Chapter 5
"Don't worry, Emily. As long as we're here, no one will dare mess with you," our neighbor, Sarah, said, patting my hand.
Her words warmed my heart, but I didn't let my guard down.
Sure enough, the next morning, I was woken up by the sound of people arguing outside my door.
Jessica was there with a bunch of people, about to throw paint on my door.
Henry stepped in, his face stern. "What are you doing? If you keep this up, I'm calling the cops!"
In the end, Henry dragged Jessica away.
The paint can hit the ground, spilling red paint everywhere.
I stared at the chaos outside my door, my gaze cold and unflinching.
This was just the beginning.
*****
Jessica didn't come around for the next few days.
But I knew she was watching me from the shadows.
I got ready and headed out.
As soon as I walked into the alley near my house, I heard someone rushing up behind me.
"Emily, stop right there!" Jessica called out.
It was her, just as I expected.
Jessica stormed over, clutching a bat, and without warning, swung it hard at my back.
I stood my ground on purpose, letting the blow land without flinching.
"You really think you can get away?" Jessica sneered. She grabbed a fistful of my hair and pinned me against the wall.
"This is all your fault. If it weren't for you, Alex and Ryan wouldn't be like this. You bitch!" she spat.
She punched me in the face and all over my body.
I huddled on the ground, making sure not to fight back.
Occasionally, I let out a weak groan, acting like I was so hurt I couldn't even try to escape.
Jessica beat me until she was exhausted, panting for breath.
She stared at me, all battered and bruised, her eyes gleaming with vindication.
"Emily, this is just the beginning. When Alex and Ryan come to, you'll wish you were dead," she sneered.
She kicked me one last time and then took off.
I lay there for a while, catching my breath.
And then, moving slowly, I took out my phone from my pocket and dialed emergency services.
"Hello, I need help. I've been attacked. She beat me up really bad. I can barely move... Please hurry," I said, my voice trembling.
After hanging up, I glanced toward the entrance of the alley.
I'd already hidden a mini camera there days ago.
Everything that just happened was recorded crystal clear.
So that was what you wanted, Jessica. Revenge? Well, that was not happening. I wouldn't ever let you get another shot at me.
Soon, the police showed up.
They reviewed the footage from the hidden camera and took me to the hospital to get checked out.
The doctors said my injuries were serious enough for the cops to press charges.
That afternoon, Jessica was taken away by the police.
I sat on the hospital bed, watching the sunlight outside the window.
Finally, a relieved smile appeared on my face.
From now on, Grandma and I could live our lives without worry.
Jessica would ever get the chance to ruin my life again.
*****
The next day, I headed to the police station to tell them everything that happened.
Jessica was sitting in the interrogation room, her hair a mess.
She shot me a look full of disdain, like she couldn't care less. "Emily, stop pretending. What proof do you have that I did it?"
She probably thought there were no cameras in the alley. And she figured I didn't have any witnesses.
She figured that as long as she didn't admit anything, the police wouldn't be able to touch her.
I stayed silent, just handed my phone to the officer beside me, and pulled up the video for him to see.
The footage showed everything. Jessica chased after me and swung that bat with full force.
Every insult she hurled at me was recorded, word for word.
Jessica's expression shifted in a flash, shock and fear replacing her earlier arrogance.
She cried, "This was a trap. You've been planning this all along. You were waiting to take me down."
"Trap or not, it's the evidence that decides," I said coldly, "And there's more. The alley wasn't the only place I recorded."
The interrogation room door opened.
Henry stepped in, holding another recording in his hand.
He passed it to the officer. "This is the hallway security footage. It caught Jessica and her friends splashing paint on Emily's door earlier."