Lyons - Beyond the Scars

Unit 1, No. 8 Union Street

Tighes Hill NSW 2297

Australia

http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Beyond The Scars Copyright 2015 by Louise Lyons

Cover Art by: Jay Aheer: Covers by Design

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other enquiries, contact Wayward Ink Publishing at: Unit 1, No. 8 Union Street, Tighes Hill, NSW, 2297, Australia.

http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com

EBook ISBN: 978-1-925222-60-9

Paperback Edition available

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-925222-59-3

Printed in Australia

First Edition

July 2015

Chapter One

TWO YEARS, ten months, nineteen days. That was how long Id been here. But today was different. Today I was leaving. My life was no longer worth living, and if I didnt change it, I thought I might die, whether by his hand or my own.

Id met Colin Woods in June 2004 on MySpace. Id been nineteen then and reasonably happy in my own skin. But the fishing port of Grimsby wasnt the best place in the world to try meeting other men. It didnt have much to offer the GLBT community, and most people either went out of town or used online dating and chatrooms. Id opened an account on MySpace, and within a few weeks Id connected with Colin. He lived close to Grimsby, too, in one of the villages not far from the outskirts, and we met just days after our online introduction. Hed seemed so different then.

I jumped and glanced over my shoulder as I heard a sound outside. Our neighbor, slamming his car door. I let out a shaky sigh of relief and continued stuffing my clothes into a bag. My hands trembled, and I tried talking to myself in my head. Youve got time. He wont be back for hours. Calm down. Dont forget anything important.

I fastened the bag and grabbed another smaller one which I took into the bathroom to collect my meager amount of toiletries. Then back to the bedroom for my CDs. Half an hour at the most and Id be out of here. Free. Safe.

A few more minutes passed. I thought I had everything, but I took another look around to make sure. If I left my wallet or car keys, Id be fucked. I patted my pockets and found the keys in my right, front, jeans pocket and my wallet in the back pocket on the same side.

I picked up the smaller bag again and shoved in a few odd socks which were on the floor next to the bed. Every moment that passed was a moment too long, and I tried to hurry up. The silence in the flat was so loud my head pounded with it. Then in an instant it was shattered by the front door flying open and crashing against the wall. The bag I was holding fell from my hands, and items scattered across the floor. I took a step back as Colin appeared in the doorway, eyebrows raised.

I... um... I thought you were g-going fishing, I stammered.

I was, but you have to fucking ruin everything as usual, he growled. I rang you at work. You know, your place of work where you went two hours ago. Only you didnt go there, did you? They said you booked time off! He bellowed out the last sentence, and I flinched. So tell me, Tommy. Why would you take time off work and not tell me? Why are you here, packing stuff into a bag, ruining my fucking day, when I should be out fishing with my mate?

Im leaving, I said in a small voice. Maybe hed let me go. Just maybe hed be mad enough to think it wasnt worth it anymore. Id ruined his day, after all. I could imagine the words coming out of his mouth, and I prayed silently hed say them. Fuck off, then, Tommy. Ive had enough. Get out of my sight, and take all your shit with you.

The hell you are. Get that stuff unpacked right now. He clenched his fists at his sides, and his jaw twitched. I was impressed he hadnt hit me yet. Actually, I changed my mind. Leave that. First you can tell me exactly what you thought you were doing. Havent I said a hundred times youll never leave me? I wont fucking let you leave. You have nothing without me, anyway. No one else would want you, useless fucking waste of space that you are.

I... Im sorry. I thought Id.... I racked my brains desperately for the right wordswords which might not result in me being forced to take more time off until the bruises faded. Usually he avoided my face, but if he was really mad he seemed to want to pummel the features he repeatedly told me were a turn off to everyone except him.

You thought what? Id let you go, just like that? You thought youd sneak off like the fucking little coward you are while Im not here? He stepped closer, and I gulped, my mouth dry with fear. I knew it was going to be a lot worse than it had been before. Id never really done anything before to deserve it. Tiny little mistakesan item put away in the wrong place, his dinner later than he demanded, something not done quickly enough or the way he wanted. Here I was packing, intending to leave and daring to make my own decision. Hed beat the shit out of me.

I took a step back and came up short when I bumped against the wall. Colin lifted his hand, and in a second he had fastened it around my throat.

Youll never leave me, Tommy. Do you hear me? Ill make sure of it.

I tried to swallow the saliva which suddenly pooled in my mouth in panic, but his grip was too tight. I couldnt move, and my airway was restricted. Id been in this position once before, and it had terrified me. Id thought he was going to kill me. I attempted to breathe in through my nose and closed my eyes as I waited to either pass out from lack of air or for his first punch to strike me. Hed probably go for my stomach to cause maximum discomfort while I struggled to draw in a breath. But the punch never came. The doorbell rang.

Who the fuck is that? Colin hissed. He let go of me, and I sucked in a breath and instantly choked. I clamped a hand over my mouth and struggled to stay quiet as I gasped and spluttered. Colin went to the window and peeked through the gap in the curtains. Its a fucking copper. Is this your doing?

No, I whispered and shook my head.

Get rid of him. He grabbed me roughly and propelled me out of the room to the front door of the ground floor flat. Then he retreated into the kitchen.

I put my hand on the door handle and gripped it tight. My heart pounded so loud I could feel my chest vibrating and hear my blood rushing in my ears. I might still have a chance. If I could do this right, just maybe....

I pulled the door open. The policeman towered over me. I was five feet eight, and he must have been well over six feet. His feet were on the doormat, at least four inches lower than the hall floor I stood on, and still he looked down on me.

Thomas Chadwick? he asked. Pale blue eyes looked into mine.

Yes?

We had a call asking to check on you. Is everything all right?

My whole body was shaking. My knees felt as if they might give way under me at any moment, and I gripped the door handle tighter in an effort to support myself. I shook my head fractionally and licked my lips. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, and I let them spill over.

Will you help me? I whispered.

Thats what Im here for. The copper gave me a smile, and relief flowed through me. I blinked rapidly and took a step aside to let the man into the flat. He dwarfed the tiny hallway, and I finally let go of the door and walked ahead of him a few steps, my eyes on the floor. Colin appeared in the kitchen doorway, and I halted.