1. - – Piper
CHAPTER ONE
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PIPER
My heart is hammering against my chest as I desperately shove clothing into a bag.
I am running out of time. He is kicking the door, trying to get to me.
Trying to stop me. I just wanted to be free from him.
I wanted to live in a world where I wasn’t always hiding bruises or sitting gently because he took me too hard when he was drinking.
I fucked up when I told him to leave. Everyone always told me to wait until he was working and leave.
No, I wanted to be brave. I wanted to say it to his face. Why didn’t I just wait?
“Open the fucking door!” Colt screams as he slams his body against the splintering wood. “You’re not fucking leaving me! You fucking hear me, whore?!”
“Go away!” I scream through my broken sobs. I fumble with the bag as I rush to the window. Drop everything and pull up on the window, but it won’t budge.
“No,” I say in broken disbelief. “No, no, no, no. Please open. No. ” I keep pulling and pulling, trying to get out of this house—I’m going to die here.
When I hear the door break free from the latch and slam open, dread seeps into my soul.
I don’t get a chance to turn around before his fist slams against the back of my head, smashing my face against the window. I scream out in pain as I crumble to the ground. “Stupid fucking bitch!” Colt screams as he grabs me by the hair and drags me up to my feet.
“Stop!” I scream as I thrash.
“You wanna leave so goddamn badly?” Colt screams. “Leave, Piper! Get the fuck out!”
Shrill screams pour out of me when Colt tightens his grip on my hair and slams my face against the window again.
“Get out!” Colt screams, smashing my face against the glass again.
Every time my face hits the window, I let out a sound that is similar to a whimper as blood pours from my face. I manage to put my hand out in front of me, but instead of grabbing the window frame, my arm smashes through the glass. “Stop!” I scream again as he rips me backward.
“Go on, Piper. Get the fuck out,” Colt grunts as he lifts my body.
I am weak now, so when he shoves my body toward the window, I give no resistance.
I crash through the jagged glass and tumble out onto the roof.
I feel it as the window slices into my neck, ripping my throat open.
My scream turns gargled as I lie on my back.
I grab at my throat, trying to stop the bleeding.
There’s too much blood. I can feel it seeping out between my fingers.
My body is weakening. My body senses it when he steps out onto the roof, and I know he is here to finish me off.
Instinctively, I use every bit of energy I have to roll myself away from him.
I instantly go into a freefall. I let out one final gargled scream before my body smashes into the concrete patio.
I am completely frozen as I look up at the stars. Oh, how I used to love counting the stars like dreams of a life free from Colt. As the world starts to darken, I find solace in my freedom.