Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 52

December 3rd, 2019

I limped miserably through the house, using everything I possibly could to help support me as I tried to walk on my newly broken leg. It hurt like hell, but I had to find my sister. She was somewhere else, and she needed my help.

"Ella?" I called out, my voice thick with fear.

"Go back to your room, Mia," her voice instructed, though I couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. I could hear Ben yelling at her, and he was angrier than I'd ever heard him.

"Ella, where are you?" I called again, panic racing through my body. I stumbled towards the kitchen, hobbling in to find both Ben and my sister. She was facing him but farther away, gripping the counter with trembling white fingers. "What's going on?" I asked slowly.

"Get out," Ben snarled, his glare deadly. I saw his meaty hand gripped around his gun hidden in the back waistband of his jeans.

"It was my fault," I said bravely, trying to move in front of my sister.

She grabbed my shoulders tightly, hugging me to her side. "Don't do this," she hissed in my ear.

"It was my idea to leave," I told Ben, ignoring Ella, who was attempting to push me away.

"Don't be stupid, Amelia," Ben snapped. "We both know it wasn't"

Tears sprang to my eyes. "Don't hurt her," I pleaded hopelessly.

Ella squeezed my hand, smiling at me through her teary expression. "I love you, Mia," she whispered. "Don't ever forget it,"

"Don't leave me," I begged, my voice cracking.

Ben cocked his gun, aiming it towards us. "Leave, Amelia," he demanded coldly.

"Papa, don't shoot," I told him desperately. "Please,"

Ella shoved me away roughly. "Listen to him, you need to go,"

"Ella, no," I tried to argue, moving towards her again.

She glanced at Ben before her eyes widened and she threw herself in front of me, sending us both crashing to the floor as a deafening shot rang through the air.

I gasped in pain, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. Everything was blurry and spinning. My shirt felt wet, and so did my hands. I sat up weakly, staring at my sister's lifeless body on top of mine, blood pooling from the bullet hole in her forehead.

"No," I murmured. "No no no no," My hands were shaky as I reached to grab her hand, though I knew she wouldn't wake up. Her once-bright eyes were glassy and wide open, her mouth still partly agape.

I let out a heart-wrenching scream, heavy sobs racking my body. Tears blurred my vision but I couldn't stop staring at my sister.

My dead sister.

*Alan*

I forced my eyes open as I heard a muffled voice talking from across the room. I sat up a little in my chair, checking around to see who was awake. My brothers were all still asleep, snoring and breathing hard, but Mia was tossing and turning in her bed, her brows furrowed in pain.

I got to my feet quickly, heading over to check on her. She was muttering under her breath though she seemed to be asleep.

"What's going on?" Eli asked quietly, appearing beside me.