Chapter One,

Marble Floors and White Panelled Walls.

Her tears were waterfalls that gushed from her delicately slanted eyes while she clutched desperately onto her grazed knees. She pressed her back even further against the wall hoping for it desperately to swallow her up whole so she never had to be in this situation again. She squeezed her swollen red eyes shut and covered her ears to try and shield herself from the banging on the locked door. The sound of his fist slamming against the door echoed off the crystallized shower doors and penetrated her small defenses. She flinched each time as it reminded her of what was coming once he got through that door. Finally there was a small pause, her heart swelled at the idea that he had given up or calmed down. But too soon did his disturbing accent interrupt her hopeful thoughts.

"Lily, just let me in," he spat, "We both know I have a key for this door somewhere. Just save me the trouble and open up." His voice struggled for a reasonable tone as he used his own personal nickname for the crumpled body on the cold wet tiles. Her sobs shook her small figure as she gasped and choked on salty tears.

"No," she whispered almost inaudibly as she forced the word through clenched teeth.

"Fine if that's how you want it." Hatred slipped into his venomous words like poison while his footsteps sounded from the staircase as he was answered with silence.

"Please don't," she begged. Her plea sounded weak from the abuse and stress of their unstable relationship and she struggled to muster what little fight was left.

After a short pause that felt like eternity she heard his footsteps draw closer and began to panic. She had given up hope for help to come because her screams of terror should've been enough for anyone that was within earshot. She began to frantically search for anything that could assist her and scrambled to her feet as the key in the door twisted and turned trying to open.

She grabbed at the handle as a last attempt. Her fists clamped around the silver knob as her knuckles reddened and struggled against his strength. Finally the handle came loose, he must've used his shoulders or feet as the door abruptly opened with intense force. She fell backwards and curled up into a small ball against the bath tub; protecting her head with bruised arms. She knew what was coming as his troll-like feet stormed their way over to her. She peeked out from beneath her stick figure arms. A smirk tugged at his fat pink lips while he shook with pleasure for the sorry sight he had put her in. A glint of pride sparkled in his cold blue eyes while his fist came down on her broken body. She whimpered with defeat before the screams began again.

Delilah wasn't sure whether or not it had been seconds, minutes or hours before the sound of angels came knocking on the doorstep. But when the heavy fist of the law slammed on the glass panels of the ranch slider, she knew she had been saved and her screams had been answered. Mikael paused and listened again for what he hoped was a mistake but once it echoed through the house again and sliced through the silence that enveloped them sprinted upstairs with his tail between his legs. Delilah guessed it was to remove his blood-splattered clothing, or to hide under the bed.

She patted herself down with a damp towel and did her best to make herself presentable, her unruly hair had a mind of its own and she attempted to tame it by imprisoning it with a hair tie. It did little to hide the bruises on her cheeks and the blood on her only clothes from the still weeping slices on her arms and wrists. Some self-inflicted, and others Mikael had taken great pleasure in causing. She shuddered at the thought of his yellow-toothed grin and his thick tongue licking his cracked lips while he attacked her with a tiny silver paring knife. She shook her head trying to erase the memories and quickly scavenged the bathroom for some clothes. Once clothed and her bruises mostly covered, she did one last brush over herself and wondered how she could've let it come to this as she opened the bathroom door. Her small feet padded across the sponge-like carpet and she opened the curtains and door just as a large, burly, tan man of six foot went to knock again. His partner leaned against the rails on the porch, his arms folded and a looked of disinterest and tiredness shadowed his face. He was white, and ginger haired but taller than his partner and equally as intimidating.

At first sight, as they had been trained to do, they surveyed the situation and the biggest situation at the time seemed to be the young girl who answered the door. The first police officer had an olive complexion with a bulky frame and a dark green tattoo on his left arm that gave away his race to anyone familiar with Samoan traditions. He frowned but tried to keep a steady gaze over the petite Delilah, who she introduced herself as, that reminded him vividly of his own daughter. His daughter's eyes slanted the same way as Delilah's but Delilah had a slightly wider, much wilder look. Her brown eyes were an open book, they glinted with an edge of intelligence and reminded the police officer of someone who had seen too much of the harsh realities this world had to offer. Her curvy frame could have been attractive even to him if it weren't for the wrinkled clothes that donned her figure unflatteringly. The officer didn't miss the splotches of blood that were slowly forming on the cuffs of her shirt.

The first officer's partner was of a similar build to his own but an all business with less concerning expression on his aging, weary face. They introduced themselves to Delilah with carefully practised speeches she could tell they'd recited hundreds of times but even so she was happy to have a name for these crime fighting heroes. Officer Walker was the first to speak, and his tattoo flexed over his bicep while tightening his shirt as he pulled his notebook and pen from his belt. "Is there anyone else here Delilah?" His voice was soft and soothing after all the abuse from the screaming and beating that had been echoing in her ears for so long.

She nodded meekly, "Mikael, he's my boyfriend who actually lives here. I'm just visiting. That's him now," she stated matter-of-factly when his footsteps stormed down the stairs. She looked down and covered her swollen red face with bleak stringy hair that had escaped its tie.

Not a good sign Walker observed while he asked, "do you need any medical assistance Delilah?" He nodded towards her arms as blood began trailing down to her hand. She shook her head and folded her sleeves down further. Before he could insist, Mikael walked into view, he was thin, extremely underweight in fact, with pale skin splotched red from recent anger rushes. His feet were bare and his lanky figure walking taller than he looked. Still a head shorter than himself, Walker thought Mikael's arrogance was what kept Mikael so confident at the time.

"Morning Mikael, my name is Officer Walker and this is my partner Officer Trevelley. There were reports of screaming and yelling coming from this house by the neighbours. Can you tell us why?" His voice was very stern and made the couple feel like children being scolded for playing too loudly.

"We were just arguing and fighting sir." Delilah's voice was more confident with this protection around her, but she was only telling half of the truth. Walker glanced at Delilah then stared at the skinny, gaunt looking boy as he avoided eye contact with him, "Is this so Mikael?"

"Yessir." His voice stuttered while he spat his words.

"Okay then, we're going to split you two up and you can each tell us what happened and we will discuss it further from there, are we clear?" He was answered by nods and murmurs of confirmation. "Delilah you can come with me, we'll go outside."

She followed in his heavy footsteps out the ranch-slider and onto the porch; sunrays broke through the thin line of trees that surrounded the house. Its warm embrace was gratefully welcomed onto Delilah's delicate skin, and Walker looked at her as she took in the world like it was caressing her very presence. Welcoming her back home into the wild, he thought. Quickly he snapped out of his daydream, "Would you like to tell me what really happened in there?" Her shoulders dropped and a look of misery consumed her.

"We were just fighting like I said before. I just want to go home now. But I have exams today and I was on my way out to do them but he didn't want me to leave." He could tell she wasn't lying but obviously from her condition it wasn't just your average argument.

"Did he physically hurt you?" Walker's concern was a little too obvious for his liking and his voice was lathered with affection. He toned it down a little when he looked at Delilah's shocked expression.
"Nothing I couldn't handle, officer." Her head tilted to the side in curiosity but he remained sombre and composed.
"Is there anything you'd like us to do, do you want to press charges or anything for the damages he's caused you? Even file for a restraining order?" He insisted with an eager tone.
"No, it's fine. I would just like to go home now if that's okay?"
"Okay we'll go inside and see what my partner has decided and then we'll take you home." he directed her to the door and opened it for her. As her body brushed against his hip she inhaled sharply and turned towards the officer. A deep sense of familiarity with this man washed over her and she breathed a sigh of relief before turning again towards her attacker. Walker's eyes flew wide and he realized he'd been holding his breath. Never had he seen such a beautiful serene expression on a person's face. She looked so safe and comfortable and he was glad she felt this way around him but his palms were sweaty and he stayed silent, unable to express the feeling he was experiencing.

"You two stay in here, within our sight while we go outside and discuss what'll happen." Trevelley ordered firmly and stepped out the door which Officer Walker was still holding open. "Do you think they're telling the truth?" Trevelley inquired with a disinterested tone.

"No, clearly this kid has been abusing her and he should suffer for it." Walker was stern in his decision but Trevelley couldn't understand the anger that seeped into his voice.

"I was thinking of giving them a separation order for a few days and hopefully that'll buy the girl some time to come to her senses."Trevelley answered with equal hostility.

"She has all the sense she needs, she's just trying to do the right thing Gregory," Walker blurted out before thinking and quickly reconciled, "but yes, a 72 hour separation order should do the trick."

Trevelley was taken aback but shrugged when Walker asked him if he believed Mikaels claims. "These foreigners will be the death of me, honestly Luke I don't know how much longer I can take of their shit."

"I'm a foreigner!" Walker gave a sheepish grin and signed off the orders.

"Hurry up, it's past my lunch break." Trevelley rolled his eyes and went back into the house. Walker stepped cautiously back in and left the door open to let the sun in. He hoped it made Delilah feel more comfortable and she smiled at her toes when the rays reached in, a smile tugged at his lips as well. He handed the two teenagers yellow slips that outlined their restrictions on each other. Delilah read it over quickly but Mikael struggled to follow pursuit, she cringed at the idea of having absolutely no contact with Mikael and not being able to come within a 100 meter radius of each other, "We work at the same place though? How are we supposed to manage that?"

"Just don't make any contact with each-other, you could always give a full report of what happened and we can get Mikael removed from the premises. I'm sure your employer will understand?" Walker suggested promptly, the same smile that tugged before was slowly becoming a smirk and he struggled to keep a composed, professional appearance.

Delilah looked up at Mikael and shook her head, "No that won't be necessary."

Officer Walker sighed and nodded quickly, "Do you have things here that you need to take home with you today Delilah? And what about transport?" Her name rolled off his tongue like he had been saying it for years, and it was the most natural feeling in the world. Her brain started working quickly as she tried to remember the things she wanted to take with her and how she was going to walk half a mile carrying it all. "We can drop you home Delilah, in fact it would make us much more comfortable if you would let us?" Walker asked gently.

"It would?" Trevelley interrupted.

Walker rolled his eyes and a deep frown formed on his forehead that made Delilah want to smooth it away with her thumb, "please? I would really appreciate that. I'll be right down." Her cheeks flushed red at the idea of needing their help once more as if they hadn't done enough so far but she had no other option and she knew if she were left here alone with Mikael he would be furious with her. She gathered her things and packed them in her brother's back-pack she let Mikael borrow. Tears threatened but she sniffed and shook her head comforting herself with the fact that she will be home soon and free to relax in her warm, cosy bed. After jamming her feet into her sneakers she bobbed down the stairs and slammed right into Officer Walker who had been waiting at the bottom for her.

He caught her as she fell backwards by wrapping his arm around her slim waist and the intoxicating scent of sweet pea and orchids filled his nostrils. She gasped as his hand grabbed at her hip and he took a deep sharp breath before letting go. "Ready?" he asked with a deep husky voice that grinded on his throat..

"Ready!" she chirped. She looked over at Mikael and nodded, his eyes were burning with panic and silently begging her to stay. But he knew this was the last straw, that it had come too far this time. As they each walked out the door, Walker turned before he was the last to leave and faced Mikael.

"72 hours Mikael, and I will check up on her. If I see a single new bruise, mark or scratch on this girl you'll be behind bars before you can say sorry." His tone was firm, and the same frown appeared on on his forehead that made him look more than his 28 years of age.

"Yessir." Mikael stuttered again as he shoved his bloody hands deeper into his pockets.

Walker shut the door and turned to see Delilah waiting by the car for his permission to enter. The light reflected off her hair gave her an almost golden halo around her auburn ringlets that had fallen from the ponytail. Her eyes were alive but they betrayed her with delicate tears as they fell limply onto her pale cheeks. She sniffled and shoved them away with a closed fist.

Walker ran his hands through his hair as his heart fluttered at the movement of her body, what was he going to do with this girl?