The War.

Chapter 32: Hurt.

TW MENTIONS OF ABUSE, BULLYING, VIOLENCE, BODY SHAMING AND R*GER

do not come for me please.

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"So what now?" Reece asked, glancing at Mia.

"I want to kill him," Mia said, her voice low and intense.

"Not yet. We need to have some fun first," he replied with a smirk.

Mia chuckled, a dark glint in her eyes. "We do."

"Please... don't..." Roger interjected, his voice tired and pleading, a stark contrast to the tension in the room.

"Does he think we care?" Mia shot back, turning to Reece.

"Whatever he thinks, it doesn't matter now, does it?" Reece joked, his demeanor light, even in the heavy atmosphere.

"Where's Autumn?" Mia asked, her gaze darting around the room.

"Uh... I don't know?" Reece shrugged, feigning ignorance.

Meanwhile, Autumn was in her room, staring out the window as the sun struggled to rise through thick clouds. She often found herself awake before dawn, part of the trio that was always on high alert. Sleep had become a luxury they couldn't afford.

Autumn came down a bit later, sitting on the staircase as she watched her brother and the woman she had seen as an older sister, or even a parental figure, torture her father—the man who had caused her so much pain, who had hurt Reece, and who had inflicted suffering on Mia. A satisfied look crossed her face.

"Why don't you try, Autumn?" Mia asked, turning to face her.

Autumn stood up, grabbing an arrow, ready to fire it. But then, Roger's words flooded her mind:

"You are worthless. You are nothing. You will always be nothing."

Her heart raced as she recognized the look on his face—disgust, power. It was the same look he had always given her. The weight of his words threatened to crush her resolve, and she hesitated, the arrow trembling in her hand.

She suddenly dropped the arrow, her hand shaking as she sprinted out of the basement. Mia and Reece exchanged confused glances, both stunned by her sudden change. What the fuck was that?

"Mia, you continue on here. I'm gonna go check on her," Reece said, his voice steady but urgent.

"Sure," Mia replied, her tone a mix of excitement and concern. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that Autumn was wrestling with more than just the moment.

Reece stepped into the living room, his heart pounding. "Aut?" he called out, searching for her among the shadows. He found her sitting on the couch, breathing heavily, her face pale and eyes wide.

"What," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "What's wrong?" he asked, settling down beside her, concern etched across his face. "I can't do it. I can't," she admitted, her gaze fixed on the floor, the weight of her words pressing down on her like a heavy shroud.

"Why not?" he pressed gently, trying to encourage her to open up. "I..." Autumn hesitated, searching for the right words, but her mind felt clouded with fear and doubt.