Her Five Brothers

Chapter 10 - Injuries

Aspen: TW

For the rest of the day, I stayed in my room. I didn't even get out of bed. I just felt so exhausted, like each breath took out all my energy. Asher and Lorenzo came to check up on me a few times, offering to stay but I waved them off. They shouldn't have to deal with me, it's the weekend and they go back to school tomorrow. They should be having fun.

It's now around dinner time, the sun just setting. I roll away to face my newly fixed door and feel my face flush as I remember the cigarette incident. Embarrassing much? I should really apologise to Alexander though, I know he didn't mean to hurt my feelings. It's just that, even after two years, the trauma is too fresh. I haven't healed. It's really not his fault, any adult would react that way.

I slowly get out of bed, groaning at my stiff back. I wondered if I could find somebody to take me up to the third floor.

As I go to open my door, I'm surprised with a moody Axel with his hand raised to knock on my door. At least he had the decency to knock. "Dinner." He says rudely, walking away.

I sigh, shoving my finger up at him as his back is turned.  I guess I won't have to go up, I'll just ask to talk to him before dinner.

I begin to walk out into the hallway until a large pain erupts from my ribs and I can't prevent myself from crying out in pain. I lean against my doorframe, clutching at my ribs for some sort of relief. However, when my back hits the frame, I begin to feel blood drip down my back. I'm wearing a light grey jumper. Fuck.

"Aspen?" Axel questions almost nicely as he walks back to me. "Everything okay?" His eyes glistening with concern.

"Like you would care?" I bite back, making sure to keep my face partially straight.

"I do care, I just don't show it. Now, are you alright?" He demands, a slightly more vulnerable expression planted on his face.

"Yeah," I lie, "my lungs just hurt from all the cigarettes I smoke."

I know I fucked up when his face turns red and the vein in his neck begins to pop. "You've been smoking again?" Before I even answer, he's already calling for Alexander. "ALEXANDER! ELIJAH! ASPEN'S BEEN SMOKING AGAIN!"

"I haven't even got any you fucking dickhead." I hiss out as he shrugs.

The rest of my brothers come storming up the stairs and I press myself closer to the frame at their angry faces.

"Really, Sweetheart?" Elijah sighs in disappointment as Alexander storms past me and begins to search through my draws.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?" I scream at him, looking at him as if he's crazy.

"If i can't trust you to hand them over when I ask then I will find them for myself." He storms into my wardrobe, picking up my backpack and taking out my 'makeup' bag. "Are they in here?"

"NO!l" I scream out, leaping from my place in the doorway and snatching the bags out of his hand. "I wasn't even smoking, Alexander. I gave you all I had. That little cunt is just lying." I snap, shoving my bag into the backpack and throwing it into my wardrobe, shutting the doors.

"Is that true, Axel? Did you lie to me?" Alexander growls out, clearly frustrated.

"Oh my god." I hear Lorenzo mutter from behind me. "OH MY GOD!" He screeches.

"WHAT? WHAT?" Asher replies, frantically searching around him. "WHAT'S GOING ON?"

"ASPEN! YOUR BACK!" The younger boy exclaims and I freeze, keeping my back to them so at least Alexander can't see. My oldest brother stares into my eyes in confusion and I sheepishly shrug my shoulders.

"Holy fuck." Axel mutters, wiping off the blood on the doorframe.

"Sweetheart," Elijah begins softly, "can you come here, please."

I frantically shake my head.

"What happened to your back?" Alexander asks in confusion, still unaware of the blood leaking through my jumper.

"Lorenzo go get a first aid kit, Asher water and painkillers." Elijah orders. "Sweetheart, can you come here?" He asks softly with an alarmed look in his eyes.

I glance from him to the unlocked balcony doors. Two stories isn't that high, I could jump and make a run for it through the forest. It'd be easy to hide and I could just leave, be on my own for a while. Have some peace. My eyes meet Alexander's as his squints at me.

When I turn back to the balcony doors, ready to sprint, I see Axel stood in front of them with his arms crossed. Stupid mind reader.

Elijah comes closer to me, kneel down beside me as Alexander holds my shoulders, unaware of all the blood.

"Aspen, can I lift up your jumper?" He asks softly.

I shake my head, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay. No matter how painful, nobody needs to know.

Footsteps are heard and Lorenzo and Asher rush into the room. Lorenzo hands Elijah the first aid kit with shaky hands before seeking out Axel, who wraps on arm around him. Asher walks around to the front of me, also getting on his knees as Alexander becomes impatient.

"Take these, love." He hands me them gently, his face softening when he sees my eyes begin to water. "It's okay. You'll be alright." he reassures.

"Ash, hold her still please." Alexander says, placing a light kiss on my forehead. "We're just going to have a look, bambina."

I just nod shakily, my body tense with nerves.

Alexander walks round to meet Elijah's side, slowly pulling up my top as I hear a loud gasp come from Lorenzo. A lone tear drips out of my eye. But, I refuse to cry. I won't be seen as week, ever. I'm not weak.

"Sweetheart," Elijah's voice is strained, "could you lay on your stomach, please?"

I slowly lay flat on my stomach, not making a sound as the antiseptic hits my open wounds. Lorenzo started full on sobbing in Axel's arms, who has tears building up in his eyes. Asher is knelt in front of me, silently crying as he stares at my back.

The welts, knife wounds, the words.

They will be disgusted in me. I deserve that pain. I deserve it all. Luckily, they've only seen my back. I don't know what I'd do if they found out about the self harm. Or the rape. Would they call me a slut? Would they send me back? Wait no, he's dead. Or is he? Did the officers lie? What about Josh?

"Breath love, in and out. Nobody is angry at you." Asher comforts, squeezing my hand tight while rubbing his thumb across it gently. "We love you so much, you didn't deserve this."

Elijah finishes wrapping my back with bandages and I sniffle a little, wiping my eyes with my hoodie sleeve.

"Aspen?" Alexander asks gently, "Do you have any more injuries?" He asks, swallowing a lump in his throat.

"No." I whimper out, pulling myself up from the floor.

"We aren't going to judge you if you do, we just want to make sure you're okay." Axel expresses, tucking Lorenzo into my bed who had cried himself sick.

"Can you just leave please." I sob, burying my head in my arms and pulling my hand out of Asher's.

They must've seen the words, they can't miss them. Carved messily into my back "My little slut". His slut. Adam's play thing. His toy. His little penny.

"I'm sorry, bambina." Alexander's voice is tight. "We don't have to talk about it right now, I know you're tired. But if there's anymore injuries that are causing you any pain, we need to know."

"Well..."