Deliverance for Amelia (22 page)

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Amelia

I
SIT ON THE WINDOWSILL. Reading a book when I hear a light knock on the door. I’m alone, Able is no longer ordered to stand guard since I’m no longer on suicide watch.

“Come in.” I say, my eyes not leaving the book. I’m surprised when I see Kat’s frightened eyes peer in. I close the book and place it in my lap, “Kat? It’s nice to see you. You’ve been hiding in your room so much…” I trail off when she quickly enters and closes the door before pressing her back firmly against it.

“Kat, what’s wrong?” I ask as I place the book down and approach her. Her eyes remain locked on the floor as I stand in front of her.

“Hey,” I whisper, “talk to me.”

Her chest begins heaving as I lead her to my bed and sit next to her.

Tears leak from the corners of her eyes as her dull, lifeless gaze meets mine.

“I-I…” She begins before a sob escapes her, “I think I’m pregnant.”

“Oh my God.” I whisper. My heart is galloping in my chest. I know Gabe will not take anyone other than myself carrying his child lightly.

“Did you tell him?” I implore and she shakes her head slowly.

“I’m scared.” She whimpers.

I nod haltingly as I consider what should be done. I have to tell him. He’ll find out eventually, and I cannot knowingly continue to let him hurt her, especially while she’s pregnant.

“You stay here.” I say with an even tone as I stand and walk towards the door.

I look up at Able when I escape the confines of the room. I shut the door quietly.

“What’s wrong?” He asks quietly.

“Everything.” I respond as I hurriedly descend the stairs and make my way towards Gabe’s study.

Before I lose my nerve, I open the door to display my husband. He looks bemused as I close the door behind me, nervously wringing my hands in front of me. I take a step forward, “Kat might be pregnant, Gabe.”

It comes out almost like a breath, like frightened words often do.

I see the darkness spread over his features as he stands abruptly and stalks towards me. His large hand grasps my neck before I’m slammed onto his desk, the wood biting sharply into my shoulder blades. He’s a man possessed with rage as he looks down at me.

“You couldn’t give me a child, but that whore could?” He grits out. I feel the blood rush to my face as he cuts off my air supply.

“I’m going to fucking cut that little bitch up. I will not have her giving me a bastard.”

He releases me and stomps from the room. I quickly recuperate as I rush behind him and grasp his strong arm. Of course I’m no match for him, but I can’t let him kill her. I can’t.

He drags me all the way to the foyer before he spins, practically giving me whiplash, as he tries to shake me off. I keep my grip as he stares down at me.

“Don’t. Gabe. Please.” I plead as my eyes implore his. A dark smile spreads across his face, and I know that he is not even close to convinced.

He reaches around and grabs a handful of my hair, lifting me so that my tippy-toes barely touch the floor, “You do not tell me what to do,
woman
.”

“Get your fucking hands off of her.”

Gabe turns and my vision focuses on Able who stands at the other end of the foyer. His gun aimed right at Gabe.

Gabe releases me, sending me crumpling to the cold floor.

I shake my head slowly, pleading for Able to stop without a word. I always knew this day would come. Now my heart hurts more than I ever thought possible as I see morbid visions flash through my mind of Able at Gabe’s mercy. I can’t. I can’t lose Able.

“What are you going to do, huh?” Gabe taunts as he spreads his arms and takes a step towards Able.

Able’s lips curl up as he narrows his eyes, “I’ll fucking shoot you. I won’t hesitate. So I wouldn’t take another fucking step if I were you.”

Able circles around and Gabe shifts on his feet as he continues to face him. With his eyes never leaving Gabe’s, he reaches down towards me.

“Come with me, Amelia.”

I shake my head slowly as tears streak my face, “No, Able. I won’t.”

“Amelia!” He says impatiently.

My eyes find Gabe’s. He looks amused. He knows I won’t leave. I can’t leave.

“Able, you need to go.” I say softly.

“No – Amelia, come on. Let’s go!”

I glare at him, mainly from frustration. Annoyed that I’m stuck here with no choice of my own. “Get out!” I holler as I jump to my feet, “Get out, now!”

I look into his eyes apologetically. I know my gaze reflects his own hurt and resentment. He tilts his head to the side and examines my face momentarily before his eyes flit back to Gabe, “This isn’t over.”

“I’m sure it’s not.” Gabe says coolly as Able backs out of the front door. My heart feels as if it drops to the pit of my stomach as I watch him go.

I turn back to Gabe and narrow my eyes at him, “If you kill her, I’m done. I can’t continue to let fear rule my conscience. If she dies – I die too.”

A smile curls his lips slightly as he approaches me, “Fine.”

Then he turns and escapes the foyer, leaving me alone to grieve the loss of another, my best friend. My lover.

However, I feel like I’ve won. Able is free and Kat is safe – for now. My heart is heavy as my mind screams what I’ve gained, a hand over Gabe.

Chapter Sixty: Able

I
’VE BEEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. My mind racing, I don’t even know where the fuck I am as my old Ford kicks up dust off of the pavement. I peel off onto the side of the road and bang my hands on the steering wheel.

“FUCK!” I exclaim. I left her with him. I feel the sickening feeling rise in my stomach as I think about how our eyes locked as I backed out of the front door. Gabe couldn’t have missed that. Goddammit. He can’t kill her. He won’t, he’s too fucking obsessed with her.

I’ve got to think about what I must do to save her.

To set her free.

Chapter Sixty-One: Gabe

M
Y CHEST RISES AND FALLS hurriedly as the scratchy voice whispers in my ear,
“She betrayed you, Gabe. She’s been off fucking another man.”

“Shut up.” I growl to the contributor of my madness.

I grip the tumbler in my hand, feeling the glass threaten to give in under my fingers.

“You must teach her a lesson.”
  The voice grits out.

My nostrils flare as I try to reel in my madness. I’m losing control. The darkness is clouding my mind.

Beckoning me.

Taunting me.

I’m more tempted than ever to wreak havoc on this house. Take all of them out.

“Do it.”

I exhale sharply as the glass of the tumbler finally cracks from the pressure. I raise my steady hand and examine the wide gash in my palm, the blood rising like a flooded river before it escapes onto the wooden desk.

I sigh, the vision of blood causing the voice to descend back into its compartment in my mind.

“No.” I whisper, “She will pay, but under my terms. Not yours.”

I enter my password once I open my laptop and search for my next toy.

Chapter Sixty-Two: Amelia

I
CAN’T SHAKE THE FEELING of imminent danger that I’ve been plagued with since Able left.

I didn’t realize how much my sense of safety relied on him being here. Now he’s gone, and Gabe has been eerily calm. Even his sardonic attitude has been absent, which is odd, odd and terrifying.

What’s more terrifying is the large box that arrived the other day. I don’t know what’s in it. Gabe said that I would be “introduced” to it soon.

He won’t sleep with me. I’m relieved though. I can imagine that our fuck sessions would be less than pleasurable if he did take me. Something is boiling underneath the surface that is Gabe, it’s sinister, and I know this. I’m mentally preparing myself for what could come next.

Thankfully, he’s also been leaving Kat alone. I’ve been giving her the leftover vitamins from my own pregnancy. He will not allow her to see Dr. Kerr. He doesn’t want anyone to know that he and I didn’t have a child together. He said that we will raise the baby as our own, and once Kat gives birth, he will set her free.

I can live with that. Though, I do wish that Kat could take the baby with her – away from this hell. I will do everything in my power to raise the baby as my own, loving it as if it were mine.

I walk into the dining room and am surprised when I see that the placements were not set as they always are. Gabe is no-where to be seen, neither is Benedict or Esmerelda.

I let out a shaky breath as I turn to the door, and jump when I see Gabe standing there expressionlessly. He’s wearing a casual, cotton shirt along with jeans and sneakers. Here I am in a tight fitting red dress and stilettos, dressed for our usual formal dinner. I feel my entire body tremble with trepidation as he stalks towards me like a lion preparing to pounce on its prey.

He stands before me, his height towering over my measly 5’4 inches.

“We’re not having dinner?” I whisper.

Gabe shakes his head slowly as he looks down at me. Tears gather in my eyes as I contemplate the worst. He’s going to kill me. I know it.

He reaches up and grasps my throat with his large hand. A sob escapes me as I try and read him. He looks so different. His hair is unusually unkempt. His eyes carry a madness that I’ve only seen when he kills – it’s constant now. The darkness never retreating. His face is rough with facial hair, no longer clean and shaven.

“You fucked him.” He says coolly.

I shake my head slowly and a dark chuckle escapes him, “Oh, Amelia. So beautiful, so pretty when you cry.”

The emotions play across his face. I see hurt, then I see the normal impassive Gabe. He’s gone insane.

“Gabe. Please.” I whimper as he holds my neck, the threat of his fingers squeezing the breath out of me is clear. However, I don’t know what to do. Usually, he’s one set thing – right now, he’s a million. What he will do next is going to be pure spontaneity – and that is terrifying.

“I tried, Amelia. I tried to be what you needed. A loving husband, a father.” He pauses as a tear runs down his cheek, but again, he snaps. Right into a terrifying fit of rage.

“WHY DO YOU HAVE TO FUCKING RUIN EVERYTHING, YOU BITCH!” He hollers, his voice reverberating off of the walls. I cower, feeling absolute helplessness.

“Gabe, I-I am so s-sorry.” I squeak out.

A smile spreads across his face as he cocks his head, “You’re sorry?”

I nod my head as much as I can with his hand around my neck, “Yes.”

He strengthens his grip as he presses his lips to mine harshly before pulling away, “You’re about to be
very
sorry, Amelia.”

And with that, he drags me from the dining room, to the foyer and then outside. We’re met with the contents of the mysterious box.

I know what it is, I’ve seen it before online. I felt such hurt for the poor souls that ever came across it.

My heart pumps against my ribs, to the point where I feel as though they will crack open and spring from the skin of my chest.

Gabe leans over, the growth of hair on his chin tickling my cheek, “Do you know what it is?”

My wide eyes cannot leave it as he continues, “The Brazen Bull originated in ancient Greece. It’s completely hollow inside with a system of tubes running throughout it. The reason for the tubes is so that the victim’s screams will sound much like those of a bull.” He pauses as he runs his hands down my sides, “You see the pile of wood below the bull, Amelia?” I jump when I hear the click of a lighter ignited by my ear, “When I light that fire, it will heat the bull’s belly. Do you know what happens then? Your skin will bubble right along with your insides. You won’t be a beauty anymore, Amelia.”

“No!” I scream. Gabe holds me close to him, my body pressed against his hard chest.

“Yes, Amelia.” He sneers, “You’ve betrayed me in the worst way. Now you’re going to pay.”

I begin flailing around, but his arm wraps around my body like a vice. I’m not going to escape this. He’s going to roast me inside of a bull’s belly, and there’s not a thing I can do.

He begins walking forward and I try to dig my heels into the soft grass, but he lifts me and carries me to the bull. Opening the door on the side of the contraption, he lifts me, balling my body up and throwing me right into the hollow opening before the door clangs shut ominously and all goes dark.

I curl into a fetal position, my knees pressed tightly to my chest after I scrambled away from the center of the bull.

“Please, please, please.” I whisper through trembling lips. I jump when I hear the click of the lighter from the outside.

It never stops clicking. Absolute torture is waiting for an impending end, an end that never seems to come.

I’ve been in here for hours. My heart pounding to the point that I’m sure a heart attack will take me before the bull does.

But it never happens. For hours the lighter continues to click, but the fire never heats the bull’s belly.

I begin to rock myself in an attempt to calm my anxiety, but it doesn’t work. I’ve worked myself up so much to where I’ve already soiled and vomited all over myself. I didn’t think it was possible to shake so much, but it is.

My mind begins to blank out as my incoherent whispers continue.