I'm sorry it took me so long to update this. I've been so busy with Connected that I've completely neglected this story. For that I am sorry. Anyway, here's what you all have been waiting for patiently for.

Chapter Four

Bounding down the stairs, Bradin emerged into the living room freshly showered and changed from his morning surfing. Johnny was sitting on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV.

"Hey Bradin," he said, looking up from his channel surfing, "did you see that girl again today?"

"Yep," Bradin replied sitting down beside the older man.

"And?" Johnny asked, his eyebrows arched in question.

"We talked for a little bit," the young man said, "and then she ran away again." Bradin sighed heavily. "What am I doing wrong?" he leaned his head back against the couch and looked up at the ceiling.

"Who knows," Johnny sighed. Bradin looked over at the older man and saw that his thoughts were somewhere else entirely. "No man will ever know what goes on inside the female mind." He added. Just then Bradin's aunt walked down the stairs and entered the living room.

"Hey Bradin," Ava said with a wide smile, "how was surfing today?"

"It was alright," Bradin replied, "no really big waves though." Ava nodded and continued on into the kitchen. Bradin glanced over at Johnny and knew that they wouldn't be doing any more talking right then.


The darkness slowly released Marie. She opened her eyes slowly, wincing as the pain flooded through her body. Slowly, tentatively, she stood, grabbing her stomach as she felt a wave of nausea pass over her. Swallowing hard, she forced the bile back down her throat. Reluctant to look in the mirror, Marie knew she had to do it so that she could take a damage report and figure out how to cover the bruises she knew covered her body. Turning slowly towards her full-length mirror, she stifled a gasp.

A large, purple and black bruise covered the left side of her face. Her left eye was swollen, and the corner of her mouth had grown to twice its size and was still getting bigger. Bruises covered her arms and, when she lifted her shirt, she could see bruises covering her entire stomach. She looked like a monster.

Tears bit at her eyes, but Marie refused to let them fall. She closed her eyes tightly; wincing slightly at the pain in her left eye, and tried to gain control of her rising emotions. Opening her eyes, Marie forced herself to look in the mirror once more. She had to confront her image, had to make herself see what she had become. It wasn't her choice to be used as a human punching bag, but if her sacrifice saved her mother from the same fate, Marie would bear it.

She reached for her make-up bag and pulled out a bottle of concealer. Gingerly she applied the make-up until it hid the worst of her bruise. There was nothing she could do about her eye, and she would just have to wear long sleeves to hide her arms until the bruising started to fade. Other than that she would be able to go out without facing too many questions from people.


Steering his skateboard through the crowds of people that wandered around Playa Linda's boardwalk, Bradin headed towards the surf shop one of his aunt's roommates, Jay, owned.

"You're late." Jay said, his Australian accent carrying through the small shop as Bradin walked through the "door."

"Sorry," the teen replied. He wasn't gonna try and offer an excuse, after all, Jay knew how hectic things were around the beach house.

"You can stock the new shipment of board wax." Jay said as he continued to sand the surfboard he was working on. Along with supplying the local, and tourist, surfers with supplies, Jay also sold surfboards that he himself made.

Bradin walked into the backroom and picked up the box of surf wax that Jay pointed out to him. He carried it out and began to stock the wooden shelves. The work was easy. All he had to do was make sure that the labels were facing out and that each brand was put together. It left lots of time for his mind to wander. And wander it did.

The mysterious glint in Marie's eyes burned into Bradin's mind. He couldn't forget the way her hair blew in the wind, or the way her pale skinned became flushed when she had caught him looking at her. There was something special about Marie that kept Bradin from forgetting her. Even though they hadn't even spent an hour together, Bradin felt close to her. She didn't tell him anything about herself, but he still felt as if he knew her intimately. She looked strong and confident, but at the same time, she was like a deer caught in the headlights. It was as if something terrible and evil was bearing down on her and she could not flee from it, could only stay rooted where she was. She confused Bradin to no end, and his thinking of her only served to confuse him further.

He was attracted to her, that much was clear, but when he looked at her there was a stirring, an urge to protect her from whatever haunted her. He wanted nothing more than to draw her into his arms and hold her tightly and never let her go. His mind was in over drive. He could almost feel her skin against his own. The one touch of her skin he had been allowed left him wanting for more. It was like silk beneath his fingers, soft and creamy.

It was then that the idea struck Bradin. Next time he saw Marie, no matter how hard she tried to leave, he would not let her go until he had talked to her, and until he had asked her out.


Marie balanced the tray that she held in her hands as she climbed up the stairs. She made sure that the tea didn't spill over and that the food didn't slid around on the plate. Toeing the door to her mother's bedroom open gently, Marie walked inside.

The room was dark, the blinds drawn, blocking out the afternoon sun, and the only light was from a nearly burnt out light beside the bed. The soft light cast an eerie glow over her mother's sallow face, making her appear even more ghost like than she already was. Her thin, fragile body was hidden beneath the many comforters that covered her. Her body was racked by harsh shivers, making the whole bed shake. The raven black hair that framed her gaunt face hung limp and was thinning. Streaks of gray flashed whenever she gathered the strength to move her head. There were dark circles beneath her eyes, causing her to look so much older than her thirty-seven years.

Marie hated seeing her mother this way. Life with an abusive husband had aged her beyond recognition. Marie could remember when her mother used to walk along the beach, her long hair being swept about her face by the breeze. She could remember the way her laugh had sounded, the way her lips would always turn up in a smile whenever Marie did something she approved of. But those years were long past. Things had changed. Mother and daughter were no longer carefree. Now they were weighed down by past scares and fears that still lingered.

Placing the tray down on the bedside table, Marie pulled back the covers and climbed in beside her mother. Wrapping her arms around her mom, Marie could feel her bones. Tears streamed down her face and her body began to shake along with her mother's.

Why had fate dealt them this existence? Why couldn't they be a happy family again? The answer was simply. Her stepfather. He had blinded her mother, blinded Marie with his charm, his presents, his smile. But he had turned. He wasn't nice anymore; he was a horrible monster devouring all the happiness that had once surrounded Marie's family.

"I'll figure out a way to save us mom," she whispered, certain that her mother could not hear her, "I'll figure out a way to get us free from him."


Sorry it was so short, but I wanted to post a chapter soon. I can't believe how long it's been since I last updated. I apologize for that and I sincerely hope it won't take so long for the next chapter.

I as rereading this story and noticed that the chapters were taking on a pattern. I promise that there will be more action soon, you all have my word on that. Next chapter should be the beginning of much more action and turmoil. Perhaps there will even be some Ava/Johnny romance going on. Hint, hint ;)

Ms. Vaughn: Actually, something very similiar to your idea is going to happen in the story. You'll just have to keep reading to see exactly what it is.

#1 Sumerland fan!: Thanks you so much for the compliment. I love it when people feel as if they are a part of my stories. There is nothing better for an author than to know how much people enjoy reading their work. Thank you.

beAchbuMxX, atruwriter, darkdestiney2000, Banana Belle, and dolphinchick2568: Thank you all so much for taking the time to read and review this story. You have no idea how much it means to me.