He grabs her, yanks the phone from her hand, and shoves her roughly, causing her to stumble and fall.
No. No. No.
“No. I… I just want to talk. I…” He stares down at Lizzy, who looks at him with wide eyes and slowly slides away from him.
“Get lost. Now!” I snap, struggling to breathe. My heart is racing, and a terrifying fear spreads rapidly inside me.
He’s here. He’s here.
Images flash chaotically through my mind as the pressure on my chest intensifies.
“Amelia, please… I… it was your fault…” He comes closer, and I back away, paralyzed.
Don’t come closer.
My body begins to tremble, and I don’t take my eyes off him for a second, Lizzy crawls sideways away from him, but he doesn’t notice, he’s completely focused on me now.
“Go away. Leave.”
I have to get out of here. Now.
Sweat breaks out on my neck as he keeps advancing.
“I… please, Amelia. I… you ruined me, you know. You destroyed everything. I… I need money… or they’ll kill me.” Desperately, he runs his hands through his hair, his eyes wild as he looks at me.
Dangerous. Now he’s dangerous.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lizzy has gotten up and is running off. I know she’s getting help. Until then, I have to hold on.
“I did nothing. You did this to yourself,” I reply with a trembling voice, cursing myself for being so paralyzed by fear. My nails dig deeply into my palms, and suddenly Henry lunges at me.
My back crashes against the mausoleum as he grabs my throat and presses me against it. A pained moan escapes me as a burning pain shoots through my body, but I have to hold on.
“You have to listen… listen. You have to…” His grip tightens, and he stares at me almost maniacally.
Hold on. Hold on.
Gasping, I try to breathe, and spots begin dancing before my eyes. My body switches to survival mode as the pressure on my throat suddenly disappears.
“You fucking son of a bitch.”
Nicolas. He’s here. My husband is here.
Overwhelmed with relief, my legs give out, and I slide down the wall. I gasp for air, trying to focus my gaze. Ced and Lizzy are immediately at my side, but I only have eyes for what’s happening in front of me. Nicolas is completely losing it.
He mercilessly pounds on my brother, again and again.
“Stop him. Please stop him…” I whisper, not wanting him to get punished for this. Not because of Henry.
Security arrives and intervenes, but ultimately Ced grabs Nicolas and pulls him away from the now unconscious Henry.
“That’s enough, man. He’s had it. You don’t want to do this, buddy. You don’t want to make yourself and your wife unhappy.” Ced grabs him by the face with both hands, pleading with him.
The police arrive, but I no longer pay attention as Nicolas turns his head to me and his gray eyes bore into mine.
He is here.
I am here.
