AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This story, well to be exact this chapter deals with abuse. So if any one is uncomfortable with such topics please do not read. It is not graphically depicted but just enough to give you the idea.

By the means of this story i do not intend to undermine any person's struggle with domestic abuse or any other form of abuse. This is just a starting point to a much more interesting story. Please give it a chance?

DISCLAIMER: I dont own anything.


A tortured scream broke through the seemingly peaceful house. The man threw kicks after kicks in the woman s abdomen. And a young girl, only seven, stood witness to all of this with anguished tears streaming down her face.

"Daddy stop. Please stop. You are hurting her. Stop it. Stop it. I am going to call the police. STOP IT." , screeched the young girl.

"SHUT UP YOU LITTLE BITCH! SHUT UP." , he screamed at her, leaving the mother only to grab the girl by her hair and dragged her to her room. He threw her in there and she collapsed against the bed sobbing for her mother.

"I will be back for you." He shut the door behind him and the sound of the locks turning was like that of a canon in the room.

Silence.

And then it started again. The screams. A woman begging the man to let her go. To stop it. The young girl heaved herself off the floor and scrambled to the door, banging her fists against it, screaming for her mom.

The banging on the door joined the sound of a belt hitting flesh. The screams of a child joined the screams of her mother.

And then, like a blessing, the front door burst open. Police and doctors streamed in. The man was taken away. The woman was treated with care and the young girl just sat there, horrified, in her room. For this was a memory no one could forget.


Athena Chase looked into the mirror. Her bruised and swollen eye blurring her vision. It was over. He was gone. He wouldn t ever touch her baby again. He would never touch her again. And as long as she lived, he would never set foot outside his jail.

She sighed, wondering how her daughter was. Incidents like these left people traumatised. And she was only seven.

She walked across her room to her daughter's and knocked lightly before entering. She lay curled up on the bed he body shaking with suppressed tears. It broke her heart to see her like this.

"Anna? Baby, look at me." , she said in the softest voice. Anna slowly turned around her sobs increasing when she looked at her mother.

"He s gone baby. He's never coming back. You are safe. We are safe. He won't be able to touch you ever again. You'll be with me, forever." Annabeth Chase closed her eyes tight willing every bone in her body to believe her mother. But she couldn't.

She shook her head, "He comes back. He always comes back. And the next time he will kill me" . She said her voice breaking. Athena shook her head her own tears falling and stinging as she shut her injured eyes too tight.

"Not for another lifetime. He won't. Annabeth you are safe. We are free. He is gone and you need to believe that. We are free baby girl. We are free." She gathered her in her bruised and battered arms and clutched her tightly, vowing to never let her feel this pain ever again.


And so life went on. Young Annabeth grew up to be a stunning woman, unafraid of anything, for she had faced worse. Sure there were times when the sudden noise of the door banging too hard would make shrink in fear or when any person advanced upon to suddenly she would freeze. That childhood fear that clung to her back like some sort of demon made it hard to live.

Waking up in cold sweat, making sure her mother was sound and asleep in the room next to her s became a daily part of her life. She didn t mind it. They were free.

Shortly after the incident they moved out of that house. It was too much for either of them to bear. His presence lingered in every nook and corner. So they left California and shifted to New York. Annabeth completed her school with the top grades at the age of only fourteen and by the age of twenty, she was officially an architect.

Now two years later, everything was peaceful, content. But what peace and happiness lasts long? It s only a matter of time until life throws you a curveball.

And one was heading towards them in full speed. And with it, it would bring their worst nightmare back to life.


"I need your help." , Athena whispered into her phone. Her breathing coming in short pants. "Please. I need your help."

"Athena Chase asking for my help? What a fantastic surprise. And please tell, why should we help you." The man on the phone taunted her.

Tears of frustration rolled down her cheek.

"Please you don t understand. He will kill her. She is everything to me. I'll give you anything you want. Anything."

The man on the phone sighed before speaking, "Alright come to the Willa Plaza at twelve tomorrow and we can discuss your situation."

"Thank you." Athena breathed into the phone.

The phone was hung up. She collapsed on her bed. Anger and grief built up inside her. And in a fit of anger she grabbed the vase on her bedside table and threw it against the wall.

The sound of shattering glass felt a lot like her heart was shattering.

Fifteen years ago she swore that he will never come into her life again. Fredrick Chase will never touch her or her daughter again. She will see to it. Even if that meant signing a deal with the devil. They were dangerous yes but appropriate to provide protection. She hated them but the love of a mother knows no bounds.

Athena just hoped annabeth would adjust well. It is for her safety.

And Fredrick? That man was going to end up in a pool of blood.


AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hopefully you like reading the chapter and I would love to continue this story.

If you notice any grammatical errors please tell me I would not mind and i always appreciate new ideas. :)

Again, by this story i do not mean to undermine anyone's struggle with abuse and if i get things wrong please do not be offended. i will work upon it yo give you guys a kickass story.

Plllleeease leave a review :)

lots of love, 3