A/N I don't own anything
Emma shut her eyes tightly and cupped her hands around her mouth hearing the sound of a body falling to the wooden floor behind her. All she could think about now is escaping before he came too. Emma took a few steady breaths and reached out her hands feeling for the wall, she wasn't quite ready to open her eyes. To face the mess that had become her life night after night the constant torture.
She had never expected that lovely kind man who she had married to turn into somebody she barely recognised these days. Emma wasn't sure what had changed and turned him into somebody so cruel and selfish. As she reached the doorframe she opened her eyes and all but flew into the next room.
Emma grabbed a pillow off the neatly made bed and ripped off the case quickly rushing around the room and stuffing her clothes inside. She knew time was running out fast and it wouldn't be long until he staggered into the room all-apologetic. But Emma couldn't help but think had she let herself go to far this time?
Had she finally cracked and done something unforgivable? Emma shook her head right now all she needed to think about was escaping this hell. She would let herself break down later when she was as far away as possible. Emma did a quick scan of the room trying to think clearly for a couple of minutes and see if she had everything she would need.
She turned on her heels and rushed out of the room making her way back down the hall towards the kitchen. Emma tried to ignore the coppery smell that hung in the air and urged herself to keep moving. She fumbled with the key in the backdoor and pulled it open, slipping out into the night.
Emma jogged down the path and across the road going to the only person she could trust right now. She felt her whole body ache as she reached the right door and tapped her hand quickly on the glass, hoping somebody was in. Emma sighed in relief when the door opened to reveal a tired middle-aged woman.
"What's wrong dear?" She spoke in a worried voice and stepped aside so she could go inside.
"I need your help". Emma moved quickly over the threshold of the door and stood in the hall. The older lady shut the door and turned towards her, a concerned look on her face.
"What has happened this time?" She really didn't have the time to explain everything so she shook her head hoping the other woman understood. "Okay dear, what do you need me to do?" Emma sighed reaching up a hand and running her fingers through her long hair, knowing it had to go.
She had to be unrecognisable if this was actually going to work. Emma looked up at the woman who had been so kind to her over the years, trying to think of a way to explain everything quickly. She closed her eyes and started to speak calmly missing out a few minor details but hoping she got the gist of what occurred.
By the end of Emma's jumbled explanation the woman was handing her some money and offering to help in anyway she could. Loud sirens echoing down the street jolted Emma into action, she all but ran to the back door. As she stepped out into the rain a gentle hand closed around her arm stopping her. Emma gasped and turned her head to see the older woman stood in the door way with so much sadness crossing over her face.
"Promise me that you'll phone when you reach a safe place?" She nodded and ran towards the awaiting taxi. Throughout the journey Emma stared out of the window feeling tears prick her eyes as she thought about the night's events. She still couldn't believe she had let this happen.
Emma let her head drop into her hands, she felt so helpless and worthless right now. She felt all over the place and just couldn't have stood to be in that house any longer. Too many bad memories filled her head but she had to leave all that behind now.
As the taxi pulled up outside the station Emma grabbed some money out of her pocket and threw it onto the front seat before slipping out into the cold. She pulled the hood of her jacket up and made her way toward the first ticket booth. Emma didn't really care where she was going all she knew was that she had to get away as soon as possible.
She pushed her way to the front of the line and muttered the first place that popped into her head. The man sat in the booth looked Emma up and down then finally handed her a ticket, muttering the cost. She pulled some notes out of her pocket and placed them down on the counter.
Emma flashed him a sarcastic smile then turned to leave glancing at the boards to see when her coach left. She had just reached the door leading off to the car park when the sound of police sirens filled her ears once again. Emma watched as five men jumped out of each car and ran towards the nearest coach.
She frowned and quickly rushed forward banging her hand on the side of one of the coaches to make sure it wouldn't set off without her. The driver who looked very impatient gave her a hard stare and asked to see her ticket, which she happily handed over.
He swiped her ticket out of her hand and scanned over the writing as if checking it wasn't fake. Emma tried to hold herself together and not seem nervous at all. After a couple of minutes the driver handed her the ticket and let her move on passed him without anything else said.
Emma hurried down the aisle towards the back row of seats and slumped down out of the way. She pulled the carrier bag from underneath her shirt and placed it beside her turning to stare out of the window expressionless. Emma noticed the police officers were searching the coach parked beside the one she was in. She slid further down in the seat her hood still in place on her head hopefully covering her face.
Luckily the coach started to move causing the cops unable to search that one. Emma relaxed a little as they drove further and further away from the station but she still felt like her mind was reeling. She just couldn't believe this had happened after everything was going so well and they hadn't argued in weeks.
Emma shivered remembering that deathly look in his eyes; it had scared her a lot. Eventually she fell into a dreamless sleep, having nothing left to dream about her life had taken a dramatic turn for the worse.
She just wanted to crawl into a massive hole and spend the next couple of years there. Emma woke up a couple of hours later to find the coach about to make a pit stop in a little fishing village.
She stretched out her arms and slowly stood making her way down the many rows of seats. Emma stepped down off the coach and took a deep breath letting the fresh sea air fill her lungs. She smiled softly and started to walk towards the little shop, pushing the door open she stepped inside.
Emma wandered down the aisles and grabbed a bottle of water off one of the shelves making her way towards the counter. She looked around trying to see if anybody was about and caught sight of the back room.
"Hello". Emma sighed thinking about just leaving the money on the counter. She dipped her hand into her pocket and brought out some change. Just as she was about to place it down on the counter a man appeared from nowhere.
"Can I get that for you?" Emma jumped and looked up to meet a pair of the bluest eyes she had ever seen.
"Sure". She set the bottle down and motioned with her hand towards the change on the counter. He quickly scooped up the loose coins and rung the item up at the till. "Thanks". Emma took the bottle when he handed it back to her and turned to leave.
She walked out of the store and headed towards the beach forgetting about the coach. Emma made her way along the soft sand and found a place on the rocks to sit and simply watch everyone around her. She thought about how this could be the perfect place to start out fresh, no body knew her the past behind her.
Emma made up her mind to stay there not caring that the coach had already left without her. This could be just what she needed and she certainly wasn't going to let it pass by. She looked back towards the little shop and noticed a wooden platform stretching out passed the shop opening out to a restaurant.
Emma stood from the rocks and walked back along the sand towards the restaurant where there was a few people hanging about. She stood in the doorway and glanced around the room, there was many tables set up and a bar over the far side. Emma noticed a brunette woman stood at the bar so she made her way over.
She looked up before Emma had even reached her and offered a small smile. "Hi, I was wondering if you had any jobs going?" The woman placed down the clipboard she was carrying and gave her full attention.
"Have you worked in a bar or restaurant before?" Emma smiled and nodded watching as the woman walked behind the bar and pulled out some folded clothes. "We'll be needing somebody since it's nearly summer and it becomes busier, will you be up for that?" Emma took the pile of clothes she handed her.
"I think so". The woman grinned and stuck out her hand cheerily.
"I'm Ruby my granny owns the restaurant". Emma shifted the clothes and took her hand trying to think of a cover name for herself.
"Anna". She found herself saying the name before she could actually stop the words from coming out of her mouth. It was a name of a girl she once shared a room with in one of the group homes.
"It's nice to meet you Anna, when can you start?" Emma thought about it for a couple of minutes well she did need the money.
"Monday?" Ruby nodded and scooped up a couple of menus off the bar ready to serve some customers who had just arrived.
"Great so I guess I'll be seeing you then around nine". Emma nodded eagerly and left shortly after having nowhere to go but the beach. She set her jacket down on the sand and sat watching the boats drifting in and out of the harbour until she fell asleep underneath the stars.