Her Nightmare

“Help! Amelia, I'm dying. Please come to room 275”

The desperate sound of her step-sister's voice was the only thing on Amelia Rodriguez's mind as she rushed out of her party hall, holding her long gown.

Room 275. Amelia glanced at the number tag on the door of the hotel room. It was the same number that her step-sister, Chloe Rodriguez, had texted her. Without a second thought, she stormed into the room.

Immediately she stormed into the room, she was greeted by the darkness of the room. Unexpectedly, a strong hand clasped around her wrist, and dragged her into the dark room. The door was slammed shut immediately.

“Who… who are you? Why are you here?” Amelia shrieked. She kept staring around the room, but it was dark, so she saw nothing.

“Come on, sit down. I'll treat you well if you cooperate” A man's husky voice whispered into her ear.

Before she could say another word, Amelia was abruptly tossed to the bed, and as she was struggling to get up from the bed, a strong manly body pinned her down.

She let out a muffled cry, then a soft lip pressed against hers. It tasted like peppermint and like alcohol.

The man on top of her was quite stronger than she was. She tried pushing him off her, but he didn't bulge. Tears of hopelessness dropped her cheeks. There was nothing she could do than to endure his ferocity.

One hour later, Amelia staggered out of the room, looking bedraggled. Her hair was messy, she had just gone through hell, but it didn't stop her from worrying about her step-sister's safety.

She still had her cell phone with her. She was about to dial Chloe's number when she saw some of the guests who came for her birthday party walking out of the other door. They were all staring at her in disgust, and calling her names. She didn't hesitate to recognize someone among them.

It happened to be her step-sister, Chloe and Chloe's friend, Emma. The two friends approached her, laughing hysterically with their arms linked.

Shocked and gobsmacked, Amelia covered her mouth with her palms, stopping herself from crying out loud. “Stop right there, Chloe” She screamed out with her fist clenched.

On hearing what she said, Chloe and Emma turned swiftly to face her. Amelia glowered at them, and demanded an explanation from Chloe. “Why did you lie to me?”

Chloe laughed sarcastically. “Is it my fault that you're so gullible, sister?” 

“How good was the gigolo you just made out with? You enjoyed him, didn't you?” Emma smirked at her.

Only then it dawned on Amelia that both of them had set her up. The chastity she has been holding on to for the past twenty years of her life has been taken away by a man she knows nothing about.

Tears circulated in Amelia's eyes. “Do you think that I was actually your sister, Amelia? You have always taken every single thing that I've always wanted. You got everything from our father. Likewise, you're his favorite daughter. I hate you so much, and I want nothing but to ruin you completely. I have the proof I need to show Dad that you've sleeping around in the club for money”.

“How could you do…?” Tears didn't let Amelia complete her statement.

“It won't take long for you to get thrown out of the house, you whore” Chloe spoke in between gritted teeth.

“You…” Amelia was so furious, and she felt like slapping both of them hard on the cheek.

“Chloe, I don't think we have anything else to say to your good for nothing sister. Let's get the hell out of here” Emma snapped. With their arms still linked, they walked towards the garage where Chloe's Jeep was parked.

At the Rodriguez Residence. Two days later, Amelia was kneeling in front of her father and her stepmother, who kept glaring at her. Her Father low voice yelled in rage. “I can't believe this. You became an escort just because of money, and because I refused to send you abroad to study? How can I face the public if this video had been leaked? Have you forgotten you come from a reputable family?”

“Dad, please believe me. I didn't…”

“Are you saying that we are stupid? There's evidence to what you're being accused of? How could you do such a thing? Sleeping around for money? Have we ever starved you?” The woman beside her father, who happened to be her stepmother, shook her head as she lamented.

Amelia tried to explain again. “Why don't you allow me to explain? I really didn't do…” 

“You still have the guts to lie after the evidence has been brought to your face? You're a disgrace to the Rodriguez's family. Get out of this house this minute, I can't stand having you in the same roof with me” Her Father glowered at her maliciously.

On the other hand, at the staircase landing, Chloe watched the scene and her chin propped on her hand. Everything was going exactly as she planned. In a few minutes, Amelia was going to be thrown out of the house. “She'll have no choice than to wander around like a tramp that she is”.

At the sitting room, Amelia became silent when she saw the disappointing look on her father's face. There was nothing she could say to change his mind. Without saying a word, she rose from the ground where she was kneeling, and walked upstairs to pack her things.

In a few minutes, she was done packing. She was on her way to the sitting room with her luggage when Chloe stepped in front of her with her arms folded around her chest. “Get lost from here. Stop lingering around this house. You're just an eyesore to everyone, you have no place in this house anymore”.

Amelia glowered at her with her fist clenched, while Chloe smirked.

Seeing the annoyance in Amelia's eyes, Chloe took the opportunity to provoke her the more. “What? Why are you staring at me like that? You want to slap me, huh?”. Laughing sarcastically, she turned her cheek to the fuming Amelia and said, “Go ahead, slap her. Try that!”.

Without a second thought, Amelia slapped her hard on the cheek. 

“Ouch…” Chloe winced. “You just hit me. Mom… Dad, Amelia just hit me hard on the cheek when I did nothing to her. Why are you being so mean to me, Amelia? What have I done wrong to you? Why are you treating me like this?” Chloe pitifully cried. She was only trying to get sympathy.

Barbara rushed to her daughter, and hugged her tightly, letting out a pitiful cry. “How dare you hit my daughter, Amelia? What the hell is wrong with you?”

Mr. Davis stared at the red fingerprints on Chloe's cheek. He glared at Amelia, and just couldn't wrap his head around what was going wrong with her. “When did Amelia become infuriatingly rebellious?”

“Dad, I did nothing to her. It hurts so badly” Chloe rushed to him, and hugged him tightly.

“Scram, Amelia! Leave this house, now” Davis roared at Amelia.

With her luggage already packed, Amelia grabbed her stuff, marching out of the sitting room. Seeing her father hugging Chloe made her heart bleed. She knew she had no place in his heart. He held Chloe like he was his precious daughter. Ever since her mother passed away, and her father married Barbara, she became a total outcast in her father's house. Her Father didn't even bother to hear her side of the story. He didn't even want to know the horrible thing that had happened to her that night. All her father cared about was his mistress, Barbara, and his illegitimate daughter, Chloe.

Amelia's mother until she died didn't know that her husband was having extramarital affairs with another woman.

“I will never come back to this hellhole of a house again”.

From the window, Chloe and her mother watched Amelia walk out of the house. They glanced at each other, smiled and high five. “I've finally succeeded in pushing her out of the house”.

*

Five years later, the doorbell of an apartment in Carson rang noisily.

The woman in the apartment dropped the book she was reading, and walked to the door. On opening the door, she saw two men dressed in a corporate attire. “Who are you? Why are you here?”

“We're here to see Miss Amelia Rodriguez” One of them responded.

“Why?” 

“Are you Miss Amelia Rodriguez?” They asked.

“Yes, I am. And you are?” Amelia raised her brows, confused.

“We were asked to look for you. A lady whose life you saved six years ago wants to see you”.

“A lady? Why does she want to see me? And who is she?” Amelia's face countenance changed.

“Madam Margaret Miller” The second man respectfully responded.

On hearing that, she remembered what happened six years ago. She was on her way to school one early morning when she witnessed an accident. The place was deserted, and there was no one to take the wounded woman to the hospital. Even though she was running late for class, she drove the woman to the hospital.

“I'm sorry, but I don't intend to meet Lady Miller” Amelia snapped. She had a feeling that the lady might want to reward her for what had done. She didn't do it to be rewarded.

Then, a tiny voice came from inside the apartment. “Mommy, where are you?”

“I'm right here” Amelia hastily replied. She turned to the men. “I'm not in the mood of entertaining visitors. Please extend my greetings to Lady Miller”.

After saying that, she closed the door.

Meanwhile, back in the country, a heavily built man sat on the couch, and turned to one of the guards. “Have you tracked her? Any leads regarding her whereabouts?”

“Yes, Young Master Richard. The girl from the clubhouse five years ago sold your diamond necklace a few days ago in a pawnshop” The guard bowed.

The man nodded his head, and said. “Find her”.

“Yes, Master”