Amber

03| turned tables

The question makes my blood run cold, but the audience cheers in delight. Collin smiles, but it isn't genuine. His eyes twinkle as he waits for my response. He had set me up. I had a feeling he would. And here I am, sitting on the chair, nothing but a pawn in his game.

Turning my paper around, I read my dare. 'Jump in the pool of ice' it says, but as I peer around the room, there is no pool of ice. Everyone is waiting for my response. My smile has faded, but no emotion has replaced it.

Even I am surprised when my voice is collected. "There is no pool of ice." As Collin eyes me, he feigns confusion. 'Wonderful performance,' I wanted to say, but my exhaustion gets the best of me and all I can do is yawn. "My dare," I sigh, playing along as if I didn't know. But how could I not? They have not only left me till last, but they have also asked me a sensitive question about my adopted family. Who else could they have written it down for? Sophia?

I try not to laugh as I remember his words, 'Random cards'. Shaking my head in amusement, my attention shifts to Collin as his mouth opens and he speaks, "Ah, right!" And as scripted as it was, a crew-mate comes from behind the scenes, two buckets of ice in his hand. Following behind him was another man who was carrying an inflatable pool that was already blown up.

When the crowd realizes I'm not going to answer the question, they start complaining in displeasure. I do my best to drown their voices out, but it's too loud to be ignored and I am left to sit here and endure it. The Petersons' penetrating gazes are concentrated on me, but I look everywhere but at them. As I hear the crowd criticize me, my eyes well up with tears.

When I realize the mistake I've made, I shut my eyes in annoyance. Annoyance at myself for being stupid. Annoyance at myself for being so naïve. How selfish am I? The Petersons should at least demand something in return for what they've done for me. But all I bring to their name is humiliation and disgrace. It's too late to change my choice now and I find myself walking over to the pool of ice.

"What an ungrateful girl!" I hear a woman yell in the crowd and I bite back the accepting response that claws at my throat.

Doing the very best I can to compose myself, I peer down at the ice in the pool that the crewmates set up when they came on stage. I shudder when I see how cold it is and immediately start to regret my decision, seeing as it was mid October.

Though I don't want to get in the pool, I can't help but believe this is what I deserve for my lack of gratitude. And so I jump.

I had expected the ice to be cold, but this is worse. . My skin is aching from the cold, and I'm eager to get out. My limbs become numb, preventing me from trying to get out of the water.

"Amber!" It was Sophia running up to me. I expect the Petersons to be mad at me, but all I see is their worried faces. "You have to get out now, Amber," she urges me. "I-I," My teeth are chattering from the cold, but it's the only way I can tell her I'm numb. "Take my hand, Amber."

I take my trembling cold hand and place it in her warm ones, as she instructs. "You're okay," she assures me as she lifts me out. I'm shaking, but I still look around the room to observe my surroundings. I notice that the audience's anger has been diverted; they mercilessly berate Collin, as Lucas shouts in his face. Lucas is backing Collin into a corner, not attempting to mask his rage. I want to tell him to stop, but my body is still throbbing, so I just watch.

"She's a child! A young child! Were you trying to kill her?" This time it's a man's yell that is dominant in the room. The shock written on Collin's face is priceless. "I didn't expect her to-"

He tries to defend himself but the audience shuts him up, screaming at him louder than before.

"Amber," Sophia's gentle voice takes my attention off the noise around me. "You're still shaking."

Picking up on the fact that I don't understand, she elaborates, "Hypothermia." 

thank you so much for reading and I'm sorry if this chapter was poorly written. i couldn't find the words to write but i also couldn't go without updating after you guys got me to 400 reads. thank you so much btw <333

i posted an announcement a couple days ago to let you guys know that i changed the last sentence in the previous chapter. 

i promise the next chapter isn't going to take this long to come.