Chapter One.
My hands shook as I held onto the golden doorknob, yanking it closed with all my might. Tears ran down my bruised cheeks and down my neck. The door rattled in front of me.
"Stupid bitch! Come out here and face me!" William's voice shook the old house's foundation, causing it to creak. I cringed and swallowed, putting my game face on. Be strong, I told myself. He won't break you down. You're too strong.
"What the fuck ever! Get out of my house!" I screamed back pulling the door harder, my knuckles white from the pressure. He groaned in agitation and slammed his fist into the door. "Get out of my fucking house!"
"Make me, you stupid bitch!" I wasn't that stupid. If I went out there he'd kill me. I was not going to get myself murdered to get him to leave. Without warning the door was yanked open, the metal doorknob escaping my grasp. My stomach plummeted as I started to fall forward but caught myself. My last sign of hope ripped away from me. William grinned, eyes turning into slits. My stomach tightened at the sight of those eyes. Then my instincts came over me, and I quickly turned away from him and ran across the room to dart out the open window.
I almost made it through, my fingertips shining brightly from the large sun. Birds chirped and the trees made a swishing noise as they shook in the breeze. I was so close to paradise. It was all snatched away as his callused hand yanked my ankle and threw against the floor, my head knocking against the wood. It started to ache instantly.
"Fucking bitch, think you can run away from me? I'll teach you to run away from me." For the first time in forever it was his normal voice, smooth yet rough from smoking. His hand grasped my wrists together. "I'm going to teach you yet again not to defy me!"
"It'll never work." My spit splattered across his face and I chuckled, smiling up at him. His left eyes twitched and his smile turned grim. "You'll never break me. No matter how hard you try."
"But I can try, beautiful." Before I could say anything else his hand collided with my face, reddening it even more than it was. Tears sprung to my eyes and then he hit me again. His hand loosed my wrists and his fist slammed into my stomach. I cried out and fought to get away. "You're not getting away that easy. I'm just starting to have some fun." William's fist collided with my nose and blood started running down my mouth and chin. A sob broke from my throat as I tried to shove him away and block my face at the same time. Another hit to the stomach. I felt like I was going to vomit.
"Please stop. I'm begging you, Will!" He just laughed and ripped my hands from in front of my face, holding my arms down.
"Shut the fuck up. I'm trying to concentrate." My head started to spin as I lost more blood. I flinched as his hand cupped my chin and forced me to look at him. The green of his eyes I use to love so much now only brought undeniable fear throughout my body. I sobbed again. I wasn't strong; I couldn't fight him off. I was a bunch of bullshit. "You know I love you right?" His mouth brushed against mine and blood stained his skin. "I didn't want to do this. But you made me, Bre."
"I'm sorry." I cried trying to lift myself away from him. As he felt my movement his face turned red and he smacked me across the face roughly.
"Don't you dare try to move when I'm-"
"Police!" My door was broken through as men in blue uniforms ran in, and I franticly pushed his body off and crawled a few inches away. My hands shook roughly and tears streamed down my face. "You're under arrest! Put your hands where I can see them."
"You stupid bitch, I told you not to call!" His green eyes stared down at me in anger and I flinched away, laying my head down on my knees. "You promise me, Bre! You promised me!" I heard a pair of handcuffs click around his wrists. "I thought you loved me!"
"Sweetie, are you alright? I'm Officer Bradley. I'm here to help." A woman police officer kneeled down next to me, speaking in a soft voice. I looked up at her as more tears streamed down my face. No of course not. I just got beaten to a pulp by my boyfriend. Oh yeah, I'm totally okay. Not wanting to sound rude, though, I just shook my head as I cried harder. "It's going to be okay, sweetie. He's going away for a very long time." My heart wrenched even more in my chest. Her arms wound themselves around me to bring me into a hug. I flinched. "He won't hurt you anymore."
"Where are your parents?" Another officer asked me, his stomach protruding largely from his body. I shrugged, trying to get my tears to stop. Stop crying, Breanna. You can't let people see he affected you. Don't be so stupid.
"Are the paramedics here yet, Booker?" The officer who had finally let go of me asked, rubbing her hands as she stood up. He shook his head, sighing.
"A huge pileup downtown has them all occupied." Officer Bradley cursed under her breath and wound her arms around me, pulling my body up slowly onto the bed to sit. I sucked in a pained breath. Every kind of movement hurt. As more tears started to stream down my face Officer Bradley handed me her cell phone.
"You can call someone if you need too." I nodded and slowly pulled the phone out of her hand. I'd call mom. She'd know what to do. My hands shook as I fumbled with typing her number but soon it was ringing.
"Hello? Who the fuck is this?" Her voice slurred through the phone. She'd been drinking. Someone coughed, another voice asking her who was calling at this hour. And she'd been fucking.
"Hi, it's Bre. I need your help, mom-"
"You stupid ass, I was just finishing up! What the fuck do you want?" I swallowed roughly.
"Will beat me up. He got arrested." There was a long pause as I waited for her to reply. A raspy laugh broke the silence.
"And? What's new? There's always someone getting beat." I swallowed again to fight back tears. Don't cry. You know she has a funny way of showing she cares. She's your mom. "Is that all you want to tell me?"
"Yeah, that's it. I love you, mom." I heard them chuckle in the background. "Mom-"
"I get it, you love me!" A tear started to fall down my cheek but I wiped it away quickly. Don't cry. You're being stupid. Stop being so sensitive. "Oh, and your father called."
"What?" My voice caught in my throat and my body started to shake. "Dad's back?" Tears started to fall freely now, and a sob echoed through my throat.
"Yeah, he called last night. Wanting to know if you wanted to come and stay with him." Another raspy laugh. "Of course, I told him no."
"Give me his number right now! I need to talk to him."
"Watch your tone, young lady! I am your mother and you will treat me with respect." I breathed deeply through my nose. You have to be calm to get what you want. Be nice.
"I'm sorry, mom. May I please have his number?"
"I'll give it to you if you promise not to stay with him-"
"Mom-"
"I said promise, you stupid bitch. Or say goodbye to your precious father." More tears fell down my cheek. I could just imagine her, sandy colored curls covered ringing around her fingers. A broad smile on her face as she puffed a cigarette. I felt my face get hot with anger. With nimble finger I started to pick the dried blood off of my chin. Why hadn't they cleaned me up?
"I promise I won't go stay with him, mom." After a few more minutes of her searching through her stacks of junk paper she finally gave it to me. I stared at the crinkled paper in my hand, trying not to smile because it hurt my cheeks. Officer Bradley layed a hand on my shoulder and I flinched, pulling out of her grasp before looking up at her. Her large brown eyes looked down at me sadly.
"Is everything okay?" I nodded, giving her a small smile. "For a girl who just went through hell you look okay." I nodded again, running a finger around one of my black strands of hair.
"Yeah. I'm strong. People aren't going to break me down just like that." She gave me a grin and pulled me into another hug. Again I flinched, but I didn't pull away this time. Instead I hugged her back, snuggling into her embrace, not caring if blood stained the blue fabric even though I probably should have. This would be the final turning point in my life. I'd be okay soon. I breathed in Officer Bradley's perfume, which smelt of lilacs and lavender. I'd be okay.