This is my second attempt at writing a Deadliest Catch Fanfiction. As mentioned in "Confused Seas", I do not own nor claim to own any real persons, entities, or places. Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners are trademarked to their respective teams/owners and the Major Leauge Baseball association. I give truth to the name "starving artist" as I am reciving no compensation for the stories I post here...all I ask for are honest and constructive criticisms. Reviews are also greatly appreciated. Sorry this first chapter is really super short...I wrote it on just 5 hours of sleep in the last 28 hours while recovering from a nasty hangover.

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The clenched fist came swinging down, landing with a sickening smack onto the side of her face. She cowered down, her arms covering her head in a futile attempt to deflect the raining blows. Her boyfriend's enraged screams blended into a senseless stream of sounds as he continued to land blow after blow on her trembling body.

His furious energy finally spent, Vince stormed from the tiny apartment and left Renée trembling in fear. She waited a full hour before pulling herself upright. Tears streaked down her battered face as she stumbled into the bathroom, flipping up the lid and seat before kneeling to vomit. Empty of both stomach contents and emotion, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she flushed the toilet and sat back.

Tears welled up into her eyes again as realization sank in. Mother was right...she saw Vince for who he really is. A monster. I should have known too. I mean, Vince is exactly like Daddy is. But he was different before I moved in with him, he never used to be this way. He used to hold me and kiss me. He used to love me. What did I do wrong? Is it because I'm two weeks late for my period and he saw the EPT? Or is what Daddy said true; is everything truely my fault even though it doesn't seem right or fair or make any sense?

She blinked back the tears and clenched her jaw, shaking her head to clear it of the depressive thoughts as she remembered her sister's parting words three weeks ago. No. It's not my fault...how were we to know Vince would get laid off or I would get pregnant? Jessica was right, I need to get away from here.

Swallowing hard against the next wave of nausea, a sudden light filled her eyes and she scrambled to pull an old duffle bag from beneath the bed. Renée tossed all her prized possessions into the duffle and zipped the fading blue sailcloth bag shut before shoving her cell phone into her purse and car keys into her jean pockets.

She paused long enough to throw on an old long-sleeved Arizona Diamondbacks jersey shirt and faded Seattle Mariners ball cap before racing down the rickety stairs and, jamming the duffle into the backseat of the 1995 Toyota Corolla, drove away from the hell she'd been living in for the last two months. As she entered the traffic flowing east on Phoenix's Agua Fria Freeway, Renée punched in a number and held her cell to her ear with a silent prayer; a distracted voice answered and she nearly cried with fearful joy.

"Norman! I-it's Renée Walker…I need your help."