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Chapter 21
The next time my father visits me, I have a plan ready. No one had come around for quite some time, the only thing to occupy me being my task of breaking the protection field. At least I had a task, otherwise I’m sure I would have lost my mind by now. My hunger and thirst were reaching new levels, but it was nothing compared to my screaming bladder. I’ve never been known for my ability to lie, so that will come in handy as I talk with my father. I just need to convince him to let me use the bathroom, for the sake of my own dignity. I’m his daughter, after all; there’s got to be at least some part of him that feels for me, his own flesh and blood. A part of him that craves for those simple moments from before, as well.
He sits in the seat he left in front of me, eyes even more tired than the last time he was here. “Are you ready to talk?”
I look back at him, certain I look much the same. “I can’t, father. Please, you have to understand.” I know I need to push back at first; there’s no way I would be believable if I suddenly began spurting trade secrets at the slightest call.
He sighs and closes his eyes momentarily. “Amelia, please. I want to help you, I really do. But I need you to cooperate.” He looks back at me. “For your mother. For Olivia. If you don’t speak up soon, they’ll go to them next.”
I can’t believe my luck. He’s provided me with the perfect opportunity to set my plan into motion. Despite this, I feel a twinge of contempt that he’s using our family and Olivia to get his way.
I feign contemplation, my brow furrowed as I stare at the ground. “I…I don’t know what to do. What will they do to them?” I look up at him with imploring eyes, though this time it’s not an act. My friends and family are in danger, but I genuinely don’t know how much. How far would the Elders go, to protect their secrets?
My father places a hand over mine, causing me to startle. I can’t remember the last time he’s touched me, or the last time anyone has, for that matter. “It can get bad, Amelia. Help me protect our family, please.”
He looks so distraught that I wonder if I would have given him the truth if I had it. This is my in. I take a deep breath, as if I’m ruminating on my decision, and then nod once. “…Okay. I’ll tell you. But please, father, make sure our family and Olivia are safe. I promise I’ll tell, but you have to promise me that.”
Relief floods his features, and he gives me a curt nod, then beckons me to continue.
I swallow and take another breath, before talking. “Arman…he has people who are planning to overrun the Society library tobreak out all classified records. He believes that when civilians gain access to the records, they’ll turn against the Elders.” A complete lie. Arman already explained that the classified documents are half false. Anything that depicts the Elders in a bad light has been destroyed, at least within the boundaries of the Society, and that some documents were forged by the Dark Elders before they were captured for Society use. However, the library is far enough from the entry point Arman will use once the protection field breaks, and nobody but the Elders know that the documents have been falsified.
My father lets out a breath of relief, and I know that he believes me. Or at least, that he wants to. He knows I’m not a very good liar, either, so I take it as a win when he says, “Thank you, Amelia. Your candidness will be rewarded.”
He begins to stand, but I try to grab his hand with the little room my arm is allotted. Tears begin to fill my eyes; true tears, this hasn’t exactly been a fun couple of days. “Father, please…I need to use the bathroom.” I’ve held my bladder for so long at this point that my lower back has begun to hurt, which I know can’t be good.
When he looks at me, I see a flash of pain in his eyes. Despite his standoffish demeanor, I’m his daughter and I know he loves me. Maybe the last couple of days had me doubting that, but the look that he’s giving me now reminds me of that kinship.
His foot begins tapping against the floor nervously. “Darling, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Can you hold it a little longer?”
I close my eyes and let my head fall back against the chair, trying to fight off more tears. It’s absolutely humiliating to be in this predicament. “It’s already been days. I really…I don’t want to make a mess all over myself. Please. They’ve already taken so much, don’t let them take my dignity, too.” I open my eyes to look at my father imploringly. “Please. This isn’t humane.”
That did the trick. He kneels in front of me with sad eyes. “Oh, Amelia. I’m so sorry.” He shakes his head to himself. “I’m sure nobody will mind you having a quick trip to the restroom.” He begins to undo my bindings but pauses before letting me completely free. “Please don’t try anything. It’ll only make it worse for everyone.”
“Of course,” I say quietly, squirming in my seat as my body recognizes that it’s near relief.
When my father leads me out of the room, I try to find anything that I recognize to help me place myself in the home’s layout. To my dismay, I seem to be in an area of the mansion I’ve never been in before. Granted, that’s not exactly a surprise.
I’m led to a plain white door. My father allows me to go in alone; there are certain things a father doesn’t need to see. The bathroom is nothing special, just a plain white toilet and sink. What catches my attention is the metal toilet paper holder against the back wall. I grab it by the prongs near the top, where it is holding a roll, and gauge its weight. It’s rather heavy, heavy enough to cause temporary damage.
With this in mind, I relieve myself. Afterward, I allow myself to fall to the ground, making enough commotion to make it sound like I fell. “Father!”
My father bursts through the door, eyes wide. When he takes me in, he rushes to my side. “Amelia—"
Without another thought, I grab the holder and bash him in the side of his head.
My breath hitches and my heart squeezes as I watch him fall to the floor, unconscious.
I just knocked out my father.
Tears begin to swell in my eyes, but I quickly blink them away. I can’t dwell on this; I don’t have time. I need to get out of here, and my father lying unconscious will keep him safer in the longrun. It’s the perfect alibi; he’s less likely to be questioned and blamed for my disappearance.
“I’m sorry, daddy.” I lean down and place a kiss on his cheek, and then quickly leave the bathroom.
I move along the side of the wall as I slowly make my way down the hall. I don’t hear anyone nearby, but I can never be too careful.
The first few doors I come across are locked. I need to find a safe spot to rest for a moment, so I leave these doors behind and continue searching for one with easy access.
This finally happens after traveling down two more halls. Relief floods me when the doorknob of a thick metal door turns, and I quickly and quietly slip into the room, closing the door silently behind me.
