Corruption

Promise

Trigger Warning: there is abuse in this chapter.

"Layla, are you okay, girl? You look like you saw a damn ghost" Lily asked, walking towards her friend.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good. You go ahead, I just remembered that I forgot one of my pyjama shorts at his place" Layla lied, walking towards the house.

Lily smirked. "Okay, girl. Don't make out with him for too long!" she teased before running off.

"Lily! I'll get you back for that!" Layla exclaimed, shaking her head. Looking back up at the mansion, she walked to the gate and pressed the buzzer. 

"Yes?" the maid replied.

"It's Layla again. Sorry, I kind of left something on the spare room I slept in. Can I get it out?" Layla asked sweetly, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.

"You may. Come in" the maid happily said, the same buzz going off in the machine and allowing the gate to swing open.

Rushing to the front door, she was let in by the same maid and she paced to a walk. Don't want to make it too obvious, she thought. Listening out for the same screams, she realised that they were still happening but muffled slightly. 

"Where are you going, dearie? You should let the staff pick up what you have forgotten and we can have some tea together!" William's mother appeared next to her, almost making Layla jump out of her skin.

How did you know I forgot something here? Layla thought, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, sweetheart, I could call the police and claim you are tresspassing but that would be too much of a hassle. Besides, it is much better to deal with these sort of situations more... quietly, don't you think?" the woman giggled.

Such prestige...

Envy bubbled up inside her. Where Layla's from, if you call the police, they'd say they're on a break and to call back later. Here, the police actually care about these people. These sickos got some kind of priority over us, she thought. 

"Insolent brat!" his father yelled from upstairs, causing his mother to freeze in her spot. Layla took that chance to run for dear life towards William's room. She was about to turn the corner when she saw his father leave the room, blood dripping from his fist. When he was out of sight, Layla rushed into William's room to find him on the ground, covered in bruises and blood.

Rushing to his side, she turned him over to see him with a busted lip and a bruise on his cheek. Lord knows how many of these he's got, she thought. He was still breathing and conscious, just closing his eyes to try and stop the tears from falling. "William? Can you hear me? Open your eyes, please!" she cried.

He weakly opened one eye and croaked "L-Layla? What are you doing? He'll come back"

"Does it look like I give a flying fuck if he comes back?! Your parents are god damn surgeons and they treat their kid like this?! What kind of bullshit is that?!" she panicked, slowly sitting him up.

The room was silent, before William's silent sobs filled the air. "I'm such a fucking failure" he sobbed. "How can I-

"Will, you're not a failure. Don't say that, please" Layla cut him off, her voice softening. "Listen, I get how you feel. Where do you think these came from?" she rolled up her sleeve to reveal bruises and scars from a few days ago.

William's eyes widened as he looked up at her. She simple smiled at him, outstretching her hand to the back of his head. He willingly placed his head on her shoulder. "Let's just keep this between us, okay?" Layla suggested. He nodded.