Savior (Black Veil Brides)

chapter one

"You look so beautiful, Jen." Kenedy said as she helped put on my veil.

I stood looking in the mirror at the stranger staring back. I didn't recognize the girl I had become. I used to have bright, clear skin. Now I had to cover bruises with makeup I wasn't used to wearing. My gown was strapless and full, heavy on my weak arms. I was glad I was only wearing this thing for a few hours and then never again.

"You, ok?" I looked over at Kenedy and smiled my fake smile that I was so used to using. It was starting to become natural.

"I'm fine. Just nervous. That's all." I said, walking away from the mirror and over to the sofa that occupied the middle of the room. I sat down carefully, with the help of Kennedy, my maid of honor, and Lauren, one of my bridesmaids. 

"Here, try drinking some water. It'll calm your nerves." Lauren walked over to the small fridge in the room and pulled out a water bottle. She brought it over to me, my hands shaking as I reached out to grab it. 

"Thanks." My words barely a whisper, I took the bottle to my lips and allowed the cold, refreshing liquid to pass my lips. It cooled my hot body down instantly but did nothing for the fear rising in my belly. If I married Colin, I would be trapped in his abusive "love" forever. Could I really bring myself to do this? Was my fear of him this great?

A knock on the door caught all of our attention and the door opened to have his mother, Tracey, peeking her head around the door frame. She smiled. "It's time." 

My heart sank. This was it. Do or die time. I stood up and watched as my bridesmaids walked one by one out of the room in all their beauty, and felt my stomach tighten to an uncomfortable pinch. Was I going through with this or was I going to take the opportunity that was given to me in my moment of weakness?

Standing alone in the waiting room, I slipped my feet out of my five-inch-high heels and slipped them under the sofa. I didn't look back when I snuck my way through the back of the church and out into the cool night air. 

Wind tossed my hair about as I ran through the busy streets, my heart pounding as I tried to find a place I could hide. They would come looking for me, so I couldn't go home. I had to find somewhere, anywhere to hide. A bar came into view, and I knew I'd be able to hide there. No one in their right mind who knew me would find me in a bar or club, what with my anxiety of big crowds, not to mention Colin hated me drinking anything that contained alcohol. 

Holding up my dress, I ran into the open doors of the bar and looked around. All eyes were on me as I walked deeper into the bar. Looking behind me to make sure no one had followed me inside, I found a table in the back and slipped into the booth. I put my elbows on the table and buried my face into my hands, my fingers digging into my tussled hair.

"Are you ok, Miss?" I lifted my head from my hands and looked toward the voice. Next to me was a table of men, all dressed in black with shaggy hair all around, minus one whose hair was shorter than the rest. They looked like they were in a gang, but I dare not make any assumptions about them. Instead, I fought back the tears that were falling down my face and nodded, too afraid to speak. 

"You look like you're running from something, miss." the youngest of the group said as he eyed me up and down. I wiped my face on the backs of my hands and tried to regain my composure, but tears just kept falling.

One of them placed a glass in front of me and I looked up to find a friendly smile on a handsome face. My heart skipped a beat. He was so handsome I wasn't sure he was real. "Here. Drink this and you'll feel better." I looked at the liquid in front of me, and even though I had been taught not to drink anything from people you didn't know, I picked up the glass and drained it dry. The man smiled and took a seat across from me while his friends watched on. "I'm Andy. What's your name?"

"Jennifer." My name came out shaky on my lips but audible at the same time. 

'It's nice to meet you, Jennifer. This is Christian, Lonney, Jake, and Jinxx." I looked at each one in turn and received a smile and wave from each of them in turn. I smiled nervously at each of them before looking out the window to make sure he hadn't found me yet. "If you don't mind me saying, you look like you're running from someone."

My eyes found his concerned face, and as the alcohol started working its way into my system, I felt myself relax. "Let's just say I'm no longer in the mood to say yes." 

Andy nodded like he understood what I was saying. Another glass of whatever I'd just drank was set in front of me. I looked up to find Christian smiling warmly at me. I smiled back.

"Well, you're safe with us, princess." Christian winked his pretty brown eyes and sat down with his chair closer to me. I flushed. If they could see all the bruises on my body and face covered by makeup, they wouldn't be flirting with me.

Suddenly my hair stood up on the back of my neck. I looked up and gasped as my eyes came to lie upon the cold brown eyes of the man I had meant to be marrying today. His broad shoulders and beer belly made their way toward me as his clenched fists made me flinch in fear. Everyone around me looked up before standing from their chairs and blocking his way to me. I shrank down in fear as they protected me.

"Get out of my way so I can speak to my wife." The title held so much malice to it that it felt like a slap in the face. Andy, who hadn't moved from across from me the whole time, unbeknownst to me, seemed to be studying me very closely. 

"I don't see a ring on her or your finger, and by the fear on her face, I'm guessing she's not your wife. In fact, I'm guessing if you are in fact "dating", and I use this term very lightly, she no longer wants to be with you. So why don't you turn your ass around and walk back out of the door before I decide to get up and knock your head off your shoulders." My eyes shot from Colin to Andy as his words hit my ears. He could tell all of this just by looking at me?!

Colin laughed as if the threat meant nothing to him, and maybe it didn't. He was, after all, a narcissistic egomaniac who thought he was the best thing on Earth. He had many stories of getting into fights and winning, but never had I ever seen him fight or heard him argue with anyone other than me. 

"I'd like to see you try, asswhole."