CHAPTER 1:GET OUT.

I ran down the dark and narrow alleyway, that was littered with trash. My blonde hair that had been styled to absolute perfection this morning, was now a mess blowing in the nights breeze.The September breeze was cold,but the cold was the least of my worries..

There was blood on my hands..Blood of the man that I had just married a few hours previous. Blood of the man that has been making my life a living hell for two years.

Dead or Alive? I didn't know the answer to that question. I hit him hard enough, but I didn't wait around long enough to find out if I had killed him. I need to put distance between us now,as much distance that I can. Jesus Christ! I don't even know where I'm going to go. But staying here isn't an option for me anymore.

In a single bathroom at the bus station, I looked in the dirty floor lenght mirror at myself. I saw the face of a girl I didn't recognise. I didn't feel like the Emilia Darcy that I once knew. Before I met Liam I had so much vision and hope for my future, despite the shit hand that life had given me.

I thought he was my Saviour..But he wasn't! 

He wasn't a saviour at all. He was a coward and a Bully. He moulded me into a woman haunted by fear. I was living every day in fear of him. I am the woman who's going to be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life..ALL BECAUSE OF HIM!!

I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE WRONG MAN..THE ABUSIVE MAN!!

                                         ~~~~~~~

I walked out of the Gas station with a new phone in hand,a phone that couldn't be traced. I dialed Claire's number,the number that I had memorised if this exact reason. Thankfully she answered after 3 rings, just hearing her voice had the hot tears rolling down my cheeks.

Pull yourself together,Emilia. But that was merely impossible.

[PHONE CALL]"Hello"

[PHONE CALL]"Claire.."I sniffed back tears."It's me..It's Emilia!"As I cried outside the bus station I noticed that I had drawn some attention. People were watching my emotional display.

[PHONE CALL]She gasped."Milly! Oh My God!! Please,Tell me you did the right thing and got the hell out of there?"

[PHONE CALL]"I'm at the bus station. I didn't know what to do..I didn't know where to go?"Another bus pulled into the station,the bright light causing me to turn in the opposite direction.

[PHONE CALL]"It's okay,Emmy! Listen,I have a cousin in LA. Her name is Michelle. I want you to buy a ticket and go there,call me back when you check into a motel."

[PHONE CALL]"Okay."I wiped the tears from my eyes with the sleeve of my coat."Do you think he's still alive,Claire?"

[PHONE CALL]"I don't know. But he can't find you if you leave now,if you're carful.You're away from him now..Think of this like a fresh start.

[PHONE CALL]I glanced through the window onto the bus station,there wasn't many in there thankfully. It was already late."I'll call you when I get to LA. Thank you, Claire."

[PHONE CALL]"You're welcome,Hon! Talk soon."

After hanging up the phone with Claire I shut my phone off and bought a one way ticket to Los Angeles. A one way ticket to my new life!! I stood in line amongst other passengers,waiting to board the bus.I could feel the anxiety build up within me having that few moments alone to think about the events off tonight.

What if he's not dead?

What if that PRICK is already out there looking for me?

I think Liam might just kill me if he gets his hands on me again,strangle me to death or possibly beat me until he was satisfied. More of a part of me would rather him dead than go back to that misery of a life.

"Next."Shouted,a very grumpy looking bus driver. Walking up the steps of the bus and closer to him,I noticed how tired the man in his fifties looked. I guess driving the night shift,tiredness is a part of it.

Thankfully he stamped my ticket and I walked down the Isle of the bus. The second Isle I've walked down tonight. I was feeling the eyes on me as I slipped into my seat,I'm just being paranoid. It's just Paranoia.

Sitting half way down the bus,I moved across and sat on the seat by the window. I rested my red backpack on the empty seat beside me. That's about all I brought with me to start my life over.I rested my head back against the headrest,gazing out the window as the bus left the station. I thought back to that day, the day I met HIM.. 

~~~

FLASHBACK 

                                        

Mid way through my shift at Greg's coffee shop,where I've been working the better part of a year. It's money that helps pay my way through college,so I take every boring shift I can. It's a nice place to work, don't get me wrong. But it's dead most of the time. Thank God for Claire working along side me.

"Oh,Would you look who's back? Mr Tall, hawt and irresistible."Claire smirked, nodding her head in the direction of the door.

"Tall,hawt and Irresistible.Who?"I asked, but turned straight around to see who she was looking at. I smiled when I was him.. Mr MACCHIATO!! as I like to call him.His gorgeous dark hair was wet from the rain that was pouring down outside. It definitely added to his usual Handsome look.

I turned back around and continued stacking the paper coffee cups."I guess that man likes his coffee."I tried to stop myself from smiling,knowing that if I did she would make a thing of it.

"Hmm,It's not the coffee he likes and you know it. The coffee here sucks."She chuckled."Don't tell Greg that I said that or he'll probably fire me."

"I make no promises."I was joking of course,I would never tell Greg about his sucky coffee. Not that he would care anyway..He was one of those over friendly bosses. I looked behind me and saw that Mr MACCHIATO was standing by the counter waiting to be served.

"I just need to run in back and grab some more paper napkins. Will you serve him?"

"What..No!! You."I whispered.

"Relax,Hon!"She chuckled,at the complete sheer panic on my face."That Guy is Hawt, maybe he can take that virginity of yours." She walked away with a spring in her step, knowing exactly what she was leaving me too.

She's so going to pay for this!!

Now that Claire was out of sight I looked in Mr MACCHIATO'S direction. He looked over at me and smiled,a very contagious smile that had me smiling right back.

Alright,Here goes!! I walked towards him, with legs like jelly and completely red faced."Hi,Um..The usual?"I asked,my every four word came out shakey like I was standing on one of those vibe plates. I'm totally fucking ridiculous right now.

"You know my usual.."He smirked."I guess i must be in here a lot,I like the coffee enough to keep coming back. Yes please I'll have my usual,if you don't mind."

"Sure."I walked towards the coffee machine and grabbed a to go cup. As I made his coffee I could feel his eyes on me, watching every little movement that I made. Of course that made me even more nervous.

I watched him as he threaded his fingers through his dark hair,slicking it back off his forehead. I was memorised just watching him,having those dirty thoughts creep into my head.

Yes I was a virgin at 23,but it didn't mean I was a stranger to pleasing myself. I have a Vibrator,I know how to get the job done. I guess I just want my first time to be with the right man.

"Are you okay over there?"Mr MACCHIATO asked,as he looked in my direction. He snapped me out of the naughty thought's I was having about that 6ft body of his."You look like you were thinking about something?"

I smiled,but I could feel the hotness in my cheeks."I'm fine,It's just one of those very long weeks. I have college on my mind."I walked towards the counter,holding his coffee cup.

"Well how about I take your mind off it this weekend. Dinner Saturday night what do you say?"I couldn't form the words to speak,I couldn't even reply. Mr MACCHIATO was asking me out on a date."I've taken you by surprise,I can tell! It's taken me a couple of times to pluck up the courage to ask you."

The man that was hot enough to be on an Ad for Calvin Klein was asking me out, when he could have his pick of any women he sets his sights on. WHY ME?

"YOU..You're asking me out on a Date?"I stumbled on my words,making a total idiot of myself.

"Yes,I am. You are the reason I come in here all the time,I don't work close by."He smirked,before placing some notes down on the counter."How does Saturday sound for you?"

He's gorgeous..But do I really have time to date right now? Between my shifts here at Greg's and the amount of time I spent at College,i don't really have time for a man.

Claire stepped in,sensing my hesitation and my inability to speak like a normal human."Saturday is good for her."She handed Mr MACCHIATO a folded piece of paper."This is Emilia's number to make arrangements."

He took the paper from her hand,unfolded it and looked at the number. He looked back up at me and smiled."I'll call you, I sure hope you pick up."He picked up his coffee cup and walked towards the white painted door of the coffee shop.

"Wait.."I shouted,causing him to turn around and look at me."You didn't tell me your name."If I'm going on a date with the guy, I at least want to know his name. Maybe I can Facebook stalk him first. 

"Liam..My name is Liam Phillips."He left with a wink of the eye.Liam..I like that name. He's nice. Very good looki ng and charming. I guess I have a date to get ready for.

END OF FLASHBACK