The Boy Who Cried Help

Chapter 10

Aiden's POV

"I..." Paul trailed off looking lost and broken. It was quiet for a moment before I saw someone run out of their house. As this person got closer, I saw that it was Matthew. But before I could say anything, Paul got out of my car and yelled "Matty!"

Matthew turned to where we were and practically tipped over Paul in a hug. When Matthew looked up, he saw me and questioned "Aiden?" "Hi," I said now a little bit confused. "Wait, how do you know my little brother?" Paul asked and then it clicked.

"Oh my gosh," I said more to myself than to them. My thoughts were all jumbling up into many different pieces as I was attempting to connect some dots. Then I realized that I still hadn't answered Paul. "I met your brother at the supermarket the other day. I saw that he had bruises so I walked him home. I had no idea he was your brother," I said still a little bit shocked.

Paul looked at me but instead of saying anything to me, he turned to his brother and asked, "Why didn't you tell me that he hit you too?" Matthew just looked at the ground. After a moment, he looked back up again and said with a new found determination, "You always take the beatings. After he hit you, he came back for me but I didn't want you to worry."

I could see Paul's face turn to a look of sorrow and hopelessness. In that moment, I could tell that Paul didn't want to ever have his brother go through what he went through and it was killing him that he couldn't always protect Matthew.

We were all too young to be dealing with abusive parents. If I were him what could I possibly do? It had to take its toll being constantly beat like that and on top of that protecting his brother. It was quiet for a moment as we were all lost in our thoughts. My phone rang breaking the silence but it took me a while before I could find it.

"Hello," I answered wondering who was calling. "Aiden, this is Scarlett. I need you to come over right now. Someone is going to get killed if I have to stay here with my aunt for any longer." I really didn't know how to respond to that. We weren't friends-at all. So why the hell was she calling me? Plus I thought her aunt was coming over tomorrow.

"Umm... okay," I said eventually. There was some yelling in the background before the phone went dead. I looked over to Paul and Matthew and was about to speak when Paul said "We'll be fine." I was about to argue about what his definition of fine was when he cut me off.

"Go, I'll call you if I need help." I realized then that arguing would just destroy whatever sense of pride in himself that he had left so I nodded and bid Matthew goodbye before I got into my car and over to Scarlett's house. When I pulled up, I saw that there was another car parked int the front.

That must be her crazy aunt. The car was only a small Volkswagen but somehow, it completely freaked me out. I walked up to the walkway but before I could even knock on the door, it flew open and there was Scarlett looking like a mad woman. Her hair was everywhere, she was red-faced and looked pissed enough to kill me on the spot.

Just to avoid her glare, I quickly went into the house. I closed the door behind me and she led me to her room. But before we even got into the hallway, I heard a voice say "Scarlett, where are you?" My whole body froze as I heard the voice that turned my dreams into nightmares. The voice that ruined my life; my attacker.