⚠️warning: this story contains abuse and strong language ! read at ur own risk!!!
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mike wheeler and el hopper have been dating for only a few months when el had changed. she would come to school with black eyes and blame them on her trying new stuff. mike said he believed her but he had to get to the bottom of this.

he was going to investigate el today at school but she never came. which grew even more suspicion from the boy.

"hey lucas, have you noticed el seems different these past couple weeks?" mike asked lucas when they were walking back home after school.

"i mean ya, shes come to school with new injures everyday. not going to lie, i feel bad for her" lucas said.

lucas has always had suspicion on el ever since they met. but now it's been 2 years since they found el and since mike really likes her, he grew to like her.

lucas said bye to mike and walked inside while mike walked inside his own house, to realize he was by himself.

he ran to the phone to call el.

after a few rings, she answered.

hello?

"hey el it's mike!" mike said cheerfully.

hey mike. sorry i was not at school today...

"don't worry about it. by the way, you feeling alright? you sound depressed" mike asked her.

what's depressed? el asked.

"never mind, but are you feeling ok?" he asked once again.

sure

mike knew she was lying, she didn't have the enthusiasm she usually has when mike calls. he needed to know she was ok.

"el, you don't sound like yourself. did i do something?" mike asked worried

no mike you never do anything wrong. don't blame this on yourself. i just... she paused for a second

i just don't feel good. el finally said

"el..."

mike i'm sorry i got to go. hop's back. bye

el quickly hung up and mike was left there dumbfounded.

he knew something was wrong an el wasn't telling him. but he knew he wasn't going to get it out of her by spam calling her, so he chose to try to ignore it and go do homework.

el's house

i hate lying to mike! i just want to tell him the truth! but if i told him, hop would get so mad!

"hey eleven" hop said coldly as he walked into the cabin.

"hey hop" she said.

"who were you on the phone with?" he asked with the same cold tone.

"mike" she said quietly.

"you know what i said about that kid! you don't talk to him! you can't even do one thing i tell you! you little brat!" hop yelled at el.

i hate when he yells at me. makes me seem like i'm back at the lab with papa. i want to know what i did wrong to deserve this.

before she could continue her thoughts, hop pushed her to the ground and starting beating her up.

"fucking brat! this is what i do to brats! i could send you back to the lab so easily! learn you fucking moron!" he yelled as he kicked her.

"i'm sorry" el said in between cries.

"oh now you're crying! pathetic you loser!" hop said as he kicked her harder in the face this time before leaving into his room.

el just layed there crying. she thought she finally escaped the torture but apparently she didn't. she knew the only place she felt safe. she had to go there now.

she quickly ran outside before hop would notice she was gone and ran to her safe house. she didn't care that she was crying or how she has a bunch of blood on her face with a huge bruise. it would all be worth it in the end.

mikes house

i was doing homework when i heard footsteps outside my house.

i didn't move as i heard them get closer.

it's literally 9pm! who's outside at this time?!

then the person knocked. but they kept knocking.

i'm still alone so i decided to go downstairs and investigate.

i walked downstairs slowly and tried peaking out the window to see who it was.

till i saw a figure that looked familiar.

it was el.

i ran to the door and opened it expecting to see the lovely girl i fell in love with.

but all i saw was pain.

"mike" she said before she ran to him and hugged him tight.

"el, what the hell happened to you?" mike said while holding her close to him.

"may we sit down? i've been walking and i'm in pain" she said

while still hugging, mike brought el with him to the couch and sat down. el was now full on crying and mike was still holding onto her.

"el what's wrong?" mike asked concerned.

"it's hop. for the past few weeks he's been pissed at me for no reason. he told me to stop talking to you but i never listened. so he abused me. slapped, punched, kicked, pushed, you name it. that's the black eyes you have seen. i've been too afraid to tell you. i don't ever want to go back to his cabin. mike i don't feel safe!" el said while crying.

mike pulled her closer to him before hearing a whimper from el.

"el! oh my gosh you alright? where did he hit you?" mike asked while pulling away.

"stomach, and face" el said.

mike grabbed her hand and brought her to the bathroom and made her sit on the counter.

he grabbed a first aid kit and started tending her wounds.

el watched him as he helped her. he was so focused. he looked so cute.

mike noticed she was staring and he smiled before leaning in and kissing her bloody lips. he didn't mind though.

they leaned back and mike went back to tending the wounds on her face.

"how's your stomach feel?" he asked once he was done tending her wounds.

"bad. i can barley move" she said.

"i'm sorry el. you don't deserve this. you've already been through this once" mike said grabbing her hand.

"i came to the one place i felt safe after hop left the room. which was you" el said with a smile.

"i'm flattered el. i feel safe around you too" mike said with a blush.

"mike?" el asked.

"ya?"

"can i stay here? i don't want to go back to hop's place. ever again. he'll keep hurting me" el said with tears forming.

"of course! i would never let you go back. i want you to be safe" he said while grabbing her hand and putting her on the floor and off the counter.

"do i still look pretty with all these cuts and bruises?" el said to him while looking in the mirror.

"el, you look beautiful even with bruises and cuts. you never look ugly. you could have ten million pimples on your face and you would still be gorgeous. i promise, you're still beautiful" mike said while pulling her into a hug.

"thanks mike. i don't know what i would do without you" el said while holding him tight and shutting her eyes.

after a few minutes of hugging, mike brought her to his room and let her borrow a few clothes to wear. he called nancy and she rushed home to help take care of el. el was so thankful.

karen and ted came home and found out about el and are letting her stay with them for however long she needs. they would be going to hop's cabin tomorrow and getting all her clothes and school supplies while hoppers at work.

later that night when el and mike are laying in mikes bed trying to fall asleep, el finally speaks.

"mike i'm so thankful for you. your family is so nice. i wish i had a nice family who cared" she said.

"i wish too. and el, you will have a nice family. i know we aren't aloud to adopt you due to us dating, but we will find you a family who cares for you. i promise" mike said while turning to her.

el turned towards mike and gave him a soft kiss on his lips.

"i should get some sleep. today's been a long day for me" el said.

"ya true. goodnight el. i'm right here if you need anything" mike said while grabbing her hand.

"night mike. i love you so much" el said.

"love you too" mike said with a grin before falling asleep protecting el from anything that might come and attack her.

i'm posting again! ik ik, weird! but halloween is in 2 days so happy halloween!