Chapter 13: Sarah
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"She had the brightest smile. People called her weird, but that's just how the world describes happy people."
—Amelia
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Muffled sounds of quiet sobs filled her ears.
Amelia lay unconscious on a hospital bed. She could feel someone's face pressed against her chest, arms wrapped around her, holding her close.
Amelia's eyes fluttered open. She saw her mum, weeping over her.
Amelia:
"Mum?"
Her mum's head shot up.
Mrs. Brown:
"Amelia!"
She quickly reached for Amelia's head, pulling her into a tight embrace against her chest.
"I'm so glad you're okay, my love."
Amelia returned the hug, and they both cried in each other's arms.
Amelia:
"Mum… Sarah is gone."
Mrs. Brown:
"I know, Amelia, I know. Don't worry, she's going to a better place."
They both continued to cry, clutching each other tightly.
---
Later…
Amelia walked from door to door in the hospital, searching for Martin.
She saw students in various states, some on the brink of death—missing body parts, disoriented.
She swung open another door and immediately recognized him. His parents sat on the couch beside his bed. She rushed inside the room and hugged him tightly, tears pouring from her eyes uncontrollably.
One of his arm was missing, his head was bandaged, and bandages covered minor injuries across his body.
Amelia's mum walked in and went to comfort Martin's parents.
Martin:
"A-Amelia…"
He struggled to utter a single word. Amelia looked up at him, her eyes soaked with tears.
"Are you okay?"
He gently placed his hand on her cheek, patting it.
Amelia:
"Yes, yes, I am."
A mix of happiness and profound sadness crossed her face as she forced a smile.
Martin:
"Good… Sarah?"
Amelia froze at the sound of her name. Her head dropped, and she began sobbing even louder, hugging him tighter.
Amelia (muffled):
"Sarah… Sarah is gone, Martin."
Martin's eyes widened, and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Martin:
"Sarah"
He said, his voice trembling as more tears streamed down his face.
---
A few minutes later, Amelia walked out of his room.
She turned to head down the corridor.
"Amelia." A familiar voice called out sharply from behind her.
The moment she recognized the voice, she froze—it was Sarah's father.
She didn't turn around. She didn't say a word.
The air grew cold and quiet, punctuated only by the distant sounds of chattering people and ringing telephones in the background.
"I'm so glad that you're okay. Where is Sarah? What room is she in? The receptionist redirected me here, saying this is where all the survivors from your high school are."
His voice was hurried, worried, shaking.
Amelia still didn't turn, speak, or even move.
They stood there for several long seconds, in silence.
"I see."
He eventually understood what her silence meant. He dropped to his knees, tears streaming from his eyes.
His hands fell to the floor, and he began to sob—a full-grown man in a suit, utterly broken.
His wife had passed while giving birth to his only child, Sarah. Now she was gone too. The only person he had left.
Amelia didn't turn around. She just kept walking forward.
She eventually took a seat on a two-seater bench in the waiting area. Her head fell back, staring at the ceiling as her eyes began to close.
She drifted into a memory.
---
Flashback:
Three years ago...
It was their first day at Stonebridge High School—and they were already late.
Amelia and Martin hurried down the hallway, their footsteps echoing as they slid to a stop in front of the classroom door.
They both took a deep breath. Then another…
Amelia:
"Okay… Let's do this."
Martin reached for the handle and opened the door.
Every head turned as the door slowly opened, interrupting the class in session. The teacher, writing on the board, didn't stop or look at them.
Amelia bowed slightly.
"Good morning, sir. Sorry we're late."
He ignored them.
After a few seconds of awkwardly standing in front of the silent classroom, someone from the fifth row waved at them. A blonde girl with a bright, excited smile on her face—
Sarah.
There were two empty desks to her left, and she was inviting them to come sit beside her.
They walked past the rows of students, trying not to trip over their own feet. They took their seats beside Sarah and pulled out their books.
Sarah leaned towards Amelia.
Sarah (whispering):
"Hi, I'm Sarah… what's your name?"
Amelia (whispering):
"Amelia."
Amelia said, trying to ignore her, but Sarah leaned even closer.
Sarah (amazed):
"Wow, I've never heard that name before."
She said, hopelessly amazed and forgetting to whisper.
The teacher heard her voice and cleared his throat loudly.
Sarah immediately sat upright, staring straight ahead.
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Later, in the cafeteria...
It was lunchtime. Amelia and Martin stood, holding their trays, looking for a place to sit in the crowded hall.
They noticed an empty table and headed there. As soon as they took their seats, Sarah appeared out of nowhere, running hurriedly.
She slid into the seat between them and set her lunchbox down.
Sarah:
"Hiii guys!"
She said excitedly, a huge, bright smile on her face. She crossed her arms, shaking Amelia's and Martin's hands at the same time.
She turned to Amelia—
"You already know my name, and I know yours."
She turned to Martin.
"I'm Sarah! And you are?"
Martin hesitated a little before responding:
"Martin."
He and Amelia were surprised by Sarah's unreserved enthusiasm.
Sarah:
"Nice to meet you, Martin! Nice glasses."
Martin's cheeks flushed a little as he looked away shyly.
Martin:
"Thanks,"
He said, pushing his glasses into place.
Sarah turned to Amelia and picked up a strand of Amelia's curly hair, twirling it.
Sarah:
"I love your hair, it's so long and curly."
Amelia also blushed slightly:
"Thank you."
Sarah:
"Welcome to Stonebridge High! A school of dreams, drama, and—wait, the author's fallen asleep on the keyboard. Anyway, it's a great school. Probably."
Amelia:
"I see… Well, we're not just new to the school, we're also new in town."
Sarah:
"Wow, that's so cool!"
She squealed.
"I have a lot to show you guys around… Are you two dating or—"
Amelia and Martin (simultaneously):
"Ew, no!"
They turned to each other.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!?"
Amelia and Martin shouted at each other.
Sarah burst into laughter. She laughed loudly, and Amelia and Martin couldn't help but chuckle a little at her contagious, bright laughter.
Sarah:
"You two are funny. Anyways…"
She said, opening her lunchbox.
"I know I'm in high school and it's like, not cool to carry a lunchbox and all, but my dad won't let me eat cafeteria food, and boy, am I glad about that!"
She laughed, and Amelia and Martin laughed too as they stared at the horrifying cafeteria meal on their trays.
"Well, well, well." A girl with a group of girls behind her said to Sarah.
"If it isn't little miss Daddy's girl."
Sarah's joyful expression shifted to a sad one.
Sarah:
"Hey Milly,"
Sarah said softly.
Milly:
"I see you've found your type and made friends with the new weirdos in school."
She flashed an irritated look at Amelia and Martin.
Amelia:
"Who you calling a weirdo, Silly?"
Milly gasped and puffed as Amelia mocked her name.
Sarah (whispering):
"It's Milly."
She leaned towards Amelia, innocently correcting her.
Amelia:
"I know. I got it wrong on purpose. You're ruining my comeback."
Amelia told Sarah out of the corner of her mouth, trying to keep her composure.
Milly:
"How dare you?! Do you know who I am?"
Milly raised her voice, and a crowd slowly began to form around them.
Amelia got to her feet to face Milly. Sarah and Martin tried to nudge her, urging her to let it go, but she ignored them.
Amelia:
"Let me guess, the rich, arrogant, and popular snob that thinks she can talk to anyone how she wants because a few dumb boys worship her since she stuffs toilet paper in her bra to make her boobs look bigger."
"Ooooooh! Daaamn!" The crowd erupted in hoots and laughter.
Milly puffed in anger. She was getting roasted and embarrassed in front of her own fans.
She reached down to pick up Amelia's food from her tray and tried to smash it into Amelia's face, but Amelia dodged. The food hit another student behind her.
Sarah then threw her food at Milly.
Milly's entourage also threw food back at them. In a matter of seconds, a food fight erupted in the cafeteria.
Everyone started throwing food at each other. Food was flying everywhere, everyone in jubilant chaos.
While all of it was going on, Amelia, Martin, and Sarah managed to escape by crawling under tables.
They got out of the crowd and ran out of the cafeteria, their bodies covered with food. They laughed as they escaped—Martin laughing so joyfully, Sarah laughing so brightly.
The sight of Sarah's laughter froze in Amelia's memory as darkness slowly engulfed it.
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Amelia's eyes opened as she came back to reality. She was silent, just staring at the hospital ceiling.
She noticed someone sitting beside her but didn't care to look.
Luca:
"Amelia,"
He said, sitting beside her, staring straight ahead.
There was silence for a few seconds before she responded, her voice harsh:
"Take me to The Garden."
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To be continued...
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Chapter 14 Preview:
Sarah is dead. Martin is barely hanging on. Stonebridge High is nothing but ashes, its students either lost… or broken.
Fueled by pain, rage, and a burning need for justice, Amelia finally makes her choice—she won't run anymore. She's joining the Eleven.
But she's not the only one with a score to settle.
Tomorrow—don't miss the finale of the Attack at Stonebridge High Arc: The True Story II.