Beyond Return | 18+

P R O L O G U E

He had not expected to see him in that state when he opened the door that day.

It was his best friend. Leone Nelson.

And in his hand was a knife... A knife that was covered in blood.

"What did you do, Leone?" he managed to question.

There were tears, in his eyes, as Leone reached out towards Daniel.

"I... I had to. My father... He... He wanted to hurt us. I had to."

Daniel took a breath and pulled his best friend into a hug without hesitation.

"Is Ariana alright?"

"Yes," he whispered. "I got her out of the house and took her to Elisa."

They both knew that their friend Elisa would look after Ariana for a while

But...

"What did you do?"

"I killed him."

He stared as Leone pulled away from him.

He knew his best friend had problems with his father but he had not expected the situation would get this bad.

"Leone..."

And that was when Daniel heard the sirens of the police car.

Fuck.

His heart throbbed in his chest.

"Leone, go! It's the police!"

"I called them, Daniel."

"Why the fuck would you do that?"

"I called them because, if I had not called them, my mother would have called them and then, she would get custody for Ariana. You know she hates her. I could not let that happen."

"And how would you even change that?"

Daniel knew that Ariana was Leone's half-sister. And though the woman was not her biological mother, it was obvious that the court would give her custody over Ariana, as she did not have other relatives who could look after her.

"You."

"Me?" he asked.

"You have to appeal for custody of Ariana."

"What?"

"You know my mother! You know she hates her! She.... She is as bad as my father. My sister is not safe with my mother. You have to protect her... Please. You have to appeal for custody and look after her; you have to protect her while I am in prison. You have to... Daniel. You are the only person who can help me "

And Daniel knew that he was the only one who could help Leone.

He was the only one he could turn to.

Elisa had her own problems at home and he had no other friends who knew about his problems.

And he had no other relatives he could turn to.

But, there was still a problem.

"But I'm not even 18, Leone, I can't appeal for custody at court."

The expression on his face hurt Daniel's heart.

"Please... I know it's difficult but you have to ask your father. Daniel. Please..."

He considered his words.

He and his father had problems, too, but for Leone and his sister, Ariana, he would do what he had to do.

"Alright."

"Promise me, Daniel."

"Leone, I promise to look after her as I would my own sister."

He smiled at him.

He let go of the knife in his hand and waited for the police.

And as they took him to the police car, he turned and looked at Daniel, so that he would always be reminded of their promise... Always.