Rain poured down as Haley ran from Karen's cafe. 'Shit,' She thought. She shouldn't have told Nathan not to pick her up from her shift. She peered down a sheltered alleyway. 'Perfect.' She could wait out the storm or call Nathan to come get her. She went and sat against a wall and her hand fell to her stomach. She'd told him about their first child just a couple of weeks ago, and knowing that they'd found a way to be okay about it, balancing the new responsibility with their senior year, brought a smile to her face. She pulled out her phone and dialed him. No answer. 'Damn it.'

"What's a pretty girl like you doing down here?" the voice sent chills down her back. She turned her head to see the shadow of a man. Taking a shaky breath, she stood up and slowly began to walk back out to the sidewalk, when she felt him grab her forearm and pull her back in. He pushed her against the closest wall, taking a swig from his cigarette. She could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Hey, you don't have to leave on my account. You'll get wet." He smiled maliciously. "Besides," He sniffed her hair, making her breath shaky. "We can keep each other company."

In a split second, Haley punched the man, threw him aside with all her force, and made a sprint for it. Just as her foot reached the sidewalk, she yelped as a hand covered her mouth and arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back in. "That wasn't very nice!" He yelled in her ear, making her gasp with fear. Suddenly she felt her pocket vibrate. The man must've noticed, because he reached down and grabbed it from her pocket, squeezing her ass as he did so.

"Nathan; R U OK?" He read out, hand still covering Haley's mouth. "Ohhh, you're the pregnant wife!" The man laughed. "All fine, be home soon. Don't wait up." He continued, responding to the message. "XX. How was that? Now we can get some alone time together, Haley." She shuddered upon hearing her own name, eyes wide.

Haley screamed as loud as she could but to no avail. His breathing heaved as he took his hand from her mouth and slapped her viciously across the face, leaving bright crimson fingerprints on her cheek.

"Shut up, bitch!" He screeched. He grabbed her by the throat and squeezed, pushing all the air out of Haley's lungs. Just as the light was about to disappear, she felt him throw her helpless body to the cold gravel floor. He kicked her in the back, making her writhe and cry out.

"Please," She rasped, unable to speak louder. "Please let me go."

He ignored her and kneeled above her, punching her in the face once more. He then grabbed her jaw, pulling her into a rough kiss.

Nathan groaned and rubbed his face as his alarm went off, signaling the start of another day. He outstretched an arm, reaching for Haley, only to find empty space. He turned and opened his eyes, confused when he didn't see her brown doe eyes looking back at him. "Haley?" he called out, climbing out of bed. No answer. "Haley!" he tried again, walking through their small studio apartment and checking every room, but she was nowhere to be found. He pulled out his phone.

"Hi, you've reached Haley. You know what to do. BEEP." He heard the familiar phrase respond. Unease turned quickly into fear once he called Brooke, Lucas, and Peyton. Nothing. Where the hell was she?"

The bell rang as he pushed open the door to the bustling bedlam that was the morning rush of Karen's cafe.

"Nathan, Hi," Karen greeted as she quickly swung past him, serving coffee to engaged customers. "Do you have any idea where Haley is? She hasn't shown up for her morning shift." She signaled to everyone awaiting service.

"Hi, no I was - uh, I was actually wondering if you had any idea where she was. She didn't come home last night." He asked, taking a bar stool at the counter.

"You haven't seen her since yesterday?" Karen asked, confused.

"No, no one has, and I'm starting to get worried, so,"

"Well I'm sorry, Nathan, but I haven't seen her since she left at 7 last night like she always does. It was pouring with rain so I offered to call a cab but she said you guys are struggling with money at the moment and she'd just call you to get her."

Nathan furrowed his brow. She had called him last night, but he was only just finishing practice and didn't answer. She'd texted and said everything was fine. "Well thanks anyways, I guess," He said as he got up to leave.

"Nathan, let me know when you find her?" Karen pleaded. He sent a soft smile and nodded before walking out onto the sidewalk.

He continued down the busy road, looking out for any sign that Haley might be there. Just as he passed an alleyway, he caught something out of the corner of his eye. 'Oh, God,' He thought the worst. He slowly crept into said alley approaching the body on a full adrenaline rush. He lowered himself closer to the ground and turned it onto its back.

His eyes went wide with horror. Black and blue bruises covered her skin from head to toe, and fingerprints wrapped all around her throat. "Haley!" He cried out, pulling her limp body into his chest. Her chest barely rose, slowly going up and down, releasing a shallow breath.

"N-nathan?" She rasped, reaching a fragile hand up to meet him.

"I'm here, baby, I'm here," He gushed, kissing her on top of her head. On hearing his voice, tears flooded her eyes and she began to sob.