He shoved me against the wall. I struggled, but it was futile. He was much stronger than I was. His lips crushed my own, the smell of beer making me nauseous. I knew everything would be over in no time if I just sat still. However,today was different,I was going to make him struggle this time. I tried again to shove his body away from me. He grabbed my wrist and easily held them over my head. As he ripped my shirt off he threw me on the bed. Once he reached me he tore off the rest of my clothing, leaving me fully exposed to him. With some difficulty he removed his clothes and laid on top of me. I felt no fear, only emptiness. I had become accustomed to his torture. Losing my bravery again, I laid there dreaming of when he would leave again and I would be free to clean myself. No matter how hard I scrubbed I could never remove his smell. I awoke from my dream to his last violent thrust and his body going limp as he pulled away from me. I went to leave when he grabbed me and made me lay next to him. His hands wandered my body and he bit my neck before passing out. I prayed that he would die from alcohol poisoning.

Carefully, making sure that he was out I left him and the bed. I didn't bother with my clothes. They were useless now. I grabbed an oversized button up white shirt, a pair of underwear and a black skirt as I headed toward the shower. I scrubbed my skin until it was tender to the touch. I quickly dressed and ran my hairbrush through my dull blonde hair. I glanced at my pale, weary face in the mirror. In disgust I went to my room and flopped down on my bed. Visions of everything he had done to me flooded my mind. Normally I would fight the nightmares and dream of a world where he didn't exist. Tears flooded down my face and I realized I couldn't take it any longer. Not another night of pain. Quietly, I packed my essential belongings. Where would I go? In the last town we had lived in I had made a few good friends. If I stole some money from him I would be able to at least make it halfway there depending on how much he had managed to swindle today. Tip-toeing into his room I reached for his wallet when I felt his hand crush my arm.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm hungry and there is no food left."

"That's because you eat too much, fat bitch. But while your out grab me more booze."

"Yes, father dear."

I was in luck, the bastard had about three hundred dollars on him today. Grabbing my bag and slipping on a pair of tennis shoes I left and didn't look back. It was about four in the morning when I had left the 'home'. I knew the bus station wouldn't open until at least seven. Sighing, I headed to the bus station and decided I would look for a restaurant near there that would be open this early.About thirty minutes later I entered a little coffee shop that doubled as a gas station. Luckily, I had no problems along the way. I ordered eggs, bacon and orange juice from an elderly woman. While I waited for my food I planned out what I would do next. I knew he wouldn't wake up until one in the afternoon, so I didn't worry about him catching me just yet. He never knew that I had made any friends, since friends didn't come naturally for me and he didn't approve of it. Which meant he wouldn't know where to look for me. If I stayed in one place, though, would he eventually find me? I pushed that thought aside for the moment and instead focused on the present. I knew Karen would let me stay with her, but I wasn't sure how her parents would react.

"Hey, sweetheart, you ordered eggs, bacon, and juice right?"

"Yes, thank you."

"No problem, babe. You look like you need the food." the old woman said as she eyed my thin frame.

I smiled weakly in return as I delicately devoured my food. It had been a while since I had had such tasty and warm food. A smile passed over my face against my will. Once I had finished I ordered hot chocolate to sip on while I waited for the bus station to open. An hour and a half had passed by the time I had finished my delicious hot chocolate and breakfast. I still had another hour and a half left before I could buy a ticket out of here. In the middle of my daydream of what life would be like with Karen I dozed off. I awoke to the voice of one of the employees telling me that I couldn't sleep here. Embarrassed, I paid him what I owed him and headed toward the gas station portion of the place. I bought something for lunch and dinner and two bottles of water and a bottle of cherry coke. I shoved them in my bag as I headed to the bus station.

With still a half hour left until the station opened, I decided to sketch out the gas station that doubled as a restaurant. No matter how bad things had gotten I had always found a way to get a new sketch pad and pencils. I would always make sure they were hidden from him. But one time he had found some older ones and had burned them. It had hurt me more than his fists had. After that I kept my drawings with me and would hide them in a new place every time we moved.

"Excuse me miss, ya here to buy a ticket?"

"Yes."

"You must want to leave this town awfully bad to be here this early in da morning."

"I do."

The ride there was long and boring. Not as long as I had expected it to be, though. I spent most of the time sleeping. I would have attempted to draw but knew it would have been useless on the bumpy ride. Several hours later I arrived at my sanctuary. The emotions that ran through me almost consumed me. Fear, happiness, more happiness. For the first time in my life I felt free. I couldn't help smiling and skipping a bit to her house. Once I turned eighteen I could get an apartment of my own. Then I would finally be living all on my own. My smile grew as I rounded the corner of the street leading to her house. I took in a deep breath and calmed my emotions as I stepped up to her door. I started to have second thoughts, what if they just sent me back to him? He would kill me. My body started to shiver against my will as visions of what he would do to me ran through my head.

"Fi-Fiona? What in the world are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.

"Karen? I'm sorry. I...I'll...I'm just going."

"Wait! Don't leave. What's wrong? You look petrified."

Tears started to fall down my face. I couldn't stop them. "I'm so sorry. Please, just don't tell him you saw me... please."

"Tell who? Fiona you're scaring me. Come inside and we'll talk about it. Whatever it may be."

I looked up at her uncertain if I should.

"Come on. You can talk to me. We're friends."

"Yes. Friends."

She led me to her couch. We sat across from each other. I couldn't bring myself to look her in the eyes. My fingers seemed so much more interesting, with their twitching. They seemed to have a life of there own. I shook my head slightly, she was my friend and she deserved to know after the fright I gave her. Actually, I wanted to tell her. But, I didn't want to at the same time. What if she didn't believe me? What if she thought I was disgusting... what if she told him where I was? I clenched my hands tightly together to stop the new shivers controlling my body. She was my friend. She wouldn't do that. Cautiously I glanced up at her. She looked really worried. Her body seemed as though it was ready to jump up and comfort me with a hug at any moment. I raised my head the rest of the way and better composed myself.

"I... I ran away from home."

"Why?"

I controlled my panic at the look she was giving me. "My father...that is...please try and understand...he was a bad man. He hurt me...a lot."

Her face scrunched up in confusion, "How did he hurt you?" She prayed her suspicions where wrong.

"For years...Well, since I could remember really, he has taken advantage of me. That is he would hit me a lot. He put me in the hospital several times. And-and he raped me almost nightly."

Karen was in too much shock to say anything. She started to stare at her own hands. Guilt, it over ran her body. To think that someone she called a friend had gone through something like this and she hadn't known. When she thought back on it, how could she have missed it? The long shirts and baggy pants always covering her flesh, even in the smoldering heat. The fear of someone, especially males, being close to her or touching her. She felt tears well up in her eyes and allowed them to freely flow down her cheeks.

"Don't cry! Please. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry I told you."

"Your sorry? Why! I should be sorry. How could I have not noticed it? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I wanted to, but I was scared that you wouldn't believe me."

"Why would you be scared! Of course I would believe you!"

"I'm sorry."

After several moments of silence passed she responded with a sigh, "Does he know where you are?"

"No. He doesn't even know I have any friends. I don't think he would know where to look."

Karen put on a smile for her friend, "Are you hungry?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Yeah, right." Karen smirked. "I think I at least know you better than that. If your hungry it's okay to tell me." She walked over and gave me a big hug. "Now how about I make you something to eat?"

I smiled, everything was really going to be all right. "That sounds nice."

Thirty minutes after we had both finished eating left over chili I found myself trying to sleep in the guest bedroom. It was across the hall from Karen's bedroom. Sleep had almost overtaken my body when I heard the front door shut. Whispering could be heard from the living room. I tried to listen, but exhaustion overtook me.

"I'm home."

"Mom..."

"Karen? Your pale...is everything all right?"

"Well... do you remember Fiona? Fiona Young?"

"The quiet girl?"

"Um, yeah... well, she's here."

Her mother frowned a bit and her brow furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean? Why is she here?"

"She showed up today. She ran away from home."

"WHAT!"

"Shush! She's sleeping in the guest room."

"What is she doing here! We should tell the cops or her father where she is. I'm sure he's worried sick."

"Mom she ran away because of her dad! He beat her and raped her!"

"..." Her mother paled and took a few steps back before she collapsed on the couch. "Are-are you sure?"

"Mom! Don't tell me you weren't suspicious of her behavior! Even Lee realized something was off with her!"

"What do we do?"

Karen raised an eyebrow at her mother. "You do realize your the mom... your supposed to have all the answers."

"Karen, be serious."

"I'm sorry. I told her she could stay with us."

"You what! What if her dad comes looking for her or the cops?"

"Well, what do you suggest? Just hand her over to him so he can do it again? What if he kills her for running away?"

Her mother sighed. "Your right. But shouldn't we talk to the cops? Tell them what happened?"

"No!" I shouted in fear, having woke up at her mother's shout and hid in the shadows.

"I didn't realize you we're awake Fiona dear." Karen's mother said.

"You can't tell the cops! I tried that once. He's friends with many of them. My dad has... a lot of influential power. That's why I came to you guys. He hasn't conned you into adoring him." I sighed, "He comes from a powerful family. Their involved in a lot of politics. And so is he."

"Wait! Your father is that Young! Ken Young! Doesn't he own a bunch of companies and is really rich?"

"...Yeah. Please! I can't go back. He really will kill me. The last time I ran away he was so mad... just please... I'll leave if you want, just please don't call the cops."

Karen turned to her mother with a look of fear evident on her face. Her mother sighed. She didn't know what else to do but allow her to stay here. She knew they were right, Fiona's father had to much influence to trust anyone.

"Alright dear. You can stay. Go back to bed and we can finish discussing this tomorrow."

I nodded happy to comply. Glancing to Karen for a sign of everything was going to be okay, I headed in the direction of the bedroom. Karen smiled back and I forced myself to trust her. Everything was going to be all right. Karen wouldn't call the police while I slept... She was my friend and I could trust her.

Karen waited until she heard the door to the guest room close before she turned on her mother. "Mom? Your really are going to let her stay right? You won't call the cops?"

"Yes, dear, she can stay. No I won't call the cops. I'm not sure what will do once school starts but will tackle that hurdle when it comes. Now you head to bed. It's getting late."

"Yes, momma. Goodnight."