Hey guys here is the prelude to a brand new story we have for you! Read, review and tell us what you think!

Mercedes' phone had been vibrating for the last hour, and it took everything in her not to answer in the middle of class. She was scared of what she would find when she finally did. A wreck, someone was hurt? It had to be big. But, it wasn't until she handed out their exams, did she sneak a peek at what was happening, and that was when the real horror had begun.

Mercedes its Marley. I really need your help

I know you are in class but as soon as you get this call me

Maybe textin you was a mistake I mean it's not even that bad

Yes, it is, it's bad he hit me again, in my stomach, he said I was cheating on him but I'm not.

Oh God he is drunk…came in here and passed out right on me, I can't do this anymore you were right I need to leave

I can't go. I can't. He will kill me

Just forget the text okay

WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TURNING MARLEY AGAINST ME! I WILL KILL YOUR STUPID ASS IF YOU EVER REACH OUT TO HER AGAIN! AND THEN I WILL BURY HER ON TOP OF YOU! BITCH!

Mercedes shuttered; Justin had gotten into Marley's phone, which meant it was time for her to get her friend out of there. She knew something was wrong when Marley didn't show up, and a sub had to take over her responsibilities.

Mercedes had met the brunette two years ago when she came into the Elementary school. Mercedes taught fourth grade English and was over the choir. Marley came in as her TA. She felt in her soul there was something wrong with Marley's loser boyfriend, and when the truth finally came out, it took everything in her to not go over to his place.

Mercedes removed her glasses and pressed the bridge of her nose in frustration. She was nonviolent, but she would make an exception when it came to Justin. For the last six months, Mercedes had been trying to convince her to leave him; they had a plan, but Marley was scared, she didn't tell Mercedes why, but she said to her that she was scared he would always be able to find her.

Mercedes checked the time. It was 1:45 pm. They kept track of his coming and going for the last few weeks. In about an hour, he would be gone, and that was her opening. Her time to get Marley and take her somewhere safe. She had to see if the Underground could get her a passport.

Like in other cities, Miami had an Underground Network for Abused Women. Luckily, Mercedes had an in; her cousin was one of the stops. So all she needed was for Marley to let go. This had to be it; it had to be the final straw.

As her students filed out of her classroom, she pulled out her phone and called Marley, blocking her number. If Justin answered, she would hang up and regroup. They had a plan for that too. She would call back twice, letting Marley know she was parked down the street.

"He-hello?" Marley answered softly.

She answered, and that was a good sign. "Is he there? Are you hurt?"

"No… he left twenty minutes ago… I can't stay here anymore." Marley said, sniffling.

"I am on my way now; you need to pack, Now! If you aren't done when I get there, then you will just have to go without clothes; we only have a small window here, Marls."

"Oh, God! What if he comes back? What if he catches us!" She asked, panicking.

"I just got into my car; I will be there in three minutes; you know he is usually gone for an hour, so we have a bit of time here. Just pack, okay, it's okay. I promise he won't hurt you again." She said.

"Mercedes… I don't… just be careful." Marley pleaded.

"I am going to be careful, and you are going to be safe; I am gonna knock twice, then use the key you gave me. I will see you soon." She said softly. "Just keep me on the phone while you are packing. Remember to just take the things you absolutely need."

"Okay, I'm going to start packing," Marley said before hanging up to hurry and start packing.

The drive wasn't that long, and Mercedes was glad that Justin's truck wasn't in the parking lot. She sighed, parking on the street, and opened her trunk, pulling out her baseball bat. She flipped it in the air and sighed; hopefully, she wouldn't have to use it, but if Justin showed up, she wasn't going down without a fight.

Knocking twice, she used the key and walked inside the one-bedroom first one-story home. She went right to the bedroom and frowned, seeing the bruise on Marley's face. "Dammit, he did that to your face?"

"We don't have time to fuss over it… I have a bad feeling; we need to just leave." Marley replied, throwing more things into her suitcase.

Mercedes nodded. "Yeah, I got the car out front, and your first pick-up will be around 2am at my place. So he won't find you after this."

"MARLEY!" Justin shouted as he stumbled through the door. "WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?"

"Shit! He's back, he's never back this fast, and he's drunk!"

Mercedes grabbed the bat off the bed and looked at her. "We are leaving this house, and you are getting out; I don't like violence, but if I have too I will make sure he knows you are done with his ass."

Justin burst through the bedroom door and stopped seeing Marley and Mercedes looking back at him. "What the fuck is this?" He spat. "You going somewhere?"

"Justin, please, just let me go." Marley pleaded.

"Bitch! I thought I told you ass you not going nowhere. Now tell this homewrecker to get the fuck out before I get angry."

"Justin, she's leaving with me, and you need to move!" Mercedes said firmly.

Justin looked at her before running his eyes over her body and smirking. "You gonna stop me?" He asked, stepping into her personal space, grabbing at her ass, and trying to kiss her.

Mercedes reached up and slapped him across the face before she shoved him away from her. "Don't touch me!"

Justin laughed, touching his face where she slapped him. "Marley, I didn't know your friend liked playing rough. Why don't you get comfortable? The show is about to start."

"Justin, leave her alone! She's my friend!" Marley said, pushing him away from Mercedes. "Mercedes, just go!"

Justin blocked the door. "Mmmm, she's about to be my friend too. Look at that ass."

Mercedes grabbed her bat tightly. "Justin, I am gonna warn you, you need to move, or I will make you."

"Ha! Is this trick serious? Go ahead, make my day, sweetheart." Justin said, laughing again.

Mercedes closed her eyes. "Look, I am asking you one last time to let us go. I don't want to have to hurt you." She said her breath, shaky. She looked over to Marley, who was against the wall-shaking.

At that moment, Justin lunged at her as she faced away from him, wrapping his arm around her neck. She had only taken a few self-defense classes. Nevertheless, she knew how to stop certain attacks, this particular one she learned from Sandra Bullock herself. She stepped on his foot, elbowed him in his side, then, using her own flare, head-butted him.

Justin stumbled back, and she turned toward him. His nose was busted, and he was pissed. He moved to her fast-hitting her in the face, and she shoved him back, grabbing the bat and swinging it at him. She hit his shoulder, causing him to cry out.

"STUPID BITCH! IMA KILL YOU!" He said, reaching for her; she gripped the bat, swinging it and hitting him between the legs.

Justin howled in pain and saw red he jumped at her again, both of them tumbling to the bed, and he climbed on top of her wrapping his hands around her neck.

Mercedes looked at Marley, who had sunk down to the ground. "Marls…" She said slightly above a whisper, tears falling as she couldn't breathe.

Justin laughed., "That bitch is too pathetic to do anything to help you. It's time once and for all to show you who the man is. I am gonna have my way with you, and then I am gonna kill you for interfering in my life with my property."

Mercedes scratched at his hands and face, trying to get him to loosen up, but he squeezed harder. She flailed her legs out, trying to keep him off of her, but he put all his body weight on her.

Justin laughed, adjusting his hands so that his right stayed wrapped around her throat in a way where she knew it was a matter of time before the light went out for good. In contrast, the other went running down her body.

"You think she's better than you, Marls? I bet she's a screamer." He let go of her throat, and she coughed out, trying to catch her breath.

"Answer me, are you a screamer?"

Mercedes spit in his face, and he slapped her across hers. Mercedes looked back to Marley. "Please…" was all she said as his hands went back to her throat, and Mercedes felt herself about to lose consciousness.

Her fight or flight response kicked in, and she knew it was not or never, so she took the advice of every show and movie she ever saw that taught her how to get out of these situations; it wasn't smart, but she watched everything from Criminal minds to Sister Sister, and she knew one of the hundreds of shows should be right. Reaching her hands up, she shoved her fingers into his eyes.

Justin screamed, and Mercedes took the time to punch him in the face then kick him away from her. Coughing and gasping, she grabbed the fallen bat and just started swinging. Seven years of softball and playing hardball in the street with her brothers taught her the best way to hit to make sure you inflict damage.

Justin fell back against the wall as Mercedes swung and swung the bat repeatedly until Justin stopped moving.

Mercedes let the bat fall from her hands when she realized what she'd done, her hands were shaking, and blood was splattered on the walls. She took a step back and shook her head; she looked over at Marley, who was rocking back and forth before they made eye contact.

"What did you do!" Marley said, looking over at Justin's lifeless body.

"I… he… it was self-defense… it was self-defense…." She stammered, trying to control her breathing. "He was… he was going to kill me… you saw it!"

Marley stared at Justin, who was covered in blood. "Wh-what do we do?"

"We have to leave! We have to get out of here before someone comes looking for him!" Mercedes said, grabbing the bat and trying to grab Marley's hand, but she wouldn't take it.

"Marley, we have to go; we can't stay here!"

Marley shook her head. "I can't leave him."

"Marley listen to me, I will call someone for him, but first, we have to get you somewhere safe. Now get your ass in gear, and let's go!"

"I CAN'T LEAVE HIM!" Marley shouted, and Mercedes looked at her like she was crazy.

"Marley… he would've have killed you and me too. You can not stay here because I have to call the police!" Mercedes pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears. Mercedes stood up, looking over at Justin, trying to figure out what to do, but the only thing in her mind was to run. So she did.