Broken Innocence

19. The final chapter

Reece walks up the stairs to the run down apartment building, stopping in front of the 5th door.

His fists clench as he's met with the face that caused this rage inside of him. A rage like none other.

"Reece? What ya doing here, mate? Bouta pick up ya sister soon" he smiles. He has the nerve to smile about this?

"You're not going anywhere near her!" He grits his teeth, reframing himself from punching him right then and there,
"What you on about mate? . Now look here-"
"I am not your mate! You're a perverted creep!" Reece swung for the older man, hitting him right across the face. 

Reece grabbed ahold of his collar and dragged him out into the hallway, right above the stairs.
"You ever even think about going near my sister or any other girl again, I will end you" the blond spits before releasing Kenny, throwing him down the stairs.

The man tumbled his way to the bottom of the stairway, where Reece soon met him. He stood over his shaking body, and leaned over slightly to his ear,
"You're sick"

...

Reece walked up to the front door of his house, furrowing his brows at the crumpled and rotting flowers laid on the doorstep. He picked them just as the door opened, revealing a smiling autumn dressed beautifully in her prom dress.

When the brunette saw her brother standing there, a smile across his face, the world seemed to stop.

Reece watched his sisters world crumble in front of them as her smile drops.
"Aut-" he begins
"No" the girl takes a step back, did Reece orchestrate this whole night? No. No. Reece wouldn't do that "No. No" no. It couldn't be. Reece wouldn't do that to her, right? He's her brother. Her best friend.
"Autumn"
"No!" The girl shook her head frantically as she backed herself further into the house before running up the stairs.

...

Mia and Roger were in the kitchen when they heard Autumn's shouts. A small smile tugged at Roger's lips as his plan was finally in motion. By the end of the day his children's relationship would be fractured beyond repair. Never be the same again.

Together, Reece and Autumn were strong. They had the power to overtake Roger, his authority and all he has worked for. If they wanted, if they tried, Roger would be left with nothing.

"You say exactly what I told you too. You know what you have to do" Mia tried to fight the tears from falling,
"Please don't make me do this" she shook her head. Roger pulled her closer by her wrist, his teeth gritted.
"You will do this Amelia. Or you loose everything"

"If I do this, I loose everything anyway"
"People are just people, Amelia. Money is what makes you truly happy. Money is what counts. And you can have it all" Roger released the girl "get yourself together! Your job is to keep my children apart and you will do what I say. Now go"

Mia left the room. She hated herself. She knew she couldn't handle this. She couldn't be responsible for ruining Reece and Autumn's lives.

Mia heard the door slam shut from upstairs, and looked at Reece. He stood with a heartbroken expression as he dropped the flowers to the floor.

"Reecey?"
"Mia, I, uh" Mia was killing herself inside. What she had to do next, would not only destroy her. But destroy her best friends in the world.
"You did this? You tricked Aut?"
"No! No Mia I promise I wouldn't do that!"

Of course Autumn and Reece would play pranks on each other, that was just their sibling dynamic. But would Reece really go that far? Is that what everything thought of him?

"No Mia it wasn't that kid who left the note in Aut's locker. It was Kenny. Kenny Killerman. He's a creep Mia he asked Aut out you have to believe me"
"I do. But what's with the flowers?"
"They were here when I got home"

Mia knew Roger put the flowers on the doorstep. She watched him do it. Just as she knew Reece had went to Kenny Killerman's.

She wasn't sure why or what he had done to the older man, but she knew he was there.

...

Reece had told Mia everything that happened before the girl made her way upstairs to Autumn.

Mia leaned her back against the head board while stroking Autumn's long brunette hair. She buried her tear stained face into the other girl and cried softly. Slowly falling asleep.

Once Mia laid the girl down to rest, she couldn't help but notice the sleeve of her hoodie pulled up a little. Showing the scars painted across the girls pale skin. Autumn...

Mia made her way to Reece's room.
"Mia" the teen hugged her tightly. But when he pulled away he was met with a heartless expression.
"You can't tell anyone what happened tonight Reecey. If they find out, you'll be arrested. Do you really want that? To leave Autumn alone in this house with Roger?" The blond shook his head. "Then you keep quiet, okay?"

"What about Autumn? She hates me Mia. She thinks I did this"
"That's how it has to be. It's better than her knowing the truth right? That someone would try to hurt her like that. Look at her like that"
"No, no, Mia. I can't live like this. I can't live with her hating me"
"Give her time Reecey. It will be okay"

Mia placed a kiss on the boys lips. Now she had to 'set her place' she had to make Reece want her. Not Autumn.

'It's all for them, Mia. You have to protect them'

...

A week has passed. A whole week of pure misery. Autumn didn't leave her room once. Mia had been in a few times, conditioning the girl to believe that her brother truly wanted to hurt her. That it was all a prank.

Reece however, was desperate to talk to his little sister. Yet he stayed away. Mia had told him she couldn't look at him and needed more time.

Roger had taken a liking to the newfound silence and tension haunting the halls.

Mia however, was crumbling. As much as she loved Reece, this relationship was all for the wrong reasons. At first it was pure sweet love. Now it was lies and unsatisfactory raw attraction. Everyday she woke up in agony, not knowing how much longer she could continue. Every night she would beg to be taken in her sleep to escape what had become normality. Everyday was just pain and misery.

Tonight Reece was staying at a friend's house, Mia had taken a few bottles from the basement to drown her sorrows.

She stumbled along the path way overlooking the beach. What mysteries the sea held, full of secrets and danger yet such beauty lies on top. Concealing the depths of what lies beneath.

The girl slid down the wall, the empty bottle in her hand. Mia pulled her knees up to her chest as she let the tears fell.

This is it. This is the final chapter. The letters are sealed in envelopes, the names of her most loved ones all handwritten on the paper. Laid neatly on her bed for them to find.

After tonight, there would be no more pain. No more suffering. She'll be free. Finally Free-

"Amelia?"

Mia looked up at the woman in front of her, it may be the drink going to her head or her blurred vision but she did not recognise this woman.

"Do I know you?" The woman laughs a little high pitched giggle.
"You may not know me, but I know you" she smiles. Huh?

"We went to school together silly" she continued yet Mia was still confused. Although in all honesty, she didn't really care. She just wanted to go.

"You look like you need some help. Can I take you home?"
"Don't have one"
"You can stay with me?" The girl reaches her hand out for Mia to take.
"I don't even know you"

"Oh, silly me. I'm Deliah"