I was hiding in a bush beside the street, taking a break from my trek to the Winters'. Even though the Winters didn't live far away, I had very little energy and needed to rest. I was worried Momma would find out I was gone and come to look for me. My breaths came in heavy pants and I had trouble holding my head up.

I heard an unclear voice yell to someone and then footprints slapping on the sidewalk, seemingly in a great hurry. It was a person moving quickly in what sounded like a heavy pair of boots.

Carl sometimes wore boots. He was really good at kicking while wearing them.

My breath increased until I was close to hyperventilating. I could almost see Carl ripping me from the bush and taking me back so he could kill me. I could see him handing me over to Momma so she could do her worst.

I made a mistake. I should have stayed and dealt with the beatings and the abuse. Momma and Carl would find me. They would finally kill me.

The footsteps came faster and faster until they seemed to stop altogether. My breaths were panicked gasps and I knew I wasn't being as quiet as I needed to be.

Two hands reached into the bush and pushed the branches aside. I squeezed my eyes together, hoping that if I couldn't see whoever was on the other side, they wouldn't be able to see me. I waited and waited and nothing happened. I cracked one eye open slowly, coming face-to-face with a boy not much older than sixteen. He had blonde hair and murky brown eyes. He was staring at me curiously.

I shook violently, tremors wracking my body. "What are you doing in my Grandma's bushes?" His voice wasn't as deep as Isaiah's but I could tell he was close to his age.

I couldn't answer him. If I could, I'd ask him for help. Instead, I stayed where I was and shook. "Are you playing hide and seek?" He didn't seem to notice any of my bruises obscured by the shadows of the branches. I knew better than to lie to him and shook my head cautiously.

"Where do you live? Are you lost?" I shook my head again.

"Well then go on home. Grandma works hard on these bushes and you're gonna mess them up." I nodded quickly and began to extract myself from the bush.

I stepped out of the bushes cautiously, looking around to ensure I couldn't see Momma or Carl. "Hey, what's the matter with you? Is that blood?"

I tried to walk faster and put distance between us, but my head rushed and my vision blurred. He grabbed my shoulder trying to get my attention and I screeched, scared he would hurt me.

"Dave, I've gotta go. Mom's gonna want me home soon. She's been needing my help lately with Noah and-" I knew his voice. I turned around quickly. "Eden? Is that you? Holy shit! Are you okay?"

Isaiah Winters stood in front of me, seemingly debating whether he should pick me up or keep his distance. He paced, saying cuss words under his breath.

After making up his mind, he got on his knees and held his hand out at me. I cowered and took a big step back. "Eden, let me help you. I'll take you to mom. My mom, Eden. I promise I won't hurt you."

I begged my brain to believe he wouldn't hurt me. Deep down, I knew Isaiah was safe. He had been there for me from the beginning, being a better brother than my own. But my conscience told me I'd trusted people before and couldn't stand to get hurt anymore. If my own family couldn't keep their hands off of me, I didn't know if I could trust anyone.

"Eden, please. We need to check your head. You're bleeding. It's me! I wouldn't hurt you. We miss you at home. We want to help."

I was so dizzy, I felt feverish, my body wasn't responding to me like I needed it to. I knew without his help I wouldn't get far. His kind eyes bore into mine, begging for my trust.

Like a dam had been broken, I sobbed and ran at Isaiah, throwing my arms around his neck. Immediately, he hugged me to his chest, stood up, and began walking with me in his arms, calling goodbye to his friend. The whole walk, he mumbled encouraging words, but I wasn't listening.

Through my tears, I watched behind us, worried Momma or Carl would find me.

"We've been so worried, Ed," Isaiah said, nearing his house, rubbing my back soothingly. "Noah has been inconsolable since Wednesday and Mom is going out of her mind with worry. They'll be so happy to see you. You're shaking. We're going to get you help."

Isaiah opened the door with his free hand and didn't wait for it to shut behind him before calling, "Mom! Hurry." The calm facade he had used on the walk home evaporated.

Mrs. Winters came running and screeched when she saw me. "Eden! Oh my lord, baby!" She ran to us and pulled me from Isaiah's arms, enveloping me in a protective hug.

I tried to hide the wince as she nudged my bruises. "Oh, sweet baby, I've been so worried, so worried!"

"Edith!" I could hear heavy feet stomping down the stairs and could care less about anything other than seeing my best friend. I struggled in Mrs. Winters arms, trying to get down.

Mrs. Winters had other plans. "Take him back upstairs. Right now is definitely not a good time. Call the police, an ambulance, and then call your father. Tell him to rush home." He nodded and rushed to his brother.

Mrs. Winters spoke softly to Isaiah, but her words broke my heart. Tears dripped from my eyes. Mrs. Winters brushed her finger gently under my eye, wiping the tears. "Precious baby, I know you want to see Noah. But he'll be rough and I don't want him to hurt you, love. He's missed you so much."

From the stairs I could hear Noah screaming at the top of his powerful lungs that it wasn't fair, fighting his brother to get to me. His voice sounded desperate and cracked horribly. "I want to see her! I can make her better, just let me see her!"

Tears marred Mrs. Winters' beautiful face. She held a hand to her mouth and sobbed before raking her hands through her hair, doing her best to look brave. She mumbled to herself and thought of ways to help me. She took me to her bedroom and asked me to take off my oversized dress. I hadn't been able to look at myself in the mirror and didn't want to know how many bruises I now had. I took off my dress and hid my face in my hands, ashamed of my ugly body. Mrs. Winters was gasping for breath and struggling to remain calm.

My body was marred with bruises and scratches. My burn appeared purple and very unhealthy, it felt like it could pop if I prodded it. Mrs. Winters wrapped me in a blanket and pulled me into her arms.

"Help is coming, my baby. They'll bring an ambulance," She rocked me gently. "You'll be just fine. We'll take care of you."

I heard a door slam and a frantic Mr. Winters rushed into the bedroom. I tried to focus on him, but he appeared to be spinning around the room. However, there was no mistaking the relief in his voice. "Oh, thank God!" He appeared at my side and kissed the side of my head repeatedly.

Mrs. Winters handed me to him and he carried me into the living room, ensuring my blanket was wrapped around me. I could still hear Noah screaming upstairs, his brothers doing all they could do to get him to stop.

"She's burning up, Angela. She won't focus on my face. That's a damn gash on her forehead! And that's only her head. How did Isaiah find her? Where's the ambulance?"

Mrs. Winters sounded strained. "She was hiding in a bush outside David's house. Isaiah said the ambulance would be here as soon as they could. CPS will come to the hospital. They'll also send people to her house to question."

I wanted to sleep. I was too scared to sleep at home and needed rest. My eyes were super sensitive to the light and something had to take away the dizziness. I closed my eyes, listening to Mr. Winters erratic breathing. I heard a distant siren steadily getting louder. "Eden, wake up. You can sleep in a little while, but not now." Tears flooded my cheeks. My eyelids felt heavy and all I wanted to do was take a nap. Why couldn't I sleep?

The sirens were outside the Winters house. I grimaced at the lights and noise. I whimpered at what seemed like the screaming voices of the paramedics. Panic gripped me when a plump lady in a blue uniform tried to grab me from Mr. Winters. Trying to get a good hold of me, she grabbed my thigh, unknowingly grasping my burn. My scream was loud and the lady jumped back.

Mr. Winters was angry. "I'll put her on the stretcher. She's scared and doesn't like to be touched."

In the ambulance, the lady put a needle in my arm. I screamed and jerked the entire time, terrified she wanted to hurt me. Mr. Winters talked soothingly and stroked my dirty and matted hair. As soon as the fluids connected to the needle set into my arm, it was as if everything became numb and I relaxed. I fell asleep before making it to the hospital.