Escaping Grace

"Stop fighting, I just want to talk," the Russian voice muttered in my hair as they managed to drag me back down the stairs to the middle landing that lead to the second floor.
I struggled wildly, grabbing for the railing and trying to kick him with my heels, but I could never land a good enough hit for him to release me. When we got to the landing he turned, shoving me forward into the corner of the building.
I turned immediately, refusing to cower as I glared at him.
Romochka was still the same, despite I hadn't seen him in months. He looked like he had a new scar on his face, probably from the last time he'd been here and Andy had attacked him to save me. He'd cut his hair short, and he looked like he hadn't slept in months.
Being on the run probably did that to a person.
"What do you want?" I demanded in a shrill voice, clenching my fists. I refused to be scared of him anymore; I didn't have to be now. I'd learned not to dwell on the past, and if he didn't leave I was going to push him down the stairs so hard he never had a chance to bother me again.
"I just want to talk!" he assured me, raising his hands in what he was probably trying to convey as a placating gesture. "The last time I was here ---."
"You tried to kill me!"
"I wasn't going to kill you, I swear! Liliya, just listen to me, okay?"
I stared at him. I had my phone clenched in my hand, and I was calling someone over and over. I would let him talk, for now.
"Look, I am so sorry, " he apologized instantly, and he actually looked sincere. "Last time I was here was a bad time for me, okay? I had a mental breakdown, I went for help!"
I glanced anxiously at the stairs.
"I've been staying at this place that helps people like me, and they've got me on medication and I've been going to these anger management meetings --- I'm so much better now!"
He took a step towards me, and I tried to step back, but I was already against the wall, and I had nowhere to go.
"Stay away from me!" I hissed at him. "Why did you come back here? Why can't you leave me alone!?"
"Because you need to hear this!" he cried, looking anguished. "I love you, and it took me going to that place to realize how awful I was to you, how much pain I put you through! I just want to make up for all those painful times!"
"Do you realize how much I hate you?" I nearly shouted at him. " You literally beat me so bad last time I almost had a concussion! And all those other times ---," my throat was starting to close up as tears threatened, "when my mother would --- you never tried to help me! I can never forgive you for that, Romochka! Ever! I want you to leave me alone!"
I shoved past him, aiming for the stairs, but he caught my arm, and whirled me around, pressing me against the wall, and I felt that familiar wash of fear sweep through me immediately. I had never forgotten the feeling of being so scared, so powerless, and that's all he ever made me feel. He must've seen my face, because he released me immediately and took a step back, his face withdrawn.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, staring at me. "I'm sorry --- I didn't mean ---."
"You never did," I muttered, rubbing my arm. I could remember the first time he'd ever hit me, the look of shock on his face as he'd realized what he'd done and then sworn to never do it again. But he had, more and more and it had never gotten better, and never would. He'd said he'd changed, but they never did, and I didn't believe him for one minute.
He was who he was.
"Just leave me alone," I told him after a moment. "Just stop." "Liliya, please." He begged me. "Please listen. I know you don't love me, if you ever did, but if you could just find it in your heart to forgive me ---."
"How can you expect that of me?" I demanded, and tried to take a step away. He slapped his hand against the wall in front of me, stopping me from getting up the stairs.
"You're not leaving until I get to have my say, got it?" he snapped, and I glared up at him.
"Im going to leave if I want too!" I shoved against him, but it was like hitting a brick wall. "Get out of my way!"
Where was Andy? Now was exactly the time I needed him again. I was feeling cornered and panicked, and now afraid as Romochka started to lose his temper.
"Listen to me, dammit!" he slammed his other hand against the wall, towering over me. "I came all this way. And you're going to hear me out without being such a snarky little bitch!" I pressed my lips together, and stood there silently, looking up at him.
"Good," Romochka nodded. "Good. You're making this way harder then it needs to be. You always did that." he muttered, shaking his head. "But I mean it when I say I'm sorry for all of it. My counselor said that I needed to call you and try to hash things out, but I had to see you in person."
His hands slid down the wall slowly, coming to land on my shoulders.
"Please tell me you forgive me," he gazed at me earnestly. "I'm supposed to learn how to forgive myself first, but I can't. I need to hear that you forgive me for all those awful things that happened between us, because of me."
I would rather eat my own tongue then give him any degree of solace.
When I didn't answer, he sighed, and one hand dropped to hold mine.
"This is because of your mother, isn't it? She's the reason for all this animosity. Because of when she beat those marks into your back, right? Leah, she just didn't want you to leave home, and I didn't want you to leave me. I thought you would be too afraid to leave if she did that; I didn't think it would make you run! And its not like the damage was that bad. The marks are just superficial."
"They're awful," I managed, but my voice was only a whisper. "they'll never go away."
"Who cares?" Romochka shook his head, and released my hand to caress my face. "No one will ever see them."
That wasn't technically true.
I wanted to jerk at his touch, and I was becoming so mad at myself for still being afraid of him, for letting him scare me so much. I wanted to fight back somehow, but physically I was no match and he was quicker then me. I didn't know how to defend myself against him.
His fingers suddenly locked under my chin, forcing my face up, and my eyes widened in horror.
"No!" I shrieked, throwing my arms against him as he tried to kiss me. "Get off!"
My flails didn't seem to have any effect, and tears were forming in the corner of my eyes. No! I didn't want this! I had never wanted this, but I'd been too much of a coward to say no to him the first time. But I definitely wasn't afraid to say no now.
"Get OFF ME!" I shrieked, turning my face away from him and trying to duck down the wall. "Don't you dare!"
"Just one last kiss," he begged, grabbing my wrists to stop me. "For the road. I promise!"
"No!" I nearly jerked my arm out of socket as I tried to escape, but he wouldn't let me. I can't get away, I thought fearfully, and felt my phone buzz suddenly in my hand where I'd been clutching it. I'd hoped it would've helped a little With me hitting him.
I twisted my hand where I could see the screen, seeing Vales picture pop up. I hit answer, and music exploded through my speakers. Romochkas head jerked in the direction.
"Vale!" I shrieked. "VALE!"
Romochka grabbed the phone from my fingers, ending the call and tossing it across the landing.
"She can't help you right now!" he snapped angrily at me. "Stop trying to leave me!"
"Let go of me! Let go!" I was panicked, I just didn't want to be here --- I couldn't stand the thought of him touching me, being near me --- I just had to get away! I pulled as hard as I could against his grip, and managed to get one wrist loose.
I smashed my hand against his face, and he yelped, taking a step back. I flung myself to the side and wrapped one hand around the railing, my other wrist still locked in his grip.
"Liliya! Stop it!" he drug me back to him, and I winced, feeling the metal burn my hand.
"Just leave me alone!" I screeched at him, and he whirled me around, grabbing my shoulders and forcing me to stare at him.
He glared down at me, but I refused to cower. I glowered back at him, straining away with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I didn't want this!
"Liliya," Romochka finally sighed. "Why do you always do this? You set me off and you make me be cruel to you when it's not necessary."
"Because you're an abusive, self-serving asshole! I despise everything about you and I hope you rot in hell!"
All of that spewed out of my mouth in Russian, which made it sound so much harsher. Romochka looked shocked a moment, and he let me go.
I flailed, and fell back against the steps, knocking my elbow against the edge of one painfully. I winced, cradling my arm. "How could you say that?" he stared at me, as if I had actually hurt his feelings. "How ---?"
"Leah?" I heard someone call from the hallway, and my head jerked behind me.
"Andy!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
I rolled, avoiding Romochkas grab, and staggered halfway up the steps. I felt him grab me and he started dragging me back down, and I tried to clutch at anything I could.
"No!" he forced me back around, grabbing my arms forcefully.
"Get off!" I hissed, wedging my knees between us to make sure there was a distance. He grunted as I kneed him in the gut, grabbing my wrists so i couldnt claw at his face anymore, forcing them down by my head.
Panic flared through me.
"Get off! Get off! GET OFF!" I screeched, terror filling me as he pressed closer to me, his face furious. I could feel the stairs pressing painfully into my back, and tears were starting to press my eyes and finally down my cheeks.
He smirked, and lowered his face to mine, eyes gleaming. "You know you want this just as much as me," he whispered, his free hand painfully grabbing my chin as he started to kiss me.
Nooo!
I screamed against his lips, trying to struggle.
"Leah!" the stairwell door suddenly slammed open, and Romochkas head jerked up, recognition flitting across his face before he was suddenly jerking off of me.
I sobbed, rolling to the side, trying to get to my feet unsuccessfully.
"You fucker!"
Andy suddenly shot down the steps, pausing briefly to check on me before throwing himself the rest of the way down and slamming into Romochka, sending them both crashing to the ground.
"What the fuck?"
My head jerked up as Ashley careened down the stairs, stopping by me.
"Are you okay?" he demanded, and I raised my hand, grabbing at his shirt.
"Call 911," I gasped, hardly able to speak. "P-please!"
Ashley stared at me, and jerked his phone out of his pocket. Our heads jerked down as Andy gave a roar, and I flinched, seeing him slam Romochka up against the wall, the both of them grappling for control.
I started to my feet, but Ashley threw his phone at me ad he lunged, knocking into the guys and sending the fight into two against one.
I glanced down, seeing 911 on the screen, and I could hear someone talking. I jerked the phone to my ear, and burst out the address for my building.
"Please hurry!" I cried. "He's attacking my friends!"
"Ma'am, stay calm, the police are on their way. Stay on the line," she ordered me, and I watched helplessly as the guys grappled.
I winced as Romochka managed to shove Ashley back, and he grimaced as he hit the wall.
"Andy!"
I dropped the phone and vaulted forward with a yowl as Romochka hit Andy so hard he fell back, stumbling, clutching his jaw.
"You bastard!" I punched him so hard something in my hand cracked.
Romochka fell back in shock, clutching his broken nose as he slid down the wall. I hissed, clutching my hand as pain radiated upward.
"Leah!" Andy turned toward me, his eyes wide with worry. "Leah!"
"Fuck," Ashley muttered, staggering towards us. "Are you guys okay?"
"Fine," Andy reached for me, brushing my hair out of my face. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Did he touch you?"
"I'm fine," I gasped, tears rolling from my eyes more from the pain in my hand then anything else. "But I think I broke my hand."
Andy glanced down, and then just pulled me to him, pressing his lips to my forehead.
"Fuck," he muttered, and then just wrapped his arms around me, careful of my hand. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."
"Liliya, I'm so sorry!" Romochka suddenly sniveled in Russian. "Im so sorry --- I didn't mean for any of this to happen, I ---."
"I fucking hate you," I snarled, turning to look at him. "I hope you rot in hell with my mother and the both of you get what's coming to you. You fucking piece of shit!"
"You're all talk now that he's here," Romochka jabbed a bloodied finger at Andy, and then pressed it back against his nose as blood started down again. "But you were pitiful and crying a few minutes ago! I can still do whatever I want with you and you can't stop me!"
I took a step back.
"Shut the fuck up!" Andy suddenly shouted; he had no idea what we'd been saying, but he'd seen my expression.
He started forward, but Ashley grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Man, he's down, leave him." He gave me a worried look. "Leah, you don't look so good."
Andy glanced at me, then pulled me over to the other wall, stepping in front of me and blocking my view.
"He's right," I whispered, staring blindly forward.
"No, he's not. He's a piece of shit and whatever he said isn't true!" he cupped my face, forcing me to look up at him. "You're okay, okay? Everything is okay now. Angel, it's okay," his voice lowered to a whisper. "Please, look at me, look at me! Don't panic, it's okay. Watch your hand," he muttered, pulling me against him. "Don't cry. I'm here, I got you."
I could hear the sirens in the distance, and after a few minutes the cops were running up the stairwell, and then everything was chaos as Ashley went upstairs to warn the guys, and then Vale and Clarke and Nate were trying to get downstairs to me but the police were everywhere and --- and --- it was chaos.

Notes

Sorry for the wait! I got caught up reafing Motionless in White fanfiction, and was reading that in my spare time instead of writing D:
But it's up! Please enjoy and tell me what you think! Is it the end of Romochka, or will he visit again in some way? Is everything going to pan out well? Tell me what you think!!:)