chapter2
How to be brave, how can I love when I'm afraid to fall.
Morgana came back down the stairs breathless. "It took a while to get them to leave. Sorry." She looked to the boy who was sitting on the floor with his legs folded up to his chest, Arthur sitting next to him. "What are we going to do with him?"
Arthur stood shocked, unable to move. The whole time Morgana was gone was enough for Merlin to tell Arthur everything that happened to him. It made the blond sick to his stomach.
"...Arthur?"
Arthur looked up at Morgana shaking his head. "We need to get him out."
Merlin's eyes suddenly widen.
"And take him where? Arthur, we can't just leave him out on the street."
"I can't go." Merlin said shaking his head. "He always finds me. I tried and every time he finds me and beats me harder."
Morgana's brows narrowed suddenly as she took in the bruises on Merlin's legs and arms, old and new. She also noticed that Arthur was wiping some bloody of the boy's face. "Who did this to you?"
Merlin gulped.
Arthur looked towards Morgana with sadness and anger in his face. "You know who." He said low.
The young woman's eyes widen and she violently shook her head. "No."
Arthur nodded. "Apparently he has a dark side we've never seen." He said angrily then looked back at Merlin and continued to wipe at the cut and dried blood on his forehead.
"What's your name?" Morgana asked low.
"Merlin."
"And... the... man who lives here did this to you?" She gulped not really wanting to hear the answer.
Merlin slowly nodded.
"He did more than this Morgana."
The girl looked to Arthur.
The blond handed the small towel to Merlin and told him to hold it near his head. Merlin's eyes widen. "Where are you going?"
"It's fine, Merlin. I'm going right here."
Merlin nodded but stared wide-eyed not looking convinced. Arthur grabbed Morgana's elbow and turned her so he could whisper. "Morgana, our father's beat this boy. Not only that he... he's been... using him."
Morgana's brows narrowed. "What?" She breathed.
Arthur nodded. He eyed Merlin who was using his finger to make designs on the dirty floor. "Morgana, he's been raping Merlin every night."
Morgana glanced at Merlin before looking back at Arthur. "But where did he come from?"
"He's too scared to say." The blond answered sadly. "Morgana, he's been with his master since he was 15." He stated suddenly angry.
Morgana shook her head. "What does that mean?"
Arthur's brows narrowed. "It means our father is a dirty bastard." He growled. "Merlin's 19 now, which means he's been with him four years, Morgana. Four. He said father bought him at age 15, that's before we moved here to Camelot."
Morgana's stared shocked. "Do you... do you think this is the reason we moved?"
Arthur nodded. "I'm pretty sure if we check missing reports in London, we'll find Merlin is one of them."
Morgana took a deep breath. "Beaten and raped by our father in our own home. You think we would suspect something, anything. A sound... just... anything."
Arthur sighed. "Morgana, you said it earlier. The house is sound proof. Merlin's screams from being beaten, his cries being raped..."
"Would be stopped by the walls." Morgana said angrily. "Asshole!"
Merlin gasped and stared wide-eyed. "I'm sorry. I promise I won't do it again."
Arthur and Morgana looked at the boy who was using his hands to erase something drawn on the floor.
"I swear. I promise I won't do it again."
Arthur quickly walked towards him worried. "Merlin..."
"No!" The boy curled in on himself and sobbed uncontrollably.
Arthur stood frozen and watched as Merlin rocked back and forth sobbing. "Please, please, please. I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Morgana slowly walked towards the boy. "No, Merlin. I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about...your master."
Merlin looked up breathing heavy through his nose. "My master?"
Morgana nodded. "Yeah. You see... you don't deserve to be treated this way. You're a human being, not an animal. Not a...sex object."
Merlin blinked and he glanced at Arthur, who nodded. He slowly reached out and brushed back Merlin's dusty hair. "You deserve to be loved." The blond said low.
Merlin shook his head. "But... I'm garbage. I don't deserve to live. Don't deserve to be loved."
Arthur shook his head. "No. Everyone deserves to be loved, Merlin, especially you."
Merlin gulped suddenly. "But I did this to myself."
Arthur blinked before he stared confused. "What are you talking about?"
Merlin's eyes met his.
(FLASHBACK)
Merlin was standing on the corner of the same street he always worked. Not a very good place for a fifteen year old, but when your parents die and people beat and abuse you if you didn't listen to every single thing they said, what could a child do?
He looked up from the floor and saw the limo stop in front of him. The window rolled down so he figured it might be a great customer. Because seriously, a limo? This one had to be rich.
He walked up to the shiny car and rubbed his hands over the window before looking inside. "This is nice."
"How much?"
Merlin smiled. "Depends on what you want and what you get depends on what you could afford."
Suddenly there was a hand full of hundred-dollar bills sticking out the window. Too much to count in one shot, but the man could've had him for 100.
He happily shrugged and got inside the limo. Once inside the window rolled up. Merlin looked at the old man and almost gagged. He never went for the older men, but a boy had to eat, right.
"So, what do you want to start with?"
"What's your name?"
Merlin folded his legs a little too girly. "What do you want it to be?"
"What is your name?" The man asked annoyed.
The boy suddenly frowned. "Merlin." He suddenly gasped when a punch when across his face.
"Wrong! Your name is whore." The man growled.
Merlin held his cheek and his brows narrowed. "Look I don't know who you are, but I don't role play. I don't care how rich you are." He brought his hand to the door but his arm was grabbed and he was forced to lay down on the seat. The moment he screamed the white cloth was brought his mouth and nose.
(END FLASHBACK)
Arthur and Morgana stood with their mouths slightly open.
Merlin gulped then blinked trying to keep the tears away. "I don't know what happened after that. When I woke up I was here."
"You were pros... selling yourself in London?" Morgana said.
Merlin nodded. "I don't know how long I was out. I think I might've woken up a few times. He kept me up for about an hour fed me, gave me water, then he knocked me out again. When we came here it changed. He let me sleep and wake up when I wanted. The only thing I can't do is...use the toilet and eat when I want to. He only allows me to eat when he thinks I'm good."
Morgana blinked and didn't bother drying the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "Merlin, when's the last time you ate something?"
The boy bit his bottom lip. "...Two days ago."
Arthur sighed angrily. "Ok. Come on, Merlin."
The boy stared wide-eyed. "Where?"
"Come on. You're going to take a warm bath, hot meal and sleep on a soft bed tonight." He stared at Merlin's thin frame. "And you're not going to where your master's clothes anyone. And you don't have a master. Now come on."
Merlin looked at Morgana, who smiled and nodded. The boy reached up with one hand and grabbed the blonds hand. It sent a shock through his body at the warmth and softness. When he was on his feet he was face to face with Arthur and couldn't help a smile that crossed his lips.
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