Destroyed

Chapter One:

"Mummy"

Hearing the sound of her daughters distressed cry Morgan dropped the dish cloth onto the bench and spun around on her heals, the pitter patter of running feet faded as two little arms were thrown around her midsection in a vice grip. The tears leaking from her daughters eyes started to dampen the white shirt she was wearing causing Morgan to glance down at the little girl with concern, the mess of ash brown curls hiding her face well.

"Honey, what's the matter?" Morgan asked as she ran her hand through the hair of her five year old.

"Daddy's home"

Morgan could barely understand the muffled cry but she could hear the fear laced within her daughters voice. Morgan knew it wasn't fair, she knew her children shouldn't have to live in fear of their father - a person that should love them. It made Morgan even more thankful that her eldest daughter didn't have to live this way, that she was safe in the arms of those who could protect her.

Hearing the sound of running feet once again Morgan glanced up as her middle child appeared in the doorway an unreadable expression on her face. Sinèad could hide her emotions well; she had been living this life for ten years - ten long years. Morgan had tried to get her to open up but Sinèad refused. The young girl had been five when Morgan had been forced to move into the house, had been taken prisoner and since then Sinèad had barely said a word.

"Come now, it's okay" Morgan forced herself to try and reassure them but she was unable to believe the words herself - would it be okay? It was something Morgan didn't know. She could never prepare the girls for the outcome their father would inflict.

"Make him go away!"

Morgan sighed deeply as she looked down at the five year old; a pout on her ruby red lips and the glazing in her deep green eyes was enough to make Morgan's body fill with guilt all over again. Looking at the little girl made Morgan think of all the people back home, back in Summerbay. The people she loved, her daughter - her boys, her man.

Brax.

She missed him, but Katie was her connection. Katie knew the truth but it was something Morgan could never let her talk about, Katie had to make do with the father she had - she could never bring up Brax because of the pain that would be inflicted if she did.

"You know I can't Katie, this is his house" Morgan said as she heard the front door slam and the little girls bottom lip started to tremble.

"Can't we leave?"

Morgan glanced over to the doorway in surprise at hearing Sinèad speak, but the young girl was biting her bottom lip, the fear shining in her bright blue eyes. She wished she could protect them but it didn't seem like she could.

"You know we can't honey" Morgan murmured as she pulled Katie away from her body, the little girl was trying to cling to her . Desperation was clearly sketched on her small face. "Both of you get ready for bed, I'll be in soon " Morgan promised as she heard the clumping of boots. .

"Morgan I'm hoooommmee!"

Hearing his drunken voice echoing through the house Morgan pushed Katie in the direction of her elder sister and prayed they would stay hidden as she turned to face her nightmare.

Her rapist. Her kidnapper. Her children's father.

Jack.

Morgan winced as she tried to adjust her eyes to the lightening in the living room, the throbbing in her head causing her to squint to be able to focus the house seemed quiet which made Morgan thankful, it meant he was gone. But as she tried to sit up and regain her composure she heard the sound of faint crying coming from her daughters room, her heart began to race as she pushed herself off the floor ignoring the pain coming from her ribs as she hobbled down the hallway towards the distressed cries.

Morgan tried to brace herself for what she would find as she pushed the door to the girls room open, her eyes immediately falling to Sinèad and Katie as they huddled in the corner of the bedroom in tears. Morgan noticed the way their eyes flashed up to meet her gaze with utter fear sketched on their small faces.

"It's okay, its just me" Morgan tried to sooth them as hobbled across the floor painfully crouching down to meet their gazes.

Immediately Morgan felt regret as she looked at Katie, the little girl had a red mark across her cheek - and Morgan was sure it would bruise. The red red mark around her arm was something else that made Morgan cringe, she had always tried to protect them from getting hurt, tried to protect them from their fathers rage.

"Me okay mummy, Sinèad hurt" Katie said quietly as she tried to dry her tears , Morgan's eyes immediately flashed to Sinèad who was cradling her arm carefully - her lips were trembling as tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Sinèad, what happened?" Morgan asked but the young girl just frowned.

"Daddy hurt her arm" Katie said and Morgan nodded.

"I see, Sinèad honey does it hurt bad?" Morgan asked as she moved closer and Sinèad nodded.

"Broken"

Morgan cringed as she heard the word escape the ten year old lips; never had he hurt the children so badly. It made Morgan furious, she could handle him hurting her - she could handle anything he did to her but for him to hurt the children, hurt Sinèad so badly was him crossing an invisible line Morgan didn't know existed and it made her blood boil.

There was no question about what she had to do, Morgan knew. Her only hope was he wouldn't come after them, wouldn't find her before she was ready for him.