Prologue
Harriette walked through the cold, abandoned streets of the desolate backwater town she still called home.
Her body was soaked in blood and fluid from the childbirth she had just survived. The pain was excruciating but she clutched onto her babygirl tightly in her arms.
'He can't get her' was the only thought that was echoing through her head, growing louder than the thickening silence of the empty streets as she dragged herself through the torment.
“Harriette if you come out now I might be so kind as to not discipline you“ Came a voice she knew so well, a voice that she had come to dread.
Brandon.
She could hear his footsteps on the snow-covered ground behind her.
He was close. Too close.
But she didn't look back. She couldn't.She kept moving, her heart pounding in her chest, overwhelming the sound of his approach.
Then, as if the heavens finally took pity on her, a truck approached from the far end of the road
With all the strength she can muster, she leapt forward into the middle of the road, lifting an arm to stop it.
The brakes squealed.
An elderly couple sat inside.
“What in the heavens... Are you ok darling? Get in!" The woman exclaimed, her voice full of worry.
But the man hesitated, his fingers locked on the steering wheel, “We don't know who this girl is Barbara, we can't keep sticking our noses up into other people's businesses."
Harriette fell to her knees, her baby still wrapped in her embrace.
"Please... Please help me" She Pleaded, her eyes tearing up. "If not for me, help my daughter he can't have her, please she can't go through what I did.
Her gaze snapped over her shoulder in fear.
She knew Brandon was fast, strong and merciless. He would catch up with her soon enough. And make her pay dearly for disobeying him.
The couple exchanged a look.
“Francis…” Barbara said softly.
Francis studied Harriette, her torn, white bloodstained gown, the fresh and faded bruises on her skin.
Without another word, Francis succumbed to opening the door and helping her in.
They drove as fast as the truck would let them.
Barbara kept glancing at Harriette through the rearview mirror. Noticing how weak she had become she urged Francis to stop at the nearest clinic.
They rushed her inside but it was of no use. With her last breath Harriette whispered her dying wish.
“Run and take care of my Gabriella please” she said, her trembling hands falling on her daughter for the last time.
Tears mixed with blood, streaming down her cheeks and with that her body froze. Her eyes shut, embracing death like an old friend.
The old couple drove away with Gabriella- little Ella. They didn't look back
Little Ella was born from blood and pain but the old couple vowed to create a future as beautiful as her.
