WARNING: This chapter talks about rape, it doesn't go into much detail of the actual assualt but does talk about it. It also depicts physical abuse and acts of violence.
'What kind of stain is that? It's kind of shaped like a katana.' Amelia's eyes traced over the wobbly outlining that formed a long stain on the ceiling. In truth it was a tan blob, likely made by water damage from the apartment above. It didn't really matter but it gave her something to focus on. Something to distract her from reality.
She winced as the repeated impact she had been trying to ignore became erratic. Her eyes focused harder on the way the stain fattened out for a split section giving the appearance of a sword hilt. It then skinnied out, coming to a sharp tip.
A slap to the face brought her back to reality. Now staring into the expance of the bed beside her, Amelia blinked back tears, keeping her expression blank. The peace of the pillow's horizon was disturbed by a shadow of a man she knew too well.
"Fuck, you're boring lately," Amelia's boyfriend grumbled between his breathy pants. "At least make it exciting."
Amelia turned her head back to the stain, eyes blankly tracing it again. On the edge of her reality, she could hear the man opening the bedside table, fishing for his cigarettes. "Fucking hell!" Another slap, then a hand roughly gripping her wrist.
Suddenly, Amelia was torn out of bed, the cold of the hardwood floor stinging on her bare skin. "Didn't I tell you to get some fucking darts yesterday! You useless bitch!"
Amelia cried out, her arms coming up to try and block the majority of her body as the inevitable blows hit. The beating didn't last long but it never mattered how long they were. They were still full of rage. No punch or kick ever held back.
"I'll get them my fucking self," He sat back on his heels as the beating stopped. "I should know by now the only useful thing about you is your hole," He grunted as he stood up. His eyes barely flickered over the huddled girl before turning towards the nearby dresser.
In a matter of minutes he was dressed and heading for the door. Stopping with his hand on the handle he looked back at Amelia, still crumpled on the floor. "I'll be back soon. Why don't you do something useful and make me dinner?"
Then he was gone.
Something dripped on the floorboards between Amelia's knees, seeping into the wood and making dark splashes. It took a moment for her to realize it was tears. 'Why am I still sad?' Amelia thought she had wasted all her tears long ago. She thought she had no sadness left.
But it wasn't sadness rising in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't sadness that had her hands balled into fists.
It was anger.
It was rage.
Rage drove her to stand and find her phone. Rage typed a single text and pressed send.
'I need you'
Amelia couldn't say how long she sat there after throwing on some sweats. Probably not long, but it felt like an eternity and an instant all at once. Her ears strained to catch any sign of someone at the door, hoping she would be able to tell who it was by footsteps. Then it seemed to happen in a blur.
Footsteps.
Amelia's feet on the hardwood, scurrying to the door.
The handle turned. The door swung open.
Amelia pressed into the chest of her savior. She barely took the time to register Worick had not come with the tag. Even though the 20 year old still had an affinity for the blond haired gigolo, she was just so happy Nicolas came when she had asked that her body acted on its on.
Nicolas was mildly surprised by the dainty arms that wrapped around his waist, a head of blonde hair nuzzling into his chest. He was even more surprised when he responded by returning the hug, some protective urge coming over him.
Not breaking his hold on the girl, Nic shuffled into the apartment and closed the door. They then stood there for a minute, Amelia breaking out into sobs. The gentleness from the tag seemed so foreign to her. It was soft and warm being held in someone's arms. She never wanted to leave.
A small squeeze told her she had to though. Her sobs had quieted, and Nic needed to know why specifically he was called here. He knew what happened in this damned place but why had she called him there. Was she finally done with it?
After moving to the bed so Amelia could rest her weak knees, Nic wasted no more time on gentleness. 'Why did you need us?' he signed, referring to the text sent before.
'I'm done,' the blonde chose to only sign back, knowing there was no point in speaking when she would just burst into tears. She had slowly been learning since she met the handymen all those years ago. They came to the orphanage frequently enough since Danny employed them often and while Amelia didn't interact with them a lot, she found the language fascinating and wanted to be able to talk to Nicolas when the situation called for it. She taught herself from watching the handymen and from books she found in the orphanage. Her hand movements were a bit sloppy since she only got to practice when talking to Nic, which happened rather sparingly.
'I want to leave. Can you help me?' she continued, looking up at the tag. It felt like the first time their eyes had ever met. Perhaps it was. Amelia had been shy as a kid, and Nicolas had always been distant person in general.
Nic thought about offering to kill the bastard but looking at her scared face, he decided it wasn't the right time. She had just taken the first step towards freedom. She was likely still teetering on the line that divided the past 5 years of her life and the unknown future. He couldn't risk her stepping back. 'Pack a bag and let's go.'
'Ok, I think I'm ready,' Amelia signed. She looked over the backpack she had stuffed with her few clothes and belongings. The pitiful amount made her a little more sure of her words. She was ready. This was no life to live. If it was ever love, it certainly wasn't anymore.
Nic scooped up the bag and slung it over his shoulder. They walked out of the bedroom together. The first door to Amelia's freedom. She could feel her stomach drop and her head filled with 'what if's'. Pausing for a moment and squeezing her eyes shut, she did her best to shake the doubts from her head. Amelia took a deep breath and lifted her head. She crossed the living room, one foot in front of the other. Before she could think about it, she wrapped her arms around Nic again.
"Thank you," she found her voice for the first time in what felt like forever before pulling away and adding the sign.
Nic simply nodded, watching as if she might run back to the bedroom at any moment. When he felt sure she wasn't going to change her mind on him, he opened the door.
A fierce smack came faster than Amelia could register. A baseball bat had collided with Nicolas' head as the door swung open. The tag stumbled, taken off gaurd by the sudden impact. His arms swung out to protect Amelia behind him but this kept him open for another quick blow to the head which sent him to his knees. Then another that made his vision blur as his face hit the hardwood floor.
"Nicolas!" Amelia screamed and dropped to her knees. Her eyes widened as she saw the blood dripping through dark hair.
"What did you do?!" Amelia's tears dropped onto Nic's face, mixing with the blood as it rolled down his cheek. "What did you do!" she screamed looking up at the towering figure she knew all too well from this angle.
Amelia's boyfriend sneered, "You made me do it." Seeing Nicolas' limp body, the man sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He propped the baseball bat up against the nearby couch before crouching beside Amelia. "You leaving me?"
Amelia was shocked by the almost gentle tone in her boyfriends voice. She pulled her eyes from Nic's bloodied face, looking up at her boyfriend, not hiding her confusion.
"You think this guy can make you happy?" Dead eyes glanced to the tag on the floor before looking back at the blonde girl. "You fuck him, don't you? That's all you're good for. Spreading you're fucking legs to whatever guy pays attention to you. Did he say he would protect you? Save you? Look at him now. You did this," his eyes widened with anger as his voice finally dropped the gentle tone. "LOOK AT HIM!"
His hand slammed into Amelia's head and forced it down until it was a centimeter away from Nicolas. The blood was still pooling from the wound on his head. While Amelia could still hear Nic's breathing, and while she knew that wasn't enough to kill a twilight, it looked as if he was dead. Tears started to fall again and the pit returned to Amelia's stomach.
The anger.
A scream cut through the air. Amelia felt her hands wrap around the smooth hilt of Nic's katana that was always strapped to his hip. In one smooth movement she drew it from the sheath and sliced it across the chest of her boyfriend.
Another scream. But this time it wasn't hers. "Bitch! You fucking cut me?" The man let go of Amelia's hair as he stumbled back, clutching his chest in shock.
Amelia's breath grew heavy as she rose from her knees. Her eyes traced down the handle, following the outline of the jutted out hilt, and finally tracing the edge of the blade all the way to the tip.
At the end of the sword sat a sight she never thought she'd see. The man's eyes were wide with something she could only describe as fear.
"Don't smile like that, fucking bitch! I'll kill you!"
She hadn't even realized that a smile had spread across her face. A hand reached up to gingerly feel the curve of her lips. It felt foreign on her face. A wide smile that wasn't forced in the slightest.
"Really?" She laughed, stepping forward to narrow the distance between the man and the sword. "You're gonna kill me? I should have killed you a long time ago."
"What?" The man stared at the tip of the sword, scrambling to back up. His back hit the couch and he came to a halt.
"I'll kill you!" Amelia screamed, as if mocking his words. Without hesitation, she threw her body weight forward, plunging the sword into the man's shoulder.
"AHH! Amelia! Wait a minute! Fuck! Let's talk about this-" he begged but a twist of the sword interupted him. "AGH! Fucking twilight bitch! You-"
"Stop talking!" She screamed again, yanking the katana out and stabbing it into the man's throat. Gurgles spat blood from his mouth as he struggled to breath. She pulled the sword out again letting the blood pour from the wound.
"Stop talking!" Stab.
"Stop!" Stab.
"Just fucking die!"
The smile disappeared and tears took its place on her cheeks. She continued to raise and drop the sword, over and over again.
"Emila," a broken, gruff voice brought Amelia back to reality. The fearful cries from club goers filled her ears once again. Her vision cleared to see the dark haired twilight, now half sitting up and reaching for her with big hands.
"Nic!" She cried out, leaning into his hands as he cupped her face. She returned the gesture, brushing one hand over the drying blood on his temple. "Fuck, you scared me, Nic."
His eyes softened for a moment as if to apologize before looking past the blonde. His dark eyes narrowed to their normal edge. Amelia noticed easily and they both retracted their hands and stood up. 'Galahad needs us. Let's go.'
Another chapter! Let's see how long this hyperfixation lasts.
Whether you are new to this story or returning after my long hiatus, thanks for reading. Fave, Follow, and Review to keep motivating me.
May 13, 2023