Finding a serving tray underneath the sink, I sat his bowl of soup on it before getting a soda out of the fridge. I prayed to God that he would be happy with what I made him, so I could go back to my room until Nancy came back.

Careful not to spill any of it, I slowly walked into the living room to him. The steam from the soup left a trail of my path from the kitchen.

"Here is your food, sir" I held the tray beside him waiting for him to take it.

Looking at me and at the tray, Uncle Earl stood up "What is this?"

"Chicken Noodle soup." I spoke barely above a whisper waiting for his approval.

He took the tray and sat it down on the couch before looking back at me "I didn’t want soup." There were no thanks in his words. "I wanted a BLT" I watched as his anger built up in front of my eyes.

"Sorry… you didn’t… tell me… what you’d… want," I stuttered out wishing Nancy were here to help.

"Sorry is not going to get me what I want." Flames shot from his eyes before I could recognize his movement.

His giant hand covered the whole side of my face as it met it with the first slap sending me to the ground. Tears freely ran from my eyes at the pain from the contact of skin on skin. That was the first time; I have ever been hit in my life. I had a feeling it was going to be my last.

Standing over my quaking body, he glared at me as he continued on his rant. "You will do what I ask when I ask. No questions asked. Whatever happens in this house stays here. You do NOT question my rules or disagree with me. EVER!" A size twelve boot goes deep into my stomach knocking the air out of my lungs. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!"

All I could do was shake my tear stained face as I laid on the ground gasping for air.

"He would find any reason, no matter how small, to punish me after that." Ash’s thump wiped away a few stray tears.

"He doesn’t deserve your tears," she whispers to me before placing a small kiss to my forehead.

"I know, but it hurts to think about the past." I look into her eyes wanting to see the love and understanding in them before I tell her the next part. "The other didn’t start until after I told him I was gay."

Her expression is unrecognizable to me; I think it’s a combination of fear and sadness rolled into one at my final admission to her. "I’m so sorry that happened to you Spence, but we need to go to the police. You have to tell them the truth about him. What he did to you is so wrong on so many different levels. Plus, Nancy is in more danger each day we wait." Her eyes roam my face looking for my reaction to her statement. "You are strong enough to stand up to him. I know you are. Just believe in yourself Spencer. Like I believe in you."

She believes in me, and she thinks I’m strong. More tears fall but these are not sad ones. They are happy tears for the way she has made me feel these last few weeks. With Ashley by my side, I know I can do it. I can take a stand against my nightmare.

The darkness will not hold me back anymore.

"Okay. It’s time to go back"