First one

One hundred and Sixteen: Don't say that

Lukas's POV

"Promise me." Bella whispered at my sister who had said she would always be there for her.

"Promise me you'll go to the police." Mia said maybe a bit too stern but at this point she needed to listen to us, to do the right thing by reporting it instead of running away, again.

"Not tonight, please I can't take going now... I'm exhausted." She shook her head, burying her face in her hands.

"That's okay, tomorrow is fine... But Ben's mom said we should take pictures of your inj-"

"No, no, no!" Bella shook her head in her hands and once again I felt helpless. Instinctively I put my hand in between her shoulder blades, trying to comfort her but she shrugged me away, and let me tell you, that hurt. Bella please..."No, I'm not doing that, I'm not!" She panicked while I retreated my hand back into my lap.

"You have to. It's evidence... Please." Mia urged with worry laced trough her tone.

"I can't even look at myself! Let alone take a picture of it!" Bells pulled her face up from her hands in anger, tears in her eyes. "No!" She hissed in defense.

"Bella please, let me help you." Let us help you. My sister tried to convince her. "I'll help you take them..." Mia nodded before putting her hand through the ends of Bella's botched hair. "I'll properly cut your hair after, please." Bella intensely gazed at my sister before lowering her head and nodding yes.

"Do you really think the pictures are necessary?" She gave in a little while I was just watching it all.

"Ben's mom told me it's best." Bella sighed deeply before nodding again. Thank god. "Good, we'll do it in the bathroom so I can cut your hair and you can have a shower after." Mia gently took Bella's hand before getting up from the couch, disappearing into the bathroom.

My mind was all over the place, from the hurt of Bella being close but also so unattainable to the anger I felt towards her parents for doing this to her. It's just so fucking cruel. I sat back on the couch for too long, waiting for someone to emerge from the bathroom, my gaze blankly staring at the door as I pushed a hand too many through my hair and my lungs let out a symphony of worried sighs.

After waiting and waiting and waiting Mia opened the door, her face filled with hurt and her cheeks stained with tears. I stood up with concern as Mia walked over to me, falling into my arms as she hugged me and sobbed against my chest. It instantly brought me terror, frightening me. "It's bad..." Mia sobbed. "Worse than I thought..." She cried as she held on to me tighter. I hugged her back as she clearly needed her, and so did I. "Lukas, I don't even know how she's still so strong, the bruises they are... They are everywhere." She buried her face into my chest as I felt my heartbeat quicken with panic.

"Mia, show me the pictures!" I urged with a sense of priority. She shook her head into my chest. "Please, show me the pictures, I need to see how bad! How bad is it! Mia!" I panicked; my lungs unable to expand in my chest. I pushed my sister away from our hug, as I suddenly felt claustrophobic, the pressure on my chest too much as it was.

"No, I can't she made me promise not to show you. Luke please." She begged as she clenched her phone between her hands.

"Mia, I need to see... Please." I begged her as I tried to grab the phone from her. "Please, let go!" I pleaded her again while I almost was able to take it away from her as I was stronger and taller, and now was a good time to used it for my advantage.

"Luke! Stop! I promised her!" Mia nearly cried when I finally got a hold of the phone, opening it as she didn't have a code on it. Don't shut me out...I just need to see how bad it is, I'm fucking worried! "Lukas!" She tried to take it back, but I kept her at an armlength distance. "Don't." She begged me but it was too late...I scrolled trough the pictures, my mouth falling open at the sight of all the bruises, already dark and worse than I expected. Fuck no, no, no, no, no! I swiped through all of the pictures, my heart pounding harder and harder as I gazed at each and every one of them. Fuck, fuck fuck! I'm going to kill her father! I'm going to kill him for doing this to her. I rubbed my face trying to get rid of the images as I pushed the phone back into Mia's hands. "Lukas... Say something..." Mia said softly as if she was afraid of my reaction.