The symphony of car horns filled Sophie's ears as she stared out the window at the traffic jammed streets. She looked to the review mirror, her pale gray eyes meeting those of the driver.

"Sorry," he said, looking back down at his phone. "Reports say there is a jumper at the Madison hotel, we're going to have to find away around."

Sophie's gaze, which had drifted to the chaotic scene outside, snapped back to the mirror.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"Jumper, apparently," he said. "The police have the block closed off."

Sophie was reaching for the door, before the man had even finished his sentence.

"Here is fine," she said. "Thank you."

The sound of the city raced into the backseat as she pushed the door open and climbed out. Drivers yelled out to each other, as car horns echoed their shouted statements. Sophie whipped her head around, looking for the best route. Her short pony tail swung about, the white color of her hair contrasting the round, youthful face that only spoke of seventeen years of age. Her driver stuck his head out the window, looking up at her, one arm dangling over the side.

"I can get you to where you want to go," he said.

"I'm fine," she called out, already racing towards the sidewalk.

She pushed through the crowd with gloved hands barely registering the shouts, complaints, and glares that were hurled at her from behind. By the time she reached the block with the Madison hotel, her breathing was labored. A dense crowd had congregated on the edge of the police tape, staring up at the lone figure that stood forty stories up. Sunlight washed the building in a cool white light and outlined the man standing on the ledge.

Sophie barely glanced up as she maneuvered her way towards the front of the crowd. When she burst through the front, she nearly fell into the officer keeping the crowd in check. He looked at her startled, a fierce scowl appearing on his face.

"Ma'am I need you to back up," he said, in a strong authority voice.

"You need to get Captain Cartwright," Sophie said. "It's an emergency." 

The officer eyed her, not giving any sign that he would do as she said.

"Please, this is a matter of life and death," she pleaded. "Tell him, his daughter told you."

The man continued to eye her but a edge of doubt entered his eyes.

"I'm telling you, call him now," she said, putting as much command into her voice as she could.

The man finally caved and took one step back. He turned his head towards his shoulder and spoke into the radio, his words low enough Sophie couldn't hear them. After a long minute, in which Sophie glanced up a the man on the ledge five times, the officer stepped forward.

"He said to let you through," he said, not hiding his grudging tone.

Sophie slipped beneath the yellow tape and raced to the front of the hotel. A burly officer stepped forward and blocked her way, a meaty hand outstretched.

"Sorry, miss but you-"

"Captain Cartwright is expecting me," she said, her voice on the edge of panic.

The man opened his mouth but his words were cut off by a voice behind him.

"She is with me," a deep voice said.

The man and Sophie looked over to see a brown haired officer pushing through the doors. He nodded to Sophie and she side stepped the officer and hurried to the doors.

"Your father is waiting on the fortieth floor," the brown haired officer said.

"Thanks, Jamison," Sophie said.

He held the door opened for her and guided her to the elevators. Every nerve felt as if it were exploding as she waited. When the doors opened, she rushed inside and hit the right button, staring at the numbers, urging them to climb faster. The doors dinged open and a man in a black suit with hair graying at the sides stood waiting. His gray eyes locked with Sophie's, locked in them was look of concern and apprehension.

Sophie stepped off and her father placed a hand around her shoulders. He gave a nod to Jamison, silently dismissing him. Jamison stepped back on the elevator, his confusion at Sophie's presence only appearing when her father's back was turned away.

"Sophie I know what you want to do, but this is not a good idea," her father said, his voice low and gravelly.

He guided her through the beige hallways with subtle flower pattered carpets. Officers passed them, giving Sophie odd looks and nodding to their Captain.

"I can't do nothing," she said.

In a less crowded section, he stopped and put his hands on her shoulders, staring at her.

"We don't know what this could do to you," he said. "These kind of strong of emotions...you haven't ever dealt with something like this."

"But if I don't, he could jump," she said. "I can't sit back if it means a death to someone else. Please let me do this."

Her father studied her for a long moment, his parental instincts battling with his oath to protect. Sophie placed a gloved hand on his wrist.

"You know neither of us could live with this on our conscious."

"You could be exposed," he said.

"Not if you get everyone out and I slip away once it's over." 

"Can you get away quick enough?"

"I will."

They stared at each other for another second.

"We are losing time, I have to do this," she said.

Her father let out a frustrated sigh and nodded.

"Quick," he said.

He straightened and hurried down the hallway, Sophie keeping pace behind him. The amount of officers grew considerably as they neared the designated room. Sophie was lead through the mass without a word of acknowledgment from any of the men, though many of them gave her curious and suspicious sideways glances. Inside the room, her father ordered everyone out, a command that got a lot of confused looks in response.

"Now!" he barked. "Anderson, you stay."

A tall, black haired woman, stepped out of the pack exiting, ignoring their glares. Sophie hurried to the open window. A spring breeze blow in, rustling the curtains. She pulled off her gloves and tucked them into her back pocket. With one last glance at her father, who wore a mask of worry and fear, she leaned out the window. Below her the city stretched out on all sides, the streets covered in cars and pedestrians.

The wind whipped louder, pulling at her hair. She inhaled a sharp breath at the sight, but forced herself to pull her gaze over to the man a foot away. He stood petrified, his back pressed against the brick wall, his hands splayed on either side of him. He was dressed in pajamas and shoeless. His gaze was transfixed on the world beneath him, his thoughts of doubt fighting his emotions of pain and pleas for the end.

Behind her, she heard the questioning words of Anderson and her father's curt reply that silenced any further debate. Her father stepped forward and placed a hand on Sophie's side, stabilizing her. With one hand gripping the side of the window, she leaned further out, her presence gone unnoticed by the man. Taking in a deep breath, she slid her bare hand forward and gently touched the man's ankle.

Instantly a rush of overwhelming emotions coursed through Sophie. She closed her eyes and dipped forward, her father's grip tightening on her. Quickly, she pulled her hand back and stumbled back into the room. She nodded to her father and he barked out orders for more officers to come back in.

The door burst open as officers raced to do as they were ordered. Her father leaned out the window as the man yelled for help to he brought back in. In the chaos, Sophie staggered out the door, unnoticed by the officers caught up in the drama and turn of events.

With one hand on the wall, helping support her, she moved away from the room, forcing herself to stay conscious. She made it around a corner, down a narrow hallway and passed a set of double doors, before the full force of the newly absorbed emotions crashed into her. She fell forward, reaching for a chair, but had no strength to grab it and collided with the floor.

The world spun as despair, loneliness and anguish crushed her and pulled her into blackness.

*******************

She woke up and gasped as her mind rearranged itself and pulled her back into reality.

"Are you okay?" a deep, worried voice said.

She blinked. The sight of the empty ballroom and the toppled chair brought her memories into clear focus. Her breathing was haggard, but the presence of the jumpers emotions were no longer there, instead other emotions were washing over her, like waves on the sand.

She turned her head and came face to face with a pair of blue eyes, good natured face and head of blonde hair. The guy's brow was creased in concern.

"I'm Liam," he said. "I was in here when you stumbled in and passed out. Are you alright?"

Sophie searched for words, but her exhausted brain found none, as more emotions flooded her. She glanced down and saw Liam's hand holding her wrist, as if he were checking for a pulse, while his other hand rested on her shoulder. Wide eyed, she looked at him, struggling for words.

At the sight of her panicked expression, Liam's worried doubled, an emotion that was instantly absorbed by Sophie. She tried to pull her hand free, but every muscle felt like lead and nothing seemed to work as it should.

The edges of her vision blurred.

After one more feeble attempt to extricate her hand, that failed, her head fall back and the world went dark.

**************

For a second time, that day, Sophie woke up, plunged once more into reality. A strong pair of hands were lifting her from the ground, as a deep voice yelled out commands. Sophie pried her eyes open and looked up into the face of her father. Relief flooded the familiar features as he locked eyes with her.

"You're okay," he breathed out.

Sophie tried to speak, but no words came out.

"Is she going to be alright?" Liam asked, nervously standing to one side.

He gripped the edge of his bus boy apron, staring at Sophie's limp form.

"She will," her father said.

Relief washed over Liam, the same feeling crashing into Sophie, though he was no longer touching his hand. She weakly turned her head to him, meeting his gaze. He gave her a small smile, as curiosity budded inside Sophie, though again the feeling was not her own, but his. Without understanding why, she began to tremble, her body working to understanding the intruding emotions.

"Something's wrong," she whispered her voice weak.

Panic raced through her father's eyes as he looked down at her. Liam noticed the look and frowned, his own worry raising again. The emotion was too strong and Sophie slumped in her father's arm, blacking out for the third time.

****************

Heyo!

So this story is about how Sophie has the power to absorb people's negative emotions and how her too long contact with Liam causes them to be linked and how they have to figure out how to solve it.

This idea came because I am an empath and can feel other people's emotions and understand where they are coming from. I thought it would be interesting to write about a girl who could absorb the bad from others. So...yup...should be interesting!

Vote, comment, follow!

Thanks so much for reading all these first chapters and supporting me! I really appreciate it!! You are the best!

A special thanks to @BluBbygrl for being so awesome and always reading and voting! You're so amazing girl!