The Collar of Sacrifice

  We stop after two sets of stairs and then wait until we hear an elevator’s ping. The lift takes us up to the top and as soon as the doors open, the crisp London breeze brings the dread closer.

  “Mark, you see the ledge over there? Take her to the very end and tie her down. Then make sure you take her hood off. I want him to see her before she dies.”

  Die?

  With my heart thrumming like that of a scared bird, I’m taken down a path where the wind is stronger. I feel helpless. I dare not move, everything is about balance in here. The fear helps – it completely freezes me over. After I’m tied down, Mark takes my hood off. My hair is blowing in the wind; I know exactly where I am and I dare not look down.

  I see Madison tie Alexander’s father on the opposite ledge and take his hood off. Surprised at his whereabouts he panics and just as fast he loses balance. Madison grabs him and steadies him on the ledge and, once she’s sure he’s fine, she retreats back, into the safe zone, leaving him out in the open.

  “What are you going to do, Madison?” I’m terrified, but I must keep talking. For my sanity.

  “He’s here,” Mark says, covering the mouthpiece on his phone while Madison smiles ominously.

  “Perfect. Tell him to come upstairs.”

  They’re both ready. Mark stands by the elevator expecting Alexander to come and Madison has her gun firmly in her hand. She knows his wrath when he’s mad.

  “Madison!!! Where’s Amelia?” Enraged, Alexander growls but Mark doesn’t let him say another word. He catches him off guard. A balled fist makes contact with his stomach, smashing his entrails together like a rogue freight train. His diaphragm collapses under the force the fist packed behind it. His breath instantly leaves him for dead as his knees buckle from the force of the blow; his crumpled body hits the ground, gasping for air. Everything happens in front of my eyes, resulting in fire running through every fiber of my body, and tasting bile.

  “Alexander!!” I scream; I want him to know I’m here. I’m okay.

  “We were expecting you, Alexander,” Madison leers from above.

  “Fuck you!” The second breath he takes is to curse at her. He’ll never learn.

  “Easy there, dude, you’ll get your girl,” Mark says, pointing a gun at him. “We had to make sure you’d behave. Now, up on your feet!”

  “Amelia!” Seeing me, he smiles through his pain with so much confidence; I have no idea where he gets it. “Baby, I promise you, everything will be all right.”

  “Did you bring it?” Madison cuts him off.

  “Do you think I’m stupid? Let Amelia go, and I’ll bring you the chip.”

  “Are you stupid? You obviously want her to die.” Madison aims her gun at my leg and shoots. Just like that.

  “NO!!”

  His voice is all I hear and…it’s like nothing else exists. No sound, no weight, no adrenaline. Just a million razor blades exploring my leg, below the knee, taking their time, being thorough. The pain cuts through my leg and I fall down instantly, it feels hot, like on fire. No - not fire. Fire is quenchable. It’s as hot as the sun, everlasting and horrible. The pain somewhat disables my vital organs and my brain is unable to concentrate.

  “No!! Madison, don’t!” I hear Alexander’s fraught voice crying again. “Look, it’s down by the entrance. Let me go and get it, please!”

  “Ha! You really think we’re that stupid, Alexander? We know everything, darling! Where you’ve been, what you had for breakfast, and who you talked to before coming here.”

  “Madison, I beg you…”

  “We know you spoke with the CIA,” she continues, ignoring his pleas.

  “Only to keep them off track. You know they’re after the chip, too.”

  Mark’s cell rings, interrupting Madison, and they look at each other as he answers the phone.

  “Yes. Do we have the chip?” Madison nods with her head. “Yes, yes we do have it. We’ll be downstairs in a minute,” Mark replies.

  “Where is the chip, Alexander? And no more lies because your precious girlfriend will see the bottom of the Thames before you have time to say jump, I swear to you!” Madison growls through her teeth.

  “It’s downstairs, by the elevators. I stuck it there with a piece of chewing gum, under the stairs,” he says in one breath.

  “Mark, go and get it,” she orders.

  “Me? Mr. Yao is downstairs; I don’t want to end up like Vlad! You go get it!”

  “Don’t be such a pussy! Just get the chip and give it to him. How hard can it be?”

  “What if he’s lying? What if the chip isn’t there?”

  “Then you’ll call me and I’ll make sure he tells the truth.”

  “No way! You come with me!”

  “Mark, we can’t leave them here, you know that.”

  “Why not? By the time he unties them we’ll be long gone.”

  “Ugh,” she rolls her eyes. “No witnesses, remember?”

  “Then we’ll come and kill them. They can’t go anywhere; this is the only way out.”

  “Fuck, Mark!” Annoyed at being without any other options, she growls. “You are such a pussy!!” she turns to Alexander, “If you’re lying, you’re all going to die, Alexander. A slow and painful death.”

  Madison and Mark head straight into the elevator while Alexander runs to me and starts untying me. I lay my freed hand across the wound in hopes of stopping the mind shattering pain, but I feel the blood trickling over my fingers and it’s even more distressing. He grabs my face in his palms and he finds my lips, kissing me as he sheds tears of anguish and remorse.

  “I’m sorry …I’m so sorry, Amelia.”

  He looks at my bleeding wound; what he can’t see, the pain, is tearing me up inside.

  “Fuck! Let me see.”

  “No, no, it hurts…” I feel lightheaded, all the fear I kept at bay during the day, upon seeing Alexander, is released and it’s overwhelming. Together with my shot leg, I must be dying.

  “Amelia, let me.”

  I think I see people in uniform behind him before my body decides to shut everything out. The sound, the vision, the smell… I black out soon after.

  CHAPTER 7

  I become aware of sounds first. The obnoxious ticking of the clock and the intimidating machinery surrounding me. I blink, opening my eyes, cringing from the light. Wires hang from shiny, cold rods as the machine's light flickers off and on with the turn of a knob. The walls, painted a sterile white, seem to close in on me.

  As my eyes begin to focus more clearly and get used to the stark glaring light, I realize I'm in a hospital.

  I look down at my body, my left leg is covered in bandages. I feel sore, everything hurts. The scene rushes back to my mind. Alexander being hit, Madison shooting at me point blank, his father...the monitor goes off beside my bed, and I realize my heart is pounding with the memory, and tears have started falling from my eyes.

  “She’s awake!” someone exclaims. I see four people rush to my side. My eyes hop from one to another but I don’t recognize anyone.

  “Miss Jones, can you hear me?” “Miss Jones…” “Can you talk?”

  Distressed, I turn my head sideways. And that’s when I see him. I hear it in the monitor, too, my heart easing off. Alexander sits on my bed and gently wipes my tears with the back of his hand. He holds my hands firmly in his.

  Suddenly, all the emotions from yesterday, everything I went through, spills over and I cannot hold it in me anymore. I start sobbing.

  It hurts when I do but with him next to me, I want to cry. I’m not capable of holding onto so much pain, so much angst, sadness. How he’s been living with it for so long I don’t understand.

  “Amelia, don’t cry, please,” he whispers. “It’s over now.”

  I can’t stop; I cry louder; I want it all out.

  “Shhhh, baby. You’re safe. You’re with me now.” He holds my face in his hands and leans his forehead on mine.

  “I was alone... I was all alone,
” I blubber through my tears.

  “Not anymore.”

  “What happened?” I ask, although I remember perfectly. I need someone to confirm it. “Did you get them? Did you get Madison?”

  “She got away,” someone from the crowd answers and I see Alexander’s teeth clench, his jaw line clearly defined.

  “Wh-what?” I whisper and lift my head searching for the voice; I know it. “Who said that?”

  “It was me, Miss Jones,” Jamie, the doctor who saw my black eye at Alexander’s house, replied.

  “For fuck’s sake!” Alexander mumbles.

  “Is that true, Alexander?”

  “Yes, Amelia. But you have nothing to worry about anymore. These people,” he points with his head, “They’re here to keep you, us, safe. They’re from the States; they’re the CIA.”

  “My nephews!” Suddenly I gasp and sit up, pulling with me all the drip wires connected to my body. The monitor goes crazy, beeping and prompting three nurses to run inside. The men standing next to me half crouch and everyone pulls out a gun.

  “Easy everyone, take it easy!” Alexander shouts. “Christian, is all this necessary?”

  “You know it is.” The man talking looks at me. “I’m sorry, ma’am, we haven’t been introduced. Christian Davies, Head of Espionage at the CIA.”

  Espionage? I read Jack’s letter. I should know, but still, it’s terrifying. My life is not a crime novel.

  “Where are the boys, Alexander?”

  “They’re fine, Amelia. Mrs. Saunders and Quinn are with them. They’ve been taken care of. Please don’t worry.”

  I exhale a breath full of apprehension and lie back on my bed. One nurse stayed and is now fixing my drips carefully.

  “You need to rest, Miss Jones,” she says quietly. “Having all these people in here adds to your stress.”

  “Mr. Davies, did you get the chip?” I ask, not paying attention to the nurse. Alexander and Mr. Davies look at each other puzzled.

  “Amelia, how do you know about the chip?” Alexander is first to ask.

  “We did. We apprehended everyone in the gang, but unfortunately, Madison Cole got away,” Christian Davies replies.

  “And your father, Alexander?” I regard him now.

  “My father? Amelia, whatever he told you…”

  “I read Jack’s will, Alexander!” My voice is shaky, but nevertheless I raise it. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why?” My vocal cords failing me as I see him taking a step back. Why is he so damn afraid to face it? “I love you! I’ll be your wife soon. You could have shared your pain. That’s what I’m here for!”

  “Did you talk to my father?” his eyebrows knit, already closed off.

  “I did. But it’s you he wants to talk to.”

  He rakes his hands thought his wild hair, a sign that he’s nervous. “I know. I’m meeting him tomorrow.”

  ~

  Mr. Davies, the Head of Espionage, arranged for me to be sent home early, even though the operation they did on me to remove the bullet required me to stay for at least three days in the hospital. Only because Alexander insisted on it, he thinks all this is over and I’m needed at home, with my nephews. But until they have Madison in their custody, nothing is over and we both know it.

  They’ll have people outside my house, looking after me, he said. I hope they know they’ll have to look out for Thomas, too. With Thomas, you never know anything.

  Michael and Jason haven’t seen me for nearly two days. I’m not sure if they believe the lies we told them, i.e., I fell down and broke my leg. The ambulance took me and on the way my phone was lost. I had to stay one night in hospital. I’ve said it before but I must say it again – thank god Mrs. Saunders is with us. Or else, what? Who’d look after Michael and Jason? Thomas? I dread to think of that scenario.

  “Michael, Jason!” I exclaim as they open the front door but my frail voice can only take me so far. Mrs. Saunders is behind them, her eyes red and puffy. She’s been crying. “Help me inside, boys.”

  “Aunt Lia, hold on to us!” They both embrace me and take my crutches away. “You shouldn’t wear high heels. You might fall down again and break the other leg.” Jason is worried.

  I glance at Alexander, standing next to Her Majesty and waiting for my signal. I know he wants to be with me. He’s still hurting, his eyes betray him. Jack’s will opened a long forgotten wound. It didn’t help him find closure at all. If only he could find a way to accept what happened, the truth, or else he’ll never be free. Trapped inside memories that taunt him forever. Who wants that? And now that Max is away, he’s all alone. Yes, Quinn is with him, but he needs me.

  I wave to Alexander behind Michael’s back and, standing tall and proud, he gets in the car.

  “You’re right, Michael. No more high heels for me.”

  “Amelia, I’m so happy you’re okay.” Mrs. Saunders sniffles and wipes her nose with a white handkerchief. Something is not right. She wouldn’t cry in a moment like this. She is my pillar and right now, my pillar is unsteady. I’m confused.

  “Come on in, let me close the door for you,” she says and beckons us inside.

  ~

  I’m being treated like a queen in my own home, being waited on hand and foot by my nephews all evening. I see that they’re tired now but still, they don’t give up. They’ll do anything to see me comfortable.

  With a few pillows under my head I’m in my study, lying on the sofa. The telly is on, there’s hot soup on the coffee table, and Michael and Jason are snuggled under my cover. We’re watching movies just like when they were little, all of us in one bed.

  “Hey, psst..” I try to wake them. They need to head upstairs to bed. Tomorrow is Monday, a school day.

  “Let me sleep here tonight,” Jason sleepily objects.

  “There isn’t enough space for all of us and you need to be rested for school. Up. Up! Both of you.”

  Mrs. Saunders has been avoiding me all afternoon, or maybe she gave me time to be with the boys. I’m not sure which one is true but as she walks in I see she’s been crying again. I look at her and crook my head. I need to know; what’s going on with her?

  “Michael, Jason, come on sweethearts. Please, get up. I need some privacy too,” I say firmly. They recognize that tone and respond. Sluggishly they get up and head upstairs.

  “Good night boys.”

  “Good night, aunt Lia.”

  The moment we’re alone I have Mrs. Saunders running to me with open arms and sobbing into my embrace.

  “I’m so sorry, Amelia.”

  “What is it, Mrs. Saunders? Why are you crying?”

  She doesn’t let me go until all of her tears have been let out. And then, with puffy eyes she sits on the sofa next to me and takes my hand in hers.

  “I feel like I’m letting you down when you most need me.”

  “You’ve never let me down, Mrs. Saunders. What are you talking about?”

  “Amelia, I’m old. I’ve lived with so much regret in my life. I want to use whatever time I have left with Albert.”

  “Of course you do! Anyone would. And I’m happy for you!” Relieved, I exclaim. “God, you don’t know how happy I am for you!”

  “Therefore,” she takes a deep breath and exhales, “I want to give you my notice, but I don’t even know what that means. I always intended to stay with you and now…now I want something different. And it kills me that I’m failing you. You have nobody here.”

  “Mrs. Saunders, you’ve never once failed me. You practically raised the boys in the past three years. And I will cherish those memories forever. Go, and live your life. Don’t worry about me. I’m already living mine. Alexander and I will go to San Francisco by the end of the year, and I won’t be alone there. I’ll be with Alexander, and my mother will be close, too. You won’t have to feel guilty. Nothing makes me happier than knowing you’ve found your peace.”

  “Amelia, you’re such an amazing woman.” She wipes her tears with the back of her hand. “Ale
xander is so lucky to have you.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Saunders.” We embrace; the love and respect we have for each other is the same as the one between a mother and daughter. I love her like I love my mother and I’ll miss her terribly. “Do you have a date in mind?”

  “End of the year. But if you need me to stay longer, I will.”

  “No, Mrs. Saunders. That works for us too. We’ll be in San Francisco by Christmas.”

  ~

  The ringing of my cell wakes me up and I realize it’s daylight already. The time on the wall shows eleven in the morning; I’ve slept through the night.

  I didn’t even hear the boys getting ready for school. Bless her, Mrs. Saunders let me sleep, diverting any traffic from my study.

  “Yes?” I answer with a croaky voice.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “Still sleeping?”

  “Not anymore.” I yawn. I wonder why he hasn’t called sooner to wake me up. “God, it’s eleven o’clock.”

  “Yes, nearly time for lunch.” And to meet his father.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Come with me.” It feels as if he’s holding his breath, waiting for my answer. What do I say? Should I not let them make up?

  “Are you sure you want me there? I’m on crutches, remember?”

  “I don’t want to let you out of my sight. Ever.”

  “Okay,” I sigh. “We’ll go together.”

  “I’m outside your house already.”

  “Why didn’t you knock on the door? Mrs. Saunders would have let you in.”

  “You needed to spend time with your nephews. And I only arrived at six o’clock. Mr. Davies is keeping me company anyway.

  “Get inside, please,” I say and sit up with the cell still in my hand, searching for my crutches.

  ~

  A black cab, one of those London taxis, picked us up from my house. During our half an hour ride he remained quiet, apprehensive almost.