Gemotions

The elevator doors chimed open on the sixth floor, and Emily's breath hitched. Standing across the hallway, by her apartment door, was "MidnightMuse." The blood drained from her face. Their shared online world had been a sanctuary, an escape. Now, the walls of that world were crumbling.

She instinctively took a step backward, her hand flying to her throat. Her fingers brushed against the familiar shape of the pendant she always wore. This time, it did nothing to soothe her. The thought that she knew him and did not know him at all made her hands sweat.

Her vision blurred. She felt a powerful urge to run, to hide, to simply cease to exist. Her legs felt like lead, rooted to the spot.