DISCLAIME: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING :(

A/N: I am so so so so sorry for not updating for so long. I hope everyone can forgive me :) I just want to thank everyone for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and alerting this story. It meant so much to me. I know this chapter is small, but it's a little filler to get to the main event so to speak. Please read and enjoy :)

The House That Destroyed Me

Sofia slowed the car to a stop on the deserted road. Looking to her left out the driver's side window she saw the broken down remains of the house she grew up in. The same house that contained the demons of her past. The house that once seemed so big to a scared 18 year old, now seemed small and insignificant. Sofia's glance swept across the uncut grass to the cracked and peeling paint along the windows. The front door held a white cage screen but offered no other security. A breeze wafted through the car, blowing Sofia's hair around her head. It also made the screen door fly open and slam shut again. Suddenly she was 18 years old again and running away.

FLASHBACK:

Sofia quietly packed her bag with all the clothes she could fit. Tip-toeing over to the door, she peaked her head out to listen for her father. When she didn't hear anything, Sofia softly made her way down the hallway to the front door. Passing through the living room, she spotted her father passed out across the couch.

Sofia knew this was her only chance for freedom. If he woke up now, there would be hell to pay and Sofia wanted to be in another state by the time he discovered her missing. Sending up a silent prayer, Sofia grasped the handle to the door. Only opening it enough to squeeze through, she shut the heavy door behind her. In her relief, she had forgotten about the screen door till she was half way across the yard.

At the slam of the door, Sofia took off down the block. Hoping that the noise hadn't woken her father up and if it did, that she would be gone but the time he had gotten up to chase her. Glancing over her shoulder every few seconds, Sofia finally slowed down to a walk. She was free…and she was never going back.

END OF FLASHBACK:

Sofia clenched her eyes tightly together. Being here, in this place, in this town brought up feelings from the past. She could almost feel the bruises and the cuts and the whip marks.

FLASHBACK

"How many damn times have I told you to be careful?" Dominic yelled. "We don't have money to waste, you ungrateful little brat."

"I'm sorry." An eight-year-old Sofia pleaded.

"Sorry isn't going to put food on the table." Dominic started to unbuckle his belt.

"Please don't. I'm sorry."

"Shut up!" Dominic roared. He pushed her down on her bed and slapped the belt across her back. "You'll learn to behave."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Sofia, now 12, sat up in her bed when she heard the front door swing open then slam shut. She could hear her father stumble across the living room, knocking into things he'll blame her for later. Sofia squeezed her eyes shut and hid under her blanket. She hoped that he would pass out soon before he could come into her room. When she heard her bedroom door fling open, she knew luck wasn't on her side. The covers were ripped from her body and his hand grabbed a fistful of her hair.

"I work all day to put a fucking roof over your head. And when I come home, the fucking house isn't clean. Why the hell isn't my house clean? We're you out whoring yourself around?" Sofia knew when he was this drunk, it wasn't wise to try and plead with him. He would just beat her hard. "Answer me!" Dominic threw her to the floor. Sofia closed her eyes and braced herself. The air whooshed from her lungs at the first kick to the ribs. She didn't hear a crack till after the fourth kick. Sofia laid there trying to take shallow breaths. She didn't move till her father had passed out on the couch. It was only than that she got up and went to her room.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Sofia glanced at the calendar on the wall. There was only two days left till she was 18. All she had to make it through was two more days. Then she could leave this place and never look back. Sofia checked to make sure her father wasn't home before pulling an old coffee can from under her bed. Opening the lid she dumped the money across her bed. Doing a quick count, she noted that she was almost a grand in cash. Hoping that would get her as far away from her as possible. Carefully, she replaced all the money and put it back in her hiding spot. If her dad ever caught her with that, then she would be dead.

Sofia went out to the kitchen and began preparing dinner. At 5:30, Dominic stumbled through the front door, already three sheets to the wind. Sofia just smiled at him and told him dinner was ready. Sitting down at the table, Sofia put the plate in front of Dominic.

"Something you want to tell me?" Dominic demanded

"Is something wrong?"

"I don't remember buying hamburgers. Want to tell me where you got all this shit?"

"The grocery store."

Dominic slammed his hand on the table. "Don't get smart with me. I know you've been working at the grocery store. Lenny saw you the other day."

"It was only to buy groceries. That's it."

"Are you saying I don't provide for you?" Dominic stood up.

"No, it's just…you've been so busy and work hard." Sofia stammered out, "I just wanted to help."

Dominic grabbed her hair, yanking her head back. "I won't have you lying to me."
"I'm sorry." Sofia pleaded. Her face snapped to the side at the force of his backhand. Licking her lower lip, she could tell that it was bleeding. That night, after he was done, Sofia laid in her bed looking at the calendar. One eye was swollen shut, making it hard to see but Sofia kept her eyes trained on the date two days from then.

END OF FLASHBACK

Sofia reached into her bag and pulled out her pistol. Loading it with familiar ease, she clicked the safety off before reaching for the door handle. As she stepped from the car, Sofia put the gun in the waist band of her jeans. All emotions shut off as she walked up the dirt driveway. She wouldn't let the past affect her now, not when she has come so far. Sofia rolled her eyes when she discovered that the screen door and the front door was unlocked. Sofia wrinkled her nose at the smell, strong enough to make her want to gag.

She glanced around the living room, noticing the empty beer bottles and pizza boxes. Sofia bypassed the smelly kitchen and walked down the hallway. She stopped at the door that was once her room. Taking a deep breath, Sofia pushed it open. Pressing a hand to her rolling stomach, the room looked exactly the way she left it. Opening the closet and clicking on the light, she squatted down to run her hand over the wording carved into the wood. 'It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up'. It was a testament to herself that she wouldn't die in that house. Sofia ran her hand across it once more before standing up. However, when she turned around, all the breath left her body at the sight before her.

"Hello Sofia."

"Dominic."

There it is...chapter 8. Please remember to review. I love to hear the feedback from everyone. I had to rewrite the outline for this story and rework some things but I should be updating a little quicker now.

-SexyPunk54-

PS: For my readers of Safe in His Arms. I am about half way through the next chapter and hope to get it up sometime this weekend. So be on the look out for that :)