Published by Self-published Genres: Romance, Suspense
Title: Corrupted
Author: Alexis Noelle
Genre: Romantic Suspense, MC Romance
Release Date: February 22, 2016
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/1LA5wRt
Chapter One (c) Alexis Noelle 2016
Lucy
Run.
They’re coming.
I can hear the engines rumble.
I’m being hunted.
Prey left defenseless.
I need to hide.
They can’t find me.
They’ll kill me if they do.
One hour earlier
“I won’t do it!” I scream at my mother. “I don’t want this. I’m only fourteen; please don’t make me do it, Mama!” I plead with my mother to understand, that this life isn’t for me.
“Lucy, you will stop this foolishness right now. This is what’s right, and come tomorrow, it is what you will do.” Her hard face stares back at me. She can’t really expect this of me. It’s disgusting.
“I can’t.” I whisper hanging my head in shame from disappointing her.
“You can and will, whether you want to or not. This is not a discussion, there are no options. You will proceed according to the plan.” She grabs my arm and I wince as the pressure of her nails dig into my skin. “If you continue with this defiance, life will be hard or it may just end prematurely.” She roughly releases me and I stumble back awkwardly. The fact that my mother just alluded to my imminent death doesn’t escape me. She moves toward the door but stops short. “I hope he can straighten you out.” Her cutting words are flung over her shoulder before my father and my uncle enter the room.
Their faces are creased with agitation and anger that their presence is needed. My father stands next to me a tower of superiority and dominance. His eyes bore holes through me and his disappointment is prevalent. “Lucy, this will be more painful if you fight us.”
Fight them? What are they going to do to me?
They grab my arms and my fight or flight instinct kicks in. I start to thrash trying to make a run for the door. My uncle’s arm rises before his fist strikes my face. I crumple trying to shield myself with the very arms they are restraining. I try to pull myself down to the floor but they are too strong, my shoulder screams from the pressure their hold is putting on it.
“Stop!” I cry out my pain radiating throughout my entire arm. “Please just let me go.” I plead with them hoping they just give up on me.
“Do I need to strike you again, girl?” my uncle seethes at me.
I shake my head no, standing back up. That’s when I see it. The rope hanging out of my dad’s pocket. No. My blood runs cold through my veins.
My fight comes back at double the force. I have to get away.
“Take her, Christopher!” my uncle yells to my father. He grips both of my arms and faces me toward my uncle.
“You will learn to do as you are told.” His fist slams into my side and if it weren’t for my father holding me up I would collapse from the pain. His blows continue in succession, each one hitting a different part of my body until every inch of my skin screams for mercy.
My father releases me and I curl into a ball on the floor of my childhood bedroom. The childhood everyone is determined I do away with. My arms are pulled behind me and I groan in agony. Every motion causes electric pains to run through my limbs. I can feel the rope wrapping around my wrists. The constraints biting into my skin, the burn matching my aches from his fists. I’m pulled roughly across the floor to the bed.
“You do not deserve to be comfortable. You are a sinner. You will spend tonight repenting for your indiscretions and unholy thoughts.” My father and uncle glare down at me. I can’t meet their eyes. The man who gave me life, and the one who may choose to take it away. They slam the door as they exit. The cold floor provides me no comfort as I stare up at my empty bed.
I need to find a way out.
An escape from the hell I’ve been sentenced to.
I pull at the rope. With each tug, my shoulders and wrists scream for reprieve. I cry silently as I try to save myself. When I feel the rope start to loosen, my determination is reignited. I give it one last tug and a crack echoes through the room. I bite into my sweater to muffle my scream as I yell out in agony. The pain sears through me and I’m seeing spots, my vision going in and out. My wrist flops lifelessly, at the same time the lack of tension makes breaking free somewhat easier. One more tug and I’m free. The throbbing from my wrist almost causes a loud scream to rip from my mouth, but I swallow it knowing that will cause them to come in here. I crawl to the window, peeking out to see everyone standing in front of the house. I have to make a run for it.
I slowly creep down the steps biting my lip to keep the sounds of agony threatening to pour out. My bones ache from the torture my uncle inflicted on my body. My hand touches the doorknob and I hesitate. They will surely kill me if I’m caught.
He will end up killing you if you stay.
I turn the knob and run as fast as I can. The rough gravel and rocks pierce my feet with each step. I feel like each movement is as loud as a crack of thunder. That’s when I see a light shine near me.
“She’s runnin’!” Someone shouts.
I’m dead.
I keep running.
I can’t be caught.
Fight or flight, my mind races. I run.
I keep running.
I can’t stop.
My lungs burn.
My body is on fire as pain shoots through me from head to toe.
I push on.
It feels like I have been running forever as my feet pound the ground beneath me.
My will slowly fades.
That’s when I see it.
My sanctuary.
My hope.
A warehouse that’s completely shaded in the darkness.
I need to hide.
Alexis Noelle lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband, and three kids. On top a writing career, she is a full-time student and a full-time mom. She loves spending time with her kids, although she has to hide the computer from them when she is writing! She love being active and being outdoors, especially if it involves any kind of shopping.
She has always been passionate about writing. She loves to read romance books and feels like being able to lose yourself in a book is one of the more exciting aspects. The books she loves to read and write will be ones that make you feel for the characters. Alexis believes that you should have an opinion on every character in a book whether you love them, hate them, or think they are up to something.
She also believes that the most important critic is your reader, so she loves to hear from the readers. She want her fans to be open & talk to her about what they want for the characters in the story, and what they would like to see happen.
Alexis on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1o4DiHq
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