Esmeralda
Nightmares.
Despite being at peace with my new life, I was disturbed by nightmares.
Nightmares during the day, nightmares during the night and even in my sleep.
It haunted me everywhere I went, lurking in the dark, seeking the slightest opportunity to pounce on me.
It was so real, I almost had a panic attack.
No matter how I try to dismiss it, her face keeps coming to my mind.
It was stuck there, I couldn’t erase it.
Her face, her screams, her half-dead look, her measured words, her cold stare. All of it.
They lived rent-free in my head.
It was so vivid, so clear, it was like I could see her.
It was like I could hear her whisper those words to me every time I chose to ignore her.
“Help me,”
It was like I could feel her cold intensive stare burning my skin each time I turned deaf ears to her pleas.
It was like she was here with me. Waiting patiently for me to save her.
Her fears were so primal, I could almost sniff it as if we were in the same room.
And her agonizing screams? I couldn’t get it off my head. Not even for a minute.
It was crazy. All of it.
She was driving me insane with each passing day.
As much as I didn’t want to get into trouble with the Alpha, I couldn’t ignore her to rot in the North wing while we have our happy lives like she never existed.
I was torn between two choices.
I didn’t want to disobey my mate, yet, I couldn’t ignore her.
Even if I wanted to, the nightmares wouldn’t stop.
Help me, Moon goddess.
I needed to do something. These nightmares had to stop.
I walked down the hallway in light steps to avoid being caught, taking a shortcut Jade showed me to get to the North Wing.
I closed my eyes, sucking in breaths when I came in contact with a familiar large door. The door that kept appearing in my dreams.
Mentally preparing for whatever will come my way, I muttered a silent prayer, turning the door knob as quietly as a mouse before pushing the door open.
It was opened. Always open.
My heart jumped out of my chest as it gave a loud creaky sound, luckily, there was no one around.
Leaving the door a little ajar, I pressed my small frame in before shutting the door behind me when I entered the room.
“Bloody Mary,” I muttered silently as the chilly wind blew when I shut the door, leaving me alone in the big room.
Now what? Ugh!
Alone in the gross darkness, I fumbled with my pocket till I brought out a torch.
After muttering another round of silent prayer, I gripped the torch firmly, making my way into the dilapidated room.
Littered on the marble tiles were cups, unused cutleries, and plates.
The plates had food filled to the brim, but they were untouched. While the plastic cup had juices and water.
All were untouched.
A feeling of pity and sadness consumed me at once as my eyes didn’t leave the untouched food.
She was starving herself to death.
She was dying slowly.
Fading slowly.
Why was she doing this to herself?
Why couldn’t she fight?
I coughed and sneezed at the thick amount of dust that made its way into my nostrils. Halting before a huge leather chair that had big chains wrapped around it, I raised my torch to reveal a familiar skinny figure sitting on the chair and staring into space.
Her head was slightly bent in an uncomfortable position.
I knew she had been sitting like that for hours.
She looked so helpless, so pale, so empty.
Almost lifeless.
I wiped the tears that flowed freely from my cheeks with the back of my palm as pain clenched my chest.
I couldn’t believe she was what Alpha Kade described as sweet.
She looked like a corpse.
She didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve any of this.
The bastard that ruined Amelia’s life won’t go unpunished!
I was in support of Alpha Kade giving her a slow death, but I wasn’t comfortable about involving her family or loved ones.
What if they were innocent?
I took careful steps as I paced around Amelia who kept staring into space like I was invisible.
Wasn’t she seeing me?
Not a word, not a reaction, not a gasp dropped from her. Except her usual slow breathing.
She hardly blinked.
She just sat there staring like a statue. Unbothered.
“Hello,” I broke the silence, trying to gain her attention.
“Amy,” I called again, but I was met with silence.
Deafening silence.
Fuck!
What do I do since she decided to keep mute?
Time was running and so was my patience.
I didn’t want to be caught by Madam Dora when she wanted to give her food.
I had to act fast.
“Amelia,” I called again impatiently, slipping my hands in my pocket to steady my shaky hands, “Can you hear me?”
Fuck.
I was tempted to tap her, but I was scared of her reaction.
Not when Jade had warned me about how dangerous she was.
“I’m here to help, okay? I won’t hurt you,” I pleaded.
“You don’t have to be scared. I am a good person and I want you out of here to where you will receive better treatment,”
“I have come for you, Amelia, say something, please,” I half-screamed, frustrated by the long silence.
How do I make her talk?
My hands slipped again into my pocket, searching for a while before I pulled them out to reveal a squashed dandelion.
Oops!
“Look, Amy, I brought your favourite. Dandelions,” I said excitedly, expecting a reaction, but I was met with none.
Not even a blink, not even a brief smile, not even a surprised look, not even a word. Nada.
I wouldn’t give up on her yet. Maybe she was not seeing it well. Maybe the torchlight wasn’t bright enough.
Walking to the closed curtains across the room, I yanked them apart, allowing the brightness of the afternoon sun to seep in to illuminate the room.
Much better.
“Woah,” I gasped when I clearly saw the dilapidated state of the room.
It was a disaster here.
It was like world war two happened here. But I didn’t have time to inspect the items.
I had pressing issues at hand with limited time.
Shifting my focus on Amelia, a frown settled on my face when I saw her expressionless face.
She didn’t even move an inch.
Wasn’t she concerned?
What did I get myself into?!
This was harder than I imagined.
“Look, Amelia. I brought you a dandelion,” I said, shoving the dandelion in her face, “It’s beautiful, just like you,”
Liar! My subconscious yelled at me.
But she was beautiful. I bet she was if not for the unfortunate incident.
“You have to talk to me, Amelia. Stop playing dumb. I know you can hear me. If this is some kind of game, stop it!”
Great!
I couldn’t take it anymore. The silence was frustrating.
Wasn’t she seeing me?
I needed to act fast.
But I had to be careful this time. I didn’t want her to scream like she did the other time. I didn’t want to attract Alpha Kade’s punishment.
It was strange.
The sight was appalling!
After what seemed like hours, I turned to leave, giving up on everything.
Beads of sweat gathered around my forehead as I was exhausted.
Maybe today wasn’t my lucky day.
I gave her one look before turning away.
But then, those baggy lifeless eyes suddenly landed on me, making my spirit almost leave my body.
I watched in bewilderment as her mouth slowly moved to form words.
“You,”