I Will Keep You Safe

Chapter One

She ran and ran until her feet were getting weak. She heard his stern and enraged voice yell 'come back!' But she was never going back. Never. She was finally free of him.

Finally, she got to the road, deserted. So she followed it. As she walked along it, the light from the street lamps beamed down, tormenting her already abused skin.

A car started to approach. It halted as its headlights fixed on her skinny, deprived frame, struggling along the side of the road and the driver became aware of the weak female - close enough to death. Jess shied from the car, in paranoia that it could be Zayn, but her features relaxed when an unfamiliar blond girl stepped from the drivers seat. "Are you okay?" A female voice asked, as the blond woman held Jess' cold arm, comforting her. Cathryn shook her head and a salty tear dropped down her face. "Can I take you home?" She proposed, leading her to the passenger door.  

"I don't have a home." She whispered. Carmen offered Cathryn into the car, and she refused immediately.  

"Let me take you to my house. And like you said, you have nowhere to go." She said warmly, but Cathryn still hesitated.. "I'm Carmen, what's your name?" Carmen asked, extending her hand.

"C-Cathryn. I'm Cathryn." She said, shaking it feebly.

"Come on, I don't bite, you can get in if you want." Cathryn obliged and sat in the passenger seat, she began hiding her face and scooting to the other side of the seat, as far away from Carmen as she could manage.

They parked up outside Carmen's house after a quick drive. It was in a part of Sydney Cathrynhad never been. Although, Zayn didn't let her anywhere, as he was so possessive. The only time she left was to attend her last year of school, to which he'd pick her up and drop her off from everyday. Now she had finished high school, her eyes rarely saw daylight.

She blinked a tear away and left the car. She's only lived in Australia for 2 years, so she doesn't know much about it. She had been moved here, by force. Cathryn's boyfriend, Zayn, told her they were going for a week. He then forced her to ring home and say "we're staying for good." or he would abuse her, which he did on more than one occasion. She hadn't seen her family or friends since. She doesn't have anything. She's basically his prisoner.

"You coming inside?" Camen laughed, snapping Cathrynout of her trance immediately. Cathrynslid out of the car, and left a distance between herself and Carmen, as she mimicked her steps to the house. "Mum? Dad?" Carmen yelled, as a blonde woman walked out into the hall.  

"Carmen, what took you so long? Me and your father have been wor-" She paused and her eyes fell on Cathryn.

"Mum, this is Cathryn. She doesn't have anywhere to go." Carmen said.

"Sweetheart," She addressed Cathryn, "you're bleeding." Liz began to inspect Cathryn's wound. "Lucas, get the first aid kit!" She yelled up the stairs. 

"No, I don't want to make a fuss." Cathrynprotested and stiffened her body. 

"None sense, we aren't just going to let your stomach bleed. We're here to help you, darling" Cathryn's body gradually loosened as Lucas' heavy feet hit the stairs.

The blonde, fair skinned, lanky boy stood holding the first aid kit. "Who for?" He asked. Liz gestures to Cathryn, who was stood, preventing the red blood from soaking the white carpet and going a paler shade of white by the second.. "Oh, hi. I'm Luke." He said, trying to usher Cathryninto the living space. She gave Carmen a desperate look.  

"He won't hurt you." She assured Cathryn. Soon, she sighed and gave in.

"So, you've been cut, I'm guessing?" Luke asked her.