rising out of the ashes

Skylar Pov Sitting on the porch enjoying a coffee with my mom while we watched my 5 year old and 3 year old playing with cars in the driveway. it's been a beautiful spring day. Mom Ethan my 5 year old yells can we go to granny and popas tonight. as I look over to my mom I see her smiling at Ethan and nodding her head. yes honey you can go for the weekend run inside both of you and grab a few toys you want to take with you. we watch as they jump up and run into the house laughing as Ethan pretends to chase his sister Avery. Thank you mom I've been needing a weekend to get spring cleaning done before Terry gets angry. I don't know why you put up with that man my mom huffs with annoyance as she thinks of Terry. He's no good and you don't deserve to be treated like his servant. I know mom I say but I'm scared what he will do to the kids if I leave him. I just need a few more months to save some more money before I can leave with the kids. oh honey if it's just the money keeping you from leaving you know your father and I will help you. I know you will mom but I don't want to risk rushing this and making a mistake that will help him find me. Hearing the kids running to the door I get up to go inside and pack up some clothes for them. I will be right back with clothes for them I say to my mom while doing my best to not run into my excited babies. Seeing my little ones so excited to be with my parents makes me smile I'm glad they have my parents to show them what a loving family is really like. all I can hope is that soon enough I will be able to give them the same loving environment as my parents home. As I hug my babies Goodbye I kiss each of them saying I love you and tell them to have a great time. as my moms driving away I can see little hands waving at me like crazy. with tears in my eyes I head inside to start supper for Terry and think of all the things that need to be arranged before I can leave. With dinner cooking I run upstairs to change out of my jeans and tank top and put on a simple dress that isn't too revealing as Terry hates me looking like a slut and wants me to always appear to be the perfect happy wife. I brush my waist length auburn hair that I haven't been able to get more than a trim off of it in 7 years and put it in a simple bun. I apply my approved makeup and head back downstairs. just as I'm setting the dinning room table I hear the front door open instantly the atmosphere of my home changes from peaceful to tense. I place a smile on my face and call out hun is that you. who the f**k else would it be Skylar. he yells towards me and I can tell he's had a bad day. it's going to be a rough one for me tonight I inwardly cringe at the thought of what's to come. Still forcing myself to smile I walk towards him apologizing and say sorry I didn't notice it was so late that's why I asked if it was you. That's the problem with you Skylar you're too stupid to manage your time better no wonder the house is such a dump all the time. I lower my head knowing he expects me to be timid and think the house is spotless how can he think this place is a dump. I'm sorry I'm such a disappointment Terry I will try harder for you I say in a small voice trying to avoid making him any more angry. I made you your favorite meal tonight as a surprise since my parents took the kids for the weekend come and sit I will have your plate dished up in a few seconds. He smiles at me in a way that makes me shiver with fear and says let's hope you don't f**k up anything else tonight or you'll regret it. I believed him and also knew from experience that no matter what he won't be happy with me. with shaking hands I dish his dinner add some garlic bread and fresh parmesan to the pasta and force myself back into the dinning room with his plate in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other. I go back and grab my plate and a glass of water slowly sitting across from him trying to make as little noise as possible. I think back to when we first met and wish that the man I fell in love with the man that didn't change until we moved in together was still sweet and charming however they do say men like this often play a part until they have snagged you and have you trapped. the first signs were small barely noticeable but should have been warnings for what was to come a year later when I gave birth to Ethan. I was so tired that night and forgot to preset the coffee pot. Ethan was 2 months old and was only just starting to sleep about 6 hours a night. I awoke to him grabbing my hair and dragging me out of bed pushing me down the stairs and screaming at me to f*****g get his coffee ready. That was the first time and also the first of many gifts with apologies and false promises of it never happening again. I must have been deep in thought because when I looked up he was glaring at me. oh no no no why did I have to start thinking of the past what did he say. I notice now his plate is empty. would you like me to get you some more hun I smile. About time you got your head out of the clouds and noticed me he scowls at me and pushes his plate towards me. The rest of dinner went without another incident thankfully. as I'm clearing the table he comes up behind me grabbing my waist and kissing my neck I used to love it when he did this now I feel nothing but fear. I turn in his arms smile up to him and say let me get everything cleaned up I will grab you a beer and you can relax a bit before you have your way with me I try to put a sultry look on my face while running my hands along his abdomen hoping a few minutes of relaxing will lul his anger. unfortunately for me I noticed anger in his eyes and knew my suggestion was not what he wanted me to say. He grabbed my hair roughly and pulled hard making me cry out. kissing me roughly he smiles and whispers in my ear you're going to learn a good lesson tonight Skylar he pushes me back and back hands me across the face. with blood coming from the side of my mouth he grabs me by the hair shoves me towards the stairs and tells me I have 5 minutes to get cleaned up and be waiting for him in bed. After washing my face I remove my hair from the bun and undress leaving my hair down I lay naked in bed waiting for my tormentor to come upstairs. when he arrives he slowly undresses and climbs into bed all while telling me he hates having to punish me but I need to learn my place. he leans over and bites my breast making me cry out in pain and push him away. he grabs my face pulls me up and back hands me again sending me over the side of the bed as I'm falling my head hits the nightstand and I pass out. Terry's POV That stupid b***h has been pissing me off all evening and I'm so riled up I'm ready to really show her who's she's dealing with. As I crawl into bed I see her perfectly round breasts and I lean towards one and bite her hard. hearing her cries of pain make my c**k hard. she pushes me away from her and I see red picking her up I slap her hard across the face that will teach her to fight against her punishment. I hear a cracking sound and look over the side of the bed there laying motionless on the floor is Skylar blood pouring out the back of her head. s**t I don't think she's breathing what am I going to do I can't call the cops they will figure out im not who I've been pretending to be for the last 11 years. I rush to the garage grab a can of gas and go back inside to the basement near the furnace and electrical panel I pour the can all around the basement and light a match I walk upstairs look and see she's not moving I whisper you deserve this baby grab my keys and walk out the front door as I'm driving away I see smoke starting to rise up from the house. Skylar Pov I wake up groaning in pain having trouble remembering what happened. I start to smell smoke and see it rising through the vents panic takes over me as I grab my robe and run downstairs to the back door. once outside I run to my neighbors house and knock on the door when Brittany opens the door she looks at me worried and asks what's wrong. I let her know what had happened and that I needed help. Begging Brittany not to tell Terry I'm alive I call my parents and ask for them to come get me. This is my chance to run and I need to act fast.