Salvation

Safe Haven

**Emily's POV**

We continue our reunion in the RV, hoping for an ounce of privacy. The whole world dissipates around us, everything falling away until him and I are the only things left. Every brush of his hands against my skin, sending electric pulses through my body. The chemistry between us fueling the ache in stomach that's screaming to be closer to him. He presses himself against me, his fingers tangling in my wavy hair, showing me he feels the same without saying a word. I lean my head back as he kisses down my neck, my heart racing in my chest. I flinch, suddenly ripped back to reality when someone pounds on the RV door.

"Emily you useless brat! Get out here, I know you're in there!" I look to Shane, fear glowing in my bright green eyes. Shane holds a finger to he lips, motioning for me to stay quiet. I shake my head.

"He knows." I mouth back to him. Shane runs a hand over his mouth, thinking. He flattens out my hair, straightening me out then turns and walks to the door. I open my mouth to protest, but before I can he opens it, revealing my angry step father.

"The hells goin' on in here." He growls at Shane.

"Discussin' patrols Ed. You need somethin'?" I feel ashamed for cowering behind him, but I have to choose my battles and this is not one I chose to fight. I'm exhausted from my hunt, and Ed is so much stronger than I am, even on my best day. 

"Yeah...the kid." He says indicating toward me.

"I'm not a kid anymore." I say stepping up beside Shane in the doorway, my arms crossed over my chest. I can't help but wish I'd just kept my mouth shut. Putting up a fight will only fuel his anger.

"Ye' sure act like one." He laughs, his smirk cold and mean. "Let's go I ain't got time for your crap." I lower my head, any confidence I had left in myself completely wiped away. I take a step forward, but Shane reaches his arm across the doorway, blocking my way.

"Shane please." I beg him quietly.

"You don't have to go with him Em." He whispers to me. "He can't make you, not with me right here."

"Just let it go...please." He stares into my watery eyes, unsure if he should let me go. To my relief he eventually lowers his arm, letting me pass. Ed grabs my arm, all of his anger flowing into the tightness of his grip. He practically drags me away, yanking and pulling even though I'm following him willingly. I wince in pain as he shoves me to the ground in front of our tent, far away from everyone else.

"What the hell do you think your doin' screwin' around with that grown ass man?" He asks me angrily, his beady eyes glaring right through me.

"I-I'm not I swear." I squeak out, afraid of what he'll do.

"She's 23 Ed, she can see whom ever she pleases." My mom says, as she climbs out of our tent.

"Mom!" I cry, as he back hands her across the face, sending her flailing to the ground.

"Don't you dare!" He hisses in her face. "I took care of that ungrateful bitch half of her god damned life, and you're gonna sit here and try to tell me how I can and can't raise her!" He screams. I sob as I watch tears fall silently from her eyes. She stares at him blankly, trying to keep a brave face. It takes every ounce of strength in me not to throw myself at him. I want to protect her, I want to save her from his wrath, but I know it's no use. Lashing out at him, or trying to defend her will only make things even worse. I've learned to keep my mouth shut, cower like a timid child because that's what he wants. He wants us to be afraid, he wants us to fear the control he has over us. All I wanted was to keep quiet, let him go through his course, but she just had to do what she always does. She picks a fight with him, distracting the attention off of me at her own expense. I hate watching him hurt her even more than I hate how he treats me. She tries lifting herself up off of the ground, but before she can he kicks her back to the ground. She collapses into the dirt, writhing in pain.

"Stop!" I cry. "Please! Just stop hurting her!" I beg him, hot tears burning in my eyes. He stomps over to me, I tremble in his shadow, as he gets in my face.

"You keep your mouth shut little girl or you'll be next!" He spits angrily through clenched teeth. I scoot back away from him, scrambling to put as much distance between us as I can. The second he turns his attention back to my mother, I get up and run as hard and as fast as I humanly can. Anger and helplessness boiling in my blood. I can't take this anymore. I can't sit there and watch him beat my mother, not again. I thank the lord Sophia is with Lori and Carl. This would have crushed her. I don't stop running until I reach the clearing in front of the RV. I bend over with my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. I cringe when I feel a hand on my lower back.

"Hey...it's okay it's me." Shane says softly. I collapse into his arms, crying hysterically into the crook of his neck. He rubs my back. "Shh it's okay I've got you." He soothes. When I pull away he takes my hand, leading my into the woods to talk in private. "Em what happened?" He asks me, gently wiping my tear soaked hair away from my face.

"I thought...I thought if I just left with him, if I just let him yell he'd calm down like he usually does...but instead my mom interjected... She stood up to him, making him even angrier. He hurt her Shane. He really hurt her this time." I sob. "I-I can't do this anymore."

"Then don't." He says, rubbing his thumb across my cheek.

"What?" I ask him, surprised by his answer.

"Come stay with me in my tent, you don't need to put up with that shit anymore. I'll take care of you." He says sweetly, placing a kiss against my forehead.

"What about my mom?" I ask, afraid of what Ed will do when I leave.

"She's a grown women Em, she can take care of herself. We can't make her leave...but she can't make you stay..." He searches my face for a response.

"You really mean it? You'd really let me stay with you?" I ask him sheepishly.

"I mean it with all my heart. I love you, and I will do anything and everything in my power to keep you safe. I promise." I kiss him, the love I feel for him stronger than ever before.

"Let's go get my things." I say with a smile, accepting his offer. For the first time in as long as I can remember I feel a twinge of hope in my heart. Hope that we'll make it through this...hope that Ed won't be able to control me anymore. He wraps his arm tightly around my shoulders as we walk. A feeling sweeps over me, as I walk snuggled into him...one that I barely recognize. Safety. I can't even remember the last time I felt safe, really truly safe. Even before the walkers made their entrance, I was always on guard around Ed. Shane has taken that burden from me, he's given me a safe haven, a home in his arms to call my own. A place where I don't have to be so afraid anymore...