At 8pm, Ryker and I put the kids to bed.

Santana climbs into her bed. "Mum, can you read us a story?"

I sit on her bed. "What story do you want me to read to you?"

Santana rises and moves over to the bookshelf. She picks up a book and carries it to me.

I look at the cover of the book and it says 'The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV.'

I smile at the kids and begin the story. "It was a fine spring day in Bear Country. The bluebirds were singing. The trout were leaping. And except for one small cloud of dust billowing behind the school bus as it came over the hill, the air was sparkling clean."

Ryker sits on the bed next to me and he begins to read the next part of the story. "Mama Bear was inside the family's tree house fixing Brother and Sister Bear's after-school snack."

Adam and Santana lie on top of me as I continue to read the book.

Ryker read the next page to give me a break from reading to the kids.

I love just being here with my family.

I look at the kids and find them fast asleep next to me.

Ryker picks Adam up and carries him to the bedroom. He kisses Adam and the turns the light off.

Ryker holds my hand as we make our way to the living room.

I sit across from him and look at my hands.

Ryker stares at me. "Jacinta, look at me."

I shake my head. "Ryker,"

He lifts my face towards him. "Please, tell me."

I let out a breath of air. "I came home late from a night shift and I found my husband with his fists clenched. He was about to hit my one year old daughter." Tears fall down my face. "I pulled him away from her and he turned to me. He smelt of booze and I saw needle mark in his arm. He turned on me and started to beat me. I pulled myself up on the counter and I pulled out a butcher knife."

Ryker sits up on the lounge. "Did you kill him?"

I nod. "I didn't have a choice it was him or me. I wanted to live so I took his life." I look at the ground. "The way I see it. I protected my daughter and I would do it again."

I rise from the lounge and make my way down the hall.

I enter the bedroom and start packing my things.

I pick up the second bag and quietly enter Santana's room.

I pack some clothes and exit the room. I take the bags to the car and put them in the backseat.

I shut the door and enter the house.

Ryker is sitting in the lounge looking at the blank TV screen.

I make my way to my daughters room and pick her up. I carry her out of the house and place her in the car seat.

I buckle her into the seat and then shut the door.

I take one last look at Ryker's house.

I climb into the driver's seat and put my seat belt on.

I put the key into the ignition and start the car.

I pull away from the house.

I take a look into the rear view mirror and I see the curtain move.

I pull the car onto the road and drive towards the towns exit.

I look in the mirror and I see a black car following.

How long has that car been following me?

"Mum, where are we going?" Santana asks.

I look in the mirror and see my daughter awake.

I take my eyes off the road for a second to look at my daughter. "We're leaving Endurance Bay. The people we have been running from found is."

She crosses her arms. "I don't want to leave. I liked this place. Where's Daddy?"

I turn back to the road. "He's at home."

The road starts to wind and as I turn around one of the bends a car collides head on into mine.

My daughters scream is the last thing I hear before I black out.

***

Ryker

I can't believe that the sweet woman in front of me killed her husband.

I know it was to protect herself and Santana.

When she finished her story she rose and headed down the hall.

The next time I look up she has two bags in her hands and she exits the house.

She enters the house and walks back down the hall. She comes back with Santana in her arms.

Where is she going?

She exits the house and I hear the car doors shut.

I rise and move toward the window. I watch her pull out of the driveway.

As her tail lights disappear around a corner I see a car following her.

What if that's her ex husbands family following Santana and her.

I run to Adam's room and pick him up. I carry him to the car and place him in his seat. I buckle him in and then climb into the car.

I pull onto the road and follow it out of town.

When I get to the windy part of the road I see two cars that are head on.

I pull the car into the shoulder. I lock the car door and make my way to the two cars.

As I get closer to the cars I notice one is Jacinta's.

I look into the backseat and I see Santana.

Her face is pale and eyes are closed.

I move towards the drivers door and I see Jacinta slumped over the wheel. Her arms wrapped around her stomach. There's blood dripping down her face and her eyes are closed.

I hear sirens approach the scene.

I move to the next car and I don't see anyone in it.

They're going to get away with hurting my family.

I turn towards the police and ambulance and they pulls over in front of the accident scene.

I walk over to them.

"Sir, did you see what happened?"

I shake my head. "No, I just got her a couple minutes ago and I saw this accident. "

I watch as they pull Santana out of the car. She starts to stir and opens her eyes.

She looks at me. "Dad."

Tears fall down my face as Santana is taken to the ambulance.

My little Princess.

Jacinta is pulled out of the car and placed on the gurney. They take her to the ambulance an hook her up to machines.

I look at the officer. "I need to go to the hospital. That was my girlfriend and daughter."

The officer looks at his notepad. "I'll get your statement at the hospital."

I run to my car and climb inside. I follow the ambulance to the only hospital in town.

Adam opens his eyes as we pull into the parking lot of the hospital. He looks at the building. "Where are we?"

I unbuckle my son.

He climbs out of the car and we make our way into the hospital.

***

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