Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 46

November 30th, 2019

I was lying on the cold epoxy floors of the warehouse, struggling to get a breath in. I felt so ashamed. Not sad, not angry, just ashamed. I had only been able to watch as Des had tied everyone to the pillars, and then Ben had dropped me to tie Des down too.

Ben had something horrible planned, and everyone else was about to watch. If I was lucky, I'd die here tonight, and then everything would be over. Javi would find somewhere safe, and the others would eventually forget about me completely.

I was still on the floor, unable to move from the pain. I was so cold and yet so sweaty I knew I probably had a raging fever right now. I was coughing uncontrollably and everything hurt, my head was throbbing and the room wouldn't stop spinning. I could barely lift my head.

The boys were all screaming and shouting insults and profanities, which only made my head hurt worse.

"Shut up, all of you!" Ben yelled at them. "One more word and she dies," They all bitterly shut their mouths, glaring at him while continuing to fight against the ropes.

"Surprise," Ben whispered as he appeared beside me, pulling my head back my hair as I whimpered weakly. He laughed and threw me back towards the floor, my forehead colliding against the concrete. I felt the blood on my skin immediately, dripping down the side of my face.

"Get up," he demanded. But I couldn't even get my arms to move. "Get. Up," Ben's voice was dangerously low now, causing a few tears to slide down my cheeks.

"I can't," I whispered, the words burning my parched throat as I spoke.

"What do you mean you can't?" Ben roared. "You better get up in the next two seconds or I shoot one of your friends," He kicked my side, pain erupting through my ribs. I coughed feebly as my gaze drifted to the eleven other boys staring at me. I levelled my gaze with Neo, who looked back at me with pitiful eyes. I didn't want him to see me like this. I didn't want him to see me.

"Please," I mumbled, barely loud enough for anyone to hear. "Not in front of them,"

Ben just chuckled. "Darling, that's the whole point," I wanted to be embarrassed or nervous or anything but I couldn't find it in me to care any longer. My secret was out, and there was no taking it back.

"Let her go!" Cato suddenly shouted. Ben rose from my side, striding over and punching him square in the jaw.

"No!" I cried. "Leave them alone!" I weakly pushed myself to my feet, wobbling with every bit of movement. I could barely feel my legs underneath me but I faced Ben, trying to seem as confident as possible.

"You think you can beat me?" he taunted. "Go ahead and try, you know you want to. Avenge your sister, Amelia, the one I killed,"

I clenched my fists. "She gave her life protecting me from you!" I shouted angrily, more tears threatening to spill.

"She died for nothing then," Ben said, chuckling as he moved towards Colton, who was squirming to get away from him. "Such a pretty little face, no? It'd be a shame if I were to mess it up," He turned to Eli, gripping him by the chin. "How about this one? He could end up just like your sister of yours, a bullet through the head,"

"Leave him alone! They have nothing to do with this!" I said bravely, desperately trying to get him away from the boys, who looked absolutely terrified.

"They have everything to do with this! But you're right," he mused, turning to face me as he moved closer. "He's not the one I'm after anyway," He pushed me backwards with such force that I went slamming into the floor, a loud cracking echoing from underneath me as one of my ribs snapped. I let out a soundless scream, biting my lip and taking deep breaths to keep quiet. Crying would only encourage him, and at this rate, I couldn't risk anyone else getting hurt.