She's not afraid (One Direction/Selena Gomez)

chapter 17

I stand, staring, feeling naked and all alone in the room full of men. I can hear the drops of blood drip onto the plastic cover with as much a sound as the man's hushed agony. My hands are squeezing the small bottles as if it would stop the haunting noise and lessen my guilt.

"Baby girl, just so you know. You'll have to do it sooner or later." My dad woke me from my taunting thoughts.

I corrected my mask covering my hurt, and look straight into my father's intimidating honey brown eyes, then mumble: "So, if I don't kill him now. I'll have to torture and kill somebody else than?"

"Yes. Juliet you are Montague and it is crucial for you to be able to kill and defend yourself. I know that females in our world don't do stuff like that, but your situation is a little different." My grandfather explained in soft tone.

I nod, because I heard him but I don't understand the expectation, which they held for me. Slowly I turn my head to the side, glancing at the unconscious man. I take my bottom lip between my teeth, and gaze back at my dad: "I'm sorry but I can't kill him." Seeing his expression fade in disappointment, causes my heart to sank. I look down, because I can't bear to see how much of a failure I am to him.

My father clears his throat and speaks: "Styles, Malik and Juliet to my office, the rest of you take care of this and then join us."

He and my grandfather begin to walk towards the office. I put on the floor small bottles, before hesitantly follow them, attempting to swallow my tears and switch on my happy side. Murmurs fill the silence and somehow slacken the tension. Only now I feel presence of Zayn and Harry but a mere step behind me.

In the moment I take a step into the office I hear single gunshot, it cracked in the air as loud as a thunder, stopping my step, heart and breath. The echo of it was straight away replaced by low voices of men. I inhale deeply, rekindle my positivity and walk further into the earthy colored office.

My dad and grandfather turned to me. I fold my hands before my body, glancing around, careful not to make eye contact with any of them. Harry's and Zayn's radiant heat of their bodies, gave me great comfort. With new found courage and sharp thoughts, I look at my father, though keep my voice weak: "Daddy are you mad at me?"

Dad sighs heavily after watching me for a few moments. "No Juliet I'm not mad. I'm just a little disappointed, that's all."

"Well I'm proud of you Juliet!" Grandfather quickly stated. My widened eyes snap to him: "Really?" Smile crawling into my face.

He chuckles: "Really Juliet. I mean for your first time you did amazing! The way you talked to him," he shakes his head, the dark brown in his eyes shines with warmth and admiration, "smiled at him...if that would be me, I would rip your head off just to make you stop smiling and being polite. Not to mention he fainted, and you didn't even throw a punch at him. Boys usually beat the shit out of those people. But you Juliet...that was impressive."

My heart swelled at his words, as my smile grows: "Thank you grandpa."

He pats my arm gently, briefly gazes to my dad, before looking back at me: "Juliet, don't worry about your father. He just needs to realize that this whole thing is new to you. It was easier for us, because we were raised in this world. We watched our fathers doing this since we could remember. So he'll come around, beside you got some serious talent." He pauses for a second before announces, "you'll do just fine, I'm sure of that."

My dad paid no mind to grandfather's words, as he narrows his eyes at me and bitterly questions: "Juliet? Why didn't you stick with instructions that I gave you?"

"Because dad...I need to know what's going on. Beside he clearly didn't know where they're hiding. And I thought that maybe we might find something useful at his hiding spot. Don't you think that?" I said with mock-politeness, giving him a bit of attitude.