Hey guys! I hope you're enjoying the story so far, just a heads up this chapter gets very dark with some abuse in it so if you are innocent then look away now :3 I'll put in a warning when it gets really intense and with that note Laika out!

-Seto's POV-

(4 weeks later...)

After school had finished, Brice and I were hanging out in the library. We talked - well, he talked, I texted - about our music project.

It was a huge task, we had just spent 4 weeks planning it, we hadn't even started the actual work. Miss Beaufort also wanted half of the work to be done at home.

Oh God... home.

I felt someone poke my shoulder. Brice was looking at me while I was spaced out.

"Seto, hellloooo? You ok buddy? Ya kinda zoned for a sec." he chuckled, but he stopped immediately when he saw my expression darken. I quickly texted him.

'I have to go. My dads expecting me.'

"Do you want me to walk back with you?" he asked hopefully, after reading the message.

I firmly shook my head and stood up, grabbing my bag from under the table. Brice still sat there. He smiled as I headed out he door, but there was disappointment on his face.

"Ok, see you tomorrow Seto!" he said, but his voice sounded strained, his smile forced.

I waved and walked out, feeling guilty that I just lied to my best, well, only friend. I thought about all that had happened while we had been friends as I trudged home.

When I reached the front door of my house, I took a deep breath, preparing myself yet again for what lay behind.

I stepped in through the door, expecting the worse. The only thing I heard was silence. It hung so thickly in the air it was almost choking.

This frightened me more than anything my dad would say, any yell, scream or insult. At least it was a sound, a rough anchor to grasp onto reality with.

Silence was maddening, threatening, reminding you just how alone you really are.

I moved forward, slowly and deliberately until I reached the living room door. I carefully twisted the knob and opened it slightly.

I could hear faint snoring coming from the sofa. I backed out of the room silently and crept upstairs towards my attic room.

I sank down in front of the desk in the corner and began my homework. After about an hour, I heard grunting and shuffling coming from downstairs.

I quickly glanced over at my clock to find it was almost five o'clock.

Crap, I thought, I should have started dinner half an hour ago!

Almost on cue, I heard an angry yell from downstairs.

"Get down here now fuck-up! Come down and make my bloody food! NOW!" he screamed, livid. I leapt up and ran down to the kitchen.

Grabbing the necessary ingredients I quickly whipped up some pasta and chicken. I had just put it on the table at my dads place when the door flew open and my dad thundered in.

I scrambled back, standing behind the counter, and began to wash up. I watched my dad out of the corner of my eye as he te, making sure he didn't surprise me.

I finished the dishes and was about to slip out, when two rough hands grabbed me by the shoulders. I froze.

"Where do you think you're going?"

The sickening smell of cheap booze and cigarettes invaded my nostrils, making me was to vomit.

I resumed my emotionless face and turned to see my dad, a cruel twisted smile on his face, something evil glinting in his eyes.

He picked me up and started dragging me to his room. My eyes widened as I realised what was going to happen.

I tried to break free from his grip but he only squeezed me harder, bringing back the pain from this mornings usual beating. He had been particularly cruel this morning, especially focused on my arms.

When we reached his room, he flung me onto his bed. I lay there, terrified. This had only happened on two other occasions when I made him really mad.

Why now, why today?

As I thought this, I began backing up on he bed, trying to get away. My dad saw this and grabbed me by the leg, stopping me instantly. Tears streamed down my face as I knew what would happen next.

(Warning, sexual abuse up ahead!)

My dad slipped his hands around my waist and swiftly pulled down my jeans in one move. He eyed my trembling body up and down, sickening lust clouding his eyes, them coming to rest between my legs.

I pulled my legs up trying to cover myself, but by now I couldn't move, petrified. He edged closer to me, a wild animal smirk on his face.

His left hand grabbed my wrist and held me down while his right hand hovered over my crotch. He started cupping me roughly through my boxers.

As he did so he leaned forward. I gasped and he took the opportunity to stick his tongue down my throat. I could taste the filthy rum and old cigarettes.

In disgust, I tried to pull back, but his grip was too powerful. His other hand let go of my wrist and snaked around me, and he squeezed my ass.

I was sobbing by now as he pulled out of the kiss. He played with my for a while longer before stopping after what felt like forever.

Almost immediately as it began it had stopped. I just lay there, curled in a foetal position, my trousers still around my ankles. He cackled at my weak form.

"Weak, pathetic fag. If you were a real man you would fight back. Now out."

I crawled off the bed and on the floor towards the door. As I left, my dad lapped me in the ass. I yelped in pain and fear and he just laughed, slamming the door behind me

(End of abuse scene... sorry innocents)

Trembling, I stood up and pulled up my jeans. My feet carried me forward to he bathroom. I took out my razor, my one solace in this world.

I made one slash, then two, then five, until my whole arm was covered, a gruesome barcode carved into my flesh.

Silently sobbing, I ran back up to my attic room. Not bothering to finish my homework, I packed it away and flung on my pyjamas.

I cried myself to sleep that night. I could only think about one thing before sleep overcame me.

Brice.

-Brice's POV-

I was worried about Seto. He hadn't replied to any of my texts. I obviously couldn't call him, but nevertheless I had sent him half a dozen voicemail messages, asking, no begging him to text back.

I had only known him for about a month yet I felt this weird connection with him.

I thought about this for a long time, all night almost, anxiously pacing up and down my room, heart pounding every time a new notification showed up on my phone.

It was never him though. I sat down on my bed and put my head in my hands. I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, I was being awakened to the sound of my alarm and the bright sunlight streaming through the windows.

Groaning, I suddenly remembered why I was tired. I grabbed my phone and looked to see if there were any messages from Seto.

My heart froze when I saw he had left a text message. I immediately opened it a read it.

'Sorry I didn't pick up I left my phone at school and had to fetch it early this morning. Where are you by the way?'

I looked at the text, frowning in disbelief. I looked at what time it was on my phone.

08:54 am. Shit! School starts at 09:15!

I raced around the room, grabbing random items of clothing and hurriedly putting them on, and bolted out of the front door, grabbing my backpack and an apple before sprinting to the school gates.

I got to the gates and stopped. 09:06 am. Just enough time to find Seto and head to first lesson.

I searched though mass of people crowding the school entrance, until I spied a familiar purple hooded figure, standing in the corner, eyes wide with panic. My heart froze at the fear in those eyes.

I ran up to him and grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. His glazed over expression turned into one of pure terror as he struggled in my grasp.

He turned to face me wildly. As soon as he realised who I was he stopped struggling.

I let go of his shoulders and he sank to the ground, cowering in fear. I got down with him and pulled him into a warm hug. I could feel his heart beat rapidly and him tremble in my arms.

I whispered soothing things in his ear and after a few moments he calmed down enough. He pulled away from the hug and looked at me. His eyes were red and puffy and his eyes were tear stained.

"Shhh it's ok Seto, I got you. What happened?" I whispered to him. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, removing his phone from his pocket.

'I'm sorry, I'm not good with crowds when I'm alone. Today was the first time you weren't with me. I got scared and panicked.' he texted, showing me the message.

I bit my lip guiltily. This was all my fault.

"Well it's ok now, I'm here for you. Now," I said, changing the subject, "we've got to get to first period. You coming?"

Seto smiled weakly as I helped him up, and lead him gently by the arm down the hall to English.

As we walked I couldn't help but think about the text he sent me before. I was sure that he had left school yesterday with his phone.

I was the last person with him before he went home. I'll ask him about it some other time, I thought, the poor guys in a bad enough state as it is.

I thought nothing else about it as we entered the classroom and began the day.