ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴅᴇꜱɪʀᴇꜱ

Chapter 16

Amelia

I woke up with a throbbing pain in my head. I felt drained. Memories of the previous night began to flood one after the other. He was not in the bed beside me. I mean, why would he stay? Not that he particularly cares about me.

I mentally slapped myself when I remembered how vulnerable I was in front of him. But it's easy to talk now that I'm better. Yesterday I felt really broken and exhausted. The fever was breaking me.

I was showering when I remembered how he also let his guard down, but I believe that I won't have the chance to see Sebastian like that anytime soon.

After I got dressed, I picked up the phone to call Gabriel. I had countless missed calls from him and Brooke.

He didn't even wait to ring a couple of times, when his hurried and worried voice tore at me.

"Are you okay Amelia? Where are you? I've been looking for you-"

"Gabriel, stop. Everything is okay. I'm fine. Don't worry."

As if he didn't hear my words, he continued to rant again.

"Where are you? I was looking for you in the apartment and I didn't find you. I was scared when I saw that you didn't come to work. You always call. Always. I was worried that something had happened to you."

I scratched my head, trying to think of something, since I hadn't done it before calling him.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I haven't been myself lately. I had to go away for a few days to clear my head so I wouldn't go all nuts."

I felt terrible that I had to lie to him.

"Ams, you scared me. A lot. I thought about looking for you all over the cizy on my motorcycle. You already know how you scared the crap out of me that time he took you-"

I didn't let him finish his sentence, because ugly memories started to flood me with astronomical speed and everything seemed so real and not so distant in the past.

"I know, please don't mention it. I'm begging you. Actually. . ."

The gnawing conscience began to creep deeper and deeper into my bones. I lied to Gabriel, a man, a friend who was always there for me. Who knows everything about me and still stayed by my side. Without judging and felling pity. That's why I felt physical pain, while lying to him about the man who is the cause of all my suffering.

"Actually, I had a encounter with William recently. It shook me up too much. I had to lay low for a few days. I hope you understand."

He was silent for a few moments, obviously affected by what he heard.

"Amelia, why didn't you tell me? I would be by your side. Where are you now, I'll leave everything and I can get to you right away?"

Without much thought, I blurted out the words.

"I am in a cabin in the woods. Actually, I don't have a reception here, but I went to a nearby village to call you, so don't be surprised if I don't answer your call again... Thank you, really. But I need time to be alone. I'll be back in a few days. OK?"

I heard a sigh as if he wanted to say something, but he just muttered a quiet "okay".

Trying to lighten up the situation, I tried to make a joke.

"Did I hear correctly that you have a motorcycle? Since when?"

"There's a lot you still don't know about me."

He said in a slightly lighter voice with a hint of playfulness.

"You'll have to give me a ride when I get back, sir."