Maia

26

A/N: Kia ora whānau, as you can see in the photo above, the words "Toitu Te Tiriti" are written there. I have included this message (and the video) because, as a Māori, we are fighting for our rights! "Toitu Te Tiriti" means to support and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi), which the new government wants to get rid of. I will not stand for this and want to spread the word to reach as many people as possible to help fight for Māori rights and to educate others! Ka Kite.

Word Count: 1108

Sorella = Sister
Fratelli = Brothers

-

RĀWIRI'S POV

The waves gently lap over Maia, the salty water making her shirt cling to her skin as it slips down her shoulders ever so slightly. As she turns to face me, droplets of water cascade from her hair. My gaze is drawn to her lower neck, where a dark, bruised handprint stands out starkly against her skin. The sight of it sends a chill through me. Tentatively, I reach out, my fingers trembling slightly as I make contact with her neck. I glide my finger gently over the bruise, tracing its outline, feeling a mix of concern and anger as I try to comprehend what she's been through.

I take a step back, my hands falling to my sides as I clench my fists tight, feeling the tension in my muscles. The bruises on her skin, while old, are still vividly apparent. There are several areas where the bruises overlap, revealing the pattern of repeated trauma over time. I can't help but feel a rush of disbelief and anger at myself. How did I fail to recognise this before? How could I overlook these signs that something was wrong?

When Maia first arrived, she was incredibly skittish, and even now, there are moments when she still shows signs of nervousness, particularly around me. I can't say I blame her for this reaction. From the very beginning, I haven't treated her well. A significant part of my resentment stemmed from the fact that she had Mama, while I was left alone with Papa and my fratelli. The envy I felt bubbled beneath the surface, I can still feel it now and it has made it hard for me to forge a genuine connection with Maia. Perhaps I was the fortunate one in this situation if my theory is true.

"Rāwiri," Maia says desperately, her voice quivering with fear as she looks at me. "We need to talk...alone," I say on edge, I glance past her at Alessandro, who stands behind Maia with a puzzled expression on his face. I give him a subtle look, one that conveys the importance of privacy, and he nods in understanding, retreating back toward the shore.

As Alessandro walks away, I can feel the tension thickening in the water between Maia and me. The isolation of being just the two of us intensifies the weight of the conversation ahead. I notice her shoulders tighten, a reflexive sign of her anxiety, and I realise that this moment could change everything.

"Who?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady and calm, but I knew it likely sounded more like a flash of anger. Maia looked absolutely terrified. I noticed her instinctively rolling down her sleeves, attempting to hide her wrists from me. In that brief moment, I caught a glimpse of the faint handprints etched into her skin.

She began to fidget with her hands, her fingers twisting together nervously, and I watched as she bit down on her lower lip, chewing it anxiously, a clear sign of her distress.

"Who, Maia?" I repeated, impatience creeping into my tone. I needed to know who had hurt my baby sister. Even though we weren't particularly close, she was still my blood, and the thought of her being in pain was unbearable.

She looked down, her eyes cast to the floor, and whispered a response that was barely audible. It was too quiet for me to catch.

"Louder, Maia," I urged, trying to suppress the annoyance in my voice.

"Mama and Jacob," she mumbled, a small stream of tears escaping her eyes and tracing soft trails down her cheeks. Our own mother physically harmed her and her fuckwit of a boyfriend. I know that Alessandro had already been searching for him, but now that I've uncovered this new information, I am even more determined to join. I will personally kill this cunt myself, slowly might I add. I'll start off his with his hands, the same ones used against my sorella, I'll cut his fingers off first and feed it to him.

"Please don't tell the others," Maia whispers, her voice trembling as she looks up at me with wide, pleading eyes. My heart aches at the sight of her vulnerability; it feels like a weight pressing down on my chest. It was an unknown feeling. I know I should tell the others, if we work together, we could track him down faster and ensure he faces the consequences. Yet, the desperation etched on Maia's face pulls me in, making it impossible to dismiss her request. I can see the fear and uncertainty swirling in her eyes; how could I possibly betray her trust? Even though every logical part of me urges action, I find myself unable to say no to her silent plea.

"I won't do it, but you will have to tell them soon, Maia. If you don't, remember that the truth has a way of surfacing eventually, no matter what." As I speak, I observe her shoulders relax a bit but the tension and fear remain. I can see the conflict in her eyes.

I slowly unclench my fist, feeling the tension in my hand release, as I reach out toward Maia. But the moment she senses my movement, she flinches away from me instinctively, and I quickly retract my hand, a feeling of defeat washing over me.

I can see the fear in her eyes, the uncertainty etched across her face, and it pierces through me. It's like a knot tightening in my chest; I realise I can no longer control the simmering anger boiling beneath the surface. I don't want to frighten her any further, so I make the decision to walk away.

I turn and stride past her, heading toward the shore. The sound of the waves crashing against the sand fills my ears, but I can't shake the image of her standing there all alone in the water, looking lost and frightened. Tears streaming down her face and the bruises on her body.

I feel a sense of urgency to leave before I hit something or someone. I quickly make my way to the umbrella that shelters our belongings, scanning the area for the car keys. Spotting them resting on the towel, I snatch them up, feeling their familiar weight in my hand. My fratelli are calling out to me, their voices echoing in the distance, but I choose to ignore them, focusing instead on escaping the situation. With a racing heart, I hop into the car, quickly sliding into the driver's seat. I start the engine and press on the gas, speeding away and leaving them behind with Maia.