• "Damion, you have to go ... " Alicia whispered, her bottom lip trembling slightly.
    "As if I'd leave you here with him." Damion scoffed. Alicia opened her mouth to protest but Damion beat her to the punch. "Alicia! You can't handle him." Alicia clamped her mouth shut. Damion's eyes widened and he realized his mistake. Alicia loved her independence and you didn't tell what she could or couldn't do. "What I meant was-"
    "He will kill you, Damion. What part of this are you not getting!?" Alicia hissed, angry tears in her eyes. "Please Damion, just go already!" Damion sighed and shook his head.
    "I'll hide. And when things get too rough, I'm coming out." Damion said scooting off of Alicia's bed.
    "Damion you can't-"
    "Shh! He's in the front door." Damion said pressing a finger to Alicia's lips. He gently and quickly kissed her. "I love you." He moved silently across Alicia's quaint room and slid into her half open closet.
    'Oh Damion ...' Alicia held back tears and slid under her covers, awaiting the beast that would soon enter.
    Bam! Bam! Bam! Alicia jumped as three loud knocks rocked her door in its frame. Alicia took a deep breath and tried to relax, moments before her door was kicked in.
    "Now what did I tell you about lockin doors little missy?? See you done gone and made me kick your door in!" A drunken man demanded stepping into her room. "Awwwe how cute, you sleepin!" Alicia's stepfather grabbed Alicia by the hair and threw her against the wall with a heavy thud. "WAKE UP!" He demanded. Alicia held back her whimper and saw Damion stir in her closet. She ordered him no with her eyes, and she saw him bite down on his bottom lip, hard. "Well good mornin sunshine!" Alicia's stepfather greeted, bourbon dripping in rivers off his breath.
    "Good morning sir." Alicia said bowing her head as a sign of respect. "Did you have a good night out?" Alicia asked, ignoring the pounding in the side of her head. Robert, her stepfather, whistled and took a seat on the side of Alicia's bed.
    "Hoooo-wee! There was this hott stupid broad at the club and I got me some! Man, was it good!" Robert laughed and shook his head. He suddenly stopped and looked at Alicia with a smile. "So I guess I won't be needin you tonight." He patted Alicia's cheek with a smirk twice, stood up, and made his way out Alicia's room slamming the door behind him. Alicia took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. Damion opened the closet fully and stared at Alicia, anger and disguist boiling in his eyes.
    "What did he mean by 'needin you'?" Damion asked, his voice quivering and his fists shaking.