Threat

"The first time, he caught me by pure chance." She set the cup down and pushed herself out of the chair again. This wasn't a memory she liked and tried very hard not to think about. "Everything was packed, I'd written letters to my friends and family; I was just going to disappear for a while, drop of the radar. I borrowed a friend's car and I had just made it out of the building when I saw him. He was across the street, a bag of takeout in his hands." She shook her head as she paced, her arms wrapped around her waist. "There hadn't been a beating in a couple weeks and I guess I fooled him enough into thinking everything was good between us. He was bringing me lunch during his work break, as a surprise.

Even from across the street, I could see the rage in his eyes, the way it contorted his features. I knew it was then or never. I dropped my bag, just left it there on the sidewalk and ran towards the car. My hands were shaking so bad as I dug the keys out of my pocket; it took too long." She paused and let out a slow breath, calming her heart as she'd lost herself in the nightmarish memory.

"For two weeks I couldn't sit up without help, could hardly move without some sort of assistance." Her small hands tightened into fists as she shuddered. "I was completely at his mercy and he knew it, made sure I knew it. He found the letters to my family, my friends; I was going to drop them at the post office as soon as I got out of town. It only made things worse."

Once again, his curiosity compelled him to interrupt and interrupt he did. "Your family never found out," he said, both question and statement. He already knew, had known as soon as she had mentioned the letters. Despite what her intentions might have been, he knew.

She shook her head and smiled sadly. "No. Not until that night, of the accident." She stopped, had to take another deep breath to relax the tense muscles in the back of her neck. "He threatened them, you see, especially Souta."

o.O.o

Word Count: 378