In the arms of evil

New beginnings

That night was a night I'll never forget. It's etched itself into my everlasting memory. After Troy, I honestly felt as though love was something made up in fairytales and movies. That love wasn't meant for someone like me. That I should stop kidding myself and get used to the pain of heartache and what it cost me. But Colton seems different. With his own secrets too. I'll just have to be more observant this time. It's been two months since then, and we've been out quite a lot. I've grown used to his presence around me.

"Miss you gorgeous. Can I come see you today?" A text pings on my phone. It's Colton. I smile as I read the message, taking in every second of romance.
"Sure thing. I miss you too <3" I press send immediately. Nervously, I ponder as those three bobbling dots dance on the screen.
"I'll be there in 20, doll ;)" with that, I give my phone a squeeze as I smile, re-Reading the message. Simple to others, but the sensation I feel of new beginnings is something euphoric.

20 minutes, straight on schedule, I hear a knock at my door. As I answer the door in my white fluffy slippers, black leggings and baggy white, past the shoulder shirt, I grimace at my appearance. My hair is in a messy ponytail and I have no makeup on. As the door swings open silently, I feel my heart plunge to my stomach as he looks up at me and stares. "My god baby doll. You look beautiful." I scan his face for any escaped little chuckles or hidden smirks. But I find none. He's being serious. There's a genuine smile on his face, and his eyes gleam as he looks into mine. I chuckle, tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and let him in.

He steps in carefully, and takes a look at the place. "There's not much. I only got here three months ago" I say, shutting the door, fumbling with my shirt sleeve, feeling embarrassed of how little I have. My home in Tennessee had more life than this. Before it was sucked away. "No, I like it. Minimalistic. You've got cute plants in cute little white pots. Family photos on the walls. A Cream couch and duck egg blue leather single seater. Light blue shutters. You've made it into quite the little beach house." Huh. I didn't even realise. And now that he's said it like that, I feel proud of how my little home has turned out.

"Want me to fix you a drink?" I'm by my mirrored alcohol cabinet, pulling out my whiskey malt. As I begin pouring, I turn to him and shake the bottle, asking him again. "Isn't it a bit early?" He asks smiling, leaning his head to one side. I laugh, before I knock back my drink, "it's never too early to relax." With that he nods, so I pour him and I another glass. I take a seat beside him on my couch, folding my legs beneath me as I get comfy. "You are something else, you know that?" He says it so gently, his eyes tracing mine. "What do you mean?" I ask, curious if he's giving me a compliment or not. "There's no one like you Brooklyn. I've never in my life met a girl so innocent and yet so wild until you. You've got this purity about you. But I can't help but notice the flicker of fire in your eyes. I can't wait to explore it" he lifts a hand to my cheek, stroking it up and down with the back of his index finger. I sigh, looking down, pushing away the flame. "And what about your flame? What's your big dark secret Colton?" I rub his knee as I take a sip from my glass, eyes never leaving his.

He moves his hand away, and holds mine on his knee instead. "Trust me, doll. It's not something you want to know. It drives people away. Every time. I want a bit longer with you Brook. Please" he begs. I pause for a moment. He looks scared as if he's going to lose me if he tells me what his big secret is. I squeeze his knee, and give a gentle smile, "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He leans forward, his lips colliding with mine. It's gentle at first, gentle and soft. He's taking his time. He reaches over and takes my glass from my hand and puts it on the coffee-table. Before I know it, I'm leaning over him, the kiss growing more passionately. His tongue invades my own, and a moan I can't help escapes my trembling lips. I feel his hands snake around my waist, pulling at the rim of my shirt. As I realise what's happening, I pull back and he stops kissing me. "What's wrong?" He asks, arms leaving my waist. He scans my eyes slowly before he says, "it's okay. You hesitated, and I'm not going to force you. Whenever you're ready baby. I'm in no rush." My heart tremors at how sweet and observant he is. He smiles at me, kissing my nose and cheeks before pulling me down on top of him and turning the tv on. "So what are we watching?" He fumbles with the remote as he brushes my hair with his fingers.

I hadn't noticed we both dozed off, but when I stir awake, I find him still holding me on top of him. He's still asleep as I rise off of him and creep off to the bathroom. Once inside, I find myself staring at my reflection. It's there I find the first genuine smile I've had in a long time. That is, of course, before I lift my shirt up to see the memento Troy left me. A great big eight inch scar across my abdomen. Tears trickle down my cheek as I'm reminded of that night. The night that should have ended my life.

Last year:
"Dad, come on. There's no need to call the police. I left him okay? I'm never going back so you don't have to worry." I chase my dad around the house as he holds the phone, and all the power, in the grip of his hand. "He hit you Brooklyn! Looks at your eye. Hell, look at you! My daughter doesn't look like this. She doesn't have bags under her eyes and bruises on her arms. She doesn't flinch when her mother hugs her! God damn it, what has he done to you?" My fathers lips tremble. He begins to cry. I walk over to him and hug him tightly. "I know dad. I'm sorry. I never should have gone out with him. But I promise it's over with now. I don't want to tell the police dad. I'm scared, okay? I just want to forget it. Please." With that, he puts the phone down and hugs me back. Tight, but not tight enough that it hurts. My mum comes from behind and hugs us both. We have no idea what's happing when we hear a gun go off.

My father and I pull from the hug to find Troy standing at the entrance of our living room with a gun smoking in his hand. It's pointed right towards us. That's when my mother's body hits the ground in a loud thud. "Mum!" I'm on my knees beside her, holding her in my arms. There's blood all around her but I can't work out where it's coming from. My dad lunges at Troy and another bang goes off. He dies instantly. A few feet from where I'm kneeling, I look over to see my dads lifeless body surrounded in a pool of crimson. "Daddy! Please no... Troy, what did you do? What did you do..." I sob, my vision going blurry from the tears that fall and streak my bruised face. "Run... I love you my baby girl. Now run" my mother whispers with her last dying breath. And just like that, she's gone too.

I was so engulfed in heartache that I hadn't noticed Troy standing right beside me. Already on my knees, he lifts me from the top of my shirt and plows a heavy fisted punch to my face. As I lay on the cold hard wood, he leans over me, laying each blow harder than the last. He stops and I'm grateful, but that was misguided. In the moment, I'm hoping he'll shoot me. Put me out of a lifetime of pain. But instead he pulls a long six inch knife from his waistband and brings it to my face. "You were such an obedient girl at the beginning. But then you started telling me who I can and cannot sleep with and calling me a good for nothing and well," he chuckles "I can't have that now can I? What sort of man would that make me? You wanna know a secret baby?" He leans down to my ear, "I found your pregnancy test in the trashcan you stupid whore." He whispers it with a distinct disgust in his tone. My eyes widen in fear of him. He's unpredictable and I know I can't protect my baby.
He scrapes the knife from my neck to my stomach and stops. "You wanted to leave me. And take my baby with you. I don't think so." With that, he drove the knife into me. "Please no Troy... please.... ARGHHHHHHH!" The scream is blood curdling as he digs it deeper into me. That's when police sirens blare outside my house, blue and red lights flash in my living room. He stops and looks around him. "You bitch!" He gets off me and runs out the backdoor. He's gone. And so is the rest of my life.

Present:
I pull my shirt back down, rub the tears from my eyes and come out of the bathroom. When I get back to the living room, Colton's awake, sitting up on the couch. "Hey, what's wrong?" He gets up instantly and comes running to me. I crash into his chest and begin to cry as his arms come around my petite body, holding me gently. "It's okay. I got you. Shhhhh, you're okay, doll." He picks me up, bridal style, and carry's me to the couch, setting me down on his lap.

As I look up at him, and see the concern in his eyes, I think it's time I finally tell him the truth. Before it eats me alive.