A sharp gasp slipped from my lips as a severe jolt of terror ripped its way through my body and splintered into every fiber of my being.

I didn't turn around. I couldn't. My body was literally frozen in fear, my limbs refusing to respond to my brains commands to tear the door open and run free as fast as my feet would possibly take me.

"Answer the damn question, Leah!" Zach's voiced boomed from behind me, causing my entire body to flinch in a petrified response.

What could I say?

I couldn't see how any answer would go over well at this point. I was leaving, that much was obvious.

So I kept my lips sealed, tightening my grip over the door handle... and pulled.

A short scream shot out of my mouth as I tried to yank the door open as fast as I could to call to Kaleb, only to have a hand fly out mere seconds after my attempt and slam the door shut with a dreadful bang.

Hot breath fanned out across the back of my neck forcing uneasy goosebumps to erupt over the skin. I felt Zach lean in closer, his front becoming almost flush with my backside as he reined himself in, his voice starting off soft as he spoke in my ear.

"I'm not in the mood for one of your games, Lee, so how about you tell me where the fuck you're planning on going with those bags before I bash your fucking skull in!" His voice escalated as he spoke, his true rage peaking to the surface as he finished off his threat in a full, horrifying shout that shook my insides violently and caused a pathetic whimper to fall from my lips as I shrunk into the door in front of me.

"I'm leaving," I whispered out, pinching my eyes closed tightly as dreadful tears burned the back of my eyes for what I was certain would come next.

Suddenly, two hands grabbed onto my arms and the room spun around me for all of two seconds before Zach's furious face came into view, his lips curling up into a nasty snarl.

"Wrong answer, bitch."

I barely had time to flinch before the back of Zach's hand swung across my cheek in a powerful, brutal strike. Pain exploded across my face, a cry slipping from my lips as the force of the hit threw my body off balance and I went toppling into the wall next to me, grasping onto it desperately.

I widened my eyes and blinked rapidly, trying to get my vision to adjust back to more than a thousand, tiny, white flecks floating in front of me.

A terrified cry ripped from my throat as Zach grabbed at my arms once more and pushed my body back into the wall, my back connecting with a painful thud against the solid mass. Zach's fingers gripped into my upper arms with excruciating force as he brought his tall frame right in front of me, cornering me in between him and the wall.

"You think you're leaving? What ever gave you the idea that you were allowed to leave?" Zach asked, his voice dripping with malice as his eyes drilled into mine menacingly.

Oh, god...

Maybe I could try appealing to his compassionate side; the side of Zach that once loved me dearly and cared for me and wanted me to be happy.

He had to be in there somewhere.

"Zach..." I began, being sure my tone was thick with empathy. "I'm not happy... not like this."

Completely deadpanned, he answered.

"Yes you are."

My lips popped open at his response as astonished confusion warped through my mind.

"What? No...Zach, I'm not-"

"Yes you are, Leah," Zach snapped, his tone chopped and final. "If I say you're happy, then you're fucking happy, got it?"

I couldn't help the enlarging of my eyes as they stayed locked onto Zach's.

This is exactly the sort of thing I had dealt with for over two years now that had completely obliterated my self-confidence and make it nearly impossible to make any decisions for myself. This is what Zach did. He always told me what to do, how to feel, how to dress.

I was done being told who I was.

"No."

A threatening look passed through Zach's stone cold, sapphire stare, his lip twitching in the process.

"What did you just say?" he asked in a dark tone, daring me to voice my defiance once more.

Swallowing back every thought and outcry from my mind to bite my tongue and to just adhere to whatever Zach wanted, I answered him.

"I said no," I breathed out, keeping my eyes trained on his so he would know that I was no longer his; No longer his to control, no longer his to do with as he pleased.

"This is exactly the sort of reason I'm not happy anymore." I took a beat, letting the true finality of the moment sink in around us and resonate through the tense space between Zach before I parted my lips and spoke, an unnatural assertiveness pushing forward my words.

"I'm leaving... and you can't stop me."

Any and all confidence that I felt swelling inside of me in my unusual independent moment was abruptly stomped out as I watched Zach's entire face screw up into a terrible rage and his mouth twist into a corrupt snarl.

"Like hell I can't," he growled out just as I felt his possessive arms swoop around my waist, gripping tightly onto my body.

Then, I was air born.

A frantic scream tore through my throat mere seconds before I came crashing down onto the hard wood flooring with an agonizing bang.

"Agh!" I cried out as pain ripped through my skull as it collided brutally with flooring, bouncing off pathetically from impact.

The world around me spun until one circling, daunting figure came into view as it slowly and menacingly stalked towards me.

"You can't leave, Leah," Zach's voice hit my ears with his taunting tone, sending a fresh abundance of adrenaline pumping through my veins as I once again tried to correct my swimming vision and prop myself up just enough to try and scout away with every step he took towards me.

"Where would you even stay? You don't have any friends, your dad lives ten hours away and your mom is rotting in a fucking grave somewhere," he spat out.

A rage like I'd never experienced before shot through my veins, giving me enough energy to propel myself over onto my stomach as my eyes connected with an object next to me that could possibly buy me some much needed time.

"Don't talk about my mom," I gritted out, my voice raging with bitter hate as my fingers wrapped around the cold, thin, metal base of the tall side lamp I had bought a year or so back for the hallway.

"What was that?!" Zach screamed as I heard him stomp his way closer to me.

"I said, don't talk about my mom!" I yelled as I gripped the lamp with both hands, turned on my side and swung blindly with everything I had inside of me.

I felt a hard resistance hit against the top of the lamp through my hands followed shortly by a grunt of pain from Zach as I detected him falling and crashing to the ground.

Yes!

Without wasting a single second, I scurried myself up to my feet. I found walking to be a much more difficult task as my head spun and a spike of pain burst out through the back of my skull with every step I took. Yet, I preserved and pushed on towards the one thing in the room that could help me the most.

The kitchen light.

I clenched my teeth and bit back the pain that threatened to overtake my vision and body as I stumbled out of the hallway and into the kitchen.

My chest was heaving and my breathing which was coming out in short, elaborate pants abruptly hitched in my throat ecstatically as my eyes landed on the light switch that would alert Kaleb of my distress and ultimately, save my life.

With a groan of persistence, I wobbled over to the side of the wall that contained the light switch and with success welling in the pit of my stomach with each step I took closer and closer to my savior, I reached my hand out towards the switch.

My trembling fingers were only inches away when I was tackled to the ground from behind.

"No!" I cried out as the force of Zach's body pushed mine to the ground as my fingers slipped away from the light switch.

Another bout of pain exploded through my face as my chin hit the floor violently, knocking my teeth together as causing my teeth to bit into the soft flesh of my tongue. The odd taste of metal flooded through my mouth as severe pain pulsed through my tongue which I was certain was now bleeding heavily.

"You fucking cunt!"

Strong hands gripped onto my arms and I found myself once again being flipped over onto my back. I tried to fight back, I really did but it was no use as Zach pinned both of my hands against my body with his legs as he straddled over my waist. His wild and livid face loomed over mine with a promise of pain etched into his stare.

"Let me go!"

"You're just like my fucking mother..." Zach said as he ignored my pleas completely.

"She was weak, just like you. She couldn't handle it when my dad would spiral off into one of his rages, which was always completely and totally her fucking fault anyway! She was too goddamn weak and she left him because of it..." Zach trailed off, his nostrils flaring as I sensed a sudden break brewing up inside of me as his grip on me tightened to an unbearable point.

"My dad killed himself because of her!" he exploded, his voice laced with anger and bitter betrayal echoing off the walls of the apartment.

For the most fleeting of moments, my heart constricted with an overwhelming amount of sorrow for Zach.

I knew his dad had killed himself, but I never knew the exact reason why.

Now it all made sense.

My natural, maternal instinct to feel compassion and sympathy for Zach was abruptly squelched out as he dropped his face down to mine so close that his nose brushed against my own and he continued on in his delusional rant.

"Is that what you want, Lee? You want me to kill myself?"

"Of course not!"

"Good," he replied as his lips grazed against my ear. "Because I won't. You may be a lot like my mom but I am nothing like my dad. I'm stronger than he was. I'm a hell of a lot smarter than he was."

Zach's face appeared in front of mine, his eyes boring into mine with violent intent that stirred the most sever bout of fright I had ever experienced through my body as he parted his lips and spoke in a low and deadly voice.

"And I'll kill you long before you get the chance to kill me."

His eyes darkened as mine widened, my mind scrambled frantically for something to say or do to get him off of me but with my hands trapped, I was left with only one option.

With as much force as I could muster, I sucked in a deep breath and spit all of the blood that was streaming into my mouth out as it splattered against Zach's face.

He shrunk back and let out a loud hiss as my crimson blood splattered across his cream colored face almost elegantly so, creating a curiously entrancing site that almost distracted me enough to not realize that I had managed to get some in his eyes which were now closed and left him vulnerable.

'Almost' being the key word there.

Not daring to waste one moment, I propelled my hands back and pushed them as hard as I feasibly could into Zach's solid chest, throwing his weight off of my stomach just enough for me to sit myself up and reach my hand up.

My hand shot up with lightning speed, pure fight or flight pushing forward my actions as my heart pounded recklessly in my chest and my fingers elongated as much as they could.

And pressed down on the light switch.

The kitchen was immediately illuminated by the sudden light source as I collapsed back down to the floor.

"You disgusting bitch!" Zach yelled out as he drew his hand back and my eyes widened in stunned fear as I braced myself as Zach's clenched fist came swinging down towards my face.

"Uh!" My head snapped to the side violently as the worst physical pain imaginable radiated through the entire side of my face; the same side that he had hit just minutes beforehand.

My vision dimmed and my head swirled, my mind being overtaken by the swimming nausea that invaded through my body instantly. Acid burned the back of my throat as the dire need to vomit became almost undeniable. The pain was that severe.

Yet, Zach didn't allow me the luxury of emitting the contents of my stomach out onto the kitchen floor as I felt his fingers grip onto my battered chin and force my gaze up to meet his.

"Say you're sorry!" he bellowed out, his once handsome face livid with uncontrollable rage as he yelled down at me. His forehead was shining with sweat as his usually styled hair fell unceremoniously across his eyes.

"Say you're fucking sorry or I'll rip your goddamn tongue out and you won't ever be able to say shit again!" Zach screamed as he once again reared back his fist and my entire body tensed in preemptive agony.

"I don't fucking think so!"

The words hit both Zach and I's ears before we saw the source of the voice. I witnessed the momentary surprise soar through Zach's stare just seconds before two large hands wrapped around Zach's shoulders and ripped his body off of mine.

Zach stumbled backwards a few feet, completely taken off guard by Kaleb's presence and I watched with relief swarming through my battered body as Kaleb anchored Zach's slightly shorter and smaller frame against his massive chest and locked his arm around Zach's throat, holding him in place successfully.

Zach tried to pry Kaleb's arm from around his neck, clawing his hands at Kaleb's forearm and thrashing in his strong hold, but Kaleb was far too powerful for Zach to break out of his grip.

Zach let out a battle cry of frustration. "Who the fuck are you!?"

Without missing a beat, Kaleb lowered his head down just enough to where his mouth was right next to Zach's ear as he spoke low and triumphantly.

"I'm the boyfriend."

Pride and joy swelled in my heart as Kaleb's words hit my ears. It was a verbal slap to the face towards Zach as that's exactly how he introduced himself to Kaleb all those months back at the party where they first met.

Zach's stare lit up with instantaneous fury as he thrashed harder in Kaleb's tight hold until he finally let him go, Kaleb tossing him to the side freely. The moment that Zach's eyes settled on Kaleb's and he realized exactly who he was, his entire face screwed up in pure rage and his eyes flew to mine.

"Him?! That's who you're leaving me for? A bartender?" Zach asked with an incredulous look planted on his face. He shook his head as a humorless chuckle fell from his lips.

"Jesus, you really are a fucking idiot, aren't you?"

Before I could blink, Kaleb was on Zach.

Kaleb fisted his hands into the material of Zach's shirt and drew his face directly up next to his, an anger like no other swimming through Kaleb's bright blue stare that was fixed so pointedly onto Zach's.

"Say one more fucking thing to her and I won't hesitate to beat the shit out of you," Kaleb threatened, his tone deadly and true.

"Oh fuck off," Zach spat out, his brows dipped together in anger. "You know you're only into her for now so you can stop this hero bullshit." Zach dared to keep on, riling Kaleb up more and more with each derogatory word that spilled from his mouth.

"We both know she's hot and you'll stay with her until you get your dick wet and then you'll be gone. That is, if you haven't already gotten it in," Zach spoke with revolting curiosity burning behind his eyes. "You have, haven't you...?" Zach inquired incorrectly just before his lips quirked up into a vile smirk.

"She's a good fuck, isn't she?"

A wrath filled roar tore from Kaleb's throat and I watched in horror as he drew his powerful arm back and sent a violent punch straight into Zach's face.

A terrible cracking noise sounded around the kitchen as Zach cried out in pain and quickly drew both of his hands up to cover over his nose. Kaleb released him seconds later and let him fall to the ground as he groveled in anguish.

For the first time since he had arrived, Kaleb's stare met mine.

Horror washed over every inch of his handsome face as he took in what I could only assume was a terrible, bloody mess covering over my own face.

"Peaches..." he breathed out as he sprang into action and dove to the ground where I was laying, the emotional exhaustion of the night and the pounding, excruciating pain radiating throughout my head and face making it almost impossible to move.

Gentle fingers caressed across my forehead, removing strands of rogue hair from my face as Kaleb's grief stricken expression hovered above mine, his eyes scouring over every bruise and scrape with a miserable agony creasing through his eyes.

"Peaches, say something," he pleaded.

"Something," I breathed out as I let my head lull to the side and bury itself into Kaleb's warm hand, his familiar, woodsy sent invading through my mind and calming it all at once.

"We gotta get you outta here, okay? Can you stand?"

I wasn't so sure at that moment, but I nodded anyways.

"Okay, just hold onto me for support," he instructed as I felt both of Kaleb's arms scoop underneath my back to help me raise myself up off of the floor.

Slowly, and biting back the blinding pain coursing through my head, I raised myself up into the sitting position with Kaleb's help.

My eyes slammed shut as a severe bout of nausea overcame my senses and my stomach clenched and flipped in agony.

"Leah, are you okay?" Kaleb asked frantically.

I nodded, swallowing back the rancid bile that threatened to spill over from my throat. "Let's just go," I implored of him as I let my eyes flutter open just enough to connect my suffering stare to Kaleb's worried one.

He nodded in reply, his forehead creased in concern and his eyes shining into mine as he agreed.

"Okay, ready?" he asked as he fixed one of his arms around my waist and the other under my armpit as I readied myself for the torturous physical action I was about to endure.

"One, two, three," Kaleb stressed the last word as he put a decent amount of his strength into helping lift me up as I was far less than helpful. Baring my teeth, I let out a deep groan of my own as my head thrashed about and spun in relentless circles as I attempted to find my footing, settling for propping myself up against Kaleb's solid and extremely welcoming chest.

His arms wrapped around my waist as he anchored my body to his, allowing me to rest most of my weight into him as I relished in his loving embrace.

"I've got you," Kaleb reassured me in a soft voice as I felt him rest his cheek on the top of my head. "Now, let's get you out of here, hmm?"

"She's not going anywhere," I heard Zach grit out just seconds before my eyes snapped open to find his as he wielded back a glass vase that had been sitting on the kitchen table and aimed straight for Kaleb's head.

"No!" I cried out as panic crashed through my body and I pressed myself as far into Kaleb's chest as I could and shot my hand out behind Kaleb's head.

Searing pain swore through my hand as the vase shattered on impact. Shards of glass sunk into my soft palm and the back of my hand, radiant, red blood instantly rising to the surface and spilling over my hand and dripping in slow lines down my wrist.

A deep, guttural cry ripped through my throat as I drew my hand back into my body and cradled it against my chest, applying as much pressure with my fingers to stop the blood flow as I could.