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Nicole knew she had to go They'd take her back over there and Marvin would kill her She gathered all her strength and got up using the wall to get to the front door The children just stared at her She wrapped the covers around her for warainst the frosty Dece down the stairs spraining her ankle, shewhat direction she was going

Someone behind her called her na to let theet help fro close and she tried to run as fast as she could She tripped over the sidewalk hitting her nose run not caring anyot away from the footsteps

"Nicole, stop!" the deep voice yelled

The only thing she could sur to kill her This only gave herlooked so fuzzy and dione

Darting through a muddied field, she jurabbed her pants leg She fell again and when she tried to scras It was so dark and her vision was failing her because even her eyes were cold She turned on her back and kicked at the large dark figure that crawled up her body as she tried to scoot back and get away Finally he pinned her She couldn't screa

He shook her so hard, but that only increased her fight to get him off of her Finally he slapped her cheek and she almost passed out and this sort of deluded her sense of balance that she had to fight for her own consciousness ceasing her physical fighting for a h the haze, she heard, "Nicole stop it! It's me!"

It couldn't be Dear Lord not him "Ethan," she rasped to be sure

He had pressed his ear down to her mouth to hear her "Yes, Nicole Let me help you"

She sobbed, but this wasn't in fear, but great relief as he scooped her cold an to carry her It didn'tshe would be safe with hiet him to help her He would help her even if he probably did want sex It didn'tas he helped her