The drive to Aemilia's house was quiet. When they arrived, she asked Noemi to wait in the car while she ran inside to grab what she needed.
Aemilia moved quickly, wanting to get back as soon as possible. After gathering everything, she rushed downstairs with her gym bag, scanning the house for any sign of life.
She quickly peeked outside to make sure Noemi hadn't stolen her car. Seeing it still parked outside, she grabbed some cookies to thank her, though she wouldn't say that out loud.
Looking around once again, her house greeted her with silence, just as expected. Her parents still weren't home. They only showed up for special occasions or when they wanted to argue in private. Usually, her mom would pull some excuse, tricking her dad into coming home.
Aemilia grabbed her things, headed out the door, and jumped back into the car. Tossing her bag in the back seat, she handed Noemi the Oreos she'd grabbed.
Pulling out of the driveway, Aemilia drove toward the rink. The car ride was filled with music and silent humming. About 20 minutes later, she parked in front of the familiar building she once loved so much.
The ride was mostly quiet, and Noemi finally spoke up when they came to a stop.
"Big Jo's Rink?" she asked, giggling like she was sharing some inside joke, tossing her fiery ginger hair over her shoulder.
"Yes, I figure skate. Though I'm not sure how well I'll do with one eye," Aemilia joked. But when Noemi didn't reply, Aemilia glanced over at her.
The ginger's face was filled with worry, and Aemilia couldn't help but laugh softly at the thought of someone actually caring about her.
"I'll be fine," she reassured Noemi, grabbing her bag and opening the door. "Let's go."
They headed inside, and as Aemilia signed in, she told Noemi she could wait for her by the rink and to grab a coat from the guest racks so she wouldn't freeze to death.
After they parted ways, Aemilia made her way to the locker rooms. Her breathing slowed as she remembered the scene that had almost taken her sight—and her life. She stepped inside, looking around at the girls laughing and changing, but suddenly the noise and the memories became too overwhelming.
She sank down onto the floor next to her old locker, pulling her knees to her chest as tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to breathe deeply, willing herself to calm down.
Guess the trauma's still here? she thought. She hadn't noticed before.
Without thinking, her fingertips traced the scar on her stomach, left by Aloere. For the second time that day, flashbacks of that night flooded her mind.
A laughing Aloere slowly approached me, a jagged piece of glass in her hand, telling the men to move aside—except for the ones holding me down.
She leaned in, gripping my shoulder tightly, and pressed the glass against my bare stomach, pushing it into my skin. I watched as her hand bled profusely from how hard she was gripping the glass.
With nothing else left to do, I spit in her face, and a wide, mocking smile spread across her lips.
Disgusting.
Trying to squirm only made it worse, the glass sinking deeper into my flesh. I winced, realizing that I was causing myself more pain by struggling. I had no choice but to stop moving—it was getting me nowhere.
Aloere grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes, before turning to the others and instructing them to hold me still. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks, burning against my stinging skin as she walked away. I could hear the sound of her rummaging through bags.
YOU ARE READING
The Blind Deception
Mystery / Thriller"Please..." she began to beg though she didn't know if she was pleading for him to stop or keep going "Please what, amore mio, tell me what is it" he said in a mocking tone, a smirk played its way to his face. His fingers moved at a dangerous pace n...
