Chapter 4 – Just a Domestic

"W-who?" I asked. I need to find a way to protect Patty. I need to make sure he can't get to her. How?

"You know who." He was still sat down. Maybe I had time to run for the door.

"I really don't." I lied, taking a step backwards.

"You're not going anywhere until you tell me who he was."

"He's – no one."

"So why did you get into his car?"

He was watching me? I hesitated, trying to think of a lie, any lie, that would help. And his eyes flicked to Patty.

That scared me, more than anything. He never normally looks at her, hardly notices she's here. But the way he looked at her then, was almost a threat, and that...angers me. How dare he threaten her?

"I – I was scared and upset." I said suddenly, bitterly, taking another step back. "He was just being a friend. Being nice. See, unlike you, he's nice. He's human, you see." I spat. Probably not my brightest idea, but I couldn't help it. He'd threatened my daughter, and, God, I'm so sick of this. Sick of living this way, sick of being like this.

I can't take it anymore.

"Don't talk to me like that!" He yelled.

"What, so you like it when I sound scared and pathetic? You like knowing how terrified I am of you? What is it, Dan, do you get a kick out of it?" I snapped.

I've haven't been like this since the beginning, and somehow I can't stop. I've finally had enough, finally reached breaking point.

"Don't talk to me like that!" He yelled again.

Oops. Bravery vanishes, then, because he's stood up now, pure rage in his eyes like I've never seen before. If I'd reached my breaking point, I've just shoved him into his.

He slaps me, with the back of his hand, and I'm sent flying, and Patty rolls from my arms.

"No!" I crawled towards her, my head pounding, stars dancing in front of my eyes. "Patty."

She was screaming, but she was OK. He hurt her. I let him hurt her. I'll never forgive myself for that, never.

"Look what you DID!" I screamed.

He knelt down next to me, grabbed my hair and ragged my head back.

"I'm going to make you wish you were never born." He said quietly.

"I already do." I spat.

But I was petrified.

Well, for the last three days I've been locked in Patty's room.

I sure learned my lesson. Stand up to Dan and you get locked in a toddler's room for three days, barely staying alive on sips of water.

Patty's in here with me. I gave her most of the glass of water he gave me this morning. She's so hungry, she doesn't understand.

He walked into the room, looked at me huddled in the corner.

"Pathetic." He muttered.

"You're pathetic!" I screamed at him. I couldn't help it; I'm done playing the weak little battered women. I refuse it, now, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because of Leo, because I finally admitted aloud what's been happening. Maybe it's because of Patty. All I know is that I won't stand for it anymore. Patty deserves better, and maybe I do, too.

He lunged at me, and I ducked out of the way.

He changed direction, grabbed my hair again, then began kneeing me in the back, again, and again.

"Dan, no!" I screamed as he threw me on the floor. "Just – stop – just leave me alone. For God's sake, why won't you just let me go?!"

He doesn't love me, doesn't want me around, why won't he just let me leave?

"Help!" I screamed.

"Shut up!" He hit me again, and again. I thought it would never end. I thought this was the end, that I was going to die. And all I could think was that Patty would be left alone with him.

I won't. I won't die and just leave her with him. I won't.

But then there was a knock on the door. For a moment, we all froze. Even Patty stopped screaming.

"Sit." Dan commanded.

In pain and dazed, I sat.

I heard him open the door, and began talking. I soon realised who it was.

The police. Someone had heard, someone had called, and the police were here.

They wouldn't help. They never had. All it would do was make him madder.

"Hey, Piper! Come out her a minute, honey." He called, his voice dripping with niceness as much as his hair dripped with gel.

I walked to the doorway.

"Ma'am, we received a call from one of your neighbours, who heard an argument. He seemed to feel it was necessary for us to intervene." It's a male officer, who looks unconcerned. I'm not sure which ones I prefer, the ones who talk to you in that soft, careful voice, tell you they can help if only you let them, or the ones who plainly believe that none of this has anything to do with them.

"Just a little arguement." Dan said lightly. "Isn't that right, darling?"

"Yes." I said quietly. The first time the police came, I thought it was my escape, my one hope, and I told them what had happened. Then I paid for it later. "Every thing's OK, now." I need to get out. I need to get back to Patty and get her out of here.

"If you're sure ..." The police man said.

I nodded. His eyes lingered on a cut on my forehead which was slowly bleeding, and I turned back to Patty.

"OK, bye." Dan said cheerily to the police officers. After closing the door, he went to the window, and watched their car drive away.

"You!" He yelled, turning to me.

"I didn't do anything!" I cried.

"They heard you and called the police. Why were you screaming?"

"Because you were hurting me!" I cried. "You know you were hurting me, and damn it I can't live like this anymore, Dan!"

"You -"

"You've kept me locked up in that room for three days because I spoke to another man! That's not normal Dan, it's wrong!"

He looked at me for ages, then ...

"Dan – put the knife down!" I screamed.