Amie was lain on something hard. Her whole body ached, it was a mass of pain. She rolled herself into the foetal position. She breathed deeply. She heard a large noise. She felt fear run through her. Rashid was back! He was gonna torture her somemore! He'd followed her to Leopards Den and was gonna take her back! She thought delirious. She pulled herself onto her hands and knees. Made her way over to a bush and collapsed. She'd rest here and when she had her strength back she'd kick Rashid's ass! She lay for 10 minutes. All was quiet, she needed water. Got up and groaned in pain. Began to walk with no aim as to where she was going. Just walked. Her mind blank. Her eyes devoid. Her arms hung limply by her sides and her feet shuffled heavily.
'Amie where you going?' she heard her mothers voice in her head. 'Amie darling your going the wrong way. Your heading into the bush!'
She walked into a tree and fell on the ground.
'Amie your in a bad way darling. Get up! Head to Leopards Den. Go to your dad! He'll take care of you!'
"Leopard's Den." she muttered weakly. "Leopard's Den."
'Yeah Amie. Go home!'
"Home." she parroted on a breath. "Dad, mum Daniel and Ryan."
Mustered the strength within herself to roll onto her stomach. Pulled her legs up. Her forehead rested on the dirty ground. Pulled in deep breaths of oxygen.
"I need help!" she said. Tears fell down her face. Her shoulders shook softly.
'I'm here Amie.'
Amie felt soft hands on her arms and she was on her feet. Wobbling. She leant against a tree. Grateful it was there to catch her.
"I'm gonna die out here mum. I'm scared to move in case I fall and can't get up."
'Amie Trevanion does not die you hear me!' Alice told her sternly.
"Don't let me die mum." she asked softly. "Please."
'I've kept you here this long. Lexi too. Now that was hard!'
Amie smiled a small smile.
'I promise you Amie I'm taking care of you. Nothing will happen to you.'
She nodded almost imperceptibly. Began to walk leaning on any trees she could. She was so weak she felt like giving up. She stumbled a few times. But once again she felt hands on her helping her to her feet. She walked for a little bit looked up expecting to see the roof of the house in the distance instead all she saw was a jagged smouldering outline. She remembered what happened with the plane. Began to breath heavily and felt strength return to her muscles.
"Dad?" she screamed running. "Ryan? Miss?"
No reply.
She ran faster and broke through the bush.
"Lex? Daniel Ethan? Answer me!" she yelled. Ran from the back of the house to the front.
'Amie, careful it's unsta….Ryan!" she gasped.
"Mum?" she asked. Terrified. Looked own the hallway. It was littered with debris.
'Ryan is trapped in there. In the living room!' her mother told her.
"What? Where?"
'A portion of the living room wall is about to fall down on him. He's lain by the patio doors in the living room. It's gonna kill him!'
Like hell is that wall falling on my baby brother!" she declared stubbornly.
Amie ran up the asters. Climbed and jumped over debris in the hallway. Came to the living room and saw Ryan sat up. His left leg lay under rubble. He was moving rocks steadily.
"Ryan duck!" she yelled as the patio door fell on him.
He had already turned and looked at it. It had screeched loudly as the hinges snapped. He wrapped his arms around his head. Protected it. The door just missed knocking him out. The glass shattered and embedded into his leg. He swore and tears popped into his eyes. He had a determined look on his face. Began to shift rubble again. She dived in.
"I'm here Ry. I'm gonna help. Get you outta here!" Amie said and began moving bricks.
Ryan frowned at he then realised who she was. "Amie? What happened to you?" he asked softly.
She glanced up at herself. Looked in the cracked mirror. Was taken aback at her reflection. She was smeared with mud sweat and blood. Some wet and some dried. She didn't recognise herself for a moment. The only recognisable features were the black hair. Even her eyes were different. They were colder harder and seemed shuttered. She couldn't dwell on that right now though….she had another more pressing matter.
"Look I'm gonna get you out!" she repeated.
She moved bricks and his leg was almost free.
'Wall!' her mother yelled in her head.
She dived over his leg automatically without even knew better than to second guess her mum. She braced her hands against the wall. Felt the strain immediately. Inhaled sharply as her aching muscles protested.
Ryan's eyes were wide. He had never seen anyone hold up a wall before especially not a woman!
"Ryan this wall is gonna come down!" she said strained. A few small bricks fell on her shoulders. She winced. "I need you to move. Get out of the way as soon as you can!"
Help me mum! She pleaded silently.
Ryan was moving swiftly. Pushing bricks off himself. Pulling his leg.
Amie shoulders weakened for a second and the wall wobbled precariously.
'Amie move!' Alice shouted. She couldn't help this time. She was pressing against the wall trying to help her daughter but it wasn't working.
"NO!" Amie shouted at the wall angrily as her shoulders threatened to give out again.
I can't move mum. If I do Ryan gets crushed! Amie answered her mum's question silently.
'If you don't then YOU get crushed!' Alice told her.
That's not set in stone! She replied silently.
'Yes Amie it is!' Alice retorted.
Fair trade then! She ignored her mothers voice from then on in.
"RYAN!" They heard Missy's voice yell. Missy! she thought gratefully. She'd help.
"We're in the living room mum!" he shouted back at her.
"Ryan please I can't keep this up much longer!" Amie told him panicking. "MISS!" she yelled. Her eyes closed and her face was contorted with pain.
Ryan was free and was trying to drag himself but he kept slipping. More bricks were raining on Amie's shoulders and head. Getting heavier and harder. Missy appeared at the living room door.
Amiecouldn't holsd on no more. She pushed and tried but the strength left her shoulders and her legs collapsed from beneath her. Her body gave out.
"Now RYAN!" Amie yelled in the final second. in warning.
Ryan rolled just in time and the wall began to disintegrate onto Amie as she lay on the floor exhausted. She was soon buried under rubble.
(X)
Missy saw her son. Lain face down on rubble not moving. Missy ran across. Couldn't see the other person. They were completely buried.
"Ryan."
He lifted his head. His face was tear streaked. "I killed her!" he sobbed.
"Look Ryan calm down. I need to get you and the other person out!"
"Mum, it's Amie!" he cried.
"Our Amie?" she asked and paled.
He nodded and more tears leaked.
"Right move yourself. Get out of here. Get outside and stay out there till your dad arrives!"
"I'm sorry mum!" he said still crying.
She helped him to his feet. Gave him a piece of wood to brace his weight on.
"Is she….."
"Move it now!" Missy yelled. He limped out. Missy was moving bricks frantically.
"Look what happens!" she said. "Trouble follows you everywhere!" she said tears falling.
Missy uncovered her head easily. She had fell in such a way that her legs had taken most of the bricks and her face hadn't taken many. She had rolled to protect her head like a cocoon.
"Amie!" she said. "Amie answer me now!" she demanded.
Her body appeared and Missy gasped. Her clothes were torn and she could see the scratches, burns and multi coloured bruises over every inch of skin. Both her eyes were black and her nose was broken. Her lip split, twice it's normal size. Her hair was all different lengths and singed.
She picked Amie up. "This place is unstable!" she whispered. "You shouldn't have taken on a wall Ames!" tears trickled down her cheeks as she tried to carry her as gently as possible. She climbed over rubble trying to jolt her as little as possible.
"Lexi will be here soon and she'll take care of you!" Missy told her. "So don't you dare be giving up! You did good. You got yourself home. Now you're here we'll all protect you!"
As she walked out the front door Danny came around the corner in the truck. He saw Ryan's leg and face and ran over to him.
"Dad I'm so sorry!" he said heartbrokenly.
"As long as your ok!" he soothed. Not realising what he way apologising for. Before Ryan could elaborate he saw Missy with a limp body. Frowned.
"Is that the other pilot?" Lexi asked ran towards her.
"Dad I'm fine go see to Amie." Ryan told him seriously.
"It's Amie!" Missy told Lexi at the same time. Tears fell from her eyes.
"AMIE?" Both Lexi and Danny declared. Knew it was true by the look on Missy's face.
"Lex a wall fell on her. And a whole bunch of other stuff too!"
"EJ ambulance! Dad vet box! It's the best I got!"
Missy lay her down and Danny retrieved the box. Danny opened the box for her. Lexi tossed out the drugs. Pulled out some gauze.
"This antiseptic is no use to me!" she said frustrated. Took her first proper look at her sisters face and gasped. Then focused. Swallowed thickly and checked her pulse. Not as strong as she'd like but not weak. Lexi took off her jumper and placed it under Amie's head. She pulled at Amie's jacket but it wouldn't opened. Tore it to get it off. Fell back onto the mud.
"I can't treat her dad!" Hot wet tears fell. "Look at her!"
Her once white t-shirt was dark red in places. Her skin was all mottled and multicoloured. Black in some places. Red in others.
"This is far more then cuts and bruises dad!"
"Lex she needs you!" Missy told her.
"EJ get me some water from the truck please." she asked voice shaking. "Miss will you grab me the other vet box?"
Missy nodded.
"Careful!" Danny called after them automatically.
"She's been tortured dad!" Lexi hissed. There's evidence of burns. Electrocution and that's just what I can see!" Lexi said seriously. Rubbed her head.
He was still absorbing Lexi's words when Missy and EJ came running back with their requested items.
Lexi then began tending to her sisters wounds. Cleaned them all up with the water. Put a fresh bandage at her side. Missy held Amie's head as Danny trickled water into her mouth.
She coughed and spluttered her face angry.
"I'll kill you!" she warned weakly. Eye's closed.
"Amie it's dad." he said softly.
Her fist flew out. Lexi jumped back. Missy swerved. Danny ducked. "I'll fight back!" she winced and her body jerked. "You'll never break me!" her eyes had never opened once.
She went quiet and still. The ambulance pierced the air.
"What have they done to her?" Missy whispered.
Danny and Lexi shared a concerned look.
A/N ok so amie is with her family but will she pull through? and if she does will she be the same person she was before? this and more questions will be answered in the coming chapters x
