Sorry for being so slow w/ the updates…but life got in the way. Studying sucks. Either way, thanks for all of your comments. I love to read them.

To the story….

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Shane jerked awake and she could not believe her eyes. Ron was standing in the middle of the room, her suitcase on the floor by her side. Shane could not move or speak, too afraid that Ron would disappear otherwise. She watched as Ron sat down on the bed but not touching her. Still immobilized Shane could only look at Ron.

Ron whispered, Shane I couldnt leave you. I love you too much.

Shane slowly reached out, wanting to caress her cheek but all she got was air. Shane opened her eyes; it was that same dream again. It has plagued her for two nights now ever since Ron left.

She looked over at the digital read out. Fucked, its only 2 in the morning.

Shane knew that she would not be able to get back to sleep, and so she reluctantly get out of bed. She looked out at the window, her hobby now it seemed.

Huh, there seemed to be something going on in the house across the street even at this hour. Look like quite a shouting match.

Shane did not really know anything about her neighbors, except that there was this hot girl who came back from college once in awhile. Shane has seen her a couple of time but she was sure the girl did not pay any attention to her. The girl was tall with curly hair; her skin was fair enough that one would not realize that she was half black. Either way, she was hot to Shane. She saw the girl walked out and slammed the front door shut. She was standing there breathing heavily. Must be quite a fight, Shane thought.

Shane did not have time to contemplate the problems of her neighbor further because she has much bigger problems of her own. Her problems just came back in that old Ford truck as it pulled into the driveway. She watched as Jake stumbled out of the truck, and as always there was a bottle of whiskey in his hand.

Shane just knew that it was going to be a bad night.

Fucked, I should have left yesterday. But Shane has waited for some stuff to go through so she would have some money. Fate is just a ***** as always.

Losing no more time, Shane quickly took out a small duffel bag and stuffed her clothing inside. For the first time, Shane was glad that she did not have a lot of stuff.

The floor groaned loudly right outside Shanes door. *****, too late.

Jake stood framed in the doorway, breathing heavily. Across the room, Shane could still smell the alcohol off his breath.

So Shane has you been a good girl while I was away? Jake snickered, tipping the bottle again.

I have been so get out. Shane looked around for her jeans, more specifically for the pocket knife in the pocket. She got it yesterday, so she was not used to keeping it by her side as of yet. Shane slowly edged her way toward the jeans on the floor but of course that also brought her closer to Jake.

Once she was closed enough, Shane used her foot to pull the jeans closer, not taking her eyes off Jake for an instant.

Despite his alcohol induced daze, Jake saw what Shane was attempting to do but not knowing why. What the fucked are you doing Shane? His long stride brought him right in front of Shane before she even has a chance to step back.

Jake held on to Shanes shoulder, his fingers digging in deep leaving bruises in their wake.

Shane tried to stare him down, and for the first time with the close proximity she got a good look at his eyes. They were glazed over, sort of unfazed. *****, he took some coke. I couldnt stop him with a knife now let alone staring him down.

Knowing that Jake would not stop tonight for anything, Shane struggled to loosen his grip. That however only earned a fist in Shanes face.

If Jake hadnt held on to her in his claw like clutches, Shane would have been knocked back quite a distance. As it is, Shane was trying her best to stay conscious as her eyes started to roll back dangerously.

Jake threw Shane sideways and took a last swig of his bottle. Jake wiped his mouth, looking at Shane and smiled evilly. He threw the empty bottle against the wall where it shattered into pieces.

Shane shook her head trying to stop the room from spinning. Realizing that she was on the floor and that her jeans were just a short distance away, Shane tried to crawl toward it.

Jake was having none of it. He laughed down at Shane and kicked her hard in the stomach.

His kick practically lifted Shane up and thudded her back onto the floor again. Shane rolled over and dry heaved. She gagged uncontrollable.

Jake was now kneeling by Shanes side and forcibly turned her head so she was looking at him. I told you Shane, Jake pounded Shanes head against the floor, thatIwouldbreakyousoonerorlater. With each word uttered was another pounding of Shanes head.

For the second time, Shanes vision started to waver. However when she felt Jakes beefy hand trying to jerk her sweats down, her vision cleared. Shane tried to kick Jake away from her, but it was like Jake did not even register her feeble attempts to fight back. He was on his own high.

Shane screamed at Jake, anything now to stop what he was doing. Her screams seemed to piss him off more. Shut the ***** up, no one would come anyway. You have no one Shane except me, he growled against Shanes ear.

One beefy hand was enough to wrap around Shanes delicate neck. One hand was enough to squeeze the breath out of her, choking the life out of her. Shane clawed at that hand, kicking, willing herself to fight to the last breath.

Shane saw the lights dimmed dangerously, and flung her hand back over her head. If only she could reach her jeans. Her hand brushed the leg of her jean and clung on tight. She groped for anxiously battling the edge of conciousness.

Luckily Jakes attention was focused on her face, enjoying her struggle, at each grasp for air, so he did not see what she was trying to do.

Shane felt the bulge in her jeans but it was too late. The pocketknife did not matter anymore as she felt her arm becoming limbless. Jake resumed pulling Shanes pants off. The last thought that went through Shanes mind was that at least she wont be conscious for it. A distant sound of door slamming and feet shuffling, but Shane was already drifting into unconsciousness.

Hey, shes coming around.

Shane could hear distant voices, but it was all so unclear.

Easy now, you are safe.

Her eyes flickered open, weird shapes were jumping at her. All the while, a voice was trying to reassure her that everything was okay.

Whatwhat happened? Shane croaked. Her throat was so hoarse like a desert that has not seen a drop of water for years.

We got a phone call about a domestic violence and came as fast as we could.

Shane sat up slowly shrugging away the hands that tried to help her. She looked at the police officer in front of her. At least they finally did something right.

There was some commotion outside the room and Shane spotted Jake being taken away, handcuffed. At least that was over. Shane breathed a sigh of relief.

The police officer was still talking to her. When we got here, you were unconscious, but we were able to stop him before anything else happened. He looked at Shane before continuing, I would like to apologize on the behalf of the police department. We got a call yesterday from a girl, Veronica I think, detailing what was happening here, but the officer who took the call thought that it was a hoax and did not do anything about. Until tonight that is. Im sorry. Oh uh, my name is Officer Sam OBrady. Whats yours?

Shane McCutcheon. Shane took his hand reluctantly.

Look Shane, can you sit tight for a bit? It looks like they need me for something, Sam nodded over to the officer waving him over. If you need anything just holler.

Shane just nodded. She knew what was going to happen next, another foster home as always. Shane spotted her duffle bag. She slowly stood up and put on her jeans, the one that she tried so hard to get to. There were now only a couple of officers standing talking to one another intently. Now is as good as any Shane.

Duffle bag slung over one shoulder, pocketknife becoming a familiar bulge, and two hundred dollar, Shane sneaked out of the house. It wasnt hard with people milling around. People tend to gather to witness others misery.

Shane walked away from the scene. She glanced around saying a goodbye of sort when her eyes came into contact with that girl from across the street. She was beautiful as always with her curly hair disheveled now at this hour. She was watching at what was going on intently from her front porch, hands clutching a phone. Their eyes met and held. Shane knew that this girl was the one who called 911. She nodded toward her. Thanks for my life, she thought. Shane turned around. Maybe we will meet again in another place and another time.