I Won't Tell

Chapter 1: Scared

The past few days had been...different. To Branch, a good different. Less parties, people speaking quieter and he loved it. He didn't care what the reason was, he just hoped that it didn't change. He also hadn't seen Poppy in a while and he would think that that wouldn't bother him that much, but it did. He didn't know why he missed seeing the pink-haired hyper-happy princess. He chose to ignore the feeling and just continue on with his day. 

While Branch was walking around the woods, collecting sticks, he saw someone walking towards him. Not necessarily to him, just near him. He soon found it to be Poppy. Branch thought that she was going to jump and run around him and try to convince him to come to one of her parties. But she just kept walking. This confused him, "Poppy?" Branch had no idea why he called her name. It was kind of just instinct that made him do it. Poppy slowly turned around. 

Branch thought that he would see Poppy with her usual big bright smile. But he never expected her to be covered in bruises. His eyes immediately darted to her arms, half pink and half purple. He then saw her face was far from smiling big and brightly. Tears stained her cheeks, hair messed up and the most scared expression you could imagine. Branch had no idea what to do or say. All he did was the only thing he could think of. 

He slowly walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. It took a minute for Poppy to process what was happening. She then shared the embrace and stretched her arms around him. And that was when she broke down in tears. Poppy help Branch close and tight. "Poppy? What happened?" He asked feeling slight anger towards who or what ever did this. Poppy just shook her head while crying. "Poppy, tell me." He tried. "No...I c-can't." She said. "Why?" Branch asked. 

Poppy replied in the most frightened and shaky voice, "Because he'll hear us..."