Chapter 2 The Escape

She had had enough of all this. She was tired of being his punching bag day by day. He had almost beaten her to a pulp one day, if not for the intervention of the neighbors.

The marks all over her body were a constant reminder of Jerry's beastly attitude. She couldn't go on like this. What if Jerry killed her someday? What would happen to her kids?

Elena resolved to leave Prescott Valley with her kids. She sat on a chair in the parlor lost in thought "We will go far away where he won't be able to reach us"

They had eaten dinner already and the kids had retired to bed.

"Jerry won't change. I have to leave here before he hurts us all." She concluded before going to the room to sleep. Tomorrow was D-day, so she had to sleep early. Jerry would let himself in when he came back from the pub, drunk as always.

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"Elena said she would be leaving together with the kids today. She invited me to the house yesterday to tell me about it. Now, I have done my part. When do I get my money?" Laura said to someone on the phone.

She never had it in mind to betray Elena but her sick mother laid down there in the hospital, dying. The doctor had said it would cost her a huge amount of money for the surgery so she had to get the money at all costs.

This would hurt Elena when she found out but Laura was left with no choice here. She had to do Jerry's bidding. He had wrapped her around his finger, Laura had little or no choice. She couldn't watch her mother die.

"Why are you just telling me this? Shouldn't you have said it yesterday that you heard?" The voice fumed with evident anger. "I tried calling you yesterday but your number wasn't going through. It's not my fault here at all. You should have kept your phone on. When do I get my money?" Laura emphasized.

"You'll get your money as soon as I confirm the truth. If she is truly escaping, I would give you, if she's not, you can forget all about the money. Good day," the voice replied to her and hung up.

"Arghhhh. Beast!" Laura was frustrated. She hated Jerry but this time around, he held a tight leash over her. She wondered how Elena survived all these years with such a man. Jerry was too hot-tempered but in this situation, she had to succumb to him.

It has been said that once you know one's weakness, you tend to use it to gain an upper hand over the person. Jerry Parker had found hers, her sixty-year-old mother lying down on the hospital bed in a critical condition.

So, he used it to strike a bargain with her. She had resisted the urge at first but when the doctor called her to say her mother's health had deteriorated. Laura finally caved into Jerry's demands.

She felt so bad for betraying her friend but she needed money to care for her mother. "I'm so sorry Elena. I really am." Laura moaned.

Jerry couldn't believe his ears. "That bitch had planned to run away all along. How dare she try this with me? She is my property! Doesn't she know that by now? No wonder she behaved so calmly when we woke up this morning. I must stop her." he thought inwardly.

Jerry turned on the path that led home and raced home. He hoped he wasn't too late to stop them. Elena belonged to him. How dare she ever think of leaving him?

Immediately Jerry left, Elena entered the room to start packing their things while the kids ate breakfast. She had to wait for him so he wouldn't suspect a thing. Jerry was smart and would smell a rat if she wasn't careful.

Jemma entered the room after eating up her breakfast. "Mommy, where are we going?" She asked while she jumped on the bed.

"Ummm, we are going on a short trip. Your dad knows already. He will come to meet us there soon but we have to go first" Elena lied through her teeth.

She didn't know how the kids would react to the situation. They were still too young to be without a father, however, being without a father was better than Jerry. She quickly arranged a few clothes into the bag.

"I don't want Daddy to come meet us. We don't like him. He behaves like Scar." Jemma pouted and wrinkled her face in disgust while comparing her father to a wicked character in the movie Lion King.

By this time, Jonathan had already finished his breakfast too. "I've finished my food Mummy" he chirped.

"That's my boy!" Elena praised him. "Come and change your clothes, kids. We have to hurry up. There is no time" She brought out their clothes. After a few minutes, Jemma looked beautiful in her pink gown and Jonathan in his blue polo and striped trousers

She took the money she had been saving for the rainy days. Somehow, she had known that she would need money someday so she took money from Jerry's pockets anytime he wasn't aware.

"I'm happy we can finally travel to see the world" Jemma chirped to Jonathan.

"Jonathan love, please get me a piece of paper and biro" she urged him. "Alright Mommy," he said and ran off to do her bidding.

"Here it is," he stretched out his little hand to her. "That's mommy's boy!" She ruffled his hair. "What about me?" Jemma asked.

"You're my girl too" Elena was happy to have had these rugrats. They gave her life essence. Without them, she wondered how she could have survived these years in marriage.

She then took a piece of paper and a ballpen. Elena scribbled a farewell on it and signed. "Hey Kids. Let us go" Elena bent to carry the little black suitcase containing their things. She didn't take too much as she didn't want anyone to be suspicious of their movements.

Then she carried it out while the kids followed her out of the house in glee at the thought of finally leaving Prescott Valley.

"Where are you going with my kids?" A familiar voice spoke to her. Elena froze right there in shock. She could recognize that voice even in her sleep. A cold chill ran through her spine. She was in soup! Who had told him?