Until I Met You

Saving her (19)

Grace

"Grace?" Jake spoke on the phone.

"Jake? Jake help me." I said frantically, still running. Hearing the engine flare and tires screech behind me.

"Grace? Grace? What's happening? Where are you? Answer me goddammit." I heard Jake speaking in the background. I couldn't keep the phone to my ear as I ran. I heard a clicking sound and Jake's voice disappeared. He hung up on me. I heard in the background the car racing towards me. I could not run faster than a car. My only option was to move into the forest at the side of the road and hide. So that's what I did.

I ran faster. Pumping my legs and moving to the side. At the exact same moment, when I jumped into the forest and moved into the woods, I saw his car passing by me. My heart was beating a thousand beats per second and I could hear its sound in my brain. I ran deeper, not caring about getting lost in the woods. Just as long as I can save my life from the person behind me.

From a far distance I heard a door slam shut and I knew he had stopped his car. He was coming after me. It only made me run faster. Adrenaline coursing through my body gave me enough energy to move at a faster pace that I thought I could not manage.

"Stop! Stop you bitch! You can't run away from me. When I'll get my hands on you..." I jumped behind a big tree. Hiding away from his view. Not wanting to give away my current position from where I was standing.

"... you'll be sorry for running away from me." He continued. His rage made his voice rumble with the threat he was making. His heavy boots crunched the leaves beneath his feet. I tried to control my heavy panting. My lungs contracted and I hunched over to ease the pain I was feeling from the lack of oxygen. Cool air hit my sweaty skin, making me shiver and my jeans that was already damp with water now felt sticky from sweat that covered it.

My breathing calmed a little and it became bearable for me to breathe. That's when I noticed the silence that had descended over everything. Everything was quiet. Everything.

I could not hear anything. It was like a switch was turned off. Maybe it was because I didn't feel my heart pounding in my head that much or because my breathing was under control. I plastered my back to the big tree. Looking around me. It was dark. Darkness loomed around me. It was not pitch black and I could still see a lot. The forest seemed to embrace it like a night lover. Blackness everywhere. But light seeped through the surrounding trees. I looked up to the sky and saw the moon.

It was a full moon.

Moon shone bright. It was like the moon you imagine when you think of a human who was going to turn into a werewolf on a full moon. My hair flowed with wind and I didn't realize that I forgot about the situation I was in. I kept on staring at the bright moon. Completely unaware of my surroundings. I raised a hand and traced the side of the moon at the side. A breath hit my ear as two hands grabbed me at the side of my waist. "Found you." Someone said in my ear.

I screamed and without looking or turning to face the culprit, I simply raised my elbow and jabbed it into the person's face. I heard an, "Ah..." sound and then a groan. "Cunt!" I heard Ben scream behind me. Before anything else happened, I sprinted back to the road.

"You slut...!" I heard him scream again.

It only made me run faster. I crossed the forest and saw the road. Without looking away, I ran towards it. I reached the road at the same time, when bright lights filled my vision, blinding me. I raised my hands to cover my head and waited for the impact of a blow. I heard a car come to a screeching halt. Looking up, I saw Jake slamming his car door shut and sprinting towards me. His face was a mixture of anger and confusion.

"Grace! What the hell..." His words trailed off as Ben walked out of the woods with a bloodied nose.

"Come here, you cunt. I'm going to beat you with a metal rod so that no one can recognize you when they find your body." He told me. Completely unaware about the third presence standing just a bit far away. Jake heard what Ben said and his face turned cold, blood thirsty cold.

Jake looked from my figure to Ben's. I ran to him. Hugging him tightly and a sob escaped from my mouth. He immediately put his arms around me.

"Shush... get in the car." He whispered to me. I nodded my head and he let me go. I walked with my trembling legs and stood at the passenger seat door. Opening it but not getting in. I watched as Ben recognized the face of Jake. Ben looked like he had seen a ghost or more like death coming his way. Jake walked to him in slow deliberate strides.

Ben walked backwards to his car but stumbled on his own legs and lost his balance. He managed to gain his balance back without falling but when he did, Jake was on him, already.

His balled fists connected Ben's jaw sending him flying back. Ben's body hit the concrete road with a thud. Its sound could be heard from where I was standing. Jake pushed Ben's body down with his knee, and he hit him again and again and again and again. Ben couldn't as much as raise his hands to protect his face from the assault. Once he tried to cover his face, Jake grabbed his finger and twisted backwards.

A boom of scream went through the silent night that I winced from the pain I heard in Ben's voice.

Jake didn't stop though. He continued smacking him with his fist. I saw Ben's protests going weaker and weaker. His face turning into a bloody mess. I ran towards him. He's going to kill him.

He will kill him.

Oh, god no.

"Jake no..." I screamed. I ran to his side. He ignored what I said and continued punching him. He looked like a crazed murderer. A sadist who sought pleasure from pain.

Behind Jake's car, another car came to a screeching halt. Ethan got out of the car. And after a second later, another car pulled up from the opposite side. Mason got out of the car. Ethan was already pulling Jake back from Ben and Mason looked at the scene as he speed - walked towards us.

"Jake stop." Ethan said. But Jake still tried to get out of Ethan's hold and get back to beating Ben.

"Stop it, you idiot. You'll kill him." Mason said. He came to help Ethan, helping in trying to keep Jake away from Ben. Who was bleeding badly and I thought he could be dead. But he was breathing and that brought a short-lived relief. Jake calmed down a little and got out of Ethan's hold, but he still stared down at Ben. Looking like he wanted to go back doing what he was doing.

"Get him out of my face." Jake spoke in a heavy, low voice. Thick with the restrained he was keeping on himself from going at the beating again. Without looking away from Ben, he took out his handkerchief and cleaned his bloodied hands. "Clean up this mess." Jake said to no one in particular. Then he turned to me. Violence in his eyes, still there and visible. I got scared by looking at him. Not sure if he was angry at me or not.

He started to walk towards me. His dark brown eyes, which were filled with violence, never leaving mine. Fear creeped up my spine and I took a few steps backwards.

He walked towards me and before I could protest, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. Turning he threw his keys to Ethan who caught it smoothly with one hand, in the air.

"You're driving." He told him. Turning, he walked us to his car. His hands gripped my thighs where my jeans covered everything. He opened the door and dropped me in the backseat of the car. With that he climbed in after me, shutting the door with a thud. Ethan opened the door and climbed on the driver's seat.

I didn't realize but my body was still shaking from the fear I felt. Jake grabbed my waist and pulled me on his lap. I raised my hand to protest but Jake pinned my arms to my side and rested my head over his beating heartbeat.

Suddenly, I found myself getting comfortable in his lap. Jake eased his hold on me. I shifted a little and circled his waist in my arms. I rested my hands on his chest, hearing his heartbeat. Suddenly, I felt my cheeks getting wet and my face scrunched up as I let out a sob. My lips trembled and I shook with silent cries. I didn't look up and Jake didn't say anything. I turned my face in his chest and cried my heart out. Jake's hand moved over my hairs and his warmth seeped inside me. I soaked myself in his scent. His arms around me felt like a protection barrier between me and the world.

And felt safe.

I felt like I couldn't be more thankful for the comfort he was providing me.

My cries turned into silent sobs and then into dried tears. All the while Jake drew calming circles on my back. I put my ears to his heart and let his heartbeat lull me into the world of deep slumber.