Within four walls

Her tears stung as they dripped into the gash on her cheekbone. Helena was looking at herself in the mirror, trying to clean the wound as best she could. It wasn't the first time her father had smacked her around like this, but she knew it would be the last. She felt so much fear in the place she should feel the safest. Her home. Her mother never stopped it. She would just look away. She also knew her mother would be up to her room soon, to check on her. To make sure she was alright.

Part of her loved her

mother for the comfort she showed after the beat downs. But the other part

hated her for never sticking up to that monster. All those years of abuse have

made her mother fear him too much. Helena was almost as far in the darkness

herself, until he came along.

The memories of those

early days when they first spoke online, still filled her heart with so much

joy. Her dad had been so reluctant to get a computer, to give her access to so

much freedom. But when CPS had been called and they saw the neglect in her schooling,

they gave him a choice. Public school, or home schooling done online with

quarterly updates to CPS on her progress. He chose online courses.

That is where it all began.

She found a chat forum, one that was not blocked by the constant updates her

dad did to the computer, and that’s where she met him.

She patted her face

dry, as gently as she could and attached butterfly bandages to the cut on her

face. She knew this one was not deep enough for stitches. She was thankful for

that. Stitching herself back up was like round two of torture.  

She checked the time,

it was 7:42pm. Jake would be messaging her at 8pm on the secret phone he had

given her. They had a plan, and she would finally be free. She felt a bit of

remorse about leaving her mother with this monster. But the years of her mother

never stepping up to help her had left her feeling less guilty. She won't hate

her mother. She would forgive her enough for her part.

There was a soft knock

on the door.

"Helena... it's

Mom."

Helena took a deep

breath and opened the door to see her mom’s concerned face.

"Oh, Helena"

her mom said as she reached for her face. "Come." she grabbed

Helena's hand and guided her to the bed.

It was all so routine

now. Helena would clean herself up, they would cuddle up on the bed, her mom

would stroke her hair and hum that song. She never did ask her mother what the

song was, she would just lay in her arms and let the soft touch and soft song

take her away from this nightmare. Even if it was just for a moment.

As she lay there, she

let her mind drift back to those months before. The first time they chatted

online. The first time she met him. They connected instantly. He made her

laugh, he made her feel beautiful and made her feel like she mattered.

Jake had noticed a cut

on her lip in one of the photos and asked her about it. She tried to brush it off

and come up with a lie, but he wasn't buying it. That was when he told her he

cared for her and wanted her to be safe. It was also when he told her he loved

her for the first time. Those three words flooded her heart and that was when

the floodgates opened. She admitted everything to him. The abuse she endured daily,

the way her mother neglected in protecting her and the constant blanket of fear

she lived under.  She told him how she

was scared her father would find the chat forum and block her from accessing it

and feared what would happen to her if she was caught talking to a man on the

internet. Jake told her to give him her address. That he would save her from

that beast and they would plan an escape.

When he came to her

window a few nights later, it was the most amazing night of her life. He was

handsome and strong. He offered to kill her father right then and there, but

she was too afraid that it would all backfire. Her dad could wake up and try to

fight him off or call the cops and their affair would die along with her. So,

she refused that plan. He agreed he wouldn’t do anything she wasn't comfortable

with, and they would make a plan to runaway together. Then, he kissed her. She

had never been kissed before. The way her body reacted to that kiss was beyond

anything she could have ever imagined. It felt like her skin tingled all over, and

her body leaned into his, as if on instinct. This one kiss made her feel alive

for the first time. Then... it was gone. His lips left hers and he rested his

forehead against hers. They could hear her dad’s footsteps coming down the

hallway towards her room.

"I will take you

away from here, Helena. I promise you that. I love you."

"I love you

too." She said, as she watched him disappear into the night.

Her mother was still

stroking her hair and humming her song when Helena opened her eyes. She had to

get her mom out of here. She needed to get ready.

She looked up at her

mother. "I'm really tired, mom. Thank you for this, but I think I need to

get some rest."

Her mother brushed her

thumb near the gash on her cheek with sadness in her eyes.

"You have always

been brave and strong, my dear." she said.

She had said this to

her before but this time it seemed different. She had a sadness in her eyes. "I

love you. Always know that... please."

It was rare for her mom

to say that she loved her, but now it seemed so direct.

"I... I love you

too mom." she said, with confusion in her voice. Her mother smiled at her,

tears welling up. She kissed Helenas forehead and got up off the bed. She

turned back to face Helena before walking out of the door.

"Always stay brave

and strong Helena. Braver and stronger than I ever could be. Stay safe, my

dear." and with that, she shut the door behind her.

What was that about? Helena thought to herself. Did her mother

know?

She couldn’t think

about that right now. She needed to focus.

She checked the time,

8:07pm. She slid under her bed and lifted the small floor board, freeing the

cell phone from it's prison.

"Is everything ok?

Are you ready to go tonight?"

"Hey, it’s been a

few minutes, I hope you’re ok. Please write to me as soon as you can."

"Helena, I'm

getting worried."

She typed a response as

fast as she could. She hated that she worried him.

"I'm ok. He got

mad, of course. I had to patch myself up, but don't worry it's not too bad. Mom

just left. I'm going to pack up right now."

"Are you sure

running away is all you want? I'll take care of him for you Helena. He

shouldn't get away with this."

"No. I just need

out. I don't want anything to happen to you. This is the best way. We vanish in

the night and be together forever."

"As you

wish."

"Going dark, see you at 1:30. I love you."

She heard her father heading

to bed around eleven. Then heard her mom filling the bath after he went into

their room. This was her only small escape while he fell asleep.

Hours passed and she finally

heard the light tapping at her window. It was time. She quietly climbed off her

bed, grabbed the small duffel bag from under it and headed for the window.

Taking one last look at her room before her escape.

She thought about her mother,

and the way she acted earlier that evening. Her heart hurt briefly at the

thought of leaving her. Yes, she never stuck up for her or came between the

beatings. But she wasn't fully to blame. She had dealt with his torture for

years.

She brushed off the

feelings. She could forgive, but she could never forget. She silently wished

her mother the best of luck, grabbed Jake’s hand and crawled out the window and

then they ran.  

She woke up as the car

came to a stop.

"Well good

morning, beautiful." He said, "We're home."

She sat up and looked

outside to see a little cottage type home on acres of land. The sky went on for

miles as did the rolling hills.

"This is where you

live?" she asked in awe.

"This is where we

live." He corrected.

She looked over at him and

smiled.

She climbed out of the

car, slowly. Her body stiff and sore from the beating the night before and the

cramped sleep in the car.

"I'll grab your

things, you go check out the place."

She took him up on that

offer and walked inside. It was a small, cozy home. She stood at the front

entry looking around. To the left was a kitchen and to her right was a cozy

living room with a fireplace and large picture window. The views were calming

and beautiful. She headed straight down the hall. There was a bathroom to the

left with a large soaker tub. She was looking forward to using that later. Next

to that was a smaller room, which looked to be his office. She pictured him in

that chair at the computer desk typing away and professing his love for her.

To her right was the

bedroom with a large four post bed in the middle. There was a door leading to a

patio overlooking the land. This was literally heaven on earth.

She was standing on the

patio when he came up behind her. He put his arms around her, breathing her in.

She leaned into his embrace. Her body reacting to his. He slowly kissed her

neck whispering to her how much he loves her. She turned to face him and kissed

him deeply. She had been dreaming of this moment for months, and now that it

was here, she could barely contain herself. She was ready to love him.

They spent days

together. Some days they barely left the bedroom, other days were filled with going

for walks, having dinner on the patio and watching movies cuddled on the couch.

Pure bliss. She headed into the kitchen to figure out what to make for dinner.

"Hey, it looks

like we are low on food. How far away is town?” She asked.

"It's about an

hour drive to town. How about you make a list and I'll head in and grab some stuff."

he replied.

"How about we go together?"

She asked with a smile. She walked up and took his hands into hers, "You

can show me around. It will be a fun little adventure."  

He let go of her hands.

"I said. NO."

He was mad now. She had

never seen him mad. He must have sensed her concern as he quickly fixed his

expression to a smile, although it was tight and forced.

"Look, I'm sorry.

I’m just worried about you. You are now a missing person. If anyone sees you,

they could contact the police and then your father will know where to find you.

I have to keep you safe, Helena."

She forced a smiled. But

something was different.

"How long until I

can go with you?" She asked.

"As long as it takes, until I know you will be safe." He said.

She nodded and walked to the kitchen to write out a list.

He gave her a quick

kiss on her cheek before he drove off to town. She was feeling something now,

other than peace and bliss. Something was off now.

She wandered over to

the couch and decided to turn on the news. Maybe she could see if she was

actually on it. If not, that could mean it could be safe for her.

She had been watching

for a while and was almost asleep when she heard an announcement come on the

news causing her to sit up.

The search for the

missing teen, Helena Forhees, is still ongoing after her fathers arrest last

night. Autopsy shows the wounds to Mrs. Isabella Forhees's wrist confirms that

her death was suicide. But there are indications showing years of torment and

abuse. There is a growing fear that Mr. Daniel Forhees is responsible for his daughter’s

disappearance, causing this emotional response from Mrs. Forhees. Many fear for

the safety of Helena Forhees, but the police are hopeful that she may still be

alive. If you have any information on her where abouts, please contact your

local police or …

The words started to

fade out for Helena. The world was spinning around her. She could see the

reporter still talking while a picture of her mother’s bathroom was on the

screen. Blood on the ground and a body blurred from sight. Her mother had

killed herself that night. That's why she had spoken to her the way that she

did. It was her saying good-bye. Did she know Helena was leaving? Could she not

take the abuse that would come her way, and this was her own way of escaping?

She slid off the couch

to her knees and screamed. Her heart was broken. Her mother was dead.

She felt arms around

her now, picking her up, and holding her tight. Her knees were weak, and she

couldn't stand.

"I have to go

back. I have to go tell them everything." She cried.

"You can't go back. They will release him, Helena. Right now, he could go to jail. You'll be free forever."

"What? No. I have to go. I can tell them everything. How I ran away to be free of his abuse. He will still go to jail for that."

"You don't know that." He said, "He could get free and then actually kill you. You need to stay here. Safe. With me."

She was breathing

heavy. Why wouldn't he let her go. He was trying to control her, just like her father.

Yes, he wanted to keep her safe. But she would be safe. The police would make

sure of that.

"No, I'm going. I

have to go back. I need to bury my mom. Give her a funeral that she

deserves."

He stepped back away from her now. "A funeral she deserves? She was going to abandon you with him, Helena. Can’t you see that? She was going to kill herself and leave you to take all that hate and wrath from your father. She deserves nothing from you."

"Thats not true." She yelled back. "She knew something, she knew I was going to leave. She said her goodbyes that night." Tears were flowing down her face, why could he not understand that.

"Her goodbyes? She didn't say them because she knew you were leaving. How could she have known? She said her goodbye's because she knew she was going to off herself and leave you to defend yourself alone with that monster." He spat back.

Her whole body trembling. She could barely breath. He reached out to touch her.

"NO!" She screamed

and pushed his hand away. "I have to go, and I will go.” She started

towards the door, grabbing the keys out of the small bowl on the entry table.

Jake then pulled her

hair and threw her down on the floor.

He was looming over

her. His eyes were black but he spoke calmly, though his words felt ice cold. "Maybe

you don't understand, Helena. I swore to protect you and keep you safe and that

is exactly what I plan to do. I love you. You are mine. You will never leave

this place. Do you understand?”

She got to her feet,

never taking her eyes off him. "I am going to my mother." She said,

with more confidence than she felt.

He backhanded her across the face so hard she fell to the ground. He then grabbed her arm and dragged her down the hallway to their bedroom.

"You will go nowhere."

He said as he left her in the middle of the room. When he left, she could hear

him lock the door from the outside. She never even noticed it could be locked

from the outside.

She was crying and

pleading with him, too dizzy to get up off the floor. When she heard the front

door slam and heard him walking around the house to the porch outside the

bedroom. But before she could get to it, she heard locks. It locked from the

outside too. Dread filled her as she realized she left one prison, just to be

locked into another.

She cried on that floor

for what felt like hours. Eventually she crawled onto the bed and turned the

radio on for comfort. A country song was playing but she was barely paying

attention, until the chorus started, and a familiar tune filled the room. It

was what her mother always hummed to her as she stroked her hair. "You'll

always be my baby" by Alan Jackson. She finally knew the song.

She gripped her pillow tight, imagining her mother’s arms around her as she

hummed along with the song, tears streaming down her face. She could almost

feel her mother’s hands stroking her hair as the song played on.