Chapter 4

-AMELIA-

Three bodies covered in blood were lying before me I couldn't believe my eyes. Surely this is a dream. Oh I wish it is a dream!! Seeing all the blood and my parents and sister I could feel myself hyperventilating. I can't stand this anymore everything was turning blur and black spots were filling my vision. Everything went black.

I had collapsed...

When I opened my eyes I saw a yellow strip drawn across the hall with bold letters reading 'POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS'. I always wondered whether this strip was necessary but today it reminded me of what I saw! I was still trying to get a hold of the situation. I felt numb all over.

Who and why would they kill my family? Why?

I felt a hand on my shoulders; I turned and looked at Jen through teary eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears, she saw my parents as her own and Sara was also her sister because she didn’t have any. The party and shopping were long forgotten.

"I am sorry Mia. You left your book with me and when i returned to give it to you i saw all this. I called my parents and they called the cops. There’s a bunch of media out there filming everything and they have removed the bodies. Shhh … don’t worry I will be there for you. We will cry together and get past this together. My parents will take care of the formalities." i cried even harder and she hugged me silently crying.

"Madam we would like to speak to you." a police officer, Mr. Jones my dad’s coworker said and i nodded at him. "Mr. Samuel was a very important officer to us and we are sorry for you loss. We have confirmed it was a murder but no one saw anything suspicious in the neighborhood .We are leaving a few policemen here for your protection and will catch those criminals and punish them. "He said quite genuinely and I could see that he was also hurting because my dad was his friend.

“Amelia dear do you know where your father kept those files?”

I shook my head in disagreement. What files?

“We need to look in his study.”

I nodded and opened the door for him and this is when I saw how shattered the place looked. My father was always neat and organized like me then why is this place. I heard Mr. Jones speak to another officer. “This means our suspicions are right , they came for the files.”

“What files are you talking about?” I asked them wanting to know what all this was about.

“Sorry dear we can’t tell you the details.”

“Don’t you think I have the right to know after all I am his daughter? And for heaven’s sake he was just murdered.”

They just looked down ashamed which meant I couldn’t get more information from them. I walked back into the kitchen and saw the batch of freshly made buns and my sister’s plate of unfinished fruits. Probably she went to play with dad, and mom might have scolded her for that. Sara would have probably missed me. I took a small bite of the bun and forcefully pushed it down my throat taking in the last thing my mother made. Jen’s mom held me from behind and hugged me while I whimpered.

“She was a small girl, Laura. She had dreams and big ones. My mom was still growing ….in business. We were going to play monopoly tonight with my dad..... But all that now will remain a dream an impossible dream….”

“Calm down sweetie ….calm down.” She said desperately trying to soothe me but we both knew it wasn’t helping. I wanted to be in my mom’s arms, I wanted Sara to wake me up with water. I wanted dad to take me for ice-cream and discuss my future. I wanted mom to scold me for getting detention but alas no one as there.

I requested Jenny's parents to conduct the funeral immediately, possibly tomorrow itself because I can’t bear the thought of my family lying in the mortuary, cold and alone.

I hardly slept that night. In the morning i wore a simple black dress and attended the funeral which was conducted by pastor riley who himself was in tears. I didn't want to see anyone but for my family's sake i stood silently nodding at all the sympathy. Jenny greeted everyone on my behalf. I was thankful to have her by my side at such a time. I really wasn't paying attention to what they were saying.

All i wanted to do was go home even though that's the last place i wanted to be. I kissed my parents and sister the final goodbye and ran back home.

I reached home tired from all the running; I saw that everything was cleared; it didn't even look like something horrendous took place in this house. I knew that they did that for my sake because I had insisted on staying here. Jenny and her family stayed back for some time and then left. I switched on my phone and saw tons of messages from Derek, friends and relatives all showing their sympathy. I ignored all that and plopped down on the sofa and recalled all that happened in the past 24 hours.

I thought about the lunch I missed, I never knew this would be the last time we would be together. If I knew I wouldn’t have fought with Tania and probably would be dead by now. Did those criminals know that they left one person behind?

I was alone when reality slapped me on the face, I am an orphan, and I no longer have any parents or siblings. I cried and screamed my lungs out. My tears stopped after a long time and there were no more screams to be heard. My throat was hoarse and I had dried tears all over my face. Tired from all the screaming I slowly fell asleep.

"Sissy, help me they are torturing me please help!!!" Sara was screaming I ran towards her but then another voice screamed

“Amelia save your sister. It hurts sweetie but I will always remain with you.”

 "Mia don't let them get you run away faster...and keep your promise" and they shot him, my loving father. I couldn't reach him also. My mom laid dead covered in blood, her eyes showed strains of pleading... My sister called again. But I couldn’t reach anyone, I was helpless, my family calling me while I was busy thinking about college and girls party. I finally reached them but it was too late.

All I could see was my parents and Sara is body covered in blood