Nicole knew she had to go. They'd take her back over there and Marvin would kill her. She gathered all her strength and got up using the wall to get to the front door. The children just stared at her. She wrapped the covers around her for warmth against the frosty December air and went out the door. Almost falling down the stairs spraining her ankle, she made it and began to hobble down the street not caring what direction she was going.

Someone behind her called her name, but Nicole was delirious. She wasn't going to let them take her back. Somehow she'd get help from someone anyone. Footsteps were getting close and she tried to run as fast as she could. She tripped over the sidewalk hitting her nose run not caring anymore where she went, but as long as she got away from the footsteps.

"Nicole, stop!" the deep voice yelled.

The only thing she could surmise was that Marvin had caught up with her and was now going to kill her. This only gave her more strength but everything looked so fuzzy and dim, yet she ran. Her body wanted to stop, but her mind was gone.

Darting through a muddied field, she jumped over a knocked down tree, but so did the pursuer and grabbed her pants leg. She fell again and when she tried to scramble up, something held her down by the legs. It was so dark and her vision was failing her because even her eyes were cold. She turned on her back and kicked at the large dark figure that crawled up her body as she tried to scoot back and get away. Finally he pinned her. She couldn't scream because her throat hurt so much and she sobbed fighting.

He shook her so hard, but that only increased her fight to get him off of her. Finally he slapped her cheek and she almost passed out and this sort of deluded her sense of balance that she had to fight for her own consciousness ceasing her physical fighting for a moment. Through the haze, she heard, "Nicole stop it! It's me!"

It couldn't be. Dear Lord not him. "Ethan," she rasped to be sure.

He had pressed his ear down to her mouth to hear her. "Yes, Nicole. Let me help you."

She sobbed, but this wasn't in fear, but great relief as he scooped her cold muddied body up and began to carry her. It didn't matter where he took her, she had a feeling she would be safe with him until at least the morning, then she could get him to help her. He would help her even if he probably did want sex. It didn't matter as long as he helped her.




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