The Fears That Bind Us {Completed}

Chapter 7

Alyssa POV:

As soon as I made it outside, I bolted away from my house in a full blown sprint. I knew he'd try to follow me, so I had to get as far from this area as possible. My heartbeat quickened.

Did I really just do that?

All the pent up fear and adrenaline pushed me to run faster, and I felt free as the wind blew on my face and my legs burned. At that moment, I ran from my problems, and it felt incredible. I didn't stop until my lungs felt like they were going to burst.

When I finally did stop, I found a gas station out of town to rest at. I was shocked to see that it was ten o'clock.

Did I really run for that long?

As I walked in panting, a bell jingled. The few people I passed watched me strangely. I'd forgotten my hair was a bloody mess, dried tears stained my cheeks, and I smelled like an alcoholic.

No wonder everyone is staring. I look like a walking train wreck. I hadn't had time to pack food before my dad had caught me, so I quickly made my way to the back of the store and grabbed some of my favorite snacks and a gatorade. Ignoring the stares of people around me, I walked to the cash register to pay for everything.

The lady behind the cash register, whose name tag read "Brenda" looked me over, her face scrunched up with concern.

"Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone?" she asked cautiously, taking in my messy appearance. Suddenly, the reality of all that had just happened slapped me.

I'm free. It was a whisper at first in my mind, but it grew in volume as the fact sank in. The woman stopped checking out my stuff and reached across the counter, resting her hand on my shoulder.

"Hey, are you alright?" I flinched slightly at her touch as it brought me back to the present.

I gave her the first real smile I had worn in a long time.

"I've never been better." Brenda gave me a strange look, but she didn't push the matter further.

I probably look like a crazed maniac, grinning like an idiot while looking like this.

She finished checking out my things, and I heard the store bell ring again behind me as I picked up the bag.

"Alyssa?" I froze. My heart thudded with dread and I turned around slowly.

I raised my eyes to see Amber walk in with Austin, his arm slung around Taylor's shoulders. Brenda looked between us awkwardly from behind the cash register.

Amber observed me worriedly as she took in my damp, bloody hair and the various bruises that had started to form on my face and arms. Austin's arm slid from Taylor's shoulders and his charming smile fell from his face while Taylor blinked at me, confused.

"Oh my gosh, Lyss, what happened?!" Amber yelled, tears filling her eyes as the three of them approached me. She gently picked a piece of glass out of my hair. I swallowed hard as a lump formed in my throat.

"Did he smash a beer bottle on your head?!" she asked. Her eyes begged me to say no.

I nodded silently and I watched a part of her break. There was a small piece of me that felt glad she was upset. She deserved to be upset. She deserved to feel guilty.

You see what you left me with? You see what he did to me? I shook the negativity from my mind as she continued.

"Why? What happened?" she asked, fearful for the answer.

"I did it," I whispered. The words felt foreign in my mouth, and I could barely comprehend them. I felt my smile widen until I was beaming. She took a step back as her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened.

"What?" she asked, though I know she heard me the first time.

"I did it. I got out." I gestured to my backpack. Even as the words left my mouth, I felt as if I were dreaming.

I never thought I'd get to say that.

Amber reacted so quickly that I jumped. I stiffened as she crossed the distance between us in the blink of an eye and wrapped me in a hug. I stood there for a moment, motionless in her embrace before my arms hugged her back.

She grabbed my shoulders and held me at arms length, her tears falling freely from her eyes.

"I... am so proud of you." I nearly collapsed. Though I was still mad at her, I had waited so long for this exact moment. This was exactly what I needed right now.

"You really did it?!" I nodded. She jumped up and down and looked like she was going to scream for joy. I was about to tell them the whole story when the bell on the door jingled again.

"You!" A voice shouted behind me, and I flinched. The voice made my skin crawl. I saw Austin's face tense up before he pushed Taylor slightly behind him, and Amber's eyes widened in horror. I spun around only to see my drunken father stumble into the gas station. His bloodshot eyes were dead set on me.