come into the bedroom one by one to speak to me,” Emmett said. “Or if you want to come in pairs, then that’s fine. If there’s a message you want to leave for someone you love, we’ll do our best to deliver it later, but you need to leave this plane. Okay?”
“You want to do this on your own?” Phoenix asked.
Emmett nodded. “I think it’s me that has to do it, don’t you? You need to keep an eye on them. We don’t want anyone to wander off. Let them watch TV or something.” He picked up a pad of paper and a couple of pens. “Okay, who’s first?”
No one volunteered.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Emmett said. “Staying on this side is what you need to be worried about. If a demon occupies your body, he’ll do terrible things and you won’t be able to stop him. Maybe the first people he’ll go after will be those you love. Just because he can.” He looked around at the pale faces. “I’ll wait in the bedroom.”
It wasn’t long before one of the men walked through the closed door. It was the guy who’d come out of the house in Woolwich. Emmett let Mitch talk—about how it wasn’t fair, about the life he’d expected to have, about his family, his girlfriend. Emmett made notes and finally wrote down exactly what Mitch wanted to tell his girlfriend and his mum. Mitch was crying when he’d done.
“Is it…nice where I’m going?” Mitch asked.
Emmett nodded even though he knew he shouldn’t. He couldn’t know for sure where Mitch would end up, but Emmett didn’t think he was a bad guy.
“What’s it like?”
“I’m not allowed to tell you. I’m sorry this happened to you. The best advice I can give is try to be happy, to make the most of what you’re given. Keep your memories safe for when you meet everyone again.” Emmett reached out and took hold of his hands.
The moment he did, Mitch faded and disappeared. Emmett groaned at the sensation that swept over him. Doing this made him feel so ill. He barely made it to the bathroom before he threw up.
The morning seemed to last forever. How much more did Emmett have in his stomach to throw up? He felt depressed and exhausted, but he had to pretend he was fine. Emmett went through more or less the same process each time. Some wanted to talk longer than others, some were angry, others just cried, and Emmett let them take as long as they needed.
Some were reluctant to go, but when Emmett explained how difficult it would be to be part of the world and yet not part of it at all, they eventually accepted what he’d said. Hearing their stories made him feel so sad. All the joy of their lives destroyed by a man and woman who didn’t give a shit.
He had six pages of notes with names, addresses, and little messages they wanted him to pass on, and he had no idea how he was going to do that without coming to the attention of the police. He went to get the last guy and there was no one left.
“Apart from our pain in the neck teens, that’s it,” Phoenix said.
“There should have been seven. I only saw six.”
He and Phoenix looked at Harry and Rashid.
“Did you notice anyone disappear?” Phoenix asked them.
“Didn’t you speak to two together?” Harry asked.
“No.”
“Mo and George went in together,” Phoenix said.
