The Escape

Chapter 1

ABBY

Awakened by a faint crying sound, I leaped from my bed. The clock showed 6:05 AM. I had managed only two hours of sleep after a shift as a cashier at the gas station.

Bleary-eyed, I entered Bella's room to find her huddled and weeping. Sitting beside her, I soothed my four-year-old sister. "Shh, it's okay, sweetheart, it was just a dream." I caressed her hair until her sobs subsided. Afterward, I returned to my room to prepare for my shift at the local cafe.

Juggling three jobs was tough but necessary, given our mother's drug addiction and absenteeism, and our father's drunken abusiveness. My day began at Bill's Cafe from seven to three, followed by an hour to pick up Bella from preschool. I then served tables at Pop's Diner from five to ten. At midnight, I was back at the gas station. It was all to keep the bills paid and a roof over our heads.

I slipped into my oversized hoodie, jeans, and black combat boots before returning to Bella's room. She was already dressed and familiar with our routine at four years old. With a brisk fifty degrees outside, I ensured Bella was bundled up in her coat. By six thirty, we were on our way to preschool. A quick jog ensured we arrived on time, and thankfully, Bill, the cafe owner, understood my circumstances and was quite flexible.

Arriving at the cafe minutes late today, I felt sweat trickling down my back. Had it not been for my mother's ex-boyfriend slashing the tires, I wouldn't have faced such a rush. But alas, her choice of men left much to be desired.

"Good morning, Bill," I said once behind the counter.

I clocked in at 7:04 and began making the orders on the screen. My coworker Layla was here on time, taking orders as I made them. 

"Good morning, Abby. Did you sleep well?" Bill asked.

I continued making the drink and tried not to show my emotions. I glanced up and smiled at Bill. "Sure did. How about you?"

Bill smiled. "Like a baby, as always." He chuckled and went into his office in the back of the cafe.

Layla spoke when the cafe was clear from the first morning wave of people. "How's the bruise?"

I snapped my head around to Layla and put my finger over my lips to silence her. "You can't ask that in here!"

Layla looked around and shrugged. "And why not? There is no one here to hear us talk except for the two of us. Bill isn't going to listen in, and I'm your friend, for goodness sake, Abby!"

Abby sighed. "The bruise is better. Thank you for asking."

"Good. How is that sweet Bella doing?" Layla began wiping down the counters from the mess this morning's crowd had already made.

"She's good and was upset that I was hurting, but I told her I was fine. I'd rather die than let her take another beating from that bastard."

"We need to get you out of there, Abby. You can't keep going on like this. You need to go to the police or something!"

"Layla, I can't. It's not that simple. If I say something, I know Mom will give her two cents. Bella will end up in the middle because even though she isn't biologically Lee's, he will still want to have custody to hurt Nina."

"Abby, you would get Bella fair and square; I know. You have to do something."

I nodded, holding back the tears that welled up in my eyes. "I know. I'm just frightened of what might happen. I'm a twenty-one-year-old woman who needs full custody of my sister." With a sigh, I redirected my attention to my job as the doorbell signaled the arrival of a customer.