Chapter 29
AMELIA
Before I passed out at the motel, I thought I was going to see my mom soon, but I never imagined like this .
She’s here. In front of me. Alive .
I must have taken too many sedatives. I’m hallucinating—I have to be. Either that or it’s a ghost. Why is my mind playing tricks on me?
She looks at me, her eyes widening with recognition. Would a ghost do that? I never really paid attention to those ghost hunter shows, mainly had them on for background noise.
“I know what you’re thinking, Melly, and it’s me.”
Melly?
A tear streams down my face. I haven’t heard her call me that since my last day of sixth grade, the morning of the accident. Hearing it is like a key turning in a lock, opening up a floodgate of memories and emotions.
It’s… really her.
More tears well up as I struggle to comprehend the reality of her presence. I went to her funeral. I’ve visited her grave countless times. Oh my God, it was a closed casket service. Is she in some kind of witness protection program? Who fakes a whole funeral?
She places the tray on the small bedside table and reaches out to touch my face, her fingers trembling.
“How?” My voice breaks. “How are you here? Where have you been all this time?”
She sighs, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I know. I know everything you’re feeling right now, believe me. It’s a long story.”
I lift my hand, the chain clinking. “I’m not going anywhere, clearly. I have time to hear it, if you don’t mind.”
She takes a deep breath. “Your father… got increasingly worse over time. Mentally and physically. I was trying to hatch a plan to get us out. I went to a women’s abuse center for help, and I met someone there. I hadn’t planned to fall in love, but I did. Your father found out. I overheard him on a call when he thought I was out getting groceries. He was speaking about a plan to… kill me .”
My heart pounds in my chest as her words sink in. “Dad… tried to kill you? You fell in love with someone else?”
“Yes,” her voice shakes. “I did the only thing I could think to do—I went to your dad’s boss, John. He was the only one I knew who could help. Ultimately, I decided I’d be safest faking my death. So he helped me do that.”
John knew this whole time she was alive?
I’m reeling. My father had always been unbearable, but this? It’s beyond anything I could have imagined. He tried to kill my mother, after abusing her for who knows how long. “And you’ve been in hiding ever since? Why are you here?”
“For the first year or two, I had enough saved up to survive. Then it ran out, and I struggled for some time. I dropped out of college for your father, and I was a stay-at-home mom for almost thirteen years. The only jobs I could get wouldn’t even cover rent. I reconnected with Jacob’s mom, who led me to him, and he offered me triple what any old regular job would. So, I took it.”
“Why didn’t you come for me?”
“I was going to after you graduated college. Life on the run wasn’t any place for a middle schooler. And I wanted you to finish university first.”
Time and time again, I excused my dad’s actions because I thought he was grieving his wife. I kept telling myself he’d get better once the heartbreak healed. Turns out, I was lying to myself the whole time. I didn’t want to accept the fact that my dad was simply just a piece of shit. It feels like my entire life has been built on lies and betrayals.
“Mom, we’re gonna get out of here.”
“Yes, you will. I promise.”
I shake my head. “No. I don’t wanna go back without you. I just got you back again, I can’t lose you already.”
She looks down, her face creasing with worry as lines form across her forehead. “I can’t go back. If your father finds out I’m alive, he’ll come after me.”
“We’ll face dad together if he pops up,” I assure her. “We can get John involved if we have to.”
She laughs, but it’s tinged with bitterness. “John isn’t the type of man to just help. I had to practically sign away my soul the last time.”
“I can ask him. He might be more open to saying yes to me. We got off on the wrong foot when we first met, but I’m sure he’ll do something to help.”
“How do you know him? I told your dad to keep you away from anything involving that wretched group.”
“Um, well, I have a… boyfriend.”
She arches an eyebrow. “Judging by your hesitation, you don’t think I’d approve?”
“Well, he’s close to John because… he’s a part of the same group dad is.”
Her face drains of color at the mention of this information. She takes in a deep breath. “I know I haven’t been around for a long time, but Melly, that doesn’t seem like the type you’d go for.”
“I know. I had reservations about it too,” I admit, trying to keep my voice steady. “But, he’s not so bad. He treats me well.”
Of course, I’m leaving out the fact that, in the beginning, he practically forced me to be with him.
“Okay, I trust you.”
“So? If I figure out a way to escape, will you come with me?”
She looks at me, torn, contemplating for what feels like eternity. Finally, she nods. “Yes. What the hell, let’s try it.”
Careful not to hit her with the dangling chains, I engulf her in a big hug. I can’t believe I’m hugging my mother right now. I don’t know whether to cry or smile, so I do both before we pull apart.
But the moment is shattered when the door swings open. Jacob strides in, his voice tense, arms crossed over his chest. “What the hell is taking so long?”
My mom and I exchange a worried glance before she quickly stands, smoothing her skirt. “She was crying. I was just keeping her company.”
He smirks. “I think Paul needs something in the other room, Aurora.” My mom casts an apologetic look my way before hurrying out of the room. “Aw, she’s not dead. Isn’t that great?”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Why should I have? You’re lucky I even let her in here for you to find out now. I could’ve kept her hidden. I would’ve paid big money to see the look on your face when you found out.” He chuckles.
“Fuck you,” I seethe.
“Oh, not yet. But you are going to suck my dick.” He grabs my hair, forcefully yanking me to my knees on the cold floor. I don’t even cry out, gritting my teeth to conceal the yelp of pain. He doesn’t deserve my reactions.
I’m still in the same outfit from the locker room—a white skirt and pink sweater. The thin skirt offers no protection to my poor knees on the hard floor, and the chill in the air makes me think we’re somewhere North of Albuquerque.
He unbuckles his belt, his intentions clear and vile. “Open your mouth,” he orders in a low growl.
I keep my jaw clenched and shake my head. His grip on my hair tightens as he unzips his pants and pulls himself out.
Was he always this small? I mean, I know I’m probably used to a larger size now, but he’s hard, and can’t be more than three or four inches. And that’s being generous. No wonder I never had an orgasm with him. That, and he always refused to go down on me the couple of times we did it.
He tugs on my hair with a sharp, forceful pull, pain shooting through my scalp. The sudden jolt tilts my head back and parts my lips, giving him the opening he needs. I don’t want him there. So I act on pure instinct—biting down hard until the faint taste of blood fills my mouth. A wave of nausea rises from the metallic taste, but I manage to hold my grip firm.
He screams in pain, the sound erupting from his throat like the desperate squawk of a dying chicken. “Son of a bitch!” He rips off his belt with a furious motion, the leather hissing through the air as he swings it at me. The lash lands on my stomach, sending a searing and intense torment through my body. I collapse to the ground, clutching my stomach as a tortured cry escapes my lips.
Outside the door, someone bangs hard, and when she speaks, I realize it’s my mother. “Jacob, leave her alone! Please, just give her time to settle in first! You owe me one!” Her voice is frantic as she continues banging on the old wood like cops looking for Malibu’s Most Wanted.
Jacob halts, breathing erratically, his eyes narrowed in fierce hatred. With a low, guttural grunt, he drives his foot into me, the force stealing the breath from my lungs. “You got lucky twice now. Three strikes and you’re out, I promise.” He turns and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
The chains clink as I try to curl into myself, the cold metal biting into my skin and amplifying the harsh reality I’m in.
Why do I deserve this?
The door creaks open, and my mom rushes in. She kneels before me and gently lifts me off the floor, helping me back into the bed. Her arms wrap around me, and I bury my face into her chest, sobbing uncontrollably. She holds me tighter, stroking my hair.
I’d forgotten what it felt like to cry in my mother’s arms after a long day, and it’s a feeling I hope I never lose again.