Away From Me

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"Do you honestly think I wasn't onto you in there?"

Lita shuddered as a chill raced up her spine at the tone of Christian's voice. He was more furious than ever, and she was terrified. Damn it, she knew opening her mouth about them getting a drink in the hotel bar with Edge would upset him - but she'd needed to distract Christian, at least for awhile. At least she'd managed to prolong the inevitable for a few hours.

"I... I don't know what you mean," she said in a shaky voice, feigning oblivion.

"Don't hand me that shit!" the blond man snapped. "We're already been through this song and dance, and frankly, it's old." He reached out, lunging, and grabbed the redhead by the arm. "Don't you *ever* try a stunt like that again!"

Wham! Faster than the blink of an eye, Christian backhanded her. Lita let out a small cry at the pain stinging her left cheek. God, she didn't want to have to endure this again! She was already suffering from a bruise on her arm, and it still hurt. She was also physically exhausted and world-weary. She wished she could get out of here, far away from Christian. It was getting to the point where she felt as though she didn't even love him anymore. But then, how *could* she love a person who had taken to hurting her on a now daily basis?

"No..." she moaned. She wanted to reach up to touch her aching cheek, but Christian wasn't quite through with her yet.

"What do you mean, 'no'?! You brought this on yourself, you bitch! Just remember that - it's all your *own* fault!" With those words, he flung her like a ragdoll. Lita fell to the floor in a heap just before the hotel room bed.

"Get the hell up!" he shouted, and the redhead merely stayed where she was, sobs now wracking her body. The pain searing through her was absolutely unbearable. And the truth was, she didn't know which was worse - the physical or mental. Her teary hazel eyes suddenly widened in terror as her boyfriend bent over her form, his face contorted with rage.

"I said get *up*, bitch!" Christian lunged for her again, this time grabbing hold of her long hair. She screamed as he literally pulled her upright by tufts of it, and for once, she tried to fight back. She struck out at the blond man's chest and face, catching him once in the nose.

"Ahh! You fucking whore!" Christian howled, reaching up to check his face - no blood. However, he still had ahold of Lita, and even though she was struggling, he made sure she wouldn't get free - he punched her, and then everything went black for the battered redhead.

*

Lita rocked back and forth slowly, tears still in her eyes, her arms wrapped tightly around her updrawn knees. She'd retreated to her spot in the corner on the floor after...

... Christian had finally grown tired of beating her and had gotten all lovey-dovey - apologizing. And then, she'd felt sick by his kisses, feeling she'd had no choice but to give in. She'd lain absolutely still and allowed him to just do what he'd wanted.

Now, he was asleep - she could plainly see that. She wanted out - in more ways than one. She *had* to get out.

The redhead slowly rose, wincing as a myriad of aches and pains clenched her tightly in their grasp. As silently as she could manage, she moved toward the nightstand to grab her purse, which was on the floor in front of it. Then, she crept toward the door, her teeth clenched, breath held and eyes closed as she left.

There was only one place, one *person* she could think to go to. And so, she made her way and knocked on the door.

Edge opened his door not a moment after he heard the knock. He frowned at the sight of the distraught redhead, her beautiful hazel eyes filled with tears.

"Lita?"

"Please help me..." she choked out, her voice reduced to a desperate whisper.

The tall blond man instantly ushered her gently inside.
 
 
 

Part 11

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