Chapter 15

I screamed, and Ray reached in and grabbed hold of my arm, pulling me forward. I struggled and protested, grabbing onto the tent opening and planting my feet as I strained against him. He released me and I fell back onto the tent with a gasp of surprise, my hair spilling over my face. I scrambled up and paused to listen to the padding of his shoes as he moved away.

I heard a strange click and a moment later there was a flash of orange as the canvas wall of the tent was consumed in flames. I screamed and scrambled backwards and out of the tent.

Ray grasped my arm as I emerged and threw me onto the dirt, knocking the wind out of me. Then he stood over me, watching me gasp and cower in fear.

"You're going to set the forest on fire!" I yelled at him in terror.

He shrugged and his foot came down onto my chest, pressing me into the dirt.

"You're not supposed to know about this place!" I protested in despair, struggling not to cry in fear and frustration.

I was trembling in terror as I watched the tent go up in crackling orange flames behind the hard boot on my chest.

"Saw you run into the forest earlier," he said calmly, and his words were clear and cognitive. I looked up at him in surprise.

"You're not drunk?" I asked in fear, my voice quivering as I looked up into his threatening face.

"Nope. There's no more alcohol. I sent your mother to go get some. I thought I'd come and visit you. Must get lonely, slinking about my property by yourself. Or is that nosy boyfriend of yours here with you?"

I struggled to get up, looking up at him in terror. When he moved his boot and reached for me I scrambled up and moved to run. He grabbed my shirt and yanked me forward, choking me. As I stumbled and gasped for air, he slipped a hand under my stomach and picked me up, shoving me backwards against a tree.

I screamed as the wood sharply pierced my sore back, and he clamped a hand tightly over my mouth. The smoke from the blazing fire blew into my face and my eyes watered as I struggled. I scrabbled at his arm, trying desperately to breathe and he forced the splinters deeper and deeper into my skin as he spoke over the crackling of the fire.

"You're sneaking around my property and I don't like it. You are a treacherous little brat. From the day I moved in I know you've been trying to get rid of me, and I don't appreciate it."

I began to feel faint, and my strength began to waver. When the forest began to fade and I felt as if I was about to pass out, Ray released his hand from my mouth and caught me as I fell to the ground. I protested weakly with the little breath I had, and he dragged me to the tent and held me before the fire.

"You want to be in the tent? Go ahead, be in the tent!"

I screamed and pressed backwards against him, fighting to escape the bonfire before me. The heat was unbearable, and I screamed and pleaded in hysterics.

"Where's your boyfriend to save you now?" he yelled above the crackling of the flames and the scorching heat.

"You're going to kill me!" I screamed in terror, and I cringed at the sound of my own frantic voice.

I started to cough as the smoke blew into my face, and I choked and gasped as I fought to get away from the flaming canvas. Ray swung me around and shoved me away from the tent, and I fell on the ground gasping for air. I looked up at Ray and he slapped me across the face. I felt dizzy as he gripped both of my arms and yanked me up. He shook me and cursed at me.

"You are not going to get rid of me, sweetie. I'm here to stay, whether you like it or not! And if you send your boyfriend here again I'll make sure he regrets it for the rest of his pathetic existence!"

"I didn't ask him to come!"

"You didn't ask him to stay away, did you?"

"I did, I did! I told him not to worry about me!"

I watched fearfully for his reaction, hoping for his approval. Instead, he glared and raised his hand, and I closed my eyes and awaited the pain.

"Liar!" he yelled as he struck me down. "You deceiving wretch! All you do is slink around looking for ways to get rid of me! I can't believe your idiot of a mother allows you to stay here!"

"Don't talk about her that way!" I protested, and received yet another slap across the face. "Leave me alone!" I pleaded, tears running down my cheeks as I tried to get up. "Leave me alone!"

He turned away from me and moved closer to the tent, watching in approval as my sleeping arrangements burned to the ground.

With his back turned, I scrambled up and began to sprint as fast as I could down the trail, my vision blurred by tears. Adrenaline raced through my veins and I tripped once and fell on the path, but immediately pushed myself up and kept running.

When I escaped the forest and saw my mom's car pull into the driveway, I ran up to it and threw open the door, tears streaming down my face.

"Mama!" I yelled. "Please don't make me live like this anymore! Please help me, Mama!"

"Julia!? What's going on!?"

Her eyes were wide, and I grabbed her hands and glanced back into the forest. Ray wasn't pursuing me.

"Please, Mama! He almost killed me! Please get rid of him! It could be like it was before him! Just you and me, Mama!"

"Julia, I don't-"

I fell onto my knees, my head in her lap, sobbing and holding her tightly.

"He hit me, and threw me around, and almost set me on fire! It hurts, Mama! You have to make him leave!"

"I…I don't know, baby. He'll change, I promise! Everything will be okay, you just wait and see."

She touched my stinging cheek, and I pleaded more frantically with her.

"He won't, Mama! Why won't you listen to me!? He's never going to change! Why don't you understand!? I'm afraid! Please make him go away! I can't do this anymore! I can't deal with it!"

"Julia, just give him some more time!"

"Mama! Save yourself, and save me too! Don't you love me!?"

"I do love you, Julia, of course I do! But…oh, I just don't think I…"

"Please! Please! Please!"

She stared, anguished, into my eyes. Why didn't she understand!? Ray was dangerous, and I only wanted to protect her! Oh, why couldn't she understand!? An image flashed through my mind, and I knelt in stunned silence as I saw Piero on his knees before me, holding my hands and pleading with me.

"Please…" he had whispered. "Please!"

He must have felt like this. I only wanted what's best for the one I loved, my mother, and he must feel the same about me. It must be so hard for him to watch me reject his plea and run from him like I had. This anguish gripping my heart must be the same that he experienced. At last I understood. He pleaded with me out of love. He only wanted to be there for me! At last, I understood!

"Julia?" my mom asked. "You have a strange look on your face."

"Mama! Will you make him leave? Please say you will!"

"But…Julia, he has nowhere else to go! I can't just kick him out! I can't!"

I began to sob again, and turned fearfully at the sound of footsteps to see Ray striding down the forest path, coming toward my mother and me.

"Ray, what happened!?" my mother called, placing a gentle hand comfortingly on my arm. I pulled out of her grasp and rushed to my car. I desperately shoved my keys into the lock and opened the door, shaking and glancing behind me at Ray, who broke into a jog, yelling for me and cursing. I jumped into the car, slammed the door, and took off in reverse as fast as I could. My vision was blurred from the tears, and I hurriedly swiped at my eyes and tried to calm down as I rode away, leaving the house in the distance.

He wasn't ever supposed to know about the clearing! That was my safe haven! It was my sanctuary! All this time I thought I was safe there, I was in just as much danger as I was sleeping in the house!

Where would I be safe now!?

Immediately I knew. Piero's house. Piero's house was a safe place, and I desperately wanted to be there. I did my best to withhold my tears as I drove, struggling against the rising despair. I knew if I started to cry again, I wouldn't be able to stop for a long while.

I'm almost there. I'm almost there… Just hang on.

Time and the road stretched teasingly in front of me as I raced down the cement toward Piero and safety.

My breathing was shallow, and my cheek and back stung relentlessly. My shirt smelled of smoke, and I was tired and afraid. I wanted so desperately for my mother to understand! Why didn't she see the truth!?

My lip trembled and tears flooded my eyes, and I hurriedly tried to stop them.

Don't think about it…

But the stinging of my cheek and back made it hard to push the beating out of my mind.

Just hang on…I'm almost there! Almost there! Just wait a moment more…

At last, I pulled into Piero's driveway and leaped out of the car as the tears blurred my vision.

I bounded toward the house, my heart pounding and my shoes slapping the cement as I stumbled to safety. The shadowy figure of Piero appeared at the front door before me, and as I rushed up the steps he flung open the door and reached out to accept me warmly into his arms.

"Oh, Julia!" he whispered, holding me tightly as he closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into my neck.

I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and buried my face in the shoulder of his shirt as I began to cry. He wrapped an arm tightly around my waist, pulling me inside and reaching out with the other arm to close the door.

Then he reached a hand under my legs, turning me sideways in his arms as he easily scooped me up. I buried my face in his chest and the tears became sobs. I clung to him, desperate for the warmth and comfort.

"Oh, Julia!" he said again as he carried me to the sofa. He sat with me on his lap and hugged me tightly to him in an attempt to calm me.

He spread his fingers wide on my back and pressed them against me, holding me securely against him, as if I'd ever want to leave his arms again. His grasp was strong and tender and safe. I hoped he wouldn't let go anytime soon, and he didn't. He moved a hand up my back to hold my head against his shoulder.

"You're okay," he said softly. "I've got you."

I smiled through my tears and hugged his neck tighter.

I was shaking all over again, and he squeezed me tight for a moment, then brushed the dirt from my shirt and began to gently rub my back. I was sobbing, my tears soaking his gray sweatshirt, but he didn't seem to care as he held me and tried to comfort me.

I was gasping and sniffling and choking on my tears, and Piero let me cry all I wanted. As usual, his house was cool, but he was warm. The sweatshirt was soft and nice-smelling, and his arms around me were so gentle and strong, the hands so tender and loving as they moved up and down my back and through my hair.

After a while my sobs were replaced with quiet tears and my shaking gradually began to subside. When I lifted my head from his shoulder to look at him, he closed his eyes and tenderly touched his lips to mine. His soft lips lingered a moment against mine before he pulled back and smiled softly at me, waiting for my reaction. I moved my hand from around his neck and gently placed it on the side of his face, feeling the soft skin under my fingertips. He closed his eyes, experiencing the feel of my hand, and I removed it and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. He opened his eyes and smiled, his cheek moving under my lips.

When I moved back, his smile faded as he quietly watched me. His eyes looked joyful and handsome. His hand wrapped gently around my arm, and then moved up my shoulder to my face, which he cradled in his palm.

"I'm so happy you came back," he said softly, his eyes shimmering.

"I'm sorry it took so long."

"It's alright, mi amor. All that matters is that you're here now."

He embraced me and cuddled me to him.

"What made you come?"

"I was on my knees, Piero, like you were, begging my mother to listen to me, and I thought of you. I though that it's what it must have felt like for to you to be begging me to listen to you."

He nodded.

"Wanting the one you love to listen, but watching them not understand you."

I nodded, considering this.

"I'm sorry," I whispered finally, looking at him beseechingly as I thought about how I had run from him.

In response, he closed his eyes and leaned forward to kiss me again.

"It's all right," he whispered when he pulled back.

I gazed into his dark eyes and he pulled me close to him. I laid my head on his shoulder again, snuggling up to him.

"It tormented me," he admitted, "Knowing in my heart that you were in danger, but knowing in my mind I couldn't just waltz in and drag you out!"

I buried my face in his sweatshirt as I thought about the abuse I had suffered that night. His hands immediately tightened around me.

"Tell me," he encouraged softly.

I hesitated, and then nodded a little and sat up. It was time to let him in on the situation. It was time to accept his help, and let him know everything. I took a calming breath, and then told him what had happened.

"He hit me and pushed me around, but it was different tonight because he wasn't drunk. I always thought it was the alcohol that led to him attacking me, but now I see even if there's no alcohol, he will still hurt me."

Piero nodded.

"What did he do to you? Specifically, mi amor."

I started to tremble at the memory of the flames, and I squeezed my eyes shut in terror.

He took my face in both of his hands, and I opened my eyes and looked fearfully at him.

"What is it?"

"Fire. Piero, he almost set me on fire! I was so close to it- the heat, the flames…Oh, it was so horrible!"

I buried my face in the crook of his neck and Piero hugged me tightly. When I lifted my head to continue, his face was angry.

"He threw me around, like he always does," I continued. "And he slapped me several times. I hate that the most! It stings and it burns!"

He watched me quietly, his arms around my waist with his hands spread out on my lower back.

I reached for my sleeve and curiously pulled it up, revealing bruises along my arm where Ray had grabbed me.

I sighed softly, looking at the fresh marks. I touched them gingerly and winced. I frowned and looked at Piero to discover that there were tears in his eyes.

"Piero!" I said, taking his face in my hands.

"I guess it's my turn to cry," he said, smiling as a tear ran down his cheek. I wiped it away with my thumb and then leaned forward to kiss him. His lips were trembling and when I pulled back he hugged me tightly, pulling me close.

I laid my head on his shoulder and rested my hands against his chest and let him cry softly for a while. He held me and stared blankly before him as quiet tears ran down his face. I rubbed his chest and the back of his neck, trying to comfort him as he had comforted me. When the tears began to slow I kissed his cheek and tasted the salt in my mouth. He smiled at my kiss and turned his face toward me, his eyes tender and patient.

"Julia," he said, as he held me firmly with one hand and rubbed me gently with the other, "I promise you that today will be the last day you get hurt. We'll find you an apartment where you'll be safe and happy. I will protect you, and I will be the one to keep you safe."

I smiled, feeling very warm inside. To my surprise, I felt like crying again, but this time not from sadness. I felt…relieved…and safe… I continued smiling softly at Piero as I experienced the feelings melting through me. He silently gazed back at me, and I closed my eyes and felt a tear escape from my eye and run down my cheek.

"How do you feel?" Piero asked, rubbing my back gently.

I opened my eyes and looked into his as I wiped the tear from my face.

"I feel…loved," I admitted, then laughed softly and joyously at the admittance of the feeling.

"Good," Piero said softly, pulling me against him to kiss me.

I snuggled close to him, my cheek against the soft gray sweatshirt. Piero wrapped his strong arms more tightly around me and started to slowly, softly, rock from side to side. The motion was gentle and comforting, and I liked it a lot. I had one hand on his shoulder, and I rested my other hand gingerly on his chest. He placed his hand over it, and then held my hand in his, rubbing the back and my palm with his thumb. He raised it to his lips and kissed my fingers.

"Such sweet hands," he murmured to me, and I smiled. "Hands that have comforted so many people."

He kissed my hand again, and as I watched I thought that now my hands were the ones being comforted.

He turned his head toward me and softly kissed my neck, making me sigh contentedly and rest my hand on his other shoulder when he released it.

He held me and gently rocked me in silence, safe in his steady grasp. He kept rubbing my back, and I closed my eyes, inhaling his comforting scent.

Piero began to sing, and I opened my eyes and watched his lips form the words. I think the song was in Italian, and it was absolutely beautiful. His voice was strong, but he kept the volume of the singing low and soothing. His voice was beautiful and handsome, and it filled the room and enriched the atmosphere around us.

I closed my eyes to listen, and being pressed against his chest allowed me to feel his every intake of breath as he sang. When the song finished, I raised my head from his shoulder and kissed him.

"Will you sing the song about the moon? The one you sang on the beach? I was trying to remember it the other night, when I was thinking about you."

He grinned.

"You were thinking about me?"

"Yes," I admitted. "It was a dark night and I was scared, and I couldn't stop thinking about you. I wanted to be with you, but I was scared that maybe I shouldn't want to be with you. I remembered that song, and I tried to sing it."

"But now you know it's okay to be with me, right, mi amor?"

"Yes."

"I don't want you to be scared anymore. Of anything."

His arms tightened around me and he kissed me for a long moment, his lips moving against mine.

When he pulled away he said softly, "I think about you all the time. All day, every day. I can't ever get you out of my head, Julia!"

He grinned, making me smile.

"Sorry, I guess?"

He shook his head and laughed softly.

"No, mi amor. You make me happy, so I think about you all the time, and it makes me happy."

"Even with all these issues, Piero?"

"Even still, you make me so very happy."

He took my hand in his and guided it to the spot where his heart was. I pressed my hand against his chest and kissed him, making him smile.

"Mmmm…" he murmured contently.

Then he reached up a hand to move my head close to him, into the crook of his neck.

He started to sing the song softly, rocking me side to side on the couch.

"La luna hizo esto, fue culpa de la luna, haberme enamorado, enamorado de ti…"

I watched his lips again, felt the intake of his breath, and listened to the marvelous sound of his voice, sure and strong, and soft at the same time.

As I listened, my eyes started to get heavy, and I slowly closed them. When Piero finished the gentle song, he turned his head and kissed my cheek, and began to run his hand slowly up my back.

"I love you, Julia," he said softly.

"I love you, Piero," I said back.

He was quiet for a few minutes before he began to sing again, and I slowly settled into a safe, warm sleep in the gentle arms of Piero.