Amanda's POV: The Final Moment

Warning: This book contains themes and content related to death and suicide. If you are sensitive to these topics, please read with care and caution.

As I slowly regain consciousness, I'm met with an extreme feeling of exhaustion, wherein my body feels utterly drained of all strength.

Lifting my eyelids feels like raising the heaviest weights on earth, so I leave them closed.

I also feel uncomfortably exposed, as if my skin from shoulder to waist is bare, leaving me feeling stark naked with every gentle caress of air.

But then, a piercing sound of sobbing shatters the silence, and I summon every last ounce of strength to pry open my eyes.

With a double blink, the haze clears, and my gaze fixes on the ceiling fan above.

As I struggle to regain control, I realize that opening my eyes is the only voluntary action I can muster.

Yet, I summon the strength to haul myself up to a sitting position on the bed, every fiber of my being screaming in protest.

I lean back against the headboard, squinting through half-closed eyes, and raise a trembling hand to my temples in a futile attempt to massage away the throbbing pain.

But the sobbing continues, a heart-wrenching sound that pierces my eardrums and makes my head spin.

The room seems to be whirling around me, making it hard to focus, but I force myself to concentrate.

That's when I see her - a girl seated on a nearby couch, her hands covering her face as she weeps uncontrollably.

Suddenly, my senses snap back into focus, and I feel a rush of adrenaline as my memories come flooding back.

I take in my surroundings in a swift glance, and the truth hits me like a ton of bricks: I was kidnapped!

Where are my kidnappers though?

But before I can ponder further, a voice booms through the room, making me jump.

"Hey girls!" it calls out, followed by "Girls, where are you?"

I scan the room frantically, confused. Who is this person?

Where is the voice coming from? And why does it sound so familiar?

The voice grows louder, more urgent. "Girls, where are you? She's awake!"

"Where are you?!"

"Why can't I see you?!"

My heart races as I struggle to regain my bearings. How long have I been trapped in this darkness?

I scour my mind, desperate to pinpoint the memory, but it tantalizingly lingers just out of reach.

My recollections are hazy, but one thing is crystal clear: I was kidnapped by those girls who brutalized me. But where are they? Am I still held captive? 

But then, my gaze drops down, and my eyes widen in shock.

I'm met with a sight that makes my heart skip a beat.

"What the hell happened?! Where's my top?!" I exclaim, my voice trembling with shock.

Could something have happened while I was unconscious? Was I... raped?

But I don't feel any pain or discomfort, and who would want to hurt me when I'm still on my period?

I'm consumed by uncertainty, but one thing is clear - I'm not wearing my top, and I have no idea why!

Just as I'm trying to make sense of things, a voice suddenly asks,

"Oh, you're awake?" It's a simple question, but it startles me nonetheless.

As I turn towards the speaker, my eyes land on a face that makes my heart skip a beat.

It's a face I know all too well, and yet, it's the last face I expected to see here.

"F-Faustina?"

She rises to her feet, wiping her flushed face with her sleeve. Was she the one who'd been crying?

I watch warily as she approaches me, my frown deepening. What's she planning?

I swiftly swing my legs over the side of the bed and scan the bed for my top, but my eyes widen in mortification as I spot the menstrual stains on the bedsheet. Oh no! My period!

But, relief floods through me as I see my top lying nearby on the bed.

I swiftly grab my top and pull it on, grateful that the hems are long enough to conceal the stains on my bottom.

But I know I need to get out of here - fast!

Faustina halts about ten feet away from me, and our eyes lock in a tense stare.

But I break the moment by demanding, "What's going on? What are you doing here?"

"Uhm... I-I was told to watch after you," Faustina stammers.

"Watch after me?" I repeat.

She nods, "Yes, so you should lay back down."

My frown deepens, "Why?"

"You should just do as you're told," she says authoritively.

I bristle at her commanding tone, "Wait, hold on. Are you involved in this?" I ask, but her gaze darts away, her silence screaming guilt.

"Oh," I mutter, taken aback.

"Didn't really expect that, but either way, I can't waste time questioning you, so bye."

I take a step to leave, but Faustina's sudden words halt me: "You can't go anywhere."

"What the hell do you mean?" I demand.

"I mean you can't leave yet until the work is done," Faustina responds.

I huff in frustration. "Look, Faustina, I don't have anything to do with you anymore, so you should just leave me alone."

With that, I begin walking forward, my eyes fixed on the door to my right, which I'm certain leads to freedom.

I walk past Faustina, deliberately ignoring her command to wait, and make a beeline for the exit.

Just as I'm about to grab the handle, Faustina's voice rings out from behind me.

"Amanda, you shouldn't go anywhere yet! Go and lay back down now."

I spin around, my eyes narrowing slightly in annoyance.

"And you think I'd listen?"

"I know you wouldn't, but you'd better do as I say if you don't want me to make things difficult for you," Faustina retorts.

I fling my arms up in Frustration. "What do you want from me, Faustina? What have I done to you? Can't you just leave me alone?"

"I-I'm only following orders," sge stammers, "So don't ask me anything."

"Ooh, fine then, I won't," I say, turning back to the door and grasping the handle once more.

But just as I'm about to exit, a voice rings out, stopping me in my tracks.

"Stop, Mandy!" The mysterious, familiar voice sends a shiver down my spine.

I scan the room, trying to locate the source of the voice, but I don't see anyone. The voice seems to come from all around me, echoing off the walls.

"If you leave, it won't be funny," the voice continues.

"So sit back down and listen to that girl."

I glance at Faustina, seeking answers, but she only returns my gaze with an enigmatic expression.

I shake my head, frustrated, before responding.

"What's your problem with me, and who are you?"

The voice responds with a chilling chuckle, the giggles making my skin crawl.

"You really want to know?" she asks, her tone playful.

I remain silent, curious.

"Well, Mandy," she continues, "my identity is that I'm the right one for Kendrick."

Her words spark confusion, and I frown.

"Right one for Kendrick?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop playing dumb, Mandy," she says, her tone turning serious as can be.

"You think Kendrick would just up and break up with me, then choose to date you?"

My eyes go wide as realization hits me. "Wait a minute, you're Kelly?" I ask, my voice full of surprise.

"Who else?" she responds, her tone all sassy.

Just then, a male voice rings out.

"Don't listen to her, Mandy," he says, and I instantly recognize the thick, resonant tone and American accent as Kendrick's.

My heart skips a beat as I exclaim, "Kendrick!"

"What's going on? Where are you?" I ask, looking all around.

"Mandy, I'm right here with Kelly, and I need you to get outta that place right now!" Kendrick says.

"Don't listen to whatever she's spouting, just go, okay? I'm coming to get you, so just leave, now!"

"Hey, wait a minute!" Kelly yells.

"If you leave, I'll... I'll..."

"You'll what, Kelly?" Kendrick cuts her off.

"Nothin's gonna happen, Mandy, just get outta there!"

I nod instinctively, my heart racing faster as I turn the handle, pull the door open, and step forward into the unknown.

But in an instant, a blunt object strikes me hard behind the head, sending a jolt of pain through my skull and a shockwave through my body.

"W-what the...?" I stammer.

"Amanda!" Kendrick yells.

"Very good," Kelly says.

Despite the excruciating pain that feels like a tight grip on my skull, I force myself to move forward, my steps unstable.

I stumble, my hand instinctively flying to the back of my head to clutch at the source of the agony, as if my touch could somehow ease the hurt.

The environment around me spins and blurs, and the pain pulls me into darkness, threatening to consume me.

Yet, I press on, my legs carrying me forward with a will of their own, until I'm hit again, and again, and again, each blow landing with precision, sending shockwaves through my body.

I feel myself being pulled down, my vision fading, but still, I move forward, driven by a stubborn refusal to give in.

But the next hit proves to be the final blow, and I know I'm doomed.

The pain is exacerbated by the fact that I'm being struck in the same spot that was injured in the car accident, and I can feel my body betraying me.

My strength wanes, and I succumb to the agony, my chest heaving with exhaustion.

Yet, I defy defeat, summoning every last ounce of energy to push on. But it's a futile effort.

My eyes snap shut, and I crumple to the ground, my body limp and helpless.

I manage to crack open my eyes, mere slits, and gaze blankly at the dirt beneath me.

Is this the end for me? I think, as the darkness closes in.

I never got to experience the full joy of university life, but a faint smile creeps onto my lips.

At least I made it here, and I found love with Kendrick - that's more than enough.

But one question still haunts me, refusing to let me go: why did Faustina do this? Why did she orchestrate such cruelty?

A lone tear slides down my cheek as I ponder the darkness that drove her actions. I hope she comes back to her senses and realize what she did was wrong.

But I take a deep breath, feeling life slipping through my fingers, like sand disappearing in an hourglass.

I've heard that before you die, your life flashes before your eyes, but mine remains a blank slate. No fond memories, no cherished moments.

Yet, in this final moment, I'm grateful I don't feel alone.

With a trembling voice, I whisper my goodbyes: "G-good b-bye...m_mom g-good b-bye d-dad, g-good b-bye e-ve-ryone... g-good K-Kend...."

The darkness closes in, suffocating me, but Kendrick's voice is my lifeline.

"Wake up, Amanda!" he urges, his words piercing through the void, a shining beacon of hope in the abyss.

"I-I'm s-sorry, Kendrick," I stammer, my voice trembling.

"B-but this i-is it."

And with that, everything fades to black.

******************************

             Third Person POV

                       (╯︵╰,)

Amanda lay lifeless on the ground, her head drenched in blood, while Faustina stood frozen, traumatized by her own actions.

The hammer, now stained with Amanda's blood, slipped from Faustina's grasp and fell with a jarring thud onto the ground.

Faustina's hands trembled uncontrollably, as if the weight of her actions had finally crashed down on her.

"Ahhhh!!!!!" Faustina screamed, her voice shattering the silence as she fell to her knees, overcome with grief and horror.

"No!!!" she wailed, pounding her fists on the ground, oblivious to the pain.

Faustina's heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces as she gazed at her blood-stained hands, the pain of her actions escalating with each passing moment.

She gazed at Amanda's lifeless body, tears streaming down her face like a river, and began crawling towards her, her own body convulsing with sobs and tremors.

"Amanda, please don't go... please, I'm sorry... please," she begged, her voice cracking with despair.

As she reached Amanda's side, she grasped her hand, the one stained with blood, and wept bitterly, her body shaking with grief.

"Please wake up, Mandy... please..."

"Don't do it for me, but for him and your family, Mandy, please get up!" Faustina begged, shaking Amanda's lifeless body, but it was too late.

"Amanda, no!!! Please!!!" she wailed, her tears flowing uncontrollably.

"Please get up," she pleaded, still shaking Amanda's body, "please!"

Faustina finally paused, wiping her tears. "Okay, Mandy, I'll tell you the truth, but promise you'll stand up?"

"Okay, I'll tell you now," she continued, clearing her throat.

"I-I'm sorry, Mandy," she began, but the words caught in her throat as sobs overtook her.

"I stole all your money because...because...I-I needed it to pay for my dad's release," Faustina said, as she wiped away tears.

"You know why? It's because Kelly's parents had my dad locked up and were extorting money from him, the source of their wealth."

"One day...m-my mom sent me to the village to work and earn money, but then she called and told me that if dad didn't pay ten million naira for his release, he'd be killed. And he didn't have that kind of money anymore because they had taken everything."

Faustina's tears continued to flow, mingling with Mandy's blood on her face.

"S-so I had to gather any amount I could while I was at your grandma's house to pay for his release. But something else happened, Mandy.

"I-I met the gunmen, and one of them offered to help me if I...if I slept with him. At first, I wanted to refuse, but if I did, he would kill me..."

"So I agreed, and he took me to his house, where he...he took my virginity," Faustina wept bitterly.

"The money was sent to my mom, but he refused to let me go. He kept me captive, treating me like a sex slave, even though he promised to sponsor my university education."

"I went through hell, Mandy. And to make matters worse, Gabriel, the brother of the man who did this to me, is part of Kelly's plan to ruin you and win Kendrick over."

"I'm so sorry, Mandy. I'm really sorry....a-and you know what Mandy?

"Even after we paid the 10 million naira, they didn't release my dad. They kept him captive, claiming he still had more money, which wasn't true!"

"I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't face you. Kelly forced me into this, and I never intended to hurt you. You were my friend, Mandy. I swear!"

Faustina wiped her nose, her tears finally subsiding. "So, please, Mandy, wake up now. I've told you everything. Please stand up."

"Mandy," Faustina shook her gently, but when there was no response, she shook her again, more urgently.

"Mandy!" she cried, her voice rising in desperation. But still, there was no response.

Faustina's cries turned to screams. "Wake up!!! Ahhhh!!!"

She shook her head, denial and grief written across her face.

"No, no, no, Amanda, please wake up!" But it was too late.

She collapsed onto her side, her body curling into a fetal position, and began to roll onto her back, her limbs contorted in agony.

"Mandy, wake up!" she cried out.

"Wake up for him, you can't just die yet! You have to stand up...ahhhh!!!"

She continued to wail, her cries echoing through the air, but her desperate pleas were met with silence.

Mandy remained still, unresponsive to Faustina's anguished cries.

Faustina's cries slowly died down, replaced by a haunting stillness.

She sat up, her eyes fixed on Mandy's lifeless body, as if willing her to stir.

But Mandy's eyes remained closed, her chest motionless. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by Faustina's ragged breathing.

As the reality of the situation sank in, Faustina's expression crumpled.

She drew nearer to Mandy, her arms encircling her friend's limp form.

She rocked back and forth, her body wracked with sobs, as she whispered repeated apologies and pleas for forgiveness.

Finally, she freed Mandy and slowly rose to her feet, her eyes lingering on Mandy with a haunting mixture of guilt and horror.

"I can't live with this," she muttered to herself.

"I can't."

She slowly walked back into the room, her movements deliberate and heavy with grief.

She reached out and switched off the ceiling fan, its humming growing fainter as it slowed to a stop.

Her lips trembled as she watched the fan's blades come to a final rest.

Then, with a hesitant step, she approached the bed and gently took hold of the bed sheet, her eyes carefully avoiding the lifeless body of her friend, as if trying to spare herself from the painful reality.

Faustina twisted the bed sheet into a makeshift rope, her movements deliberate and slow, as if savoring the weight of her decision.

She positioned herself under the ceiling fan, using a stool and a long stick to reach the fixture.

With a deep breath, she tied the other end of the sheet to the fan, pulling it tight.

Her gaze ascended to the ceiling, her eyes pleading for mercy, forgiveness, or perhaps a glimmer of hope.

"God," she whispered, her voice hoarse from despair.

"Please, Lord, I know I've offended you in every way. But please, Lord, take my life in return for Mandy's."

But then, Kelly's voice suddenly cut through.

"F-Faustina, w-what are you doing?" she stuttered, her voice strained, and then coughed.

Faustina remained silent, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as if her eyes were locked on a distant hope.

With a resolute expression, she kicked the stool away and closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face as she surrendered to her fate.

Faustina's body hung suspended under the fan, the makeshift noose gripping her neck tightly.

She endured the agonizing pain, her neck turning red as she struggled to breathe.

With a surge of determination, she stretched the stick towards the fan socket and turned it on, then freed the stick.

The fan roared to life, its blades spinning mercilessly as Faustina's body swung helplessly.

Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably, her voice barely audible. "Goodbye, Mom... goodbye, Dad... I-I failed you."

As the fan continued to spin at full speed, Faustina's body was swung around in circles, faster and faster, until she was flung against the wall with a sickening thud.

Her body crumpled to the ground, her neck twisted at an unnatural angle, with blood staining her skin and the wall behind her.

The fan continued to hum, its blades still spinning, as Faustina's lifeless body lay there, a tragic end to her desperate cry for help.