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Prologue
RAINE
I pumpmy arms furiously as I run through the dark forest, not once allowing myself to stop and get my bearings or look behind me. The canopy is so thick that the moon barely penetrates through to the ground, so I’m practically running blind.
“Run, little doe, as fast as you can!” a maniacal voice calls from close behind me. Heavy footsteps pound on the forest floor, following my every move.Shit. How did they catch up so fast? My lungs are on fire, and I want to stop and rest, but I know that the minute I do, I’m dead.
“Leave me alone!” I scream right before an arrow whizzes past me and lands in the thick trunk of a tree. My foot catches on something and I plummet to the ground with a grunt.
Their footsteps get louder and louder. I push myself back up and start to run again, but I’m yanked back by my hair and thrown against a tree. I cry out in pain, tears burning my eyes. He turns me around until I’m facing him. His crazed smile makes my stomach turn.
“There’s nowhere to run now, sweetheart.”
Chapter 1
RAINE
The daybefore
Mom’s screams fill the entire house as they violently rip from her throat. I cover my ears and curl into a ball in the corner of my room, wedged between my bed and the wall. My suitcase is in front of me; it’s been packed for weeks now, just waiting for the right moment to leave.
The concussion a few days ago should have been my last straw, or even the bruise on my face from two weeks ago that’s almost done healing, but every time I get the courage to leave, I wimp out.
I’d say this is as good a time as any, but how can I get out of the house without bringing attention to myself? Mom and Dad are in the living room, and I have to cross through to get to the front door.
Unless I take my car, the one that was gifted to me by Mom, but Dad refuses to let me drive it. It’s been sitting in the garage unused since my birthday last month, and I don’t even know where the keys are.
Glass shatters downstairs, followed by a hard thump and a cry of pain. I have to get out of here.
Thunder booms overhead, shaking the entire house. How am I supposed to leave when there’s practically a hurricane happening outside right now?
Taking several deep breaths, I peel myself off the floor and put on my raincoat and boots. Mom screams again, but it’s suddenly cut off by a groan.
I wonder if I can get Mom to come with me…
There’s no point in even trying. I realized a long time ago that she’ll never leave Dad. No matter how much he beats and terrorizes us every day, she’ll never leave him. He just gets so angry all the time, and it scares the absolute shit out of me, but my mom’s disregard for me hurts more than Dad’s fists ever could. She used to be his punching bag, but when he saw my fierce protection of her, he turned his attention to me.
Mom was supposed to protect me the same way I’d been protecting her the past two years, but instead, she goes into her room and shuts the door to drown out the sound of my cries. I did everything I could to keep her from enduring my dad’s abuse, and I was given nothing in return except a new–used–car.
So maybe she deserves what’s happening to her tonight. She’s never tried to get us out of here, never once even hinted about leaving him. How can the people who are supposed to love and protect me more than anything treat me so poorly?
Running shaky hands through my wild curls, I grab my suitcase and ease the door open slowly. From my place in the hall, I can see downstairs into the living room. Mom is lying in a pool of blood, her lifeless eyes staring up at me.
Oh my God.
He killed her.
Chapter 2
RAINE
About thirty minutes later,Dad looks like he’s passed out on the couch, so I hold my suitcase close to me as I tiptoe down the stairs to the front door. Empty liquor bottles and shattered glass litter the floor. Dad has a huge gash on his forehead. At least Mom fought.
I don’t have time to look for my keys, because he could wake up at any moment. That’s what always happens; he blacks out for a few minutes and then he comes to like nothing even happened.
Quietly, I ease the door shut behind me, and I’m immediately soaked from the torrential downpour.
I pull my hood over my head and grip the handle of my suitcase tightly as I begin walking down the street. I have no idea where I’m going, or at least, what I’m going to do for the night, but I’ll figure it out along the way.
