Running Away
I’m running as fast as I can.
I’m running for my life, through the rain and the cold. I’m so, so cold. But it doesn’t matter right now. I keep running, the farthest I can, the fastest I can. Tears run down my cheeks, along with the rain.
“Come back here! You whore!”
I can hear his voice behind me, and fear makes me run even faster. He is chasing after me, shouting like crazy, calling me terrible names in the night. How can he do this? How could he do this to me? What did I ever do to deserve such a thing? He is my brother!
I take a right turn down a narrow street, looking for a place to hide, but unsure where to go. Can I really escape? The pouring rain is my only ally, as I know it will cover my scent. I keep running, barefooted on the asphalt, running for my life as I try to escape my only family member...
Don’t make a sound. Don’t cry, don’t move.
I cover my mouth with both hands. I won’t even breathe. I’m curled up next to a garbage dumpster, closing my eyes and trying to stop my erratic sobbing. I’m so scared, I’m shaking like never before. I close my eyes and pray. Please, don’t let him find me, please, please, please...
My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears; I’m deaf to anything else. Even the downpour seems almost quiet. Never have I been so scared in my life before.
This time, he will kill me. I’m dead if he finds me.
Moon Goddess, mother, please, don’t let him find me...
As I can’t hear him yell anymore, I sneak a peek behind my hideout. Is he gone? Did he go somewhere else?
“Gotcha! Come here, you whore!”
I scream.
He grabs my hair, and the first blow is so violent, I fall to the ground. The pain is terrible. My vision goes blurry, and tears flow. I scream again, out of fear, trying to protect myself. He punches me again and gets on top of me, pinning me to the ground.
He keeps hitting me, one punch more violent than the previous. I keep screaming, crying, begging, but he won’t stop.
I’m going to die.
“Stop! No! Please, stop!”
I keep screaming, but Alec won’t stop. My pain and supplications never made him stop before. And he was never this mad. My head hurts; my entire body hurts. My arms feel so weak that I can barely hold them up while trying to protect myself.
“I’m not done with you, Nora! Stop resisting! Die! Die! I’m going to kill you!”
No, no, no, I don’t want to die! Please, make it stop! Won’t anyone help? The rain covers my screams. Alec is beating me so hard; I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to die here on the asphalt. I feel each of his punches on my face, my ribs, my stomach. His fists just mercilessly hit wherever they can reach.
He stops.
Is he done? Oh, Moon Goddess, I hope he’s had enough... This pain is killing me. I can taste my blood in my mouth and feel some running on my face, too.
Suddenly, I feel his hands on my neck. He is... He’s choking me! I try to fight him, push him away, but his grip is tightening so hard around my throat. I can’t breathe! Let me breathe! Black spots start blurring my vision, and my head hurts. I gasp helplessly, but nothing comes; his hands won’t let go. My hands try to push him away, but he won’t budge. I see the look in his eyes. He will really do it.
I feel my consciousness give up; I can’t see anything. The headache overtakes it all.
I can’t...
“Hey! What the hell are you doing!”
Chapter 1
“Nora!”
I tremble in fear. The voice calling my name from next door freezes my hands immediately. He walks in with his bloodshot eyes, and I can guess what is coming. I bite my lip. The small kitchen seems way too narrow at this instant, and I instinctively step back as he approaches.
