Chapter 3: Andros Finds Out

Ashley was getting ready for another date with Andros. Her puppy, Astro, was sleeping on the bed. Mr. Hammond came in. "Ashley, where are you going?" He asked. Ashley winced, she could hear his slurring and she could tell by his stance, he was drunk.

"I've got a date remember?" She answered with another question.

"Date? Never said you could go on a date," he slurred.

Ashley closed her eyes. "I'm going to go hang with Brad and the guys, you stay here and watch the house," he added. Ashley didn't look at him when he touched her shoulder. She winced when he put the pressure on her shoulder to try and make her look at him. "You call that strange kid, Andros, or whatever his name is and tell him you're not going out," he snapped.

"I can't do that," she answered.

She gasped when he spun her around and threw her up against the wall. "Don't you dare disobey me Ashley LeAnn," he snapped. Ashley winced and turned her head away from him, but when he grabbed her hair to make her face him she whimpered. "You're mine, I own you, and you will respect me. Do you understand?" He asked. Ashley nodded slowly. "Cancel that date," he snapped. He threw her against the wall harder making the teenager fall to the floor. Mr. Hammond turned and left the room. Ashley just laid there and waited to hear the door close, then she burst into tears.

Andros came up to the house and saw that it was dark. He became confused and he got out of the car, walked up to the door, and knocked. There was no answer and he tried again. After a few minutes, Andros opened the door and went in. "Ashley?" He called. He looked up the stairs to find that Ashley's bedroom light was on. He climbed the stairs and went in. What he saw shocked him. He saw his girlfriend curled up in a ball in the corner. "Ashley!" He gasped. Astro stood in front of Ashley and growled. Andros patted Astro's head to assure him that he wasn't going to hurt Ashley. "Ashley, answer me," he begged. Once he pulled her into his arms, she seemed to come out of her shock and she started to cry again. However, when he went to pick her up, she let out a shriek.

"Ow!" She sobbed.

Andros picked her up and set her down on the bed. He looked at her face to see bruises and her lip looked like it had been reopened. "Ashley, who did this to you?" He asked. The tears fell down Ashley's face, but she didn't speak. "Ashley, you have to talk to me," he insisted. He touched her face and gently stroked her face, being aware of the bruises on her face. "Who did this to you?" He asked.

"My father," was her only reply.

Andros lifted her sleeve and he felt his heart break in so many pieces to find bruises. Ashley quickly pulled her arm away. "You're not supposed to know! He'll kill you! Oh, God, Andros, he's going to kill you!" She gasped and more tears streamed down her face. Andros wiped her tears away.

"Ashley, nothing will happen to me," he assured her.

She shook her head. "He was going to kill Cassie. He found out that Cassie knows and he was going to kill her," she sobbed. She curled up in a ball on the bed and cried. Andros climbed onto the bed and pulled her into his arms. She buried her head into his chest and cried. "He'll kill you, he'll kill you, he'll kill you," she repeated over and over.

"He's not going to get me, Ash, I promise," he murmured.

He kissed her forehead and held her close. "He's not going to get me," he assured her. Andros pulled back. "But, Ashley, I have to see what else he did to you," he told her. Ashley bit her lip as she nodded. She got up and stood in front of him. Andros watched her as she took off the long-sleeved blouse she was wearing. His eyes widened when he saw bruises on her stomach and side. He looked up to find the bruises going all the way up right before the shirt collar should be.

"Ready to see my other side?" She asked.

Ashley slowly turned her back to him and his eyes widened in disbelief. Her back was covered in bruises. Some where healing, but some look fresh. "The bigger ones are from when he threw me up against the wall," she informed. She reached over and grabbed her shirt again. She pulled it back on and sighed.

"Anywhere else?" He asked.

Ashley nodded and she also showed him her legs. They were all bruised up. "Why do you think I haven't worn my shorts or skirts?" She asked.

"How long has he been doing this to you?" He asked.

Ashley sat down on the chair across her room and held Astro in her arms. "Umm, ten years," she replied. Andros's eyes widened.

"Why didn't you say anything?" He asked.

"I did say something. The police believed my father over me. That night I wished I would just die because the beatings were so horrible I couldn't take it anymore."

Ashley rubbed Astro's stomach and she let out a sigh. "Ashley, you can't keep living like this," he told her.

"I know that," she answered.

She lowered her head. "Why do you think I stayed on the Megaship longer than the others? I never wanted to go home," she added. Andros sat back.

"We could've stayed on KO-35. You and me," he pointed out.

"No, I can leave him."

"Why not?"

"He said he's going to get help."

"How long has he been saying that?"

Ashley just stared at him. "He said he's going to get help, we'll be okay again," she assured him. She gasped when she heard the front door open and close.

"Ashley," Mr. Hammond called.

"You have to go," she whispered.

"Ashley! Where are you?" Mr. Hammond called out.

Ashley felt her heart pounding against her chest. "If he finds you here he'll know that you know and he'll kill you," she told him. She ran towards the window and opened it. "Please go," she added. Andros nodded and ran over to the window. He gave her a kiss before starting to go through.

"You know where to find me," he reminded.

Ashley nodded. "Now please go," she answered. Andros left and Ashley closed the window.

"ASHLEY!" Mr. Hammond shouted.

"COMING!" Ashley answered.

She ran down the stairs, but she knew it was going to be a very long night.