It was a dark and stormy night.

No, seriously it was. Rain cascaded down from the black clouds in waterfalls as thunder boomed though the black night. I was soaked as within seconds of my escape. My thin nightgown was useless against the cold and clung to my skin. My knee-length hair was loose and in wet strands, caching on everything. But I wasn't going to stop, no matter how hot my lungs burned nor how much my legs ached. Not even if my bare feet bled. Not until I found safety. The shouts and voice of my predators had silenced, but I was too afraid to stop.

There it is! I thought, almost crying with relief. A dark, empty house. No car in the drive way. No sign of anyone home. The old, abandoned firehouse. I surged forward with my last bit of energy and in one motion gripped the doorknob, turned it, and swept into the house, closing the door with a soft thud. I jogged into the most familiar spot I had remembered; the bathtub. I didn't take one look at my surroundings and began searching the two-story house.

I collapsed into the porcelain basin that was attached to the bathroom wall. It was on the second floor of the house. All I had to do to fit was bend my knees a little.

I'm....safe. Were my last thoughts, something that hadn't every entered my mind in many years.

---Morning----

"-last night." I woke immediately at the words that floated into the bathroom. Instinct kicked in on the spot and I scuttled silently to the other side of the tub, where the curtain could hide me. I squeezed my knees to my chest, attempting to make myself smaller. Fear and adrenaline hit my veins;this was home I normally woke up every morning.

"Footprints. Look." a male voice said, "Its looks like mud and....blood."

"Did someone break in?" another boy asked worriedly

" No. It doesn't, Joe. Don't jump to conclusions." said the third male speaker

"Of all days for Mom and Dad to not be here." Joe muttered

"Hey..they lead to the bathroom." said the first speaker, "And it doesn't....look like they left."

"Be careful, in case they're armed." the third boy warned. They're voice quieted and all I could here was their slow, menacing footsteps.

Oh god, oh god ,oh god. I thought desperately, I was unable to look away from the edge of the curtains.

And like a suspense horror movie, a black-haired head peered past the curtains, it turned to meet my eyes. The young man's face was handsome, even in surprise; lips in an "o" shape. He swallowed and stared a moment more before saying,

"Um, Guys. This isn't good." I knew his voice as "Joe"

"Whats wrong?" said one of the other boys

"Get away!" I shouted finally finding my voice, which was unnaturally high pitched

"Its okay, its okay." Shane said, then looked as if he was suddenly yanked back. A new head appeared shortly after. Another young man's face;older but with light brown and curly hair. His eyes looked shocked at me, but he cleared himself and smiled warmly,

"Hello. I'm Kevin." his voice was calm and even, but I didn't move, "Why don't you tell me your name?"

Men were not to be disobeyed—which I had painfully learned.

"R-Rose." I said quietly. Kevin gave me a good-job-I'm-proud look. My lips twitched to return a slight smile, but I refused.

"Alright, Rose. I want to you know there are three of us. Nick is the only one you haven't seen yet." he told, "You're alright; you're safe. I promise that we won't hurt you." he slowly outstretched a hand toward m, "Can you come out?"

I flattened myself against the bathtub wall as best a could, looking at his hand in horror. I knew what men's hands did. I wasn't going to get close.

"Shh, shhh." Kevin mummered at my movement, keeping his hand still, "You're okay. I won't come any closer."

Time past as he patiently waited for me, and I had slowly relaxed.

He's not moving. I observed, He's not getting angry. Maybe I can- Slowly, glancing from his hand to his hazel eyes, I reach toward his open palm. I gently touched his finger tips, then fingers, and palm. Carefully, he closed his hand around mine.

"There we go." Kevin said in a rewarding way, "That wasn't so bad, was it?" I nodded in an honest answer. He smiled again and asked,

"Can you stand to get out?"

I nodded. He rose steadily taking me with him, pulling me forward, too. I was scared, but managed to make my tongue work.

"Your hands are...." I started, "..nice." Kevin laughed,

"Thank you."

"You're gentle." I said, now standing up

"I try." he said, looking slightly sad but smiling immediately. He rubbed his thumb to the back of my hand. I jumped at the different sensation, but stayed with him.

"Can you step out?" Jason asked, glancing down at my legs. He looked shocked at my countless bruises, but didn't say anything.

It took a good couple of minutes and gentle coaxing from Kevin to make me step out completely. I huddled close to him, not meeting anyone's eyes. But when I did, I found two more boys, as Jason had told, but I found them frightening. Though they both smiled encouragingly, they were taller and stronger with obvious muscles.

"Its alright." the new boy, Nick, with extremely curly hair said. I carefully meet his eyes, then glanced away as Joe shifted his weight forward and then took a step. I panicked and pushed back against Kevin, trying to get away, back to my safe spot. Surprisingly, he let me jump back into the tub, but kept our hands together. I stood behind the curtain, shaking.

"Steady." Kevin said, " Joe and Nick are my brothers. They won't hurt you." he told me. I nodded and peeked back out; Shane gave me an apologetic grin. I glanced back at Kevin; he nodded. On my own will, I stepped back out.

So, ah, watcha think so far? Good? Bad? Amazing (hint: pick this one!)?