August 10, 1999

"How dare you, Daddy?! I never want to see you again! I run upstairs and slam my door and cry on my bed.

"Honey!!!" My mom opens my door and sots on the floor and hugs me.

"What, Mommy. He was being mean!"

"Sweetie, its the drinks and his work that makes him that way."

"Mommy, I don't want go see him." I cross my arms.

"But you will. You always have to forgive the person at fault. There's no debating it sweetheart. "

"Well he was being mean!!!" I cry. She's not listening.

"Honey, he doesn't mean it."

"Are you sure?" I stare at her.

"Yes, baby girl. I promise." She picks me up and tucks me into bed.

"Mommy, is it going to be better?" She nods.

"One day, you're going to live in a castle with a prince, and you're going to live happily ever after."

"Do you promise?" I ask. She nods.

"Natalie, get your butt down here!" My father calls from downstairs.

"I love you baby. Don't let anyone else tell you that you aren't loveable. You're unique and beautiful, and-"

"Natalie!" She sighs.

"And precious." She kisses my forehead, turns off the light and closes my door. After a few seconds, I hear yelling.

I turn over, hug my bear, and cry myself to sleep.

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Grant's POV

I fell myself being shaken.

"Grant!" I open my eyes, and Rick's face is about a foot away from mine.

"What, Rick?" I cover my face with my hand.

"Grant, she wants to see you. She's waiting for you at her motel. Get dressed, eat something, put some damn deodorant on too, God, you smell horrible, and go." I get up and throw something on and eat a peice of toast.

"Thanks, Rick." I call before closing his door and running into my truck. I drive through the winding roads, wondering why she called me. I pull up and stop the truck. She opens her door, wearing the same thing as last night.

"Grant!" She runs up to me and hugs me.

I laugh. "Ok, what happened?" I ask, lifting her head so I can see her.

"I'm sorry." She backs up a few steps, and looks at me.

"I was a jerk. I should have said something, and I didn't. I didn't want you guys helping me and then having my dad get to you too. I just don't want to loose any of you." She places her arms straight out on her sides, and I look at her face. Her red hair is messed up, as if she was thinking all night, her eyes that were one free of bags have a lot of them, and she looks like she took a beating. I take a step and wrap my arms around her.

"It's going to be ok. I promise. If you want me here I will be here as fast as I can. No pun intended." She laughs her beautiful laugh, and looks at me.

"Thank you." I nod, and she starts to go into her room. "You can come in." She laughs and I smile and follow her.

"Do you have anything to eat?" She smiles and pulls something out of the freezer and put it in the oven. She turns on the TV and the news comes on.

"The manhunt for Alex Marks is still going strong as they found his hide out. It is completely cleaned up, except he left his finger prints everywhere.

The police think that he is headed for Los Angeles, California. If you see him, you must call this number below." She turns off the TV.

"Ok, maybe not a good idea." The timer dings and she rushes over to the oven and turns it off, pulling out two Totino's pizzas. She hands me mine on a plate and plops next to me on her bed, and she starts eating. I smile and do the same.

We talk for a good long while, mostly me listening to her about her past and what she's done since she tried to distance herself.

Until the knock came. She grabs her bat, holding it steady as she creeps towards the door. She looks at me and mouths, 'run out the back door'. I sprit out of there, when I hear her scream. I fight the urge to go after her, knowing shed probably kill me. I run, and run, and run, until I come across her uncle's house.

"Grant, for the last time!" He says, opening the door.

"I found her already. Sir, I think he found her." His jaw drops and he looks at the ground.

"And you didn't do anything?!" He asks.

"She told me to run. If I had fought him off, she'd be so mad. And she just forgave me today." He goes in and comes back out with his keys and his shoes on.

"Let's go find her." I nod and I follow him into his car. He pulls out, and my phone rings. I gulp when I see it's Kris.

"Hello?"

"If you want her back, you'll have to wait a couple days. If you try to find her, she'll die before you rescue her." And that's how it ends.

"Sir, stop!" He slams on the brakes.

"Why did she call you?" He asks, seeming mad.

"That was her father. He said that if we try to find her, she'll be dead before we recuse her." His face softens.

"Then there's not much to do then but call the police. Maybe we can tag along when they find her. A couple familiar faces might calm her down." I nod.

"Ok." He pats my shoulder.

"It'll be ok. We'll find her." I nod and force a smile.

Would we find her in time?

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AN:

THIS STORY IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR OVER! Just for those of you who feel like its the end.

It's not. Yay!

Anyway, I have to thank all of you. 67+ reads, and 5 stars... That's more than what I thought I'd ever get! You guys are the best.

And for those of you who like this story, keep on reading. Give me suggestions and I will look into them and reply to them as fast as possible.

Thank you again.

Amnesia_and_Dreams