How much longer? My body is about to crumble.

Please stop. I attempt to curl myself in further, making my body the tiniest object.

*THUD*

My tears fall freely, I hate that they do, I wish I wasn't weak.

He clenches my arm before throwing my frail body against the wall as if I was a rag doll, his dirt covered boot started striking my side, I think he's broken my rib.

"You're a worthless piece of shit." He shrieks, bending down and grabbing my face.

He positions himself on top of me, weighing me down. My throat begins to burn, is he strangling me? My whole body begins to go ridged with alarm. I thrash my arms, trying with all my strength to hit him. There's no use, he's twice my size. I slacken, arms falling to my side. The blackness surrounds me, lugging me in.

I fade.

Unnatural light streaked through the leaves and left an earthy glow, the sweet surrendering scent of the morning dew filled the woodland with a scent that did not belong on earth. Flowers bloomed along the moss-covered floor, my feet encased in exotic plants which I found I could not name. Where was I?

It must be Heaven. If so I was extremely blessed. I turned and gasped aloud, a beautiful female stood in front of me, her face full of awe. I took a closer look at her, seeming to find something off. She seemed different, almost mystical.

"Are you human?" I asked her meekly. She seemed to of found my question humorous, her finger tips carefully stretched and caressed a couple of leaves on a nearby tree. I watched in astonishment as the tree whole heartedly took life, the leaves vibrated in delight, as if they laughed with her.

"You're human." She stated. Her platinum locks fluttered as she danced up to me, abandoning the lively tree. Her piercing violet eyes scanned me before she hummed in approval.

"You'll be perfect."

My eyelids weighed a ton. It took a moment for me to realise why. I kept quiet, was he still here? After a while of straining to hear anything around me I was positive I was alone. Night welcomed me when I fully adjusted to my surroundings, demolished and abandoned furniture laid scattered around my damaged body. How long was I out for? I knew it was only a matter of time before he'd come back.

Everything protested as I crawled out the bedroom to the bathroom, I cringed as I crawled along the dirty white tiles. My hand grasped the sink before I slowly pulled myself up, my sobs echoed off the walls of the room, I clutched my arm, it was obviously broken. I caught my reflection in the mirror and gasped. Blotches of red and blue splattered across my face, my once bright hazel eyes were empty, bloodshot and puffy. My round baby cheeks were cut and battered, I was lucky my nose wasn't broken. I had a busted pouty lip which was seeping blood down my chin.

Sighing, I tried my best to clean myself up, searching the medicine cabinet I successfully fished some butterfly stitches and applied them expertly. I knew there wasn't much I could do for my broken rib or arm, if I went to the hospital that would be the first place he'd look. Grasping the packet of painkillers, I took two to take the soreness away. I combed through my hair quickly, so I didn't look so wild, and dragged myself back into the bedroom to scout out some fresh clothing.

My hand-me-down duffel was buried under the bed ready for this occasion, I snatched it and stuffed in everything my hands touched, rushing to get my possessions and go. He could come back any second and I needed to disappear.

The pain killers had started to kick in, giving me the benefit of moving quicker. Going downstairs didn't seem so daunting. Over the coming months I'd been stashing away some money left over from shopping trips, saving enough for a place to stay for a couple of nights and some basic food. Making my way over to the couch I dragged off the cushions and found my slash in the corner, rummaging in I hauled out the hidden notes and stuffed them in my pocket.

As I made my way out of the house I contemplated where to head, I never knew I'd make it this far, constantly doubting my capability to escape. I needed somewhere secluded but reachable with my budget. I can remember my mum telling me about a place near Olympia that constantly rained, Forks was it? She rambled on about the hiking trails and the Olympic National Park being close, I'd have to pick up a map.

Walking along Fones Road, Olympia, I strode towards Cash & Carry, determined to get a map. The store was only just opening, being 7AM. The ding-a-ling of the door signalled my entrance, I kept my head low, my hair constructing a curtain around me, shielding me from prying eyes. Scouting the aisles, I picked up the essentials before making my way towards the counter.

There was a little old lady sat on the opposite side, her huge round glasses, propped on the end of her nose, was buried in the newspaper, too busy to take interest in my dishevelled appearance. She scanned my items through, making the total $27.53, my measly $301.67 fund I'd saved was already growing thin within my pocket.

Tucking my food and water into my duffel I opened my map and charted a route to Forks, with the weather beginning to get torrential I decided to pick some B&B three hours away as my objective.

The pitted patter of the rain soothed me as I walked along the road, my nerves slightly getting to me. Did he know I was gone yet? My mind continued the lengthy torture all morning, every passing car made my pulse quicken, my step speeding marginally. I began to worry I'd get ill from my escapade, the constant shower soaking me through to the bone, my appearance resembling one of a drowned rats. The three hours to the B&B was slow, torturous but as I stared up at the sign 'Olympia Waterfront Bed & Breakfast' my shoulders lifted, for the first time, in a long time I felt somewhat safe.