The Escape......part 1....

The tears ran freely over her cheeks, as she stared through swollen eyes at the man who had become a monster to her. The pain that had exploded in her head was now just a dull throb compared to the seering aches that raced through the rest of her body. He stood over her now with his breath inches from her face.

"Why do you always make me hit you?" His voice whispered out as if trying to keep the neighbors from hearing. "You always do and say things that make me so angry! When will you learn that if you'd just stop making these stupid mistakes that things would get better?"

Grabbing her arms he brought her face to face with himself. When he spoke, she felt the heat of his words upon her face, "Answer me Emily!"

Her lips trembled as they parted, and she tasted blood as she tried to form the words around the cuts and bruises, "I...I...."

"I...I...what Emily? Go on and say it like a good girl so you can be forgiven."

"I'm so-sorry Michael. I...I'm sorry, it's my fault"

An evil, self satisfied grin spread on his face as he pulled her to him. "There, there, Baby doll, let daddy fix it and make it all better," he crooned over her whispering in an almost soothing voice meant to soothe a small child. Gently lifting her in his arms, he carried her to the bathroom, and placed her on the toilet seat to begin removing her clothing. He ran a bath of scented bubbles, and gently set her in the tub. She knew he enjoyed this part of his "make up" ritual, and knew that fighting him off would only ensue another onslaught of angry fists.

Closing her eyes, she felt him run a cool cloth over her face, and placing it over her eyes to soothe the ache and swelling. He always began his bathing ritual by soothing her aches, easing the swelling, and gently cleaning away the blood.

He began lathering a wash cloth as he stared down at his wife's naked form. He slowly began running the cloth over her body, tensing as he rubbed over her breasts. His hands shook as he made his descent lower, admiring her flat stomach, and the curve of her hips. He always enjoyed looking at her, his sweet Emily. He'd always loved bathing her, and watching her come alive under his hands. He felt his breath hitch as he began bathing between her legs, and almost on command he heard her soft moan of pleasure.

Emily had learned years before that if she wanted to avoid a beating, she'd better act like she enjoyed the things he did to her. There was a time when he'd charmed her, and they'd enjoyed each other as a husband and wife do. She couldn't remember when he'd changed, but it seemed as though he'd came home a different person one day, and the man she loved never returned. She fought back tears as she obediantly moaned what she hoped was a sound of pleasure as he began his seduction.

As always, he treated her like royalty after removing her from the bath. He dried her body, and began massaging creams to soften, and ointments to heal into her tender skin. His hands slid over her body, and she knew he enjoyed every inch of what he was doing. He laid her onto their bed, and began removing his clothes, as he stared hungrily down at her naked form. Emily closed her eyes, and from experience, sent her mind somewhere else to avoid the final humiliation he was about to issue.

*******************

The sun nearly blinded her as she opened her eyes the next morning. Heaving a sigh, she turned away from the bright promise of a new day only to find her bed empty and her cheek laying on a cool sheet of paper.

Darling Emily,

I had to go into work early this morning, and won't be back until late. Make sure you've cleaned up your little mess from last night, and keep dinner warm for me. I can not tell you how very much I love you.

Love,

Your Adoring Husband,

Michael

In disgust, she crumbled the paper into a tight ball, and threw it across her room. Slowly she climbed from her bed and took mental stock on her aches and pains. Her face felt raw, and upon inspection in the mirror, wouldn't bruise too badly. He always made sure of that. With a sigh, she dressed for the day, and set about to straighten the house.

Broken glass, and furniture littered the living room floor, and a shattered picture lay at her feet as she stepped into the messy reminder of the previous evening. Forcing back tears, she knelt onto the floor, and began the clean up.

Three hours later, Emily was standing in her kitchen tapping her now manicured nail on her coffee cup. Taking a deep breath, she glanced at the clock, noted the time, and removed the clock from the wall. Opening a small latch in the back where batteries are supposed to go, she removed the bundle of money she'd been stashing. Pocketing the money, she hung the clock exactly where it should hang, and walked to her room.

Taking a small suitcase from the closet, she began filling it with her necessities, and momentos that she wanted to keep with her. In another larger suitcase, she put her clothing. She walked through the house carrying both cases to the entrance to the garage, and opened the door. She opened the trunk of her car, placed the cases in, and quietly closed the lid. By this time, she wasn't thinking about what came next, just moving through the motions.

She walked slowly from room to room, scanning over items, and furniture. There were no tears in her eyes, as she climbed into her car, and started the engine. As she backed out of the driveway, she scanned the street to make sure he wasn't coming towards the house. She'd left no note, no reminder of herself for him to find, and she hoped to leave no trace for him to follow. Watching the garage door lower, she debated throwing her wedding rings out of the window, but decided to keep them for extra cash just in case.

The bank was empty when she pulled into the parking lot. The large sunshades hid her eyes, and she hoped, hid her intentions. She walked up to what appeared to be a friendly looking older woman behind the bank counter, and smiled at her.

"Good Morning! How may I help you today?" The clerk skimmed over Emily's face as she took in the dark glasses, and the slight bruising around a full mouth which had blood oozing from a freshly opened gash. Quietly reaching for a tissue, the clerk handed it to Emily, and pointed to her lips.

Embarrassed, Emily dabbed at the fresh blood, and whispered an apology. At the clerk's quiet smile, she felt the twinges of fear and embarrassment fade just enough away to ask for a withdrawel slip.

"Will you be able to tell me the balance on the account?" Her hand poised over the amount section as she glanced up at the clerk.

"Certainly, but if I may impose, perhaps you should come with me into the back. I have a friend I think you should speak with and she'll be able to help you get to where you need to get. I'm Beth....just Beth." The clerk gave her a quick nod of her head, and patted her hand as she spoke.

"I guess it's easy to tell why I'm here, isn't it?" Emily smiled slightly at Beth. Placing a grin on her face, Beth just slapped her closed sign on the counter, and all but bellowed, "Right this way, Mrs. Cole, and I'll be happy to show you where to open a new account."

Beth waved her along, as she briskly walked to the back of the bank, and up a flight of stairs.

Beth paused in front of a desk with a pretty blonde sitting behind it, and said, "This is Mrs. Cole here to see Jillian." The blonde smiled a welcome, and buzzed them through the door.