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Sample audio for Tormented
The entire audio book should be released October 16, 2012 Performed by Destiny Landon and Lee James of Bella Czar Productions
Tormented is available where ever paperbacks are sold
ISBN 978-09851586-0-6 Distributed through Ingram books
To purchase Sara McLachlan's Angel (album)
For the Sake of Amelia Tormented
Life for Amelia Parker has been hard to say the least. Tormented by flashbacks, and the vow of her ex husband to finish the job he started as soon as he’s released from prison, sends Amelia into an emotional frenzy as time for his release grows near.
Amelia packs up and moves from her home in Colby, Kansas to the small town of Camden, Maine with the hope Ray will forget all about his vendetta. Amelia finds new friends and a new love in her happy peaceful life in Camden.
She is suddenly snapped back into paralyzing fear when she receives word of Ray's release, knowing he will fulfill his promise to finish what he began. Hearing gunshots and her screams, her new love Kyle must make a rushed decision to keep her alive.
Due to a strange twist of events Kyle’s past meets them head-on and jeopardizes Amelia’s safety yet again. Will Kyle be able to save the life of the only woman he has ever loved?
Join Amelia in this roller coaster ride of emotions that will have you gripping the edge of your seat at every turn.
Amelia packs up and moves from her home in Colby, Kansas to the small town of Camden, Maine with the hope Ray will forget all about his vendetta. Amelia finds new friends and a new love in her happy peaceful life in Camden.
She is suddenly snapped back into paralyzing fear when she receives word of Ray's release, knowing he will fulfill his promise to finish what he began. Hearing gunshots and her screams, her new love Kyle must make a rushed decision to keep her alive.
Due to a strange twist of events Kyle’s past meets them head-on and jeopardizes Amelia’s safety yet again. Will Kyle be able to save the life of the only woman he has ever loved?
Join Amelia in this roller coaster ride of emotions that will have you gripping the edge of your seat at every turn.
FOR THE SAKE OF AMELIA
Tormented
Chapter 1: Leaving the Past Behind
Amelia Parker woke with a variety of emotions flowing through her mind. Her divorce had been finalized, and all the loose ends whenever anyone moves had been tied up. She was entirely on her own, and ready for the beginning of her new life. The fear of being alone quickly crept into her mind and nearly paralyzed her; she forced herself to push forward. Her abusive ex-husband Ray would be released from prison next month, and she needed to be out of Kansas before that occurred.
Amelia placed her canvas duffel bag on the front seat of her red Toyota Tacoma; she scanned the yard and hesitated when she spied the large red and white barn now sitting silent where once the sounds of horses could be heard. Memories of that horrific day rushed through her head as she stood beside her truck staring into the distance. The images that flooded her mind made her gasp with fear, she remembered; the pain as Ray roughly pulled her from his truck by her long dark brown hair, dragging her into the barn. He securely tethered her to the third support post; she felt the ache caused from the lack of blood as her hand numbed. Remembering the feeling of the thick twisted fiber rope as the harsh fibers pierced her delicate skin. Ray scuffed his feet across the barn to the storage room and grabbed a long thin black leather bull whip that he used for horse training. He snapped the whip and grinned as he slowly returned to the column where she was tied. She could still feel the sting of the first lash as the leather made contact with her skin. Each snap of the whip tore through her fragile skin as if it was a razor, causing blood and tissue to spew across the barn as it was pulled back and readied for the next lash. The blood gushed from her small body causing a pool to form around her. She slid in the pool of sticky liquid as she frantically tried to crawl away. Ray growled, “Whore”. He snapped the whip repeatedly until her back was completely raw and she was huddled in a pool of deep red blood. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she silently cried not willing to give him the satisfaction of hearing her screams. He demanded, “Get up, bitch,” The pain was excruciating as she tried to appease the madman towering above her. She wearily knelt in the pool of the sticky wet liquid. With one hand on the concrete floor and the other still tied to the rope she lost consciousness.
She remembered being face down on a strange bed in an unfamiliar room. She felt someone’s hands as they tried to gently ease her agony. She screamed out as the unbearable discomfort washed through her body. She opened her eyes; she was in a strange room with a young woman by her side. The woman appeared to be in her early twenties; she had sandy brown hair; big green eyes and a smile that would lighten any room. The young woman's name was Olivia. She remembered having to listen closely whenever Olivia spoke because she was so soft-spoken. The woman's touch caused an intolerable amount of pain to rush across her raw back. “Shhh” the woman said, “You're safe now.” The stranger continued her work, cleaning the wounds and talking in a soft comforting tone.
Amelia had very fond memories of the woman who saved her life; she knew if it wasn't for Olivia and her nursing skills, she would have surely died. She felt she owed her life to Olivia.
Her eyes filled with tears when she forced herself back to reality. She focused on the present and the reasons she was leaving the only home she had ever really known. Ray would gain his freedom, and her fears of him mounted every time she had a flashback remembering the painful day of the whipping. She knew Ray would fulfill his promise he made as he was lead from the courtroom. He screamed he would finish the job he started once he was free. She knew in her heart if she didn't leave Kansas now, she wouldn't live long once he gained his freedom. Realizing she had no other choice; she hatched the plan to leave the farm and find a new life far away from Colby, Kansas.
Her plans were set in motion, with the aid of Tracy Crane, a woman she met online. The two women spent many hours getting to know each other. Tracy began asking her about her life in Kansas. The two women discussed many things; sometimes they traded recipes, and spoke of the countries they would like to visit. Amelia somehow would always lead the conversation to Tracy’s peaceful life in Maine. One of her dreams had always been to live near the ocean, she would often dream of lying on a sandy beach while watching the boaters slink their crafts slowly on the water as time passed by lazily.
Tracy had described in vivid detail the area of the country where she lived. She also sent Amelia many photos of the beautiful scenery with the view of the dark blue ocean from her backyard and the base of a mountain in the front yard. Amelia knew instantly when she fell in love with the area; it was when she first glimpsed one particular set of photos. The photos showed the rocky coast of Maine, the vast ocean with the waves. The spray of the water as it rushed onto the shore hitting the rocks as if it wanted revenge for the rocks' mere existence. Those photos pretty much persuaded Amelia the east coast was the place she wanted to live. She admired many photos showing fishing boats and sail boats that somehow appeared ant-like on the vastness of the ocean. She loved all the images Tracy had sent, although she always found herself staring at the first set of photos she fell in love with. One particular image had been etched into Amelia’s brain; the photo was taken from the shore showing a small cabin boat with a woman lying on her back. Dressed only in a bikini, the woman was enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. She imagined herself on that boat gliding on the water, with a slight breeze on her face as she herself basked in the sun. Everything would be peaceful, and the only sound to be heard would come from the gulls screaming from above as they passed by in search for food.
Over the past few months Amelia opened up and confided in her enough to make Tracy realize she was in eminent danger once Ray was released from prison. She disclosed small bits of the abuse she endured at the hand of Ray; although she never mentioned the whipping (she was determined to keep that brutality behind her). Once Tracy understood Ray was extremely abusive, she made it her personal calling to aid Amelia with her escape from the potentially deadly situation.
Amelia's dream progressed when she asked Tracy if she would aid her in finding a small home near the shore. She wanted to purchase a home once her divorce was finalized. She prayed to be out of Kansas before her ex-husband Ray was released from prison. Tracy was more than willing to help Amelia with this task, knowing this would be a way of keeping Amelia safe and far from Ray.
Tracy loved visiting all the empty homes; she got many ideas for renovating her own home while she was helping Amelia find an acceptable place to live. Tracy’s husband Mark was out to sea for a few weeks on a fishing excursion, so this was exactly what she needed to keep herself busy. While searching for a house for Amelia, Tracy's able to keep her mind off Mark. Her house always seemed terribly lonely and the sounds of the sea made her nervous whenever he was away.
Everyday Tracy would email information on the various houses in the general area of her own home. Amelia fell in love with a small cape located on a two acre parcel of land just down the seaboard from Tracy.
Amelia remembered the phone call to Tracy with a smile on her face, “Oh my god Tracy, I love the pictures of the house you sent today. The little cape seems to be just what I'm looking for, plus the fact it’s so close to you, makes it even more appealing.” “I’m so glad you like it, I’ll speak with the realtor and get the process moving.” After that conversation Amelia knew her life was changing. She knew the decision she had made to move to Maine was more than a life changing move, it was her security that Ray would never find her.
She exited the highway after deciding she was in dire need of a cup of coffee, and followed the signs that lead to a truck stop located somewhere in Massachusetts. She drove into the large asphalt lot and parked near the big rigs; she scanned the building for the entrance to the food court, and headed in the direction of the doors. She placed her order with the young man behind the counter. Once her order arrived she lifted the small red tray and turned toward the dining area. She sat in a small red booth with the table cantilevered from the wall. She set her tray on the table, and readied herself for breakfast; which consisted of coffee and Danish,
While she drank her coffee, she removed her map from her bag and calculated the remaining miles she needed to drive before she arrived in Camden, Maine. Once she finished plotting her course; she re-folded the map and set it aside. Leaning back in the booth she began to daydream of the cozy little town that sat by the ocean side. She was lost in thought; suddenly she jerked herself back into reality.
She heard the scuffing of his feet as Ray approached her from behind. He grabbed a handful of her hair spinning her around, to face him, he spluttered, “You'll never leave me, you fucking whore! No other man could ever treat you as good as I treat you! If you think for one minute you'll ever be able to leave me, well let me tell you this; I will hunt you down like the animal you are and I'll make sure you live to regret your pathetic decision. I’ll kill you before I ever let you go! You're my wife, my property! I'll tell you when I'm done with you. There’s no man alive that would ever put up with your shit.”
Amelia jerked out of her terrifying memory just before she screamed out in fear. She looked cautiously around ensuring herself it was only a horrible memory.
Trying to calm herself down, she removed her favorite pictures from her purse, she imagined herself sitting at the water’s edge gazing across the horizon. Small waves on the surface of the water were like ripples that form in a puddle after dropping a pebble into it.
Blinking back to reality, she began to worry about the decisions she had made, and wondered if she had made the right choices. Tension ran across her face as she distressed about her belongings that had been shipped. She wondered what would happen to them if they were to arrive prior to the set schedule. She also speculated how she would find her new house. She dwelled upon her business dealings, and if her new architectural design company would flourish. Snapping out of her train of thought she giggled to herself about the timing of her worries. She thought, Wow, a little late to worry about the decisions I’ve made. I just have to keep pushing forward.
Amelia placed her canvas duffel bag on the front seat of her red Toyota Tacoma; she scanned the yard and hesitated when she spied the large red and white barn now sitting silent where once the sounds of horses could be heard. Memories of that horrific day rushed through her head as she stood beside her truck staring into the distance. The images that flooded her mind made her gasp with fear, she remembered; the pain as Ray roughly pulled her from his truck by her long dark brown hair, dragging her into the barn. He securely tethered her to the third support post; she felt the ache caused from the lack of blood as her hand numbed. Remembering the feeling of the thick twisted fiber rope as the harsh fibers pierced her delicate skin. Ray scuffed his feet across the barn to the storage room and grabbed a long thin black leather bull whip that he used for horse training. He snapped the whip and grinned as he slowly returned to the column where she was tied. She could still feel the sting of the first lash as the leather made contact with her skin. Each snap of the whip tore through her fragile skin as if it was a razor, causing blood and tissue to spew across the barn as it was pulled back and readied for the next lash. The blood gushed from her small body causing a pool to form around her. She slid in the pool of sticky liquid as she frantically tried to crawl away. Ray growled, “Whore”. He snapped the whip repeatedly until her back was completely raw and she was huddled in a pool of deep red blood. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she silently cried not willing to give him the satisfaction of hearing her screams. He demanded, “Get up, bitch,” The pain was excruciating as she tried to appease the madman towering above her. She wearily knelt in the pool of the sticky wet liquid. With one hand on the concrete floor and the other still tied to the rope she lost consciousness.
She remembered being face down on a strange bed in an unfamiliar room. She felt someone’s hands as they tried to gently ease her agony. She screamed out as the unbearable discomfort washed through her body. She opened her eyes; she was in a strange room with a young woman by her side. The woman appeared to be in her early twenties; she had sandy brown hair; big green eyes and a smile that would lighten any room. The young woman's name was Olivia. She remembered having to listen closely whenever Olivia spoke because she was so soft-spoken. The woman's touch caused an intolerable amount of pain to rush across her raw back. “Shhh” the woman said, “You're safe now.” The stranger continued her work, cleaning the wounds and talking in a soft comforting tone.
Amelia had very fond memories of the woman who saved her life; she knew if it wasn't for Olivia and her nursing skills, she would have surely died. She felt she owed her life to Olivia.
Her eyes filled with tears when she forced herself back to reality. She focused on the present and the reasons she was leaving the only home she had ever really known. Ray would gain his freedom, and her fears of him mounted every time she had a flashback remembering the painful day of the whipping. She knew Ray would fulfill his promise he made as he was lead from the courtroom. He screamed he would finish the job he started once he was free. She knew in her heart if she didn't leave Kansas now, she wouldn't live long once he gained his freedom. Realizing she had no other choice; she hatched the plan to leave the farm and find a new life far away from Colby, Kansas.
Her plans were set in motion, with the aid of Tracy Crane, a woman she met online. The two women spent many hours getting to know each other. Tracy began asking her about her life in Kansas. The two women discussed many things; sometimes they traded recipes, and spoke of the countries they would like to visit. Amelia somehow would always lead the conversation to Tracy’s peaceful life in Maine. One of her dreams had always been to live near the ocean, she would often dream of lying on a sandy beach while watching the boaters slink their crafts slowly on the water as time passed by lazily.
Tracy had described in vivid detail the area of the country where she lived. She also sent Amelia many photos of the beautiful scenery with the view of the dark blue ocean from her backyard and the base of a mountain in the front yard. Amelia knew instantly when she fell in love with the area; it was when she first glimpsed one particular set of photos. The photos showed the rocky coast of Maine, the vast ocean with the waves. The spray of the water as it rushed onto the shore hitting the rocks as if it wanted revenge for the rocks' mere existence. Those photos pretty much persuaded Amelia the east coast was the place she wanted to live. She admired many photos showing fishing boats and sail boats that somehow appeared ant-like on the vastness of the ocean. She loved all the images Tracy had sent, although she always found herself staring at the first set of photos she fell in love with. One particular image had been etched into Amelia’s brain; the photo was taken from the shore showing a small cabin boat with a woman lying on her back. Dressed only in a bikini, the woman was enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. She imagined herself on that boat gliding on the water, with a slight breeze on her face as she herself basked in the sun. Everything would be peaceful, and the only sound to be heard would come from the gulls screaming from above as they passed by in search for food.
Over the past few months Amelia opened up and confided in her enough to make Tracy realize she was in eminent danger once Ray was released from prison. She disclosed small bits of the abuse she endured at the hand of Ray; although she never mentioned the whipping (she was determined to keep that brutality behind her). Once Tracy understood Ray was extremely abusive, she made it her personal calling to aid Amelia with her escape from the potentially deadly situation.
Amelia's dream progressed when she asked Tracy if she would aid her in finding a small home near the shore. She wanted to purchase a home once her divorce was finalized. She prayed to be out of Kansas before her ex-husband Ray was released from prison. Tracy was more than willing to help Amelia with this task, knowing this would be a way of keeping Amelia safe and far from Ray.
Tracy loved visiting all the empty homes; she got many ideas for renovating her own home while she was helping Amelia find an acceptable place to live. Tracy’s husband Mark was out to sea for a few weeks on a fishing excursion, so this was exactly what she needed to keep herself busy. While searching for a house for Amelia, Tracy's able to keep her mind off Mark. Her house always seemed terribly lonely and the sounds of the sea made her nervous whenever he was away.
Everyday Tracy would email information on the various houses in the general area of her own home. Amelia fell in love with a small cape located on a two acre parcel of land just down the seaboard from Tracy.
Amelia remembered the phone call to Tracy with a smile on her face, “Oh my god Tracy, I love the pictures of the house you sent today. The little cape seems to be just what I'm looking for, plus the fact it’s so close to you, makes it even more appealing.” “I’m so glad you like it, I’ll speak with the realtor and get the process moving.” After that conversation Amelia knew her life was changing. She knew the decision she had made to move to Maine was more than a life changing move, it was her security that Ray would never find her.
She exited the highway after deciding she was in dire need of a cup of coffee, and followed the signs that lead to a truck stop located somewhere in Massachusetts. She drove into the large asphalt lot and parked near the big rigs; she scanned the building for the entrance to the food court, and headed in the direction of the doors. She placed her order with the young man behind the counter. Once her order arrived she lifted the small red tray and turned toward the dining area. She sat in a small red booth with the table cantilevered from the wall. She set her tray on the table, and readied herself for breakfast; which consisted of coffee and Danish,
While she drank her coffee, she removed her map from her bag and calculated the remaining miles she needed to drive before she arrived in Camden, Maine. Once she finished plotting her course; she re-folded the map and set it aside. Leaning back in the booth she began to daydream of the cozy little town that sat by the ocean side. She was lost in thought; suddenly she jerked herself back into reality.
She heard the scuffing of his feet as Ray approached her from behind. He grabbed a handful of her hair spinning her around, to face him, he spluttered, “You'll never leave me, you fucking whore! No other man could ever treat you as good as I treat you! If you think for one minute you'll ever be able to leave me, well let me tell you this; I will hunt you down like the animal you are and I'll make sure you live to regret your pathetic decision. I’ll kill you before I ever let you go! You're my wife, my property! I'll tell you when I'm done with you. There’s no man alive that would ever put up with your shit.”
Amelia jerked out of her terrifying memory just before she screamed out in fear. She looked cautiously around ensuring herself it was only a horrible memory.
Trying to calm herself down, she removed her favorite pictures from her purse, she imagined herself sitting at the water’s edge gazing across the horizon. Small waves on the surface of the water were like ripples that form in a puddle after dropping a pebble into it.
Blinking back to reality, she began to worry about the decisions she had made, and wondered if she had made the right choices. Tension ran across her face as she distressed about her belongings that had been shipped. She wondered what would happen to them if they were to arrive prior to the set schedule. She also speculated how she would find her new house. She dwelled upon her business dealings, and if her new architectural design company would flourish. Snapping out of her train of thought she giggled to herself about the timing of her worries. She thought, Wow, a little late to worry about the decisions I’ve made. I just have to keep pushing forward.
