Things moved quickly after that. I did not expect it to be so simple or that everything would be resolved in one day.

I had expected a certain push and pull, maybe even a “We don’t have concrete evidence to do this and that…”, something to prolong what I reported to the police. But fortunately, that didn’t happen. 

That morning, I was sent to the hospital for certain scans and tests necessary for the grounds for arrest against my parents. My cheeks were also checked and scanned for potential fingerprints and other DNA that wasn't mine, especially since it hadn’t been that long since I was hit.

Even though I thought that would not be enough, the police were able to find some things. 

Hospital tests revealed that my body, or more specifically Emma's, had been subjected to a cycle of physical abuse. There was evidence of cuts and wounds healing and then either reopening or new ones forming above them over a prolonged period of time. And the tests managed to deduce it had been going on for years.

Doctors even wondered how I was still alive. They even suggested that I be kept for additional tests to see if I had any other problems they might have missed. 

Later that day, I heard my parents were summoned to the station. I saw Alice in her nurse uniform with my father, who was dressed for office work. He and Alice appeared perplexed, even though it should have been clear why they were at the precinct.

James then met my gaze. He gave me a brief glare, as if he had realized what was going on.

“Officers, whatever this is about, I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding…” much to my surprise, it was Alice who was talking to the cops.

But my surprise was cut short when James joined in. Meanwhile, I watched as Emma’s parents tried to talk their way out of the situation.

They had not, however, considered a few factors. One, I had gone to the cops almost immediately after James had hit me that morning. Two, the bruises and cuts on my body hadn’t completely faded, and I wasn’t just talking about the ones James had recently inflicted on me. And three, the one that was most important in case that Henry jerk was right about me being overlooked: I had made a scene in front of everyone, including the ordinary people who weren't cops. I had even garnered the attention of the woman who seemed to be the head of the precinct. Therefore, I felt sure the cops would do anything to maintain a good image to the public.

Well, at least the cop that oversaw the precinct.

Anyway, unfortunately for Emma’s parents, James ended up getting arrested. 

“What? You guys are not serious," he said, shocked and terrified as the handcuffs were placed on him.

“James? James!” Alice cried out for her husband while I just looked on without any remorse. 

“Emma! Please, your father is sorry! Emma!” James started begging like the chicken shit he was.

‘Seriously? Just that and he starts cowering? Ugh.’

A part of me wondered why he didn't show the knife cut. But then, that wouldn't have helped him, considering I was the one with the most injuries.

“Emma!” Alice rushed over to me. “Emma, please! Talk to the officers and tell them they’ve misunderstood… huh?” 

Alice noticed that handcuffs were also being placed around her wrists. 

She looked at me in shock.

“Emma?”

“Alice Kinsley, you are under arrest on the charges of aiding your husband, Mr. James Kinsley, in …” I drowned out the officer telling Alice the reason for her arrest. 

Basically, the woman was being arrested for not doing anything about James. She knew of her husband's crimes, but had remained silent and not reported to anyone, thereby supporting him.

Oh, and that was another thing. What James had previously done to me before the events that occurred in the morning (around the time I became Emma) had crossed the domain of attempted murder. According to the doctors, Emma could have died. And Alice had contributed to the cover-up by treating me, since she was a nurse. I believe that was what pushed for the grounds for an arrest, as Alice and James were suspected of attempted murder. As a result of the new developments, it appeared that Emma's parents would have a difficult time escaping their current situation.

“Emma! Emma, please! Listen to your mother. Talk to the officers and tell them they're wrong!”

I ignored the woman. 

“Emma!”

Initially, I thought that only James deserved to be arrested. But after going through the reporting process and reconsidering everything, I began to think otherwise. And as I watched James and Alice being led away, I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

And I hoped that I would never have to deal with that weight again. 

“Miss Emma, why don’t we go back to the hospital…”

“Hmm? Oh, right,” I told the officer. I was then escorted back to the hospital for further treatment.

To reiterate, the doctors at the hospital wanted me to be admitted so they could perform additional tests to ensure my health. However, when the officers informed me that they were going to make an arrest, I requested to be present at the precinct when they did. They were hesitant to have me there because they were afraid of how I would react, but I persuaded them otherwise. And now that the Kinsleys had been arrested, I had time to think about other things.

“And we may have to talk about a guardian,” the officer said.

“Huh?”

“A guardian. Now that your parents are arrested…”

‘Oh, yeah. I’m not yet an adult in this body. Fuck.’

I had not planned for that.

“Is there someone whom you can trust to take over the parental role in your life? At least until you turn 18? I’m not sure if your situation may be different, but I’m asking just in case.”

I had to think fast. If I said I didn’t have anyone, it would introduce chances of being transferred to a foster home.

And it wasn’t like there would be anyone who would want to adopt a teenager on the verge of becoming an adult. Furthermore, being in a foster home at such an age seemed unusual to me. 

“I have an uncle,” I lied.

“Oh. Well then, that’s good,” the officer replied. “Do you have their contacts?”

“…”

“Okay. Let’s get you back to the hospital. We’ll figure that out later.”

I nodded.

I just managed to avoid that issue for now. But I knew I had to plan around it in order to avoid any problems that might arise later.

Nonetheless, that had to wait. Now that I didn't have to worry about James and Alice, I could start thinking about what that meant for my future. 

I was not in my body. I was now Emma.

And I recently found out I got inside a horrible romance novel.