Costa Crew 3: Make or Break

Chapter 21 - The Endgame

"This'll all look very familiar to you," Amelia commented as she marched Becky through the corridors. "And here we are, Cell Block C. Welcome to the rest of your life."

All colour drained from Becky's face as they entered the cell block and reached the first two cells. Charlotte stood in the cell on her left, Alex in the cell on her right. "A few familiar faces," Amelia continued as they passed Bruce and Clark, Lisa and Maya, then stopped outside Becky's old cell. "You'll be spending your days in here from now on. But for now, we have some business to attend to."

Goodman stared at Becky from the cell opposite. And there was something about seeing the head of MI5 stuck in a prison cell looking utterly defeated. "Mr Goodman…" Becky whispered.

"Keep moving," snarled Anthony from behind her. But the next two cells made Becky stop in her tracks.

"No," she whispered as her face paled, shaking her head in horror.

Linda and Matthew Monroe stared back at her. "Can't have these kids meddling in my mission," Amelia drawled as they passed Hannah and Ted. "All your precious Costa Crew…what the hell?"

Amelia stopped outside two empty cells. "Where the hell is Paul Houston?" she screamed.

Connelly emerged from his office. "He wasn't with them when we rounded them up," he explained. "Samantha called and said there'd been an incident."

Amelia's fist clenched. "Find him," she snapped. "I told you I wanted them all here."

"I'll take care of that," Anthony said.

Amelia nodded. "Good. Now go."

Anthony rushed off as Amelia marched Becky out of Cell Block C. "Now I know you have some fond memories from in here," she smirked as Bradshaw and Turnbull opened the exercise yard.

A shiver ran down Becky's spine as Amelia shoved her forwards towards a chair in the middle of the room. "Take a seat," Amelia said, gesturing to the chair.

Becky shook her head defiantly. "That wasn't a request," snapped Amelia, shoving her down and attaching Becky's handcuffs to the chair. "Tape."

Bradshaw handed Amelia a roll of tape, which she promptly snatched. "This all feels very familiar…" muttered Becky as Amelia strapped her ankles to the chair.

Amelia smirked. "Except this time I've got all your friends locked up and nobody is coming to save you. Much better, I'm sure you'll agree."

Becky rolled her eyes then glared at Amelia. "Do your worst."

Amelia's face split into a maniacal grin. "That's what Lindsey said," she laughed, before wrapping an arm round Becky's throat. "Maybe I should give you the same fate as her. Screaming until your last breath. Until I finally have mercy and end your miserable life."

"And how long did you spend rehearsing that?" asked Becky, rolling her eyes as she tried to struggle against Amelia's grip.

"Don't fight it," Amelia whispered. "Just let it happen."

"Like hell," snapped Becky, now struggling frantically. "You can do whatever the hell you want to me. But I'm never letting you near my friends again."

"I beg to differ," Anthony interrupted. "Look who I found stumbling his way towards the prison to help his little friends."

Amelia looked up and released Becky. "Did poor little Paul get himself shot?" she asked sweetly before turning to Anthony. "Get that wound sorted. This won't be any fun if he bleeds out."

"Let me guess," snarled Paul. "Let me recover then kill me all over again."

"Oh yes," replied Amelia. "In the most heartbreaking way possible."

Amelia pulled out a knife, already stained with blood. An ordinary kitchen knife.

"This look familiar?" she asked, holding the knife at eye level with Becky. "Maybe from your brother's kitchen?"

Becky paled. "No," she whispered.

Amelia sighed. "Your brother. And your best friend. With the same knife. How sad for you. And how beautifully poetic."

As Anthony dragged Paul away, Amelia turned back to Becky. "Now, which of the friends will be the first to die," she mused. "I spent ages and ages trying to find the perfect order, but I just couldn't. After all, everyone in those cells means a lot to you and I know your heart will shatter every time you see one of them die. So I've put all their names in a wheel and we're going to choose at random."

Amelia took out her phone and showed it to Becky. She was open on a wheel of names, which Becky herself had once used several times, such as when they were picking bowling teams for Charlotte's birthday, or trying to decide what restaurant to go to. But now it was filled with the names of everyone trapped in Cell Block C.

Amelia smirked and tapped the wheel. Becky watched it spin, her dread growing every second, knowing that the wheel would stop eventually.

"And we have a winner," Amelia said as the wheel slowed to a halt. Becky's heart plummeted as she looked at the name displayed on screen. Amelia pocketed her phone then knelt down so that she was eye level with Becky. "And would you look at that. It's one of your precious Costa Crew."