RUN BABY, RUN.

BREA POV

The sole of the red shoes she wore glinted in the sun before it smashed against the side of my face. A strangled cry escaped my lips, the throbbing pain fading into a burn as their laughs crackled around me. It was supposed to hurt worse, but they'd already hit me in the face so many times that my face felt numb.

"She's such a weakling. Look at her lying there all pathetic" The girl that stomped on me got out and spat on my face while the two boys and the girl to her right giggled.

"There's nothing she can do though. Worthless piece of garbage" the boy snarled and I winced, letting out a sharp hiss when his hand twisted in my air. My whole body ached as he forced me to gaze into his eyes.

"You should be kissing the very ground that I'm walking on Brea Larson. What, you think you're all that because you come from an elite family? Newsflash, doll face! Your family is nothing! Do you hear me? Without the money my father invested in your stupid family business, you'd have been a pauper living in the gutter!" He spat angrily, his grip tightening until it felt like my head was on fire.

"Let go of me Brandon" I managed to get out, then almost blacked out when he punched me in the gut. I flopped on my face, my head reeling. He was saying something, but everything hit me like a buzz. Nasty words that I'd had to listen to all my life started to get louder and louder until my ears couldn't handle them.

My Mom's voice was the loudest of them all. "Be nice to Brandon ok. We are nothing without his father's money. At least try to be useful for once in your life now that we know he likes you. He pushed for the investment Brea, so do not mess it up for us. If we lose this opportunity because of your stupidity, I'm going to send you off to the orphanage".

She was going to give me away. I didn't do anything to deserve this, any of this. They always targeted me, the girl that was never good enough, the girl who wasn't rich enough... They would never accept me. I was an outsider. Always have been.

I'm yanked to my feet, and Brandon yells in my face before his hand smacked me hard, then two more punches. "I am going to make you my bitch whether you like it or not" he yelled, then smacked my cheek so hard, my head almost snapped off my neck.

A rage I never knew existed clouded my lungs, it rushed upward until it poisoned everything In my veins, and it suffocated me. I couldn't breathe, and my hand just worked on its own, as if it had always known what to do to set itself free from the pain.

I snatched out the pencil I always carried around with me, and with unfamiliar precision jabbed it into his throat as he pulled his arms back to hit me again. He froze in shock, his eyes widening.

The quiet that surrounded me was peaceful, and the pain faded a little until the scream picked up, crescendoing to a point where it felt like I would bleed out of my ears.

Blood splashed on my shirt as Brandon's wide eyes continue staring into my soul, his hand wrapping tightly around the end of the pencil, but I felt nothing, no remorse, no regret, no pity. All I felt was freedom. He was never going to hurt me again.

*******

"You almost killed him, Brea... How could you do this after what I told you" she yelled as she shook me harshly before letting me go? I gasped, tears streaming down my face.

"He wouldn't stop... He wouldn't stop hitting me, Mother"...

She hit me across the face and it was so unexpected that my teeth sunk into my lips. I tasted blood and my heart ceased to beat for a second as I stared at Mother's harsh gaze.

"You are lucky that he is still breathing, if he wasn't, you'd have been dead too. He hit you? Couldn't you take a little beating? Huh? Are you that weak? He was just playing with you and you stabbed him in the neck, you psychopath!"

Her words hit me like a load of truck and instead of it tearing my soul into pieces, all they did was graze it. A mantra repeated itself in my head. He cannot hurt you anymore. He cannot hurt you anymore. I repeated the mantra over and over again until a smile touched my lips.

I blinked, my gaze clashing with those of my mother's horrified one. "You are out of your mind Brea and I'm going to make sure I fix you. I will fix you until you are right again" she stated, then looked over my shoulder as the doctor approached. I turned to face him at the same time he grabbed my hand.

"I'll take it from here Mrs Larson".

Mother nodded once, turned, and left the room without a backward glance.

********

SIX MONTHS LATER.

Mother was waiting by the car with a young boy by her side. She didn't look happy to see me, just as it had always been, but at least she cared. Father wanted nothing to do with me.

I wished she would rush forward and hug me, but she just stood where she was until I got to her.

She didn't trust that I was ok, but I was going to make Momma believe in me again. I would win her trust.

"Meet your brother, Markus" she introduced, and I glanced at the child who smiled wildly at me. "He's been well-behaved ever since we got him... maybe you could learn a thing or two from him".

"You are so pretty Brea. Your eyes are amazing" he stated in awe, his eyes sparkling.

I ignored his blabbering because he was of no consequence.

"I will do anything you want momma. Please, I am sorry for everything. I got better. I swear".

She reached for my wrist and jerked me toward her. "You better be telling the truth, because you make one more mistake, you're going to be left here to rot" she threatened and let go of me. I rubbed at my wrist, her threat making the anger simmering in my chest grow. I clenched my fist.

"I'll be registering you for your new school. It is for a purpose, and this time, you better do what I tell you" she said, then yanked the door of the car open. "Get in before I change my mind," she said, and I quickly scrambled into the car.

Markus came in after me, his gaze lingering until I glared.

"Be nice to your brother you little menace" Mother snapped. "You freaking ruined our lives. Markus here is the only one keeping us together so watch how you deal with him. Got it".

My fingers dug harder against my palm."Yes ma'am" I choked out and she rolled her eyes before her gaze shifted.

The plan -it turned out- was for me to befriend Ana Mason... She was going to be our ticket to getting investment from her Dad. If I fucked this up, then it would be all over for me. I shuddered as I thought back to the days I spent in rehab. Maybe I was a bit mad. Being there so long made me feel like an empty shell that was being smashed into pieces.

"Hi, Ana" I managed once I stood in front of her.

Her gaze shifted in my direction, the lack of interest in them glaringly obvious.

Her lip curved slightly. "Are you by chance speaking to me"?

The two girls by her side kept their gaze glued to mine, an unbelievable look on their faces.

"Yes, Ana... I just came..." I gasped when my neck was grabbed from behind, the grip of my assailant cutting off my air supply. I thrashed until I thought I was going to die.

Ana stepped toward me, the eerie smile still on display. "Thrash like you do not deserve to call me by my name," she said then grabbed my jaw, a nail cutter in her other hand. "The next time you dare to disrespect me" The sharp edge of the blade pressed at the soft skin near my ear, then sliced through. "I'll do more than this," she said and shoved me, her eyes darting to the person whose hard grip was still around my throat. Black dots filled my vision. He let go of me abruptly. I fell to the floor, wheezing as I tried to catch my breath.

The four of them laughed and it was like my old school all over again.

"She didn't even fight back. She'll be our new toy for this semester" Ana announced with a giggle, dumped her coffee over my head, and left with her friends.

I watched them go knowing that I was failing Mother. If she found out about this, then it was back to the asylum.

The darkness that poisoned my veins stirred in my chest, urging me to do something crazy, urging me to hurt them back for hurting me.

But I couldn't, not if I wanted to rot away forever as Mother threatened, but I will find a way. I was going to achieve the impossible, and I was going to do it while simultaneously bringing them down.

Everyone who hurt me was going to pay.

HIGH SCHOOL

BREA POV

I anticipated the scream before I heard it. It was sharp, it was shrill, it was pain-filled, and yet, it symbolized a turning point in my life. The trashcan she'd kicked lay to her right, the content of it spilled haphazardly across the tiles.

I turned the corner, and I see everyone fleeing away from Ava as blood pooled around her feet. Her big toe had an ugly gash- it was almost split in half and even as her voice rang out for help, everyone stayed back, keeping their careful distances, the look of utter horror on their faces.

The same was the case for her besties- I always knew that they didn't care for her enough. They watched, huddling each other in a corner, both of them just staring at Ana as if she was an alien they had not seen in their lives before. It was hard to imagine that this was the trio that had terrorized me ever since I got here. The recent bruises they'd left on me after their assault was just starting to fade.

I rushed towards Ana, then crouched in front of her. "Are you alright?" I asked worriedly and her gaze snapped to mine, a bead of sweat trailed down her forehead and dropped into her eyes. She blinked, every action she took coated in pain. She forced her eyes to focus on me and for the first time, we were holding each other's stare. Yes. Look at me. See what you made me do, I thought with an inward grin. This was turning out way better than I had imagined.

Ana gazed at me as if I was her salvation- which was exactly as I'd anticipated. Her bloody hands reached out to grasp my shirt, her blood leaving ugly stains against the plain white fabric. I cursed inwardly. Even if she was hurt, she still found ways to make sure she made me feel her pain too. This was my favorite shirt and she'd ruined it too.

"Please help me... I'm going to bleed to death" she sobbed, snorts running down her perfect little face that she bragged so much about, and I nodded quickly, helped her to her feet and supported her frame with my body, then took steady steps towards the sick bay.

The student parted ways for us, the sight of Ava's blood dripping over the tiles making every one of them squirmy, while others avoided even making eye contact with her, not that she could even look into their faces at the moment.

I already knew it was going to be this way, hence why I'd pushed through with my plans. I had to be the only one to help her. It was the only way she'd ever look at me and see me as a real person, heck we might even become friends after this. Ana would not be that evil to ignore the girls who saved her life, would she?

Of course that would all change if she ever found out that I was the one who caused her injury in the first place. She deserved it a hundred percent and I didn't even feel an ounce of guilt about it. Hurting her was exhilarating, and the rush of adrenaline I got as I watched her suffer was satisfying.

Ana was never going to find out that I was behind everything. I'd made sure to cover my tracks well. This was all just an accident, and once I got her to completely trust me, then it would be all over. I would control, and make sure that I was the only true friend she had, and then the money will come in, and Mother would finally get her investment and keep me with her.

I helped Ana onto the bed, then took extra care as I lifted her leg onto the white sheet of the bed. The red bloomed across the fabric instantaneously, and the sight almost brought a smile to my face. It was such a pretty sight, to be honest, and Ana deserved to bleed a little for everything she had done. She should even be grateful that I decided to pay her back by extending a hand of friendship. She was a bully, but her family's connection will be useful for mine, hence why I was Killing two birds with one stone.

Ana looked at me as her blood kept seeping into the bedding.

"I'm going to bleed to death".

She was such a crybaby. I leaned toward her and grabbed her hand "No you are not. I'll make sure you survive this. I've got this, Ana," I got out determinedly, let go of her hand, and took a step away from her to walk around the room, my gaze darting around for the first aid box. I found it without much effort and I got out all the items I would need to stop her bleeding.

Ana's gaze shifted to the items uneasily as I moved toward her.

"Do you know how to use that? Maybe we should wait for the nurse"

"No, it will take a while for her to get here" and I knew that because I'd knocked her unconscious in the storage room. It was just me. I was the only one that would be able to help her.

I pulled out a piece of wood and placed it between her mouth.

Ana grunted, her brows drawing up. "What for?"

"This is going to hurt, so make sure you bite down hard enough," I warned but didn't give her enough time to comply before I poured the disinfectant over the nasty gnash on her feet.

Ana screamed, then gurgled on her blood as her teeth sank into her lower lips.

The sound of her scream was music to my ears, and as I put on my horrified face at the pain she was going through, I muttered words of reassurance into her ears. I pressed her gaping flesh together and wrapped a bandage around it. I would have sewn it if I wanted to really torture her, but I decided against it. She'd pass out if I so much as touched her with a needle.

Ana grabbed my hand as the blood finally stopped appearing on the bandage I wrapped around it.

Her voice was rough when she spoke. "I feel like I'm going to faint".

I pulled her close until her chin rested on my shoulders and her whole body was plastered against mine tiredly. "I'll be right here Ana, nothing is going to happen to you. You will be fine".

"Why are you helping me," she asked after some seconds passed. "I've bullied you since you came here".

And she finally admitted it, and all it took was almost losing a toe. I rubbed soothing circles against her back.

"I don't care about that. To be honest, I have always wanted to be your friend, and even tho you were mean to me, I couldn't stand to see you get hurt," I said, making my voice softer.

Ana sagged against me fully. "Frieda and Carla just stood there... They didn't do anything, they just watched me..." Her voice caught in her throat, and I grabbed her arm and pulled her back until she was gazing drowsily at me.

"They are only with you because of what they can get from you Ana, but look at me, I don't want anything but your friendship. I won't stand by and watch someone get hurt, even if that someone was you".

"I am sorry for everything. Please, forgive me, I was so stupid... " She paused, her throat working as I stared at her passively. "I'm sincere. I'll change for the better, I swear".

This was the perfect outcome I'd mapped out, and I was glad that she was choosing the best option all on her own. The other option would have been for her to insist that she never needed my help and that even If I gave her my blood, she would still bully me.

"I am really sorry Brea. I was so naive... Can you ever forgive me".

I stared at her until she fidgeted then I nodded and she sighed in relief before collapsing against me as she fainted.

The standby nurse rushed into the room, a look of horror on her face.

"I stopped the bleeding. She fainted just now," I explained the situation and she rushed towards her to check her pulse.

"Don't worry, I will take it from here, you can go back to class."

I nodded politely and stepped out of the room, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. Everything was perfect just the way I'd envisioned it. She was in the palm of my hands now and there was no way she'd ever get out.

Of course, if she ever found out then I might have some problems, but I highly doubt that she will, not with all the extra care I'd taken while setting up the plan.

But if she does find out, I could always go with the second option and that would be to get rid of her.

I'd already given Mother my word that I was ok, I couldn't have anything jeopardize that and have them send me away again. It had been six tough months in that awful place and I never wanted to go back.

But with the way everything was going, I was sure this was going to be a fun year. At least now I knew the beating and insults were going to stop. I grinned, my steps lighter as I walked back toward the classroom.

BREA POV

FOUR YEARS LATER.

"Why are you just sitting here looking like the loneliest block on planet Earth?" Candice screamed in my ear as the loud music thrummed through the room, but I was too buzzed out to make out the words she was saying.

Even her features were distorted. Just how many glasses was it that I'd spent my night drowning?

"Hey, you're zoning out. Are you sure you're well? Do I need to get Brian," she screamed, and I blinked the dizziness away, groaning in irritation. If she kept screaming in my ear, she was going to be blamed for the outcome. My hands twitched, itching to pull out the little dagger I kept stocked away in my boot.

"Get out of my face," I managed to get out of my burnt-out lungs. At least now I knew drowning shots of vodka was not my strong suit. I was definitely not a heavy drinker, no matter how I wished I was.

Not being able to do something made me feel as if I lacked in a way, and that was why I overcompensated in other areas.

Candice shrugged and left me alone, a look of fear in her eyes. Maybe I should consider getting rid of her since she'd been a witness to one of my recent crimes. It was messing with me that I'd been so sloppy.

I'd thought the coast had been clear before I tossed the body bag over the bridge, but she's been right there, her eyes blown wide as she watched a bloody hand plop out of the bag as it toppled over the bridge. It was a good thing that she had been drunk out of her mind, but I worried that if the body was found, she could start babbling to the cops about what she saw that night.

I groaned, pushing to my feet when the fog around my vision cleared for a bit. I wobbled as I got up. A warm hand gripped my upper arm and steadied me.

I didn't have to look to know it was Ana. Her sickening perfume made me want to puke. She was rich but her taste was so wack it made me want to scratch my eyes until they bled.

"Are you alright? Candice said you didn't look too good, she said right into my ear and I winced, jerking my arm from her hold... I managed to stand straighter.

"I'm fine... it's just a bit of a dizzy spell. I didn't eat before I left home."

"Let's get out of here yeah. Brian's parties are always shit anyway. The drinks suck" she said as she grabbed me again. I let her, not having the strength to get into an argument while I wasn't thinking right.

That was what caused the last slip-up. The jerk deserved to die tho. I'd given him a chance to stop, and he didn't. He'd stopped once I plunged my pretty dagger right into his guts. He'd realized I hadn't been playing when I said I was going to kill him, but it was too late.

The cool breeze on my face made me realize that we were already standing outside. It had gotten a lot quieter too.

I watched the people milling around and grimaced as I took in some extremely drunk couples making a show of themselves.

"What's up with Brea? You look wasted" Brian's gruff voice reached my ears and I turned in his direction and staggered back a bit. Was I drugged? I'd never had it this bad.

"Woah... Easy there, Brea," Brian got out at the same time he moved towards me to offer support, but I shoved him off. I could never get rid of the memory of his grip around my throat but it seemed once Ana accepted me, everything before that was like it never happened.

"Stop your freaking fussing. I'm fine ok," I gritted out hating that I was so out of it.

Candice soon joined us outside. "So are we going to ditch the party or what?".

"Seems so. I have to get Brea home," Ana said and the thought of going home drunk and uncoordinated made me want to throw up.

I couldn't go home this way, not when Markus was there. Waiting for me like the deranged child he was.

Mom and Dad should never have adopted him. They should have seen him for the manipulative freak he was. He was two years younger than I was, but he was tall and strong, and he wanted me. He'd made two attempts recently, but I got away.

Momma loved him so much which was why I hesitated in getting rid of him, but at this point, he was becoming too much of a bother and I would have to take care of him soon.

He'd been following me too, so he had incriminating evidence against me. I should have known he was going to be an issue from the very beginning.

He'd recently threatened me to give in to him, or he was going to tell Mom and Dad all the dirty secrets he'd been able to gather about me, and then it would be off to an asylum for real this time. So it was not wise to offer myself to him on a golden platter when I knew how vulnerable I got when I drank.

"Let's go to your house instead, Ana. Yours is nearer anyway."

"I don't know Brea... My fiancé... We're supposed to meet up this evening after the party".

"Oh come on! Brea is the last person you need to worry about ruining your night. Just put her in a room, and she'll stay there for the whole day".

Candice nodded in agreement and Ana sighed. "Fine, let's go to my place then. Ryder has been wanting to meet my friends anyway".

Candice giggled. "I've seen him... This girl is one lucky girl. The guy is ripped, and he is freaking gorgeous".

"Your boyfriend is right here, Candice" Brian got out, the annoyance in his voice clear and sharp.

Candice snuggled into his side and licked up his throat. Brian cursed and shoved at her.

"Will you quit your craziness!"

"Thought you were being a whiny baby 'cause I wasn't giving you any attention. Well, you're having all my attention now, so don't freaking shove me..."

"Are we going or not?" I yelled as the throbbing in my head got worse.

Candice flinched. "Jeez! Keep your pants on, Brea."

Ana shook her head as she opened the car door and pushed me into it. "You're nasty when you get drunk", she stated and slammed the door close before I could reply.

"Are you guys going to come with us or not?" Ana asked the two and even through the glass I could see Candice hesitate. Did she think I'd kill her in cold blood if she was somehow isolated with me? I mean I would, but she was so terrified of me that it made me want to get rid of her faster.

"We'll meet you all tomorrow morning," she said, her gaze darting to Brian who also nodded, a forced smile on his lips when my gaze met his.

Did he know about that night? I'd convinced Candice she was drunk out of her mind, but that didn't mean she believed me. So did she tell Brian about it too? Ugh. My head freaking hurt.

Ana shrugged. "Do what you want suckers. Remember to use a condom tho" she said and both of them yelled.

"Oh, come on... What is this!" Candice shook her head, even tho her face was starting to flame.

Ana winked, stepped into the car, turned on the ignition, and drove out of the parking lot.

The ride was quiet, but I couldn't think. Everything was a weird buzz.

"Candice has been a bit off for a week now but don't take it to heart ok. She keeps saying you're a killer, it's insane. She even went as far as saying she saw you throwing a body off the bridge... How crazy is that" Ana said glancing toward me in the back seat. I wasn't surprised to even hear that Candice had been running her mouth.

"I wish I could throw a body off a bridge." I groaned, blinking my eyes close as the glare from the street light got to be too much. "Don't listen to her, she's always saying crazy stuff when she has one too many," I said, and Ana nodded before accelerating.

We soon arrived at Ana's Mansion. The house never failed to amaze me. It would look beautiful if it were to catch on fire and burn to this floor tho... I grinned just picturing it.

The car door opening pulled me back to reality.

"You are really out of it. Are you coming out or not".

I managed an eye roll as I stepped out of the car, my feet trying to trip themselves.

The garage looked freaking insane and all my favorite brands of cars lined each section I looked at. They weren't all Ana's, but she had good taste when it came to buying cars.

"Just pick one. I'll let you have it," she said as she took my hand. She was serious too.

It was fucking belittling, but I smiled widely and pointed to one of the black Audis. "That one. I want it".

"It's all yours, best friend" She grinned and stirred me in the direction of the main house.

We got to the door and Ana stopped.

"Shoot! I forgot my purse. Wait here" She got out and stepped away from me.

Sighing and rolling my eyes, I grabbed the doorknob intending to open it, when it was yanked out of my hand, the force of it propelling me forward. I landed against a warm hard chest. I looked up slowly as the man's hold tightened on my arm to steady me.

All I saw was his bright blue eyes and the gorgeous frown on his face.

I call dibs. I was going to make him mine.