Running To Nowhere

She was running but she wasn't getting far, she saw the door in front of her so close to her hand when a sharp pain to her head had her flying away from it. Feeling her heart sink she took the first blow to her belly crushing the hope that had bubbled up. "You wont leave b***h, because if you do or you try again I will kill you." said the demon in her ear. He drug her to her time out closet that he would throw her in when she misbehaved, she knew later it would be worse, he just needed time to find the right person to hurt her. Crying to herself she vowed she would get out, she vowed over and over, until the closet opened up, "Good news for you little slut, no one is buying today so get the f**k up and make dinner." he said to her kicking her leg. She knew better than to cry out for it made the beatings worse. Getting up quickly she walked to the kitchen and started his dinner. As she grabbed a knife she held it in her hands thinking about using it on him, thats when he came up behind her, whiskey on his breath he said in her ear, "Do it little b***h, i dare you." he said to her. She wasn't sure what came over her but she acted on pure survival and swung her arm with the knife at him, he caught it with ease and stabbed it into her shoulder, this time she couldn't hold back the cry that came out, the pain being the worst she had ever felt in her life, after he yanked it out he used the knife to slice her cloths, exposing her in front of him, grabbing her neck he squeezed and pushed her agents the wall, when she was about to pass out from lack of air he started to r**e her, then she woke up. Ava Andrews was covered in sweat and shaking from the vivid nightmare she seemed to have every night since she had finally escaped him, every dream was of him stabbing her or raping her, or having one of his friends do both at the same time. It hadn't always been bad. She came from a good family that had passed away in a car accident two years before, they were loving and very attentive, then they were gone in a flash. That was when her best friend became her husband, then her husband became the demon she fears the most in the world. In the beginning, he had been sweet and stuck by her side, he was a wealthy man and took over for his family, they owned a large strand of hotels in California. He paid for the funeral he bought her everything she had wanted, the only thing he demanded was that she looked well presented when she went with him to gatherings. Demanding for her to wear silk and Armani clothing. Her hair had to be styled daily and she had to wear make up.  At the time she thought it a small price to pay for such a great life he gave her, when he asked her to marry him it was a dream come true to her, she had said yes faster than anyone in the world is what he would tell her. The wedding was amazing and beautiful filled with loved ones, except her family. That night he had made sweet love to her, it seemed like her life was the best it could get. Then the first time her demon put his hands on her was after a gathering at their house, he had been snide with her that night in front of his friends and she hadn't appreciated it so she had told him she would just leave him to his friends and she left to their bedroom. Not long after he came up also slamming the bedroom door shut behind him. "What the f**k is wrong with you Ava?" he demanded to her. She rolled her eyes at him, " I don't think you should be talking to me the way you have all night in front of your asswhipe buddies. I worked hard today to get everything you wanted ready and all I've gotten from you and those pigs is disrespect." she said. When she turned to him he had punched her square in her jaw, she flew back and smacked her head on the dresser, instantly passing out. "That will teach you bitch." he had said to her, and left her where she was. Now this isn't any normal story about an abusive husband, he did not apologize to her, he didn't seek help for her, he left her to go back to his friends. The next day she confronted him about going to the doctors, he looked at her and laughed at her, straight up laughed as if what she said she needed was the funniest s**t to him. "You don't need a damn doctor Ava quit trying to get attention, after the s**t you pulled yesterday, you will be stuck here picking all this f*****g mess up." he said getting up and throwing his plate into the sink, it had shattered everywhere. Being the fighter that she was she yelled, "What the f**k is wrong with you?" he didn't say much at first he just stared at her then laughing he walked to her, not thinking he would touch her again she was far surprised when he gripped her throat and slammed her head against the wall making her vision come and go. "Listen here you little b***h, when I say you will do something you will do it, the way I want you to get it done, from now on. And if you want to keep talking to me like this I'll make sure you cant talk by the end of the week." he said, then he let her go and she slid to the floor, this pissed him off more, "Did you hear me b***h?" he asked. Not being able to talk due to the injury to her head she just looked at him, seeing his anger she tried to get away when he pulled her by her hair to the living room and kicked her, that day he broke two ribs and bruised her belly the worst she had ever seen, the more she cried the more pissed off he got and the more he kicked her, that was all she remembered, for she passed out not long after that. When she came to she was on the couch and one eye was swollen shut, she tried to get up and felt more blinding pain, what had she done to deserve this? she thought to herself. There was a note on the table beside her, all it said get get this house done before i get home or else. Not wanting to get another beating so soon she did as she was told. When he got home he seemed to be pleased at her work and he ran her a bath and told her to get cleaned up and stay in the bedroom. He hadn't touched her again for awhile after that, he was constantly busy and hardly home, then one night he came home drunk, nothing she had done that day was good enough and when she tried to give him a back massage to calm him down he thought she was after to hurt him so he slammed her head into the island in the kitchen, and he had left her there. After that she had had enough she packed her bags and lugged them to the living room as he walked into the door that night, "What do you think you are doing Ava?" he asked her shutting the door. She knew when he talked slow and quietly the beatings would be worse, but she was leaving, "I am leaving you, I don't deserve this treatment from my husband and I have had enought." she said standing her ground. "Is that right?" he said to her in a calm tone as he rubbed his beard. She started to cry, "Please, just let me leave." she said, "I wont tell anyone we can just go about our lives." she begged him. He chuckled at her, "No, I don't think so Ava. You see you are mine, for life, that is what marriage is." he said walking slowly to her. "You are not allowed to leave, in fact since you want to piss me off again I'll jus show you how MINE you are bitch." he said and grabbed an handful of her hair and yanked her towards the hallway closet. "Please Jordan, don't do this." she begged. "Shut the f**k up and get in there." he said throwing her in. "I'll be back in a little while my dear wife, and when I get back, you WILL entertain my friends and I." he said, then he shut and locked the door from the outside. Not wanting another beating she stayed quiet for what seemed like hours until he came back and drug her out. "Go upstairs and show, then put this on with the robe, do your make up and leave your hair down." he gripped her face and brought it close to his, "Make it quick or you'll be punished," he warned after pushing her away. That night after doing what she was told, he had let his friends tie her to the kitchen island and r**e her until they were all satisfied. She had screamed and cried and begged them to stop, with every cry she got slapped, with every plea she was punched. They had taken knifes to her breasts and stomach. They had left deep cuts in between her thighs. They had mutilated her without killing her. The r***s continued and soon she was being pimped out by her husband so he could have more money, truthfully she was sure he just enjoyed it, he had made her watch as he f****d young teenage hookers. If she looked away he would hit her, punch her, kick her. Her wounds took months to fully heal and left nasty scars all over her body. She was now as ugly as he said she was and when she looked in the mirror she could see it. She waited taking money secretly from him and stashing it for months, the beatings and r***s continued and she got to the point she wouldn't even cry anymore. When she thought she had enough money she waited for the night he said he wouldn't be home until late. She took nothing but the money her purse and the cloths on her back and she ran. She ran so far she made it all the way to Nebraska, to a small town called Cheyenne. Once there she got rid of everything that would make her look like the old Ava, she changed her last name back to her maiden name, cut her hair and died it black. She didn't buy any make up, and when she was done with her new look and new name change she was out of money. So from there she walked, not excepting any rides from anyone.  Tired and hungry from not eating for days and lost to where she was at she stumbled on to a fairly good size ranch. As she walked around she tried to see if there was a sign on the front of the property, it was a little hard to see with it being dark. And after an hour of walking she found the sign, 'Plains Ranch' it stated and at the bottom it had a help wanted sign. Smiling to herself because she found it a bit funny to have a help wanted sign on a sign in the middle of nowhere, how were they supposed to hire someone. She decided she would walk over in the morning, but for now she was exhausted, she took out her water bottle and climbed into a tree, this tonight would have to do. After a little while she had fallen into another horrible sleep, where she saw him coming for her. She woke up with a start at dawn and almost fell out of the tree. She felt as if someone was watching her, so she looked around, not seeing anything she took a deep breath and slid out of the tree, carefully landing on her feet. She started walking when a voice froze her, "What exactly do you think you are doing?" the person said. She took a big gulp and turned around, seeing a small elderly woman, "I-I am sorry, I was just resting." she started. The woman looked closely at her and sighed, "Girl you are nothing but skin and bones." she said coming closer to her. Ava flinched when she tried to touch her cheek. "Ain't nobody here going to hurt you child.' she said to her, "C'mon, lets get some food in you." Ava just stared at her, "No offense ma'am, but you don't know me, I could be a killer." she stated. The woman smiled, "Are you a killer?" she asked. "Of course not." Ava said out loud. The woman laughed, "I didn't think so, my name is Clare." she said sticking her hand out. Cautiously she stuck her hand out and gripped Clare's hand, "M-my name is Ava." she studdered. "Well Ava, now we know each other and you don't plan on killing me, would you like to come back to the ranch for breakfast?" she asked. Ava nodded, "I would thank you so much." she said to the kind old woman. "How did you know i was out here?" Ava asked her. "Well I didn't, the dogs smelled you and led me to your tree, then the little brats took off on me." she said to her. "Oh, I am sorry for that." she said to her. "Nonsense girl, we'll get some food in ya then get you showered and into some clean cloths before we talk to Silas about a job and a room." she said to her. "Really you don't have to bother." Ava told her. "Child it is no bother, I am assuming since you didn't just walk by that you were planning on coming over to aske for a job?: she said smiling at her. Ava smiled back. "Yes, I was." she said. "Do you have experience in horses and ranch work?" she asked her. Ava looked down, "I don't have much no, I've lived in a city my whole life, but a few times a year I would go to a camp for horses so I know a little." she said to her. "Like 'em do ya?" the woman asked. "I do yes." Ava replied. As they entered the house she took her back towards the kitchen and made her a hearty meal, Ava ate it all. After she showered and put on some cloths that were a bit to big but would work, she met Clare back in the kitchen when she was done. "Thank you." she said to Clare. "It's no problem Ava, so where do you come from?" she asked her. Ava got nervous and started to fidget, "I'm from Colorado." she blurted the lie. "Oh what part?" said Clare. "Denver." she replied. "Alright, well if that is your story great, lets go meet the boss." she said and walked out of the house, Ava followed her closely taking everything in, there were trainers in pins with the horses talking them around with ropes, or ridding them on a track, there were women and children in lessons laughing and flirting with the ranch hands. When they entered the barn, Clare led the way to a small office just inside the doors, "Silas, this here's Ava, she would like to take the job." she said to him, "Be easy would you she looks like she could blow away with the wind, also found her in a tree sleeping she'll need a room." she said and patted Ava's back and walked out. "Please sit." said a deep voice. She did as he asked and gave him a once over, he was huge with short brown hair that was highlighted she assumed from the sun rays, his eyes were green and vibrant, almost alluring, his teeth where white and straight, he had on a button up shirt and jeans, she assumed he had cowboy boots on under the table. "So your wanting the job?" he asked in disbelief. "Yes sir." she said in a small voice. "Do you know what kind of job it is?" he asked her, with a mildly annoyed voice. "No." she said shortly. He rolled his eyes, "Well basically its mucking and cleaning the horses, making sure they are exercised daily, and fed and watered." he told her, "It's up at 5 am and done by 10 pm most days." he said to her, "Still interested?" he asked with a sly smile. She caught on to him and smiled back, "Yes actually I am, When can I start?" she asked him. He just looked at her, she had short chin length black hair, that he was sure of was died, her eyes were a greyish blue, very pretty, he thought to himself. But he could see those eyes also hiding a great deal, this worried him a bit. "If your absolutely sure you can start tomorrow." he said to her. She sighed, "Look sir, I don't really have much in ways of... well....anything, but I am a hard worker, I do my best, I am quiet and drama doesn't interest me, if you choose you don't want to hire me fine, I'll just walk to my next destination and find work there." she said to him. This reaction he liked, though she had a soft soothing voice, she had fight behind her, and that was the kind of worker he wanted. So he nodded at her and held out his hand, "Well alright." he said he noticed the scar on her wrist when she shook his hand, he knew the instant he saw it it wasn't from a suicide attempt for it was on the top of her wrist. "What happened there?" he said to her. Ava quickly covered up her wrist, "An accident." she said, and nothing more. "Ok well come with me and I'll show you to your place." he said. And that is how she became a worker at a ranch in the middle of no where Nebraska, it was where she chose to stay, she was safe from her demon husband and his sick friends, and when she was afraid he would show up she would just leave again. But for now she did her work.