SEEKING 7 | boys of tommen

h e l l

I walked home after school, dreading the moment I opened the front door, stepping straight into hell. As soon as the door creaked open, Tadhg's panicked voice sliced through the air.

"Joey!"

My heart sank. I rushed into the house, peering around the corner into the kitchen. Joey lay crumpled on the floor, vomit smeared around his mouth, his body trembling as our dad swung a belt across his back. Each crack of the leather made my stomach lurch.

"Get up those stairs to bed or you'll be next!" Dad's voice boomed as Joey curled into a ball, arms wrapped tightly around his head, trying to shield himself from the blows. His groans were barely audible over the sounds of the belt snapping through the air.

"Daddy, no! Don't hurt him, please!" Ollie screamed, his tiny voice desperate and breaking as he clung to the doorway behind me.

I turned quickly, pushing Ollie and Tadhg back, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. "Go upstairs, now. Go to bed, both of you. I'll take care of this."

They hesitated, their wide eyes locked onto Joey's bruised body, but I didn't give them time to think. "Now!" I snapped, and they scurried up the stairs, their footsteps frantic.

I turned back to the kitchen, my breath shallow, hands shaking. I didn't have a plan. I didn't have a clue what to do. My eyes darted around the room before landing on a frying pan. I grabbed it, the cold metal shaking in my hand, and raised it above my head. I had never felt this kind of rage before—burning, searing, like it would tear me apart from the inside if I didn't do something.

"Get the fuck off him!" I shouted, my voice cracking.

Dad froze mid-swing and turned, his cold eyes locking onto mine. His lip curled into a sneer. "What are you gonna do, huh? You can't even hurt a fly." He laughed, his hand loosening around the belt.

But I wasn't backing down. Not this time. "I won't hesitate," I spat, raising the pan higher. "You don't scare me."

For a moment, silence fell between us, tension thick in the air. Then, without another word, I swung the pan hard into his knee.

"Fuck!" he screamed, stumbling forward, clutching his leg in pain. His face contorted with rage, but he didn't come at me. Instead, he limped toward the door, snarling under his breath. "You little bitch," he hissed before slamming the door so hard the walls rattled.

The second he was gone, the house seemed to exhale. Marie crawled over to Joey, her hands trembling as she cupped his tear-streaked face. She used her sleeve to wipe the blood and vomit from his cheek, her voice barely a whisper.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry... he's gone. He's gone now."

Joey didn't say a word, just groaned, clutching his ribs in pain. His face was pale, but at least the terror had left his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Joey," I whispered, but my words felt hollow. I didn't stay long; I couldn't. As Joey asked for a cigarette, I slipped out of the room, my legs heavy as I climbed the stairs.

I checked on the boys first. They were already asleep, curled up in their beds like nothing had happened. I envied them. I wished I could forget it all as easily as they seemed to.

When I finally made it to my room, Shan was sprawled under the blankets, her headphones on, oblivious to everything that had just happened. I quickly changed out of my school uniform, throwing on something more comfortable.

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"Haven't done this in a while," Declan's voice startled me, and I turned to see him lounging against his bed, a plastic bag crinkling in his hands.

"I know... sorry," I mumbled, feeling the guilt gnaw at me. I hadn't been around much lately. Everything was falling apart.

"Don't apologize, can't help that you're busy," Aiden piped up from the floor, where he was stretched out, already smoking a cigarette. I leaned down and snatched it from him, taking a drag.

"True," I muttered, passing it back. "What've you two been up to?"

"Not much," Aiden started, but Declan interrupted with a sly grin.

"What about you and that short blonde lad? Saw him eyeing you up at school earlier. Looked like he wanted to eat you alive." He laughed, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Gibsie's not short, you dickhead. He's like 6'1, maybe 6'2," I laughed, rolling my eyes. "And we're... it's complicated."

"Oooo, little Aurora's in loooove," Declan taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.

I smacked him on the stomach. "Piss off! I am not. Could say the same about you two. What's the deal there, huh?"

Aiden and Declan exchanged a look, and I could feel the air shift. After a beat, Aiden cleared his throat. "We're... uh, together. But—"

"Oh my God!" I gasped, sitting up straight. "I bags being maid of honor!"

"Jesus, let me finish!" Aiden groaned, his face going red. "You can't tell anyone, Aurora. Seriously."

I grinned, leaning back against the headboard. "You told me first? Oh, I feel so special."

Declan laughed, but Aiden shook his head, his face serious. "I mean it. No one can know. My da would kill me if he found out."

I sobered up at that, nodding. "Yeah, okay. I won't say a word." Then, smirking, I added, "Fuck your dad—no, wait, that sounded gross."

Both of them burst out laughing, and for a moment, everything felt normal again.

I checked my phone—it was 2:43 a.m. We had been talking for five hours, but it felt like minutes.

"I'm so bleedin' tired," Declan yawned, his head falling onto my knees. I absentmindedly ran my fingers through his hair.

"When aren't ye?" I teased, as Aiden sat next to me on the bed, I rested my head on his shoulder as he rested his against my head.

"Shut up. You kept me up all of yesterday," Declan muttered, his eyes drooping.

"You liked it," Aiden grinned, shooting him a look that made Declan's face flush.

I laughed softly, playing with Declan's hair. "I've missed you two," I said, my voice quiet. And I meant it. In this moment, despite everything, I felt safe.