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SHE OPENED HER EYES SLOWLY, the dim sunlight from an octangular window spattering down on her. The ground beneath her sore body was considerably uncomfortable, but she couldn't gather the strength to draw herself up from it now.
Her head hammered from its blow against the ground as she reluctantly lingered her eyes throughout the room, half suspecting to see those silhouettes again and her dying best friend. Rather than finding that gruesome scene, she saw disheveled furniture and years of filth piled up in the room. She was back at the Neibolt House. Surely, thathadn't been real. Whatever she had witnessed hadn't been true - if it had been, she wouldn't have awakened back in the house. She'll walk out the door and there will be the three boys - not adults and entirely unharmed.
Right?
In her world of hurt and dismay, she could abruptly hear screams blaring from the corridor and her head lolled in direction of the shut door just as fast. Amelia could feel every throb of her heart pulsating on the cold platform she reclined upon.
"Eddie?! Lia! Fuck, they're buh-buh-both gone!"
She forced herself up from the rubble with her fingers digging into the filth for support. Each breath felt like a blade to her ribs as the world swam. Her ribs and shin ached so badly, but she pulled herself to her feet despite it. She had to get out from there. Her heart throbbed in panic as she stood up against the raw, damp wood.
"This is your fault, just to let you know. You dragged two of the most thoughtless people into a fucking crack house, Bill."
"S-Shut u-up, Richie."
Amelia clambered for the doorknob with awkward plods, urgent to leave that forsaken room as their voices seemed near to the door, "Hey! Hey!"
The pain from her shin throbbed throughout her leg as she thrusts her fists against the still jammed door. This pain was profound and heated, stirring more discomfort in her tense chest. It feels like someone has their hand around her shin and was squeezing it as strong as they can. She can maintain poised breaths while jiggling the doorknob frantically, attempting to provoke their attention on the door, rather than bickering endlessly around in the corridor.
"Eddie! Bill! Richie!"
Each second seemed to last an eternity as she waited for a joggle of the doorknob on the opposite side or either of their voices to come bounding through the door. Her breathing became more rapid, more shallow as quietness passed outside the door. Amelia felt the fright rise like a cluster of sparks in the pit of her stomach. Tension spread in her expression and quivering limbs, her mind replaying what had transpired before she went unconscious.
