How did this get 43 reviews?! Like wha? I just never imagined so many people liking it. Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed and liked this story! Even though this is the last chapter, I am planning on doing a sequel so thanks to the reviewer who mentioned it!
"Get to your room. I don't want to see you for the rest of the night. And take that shirt with you."
Hiro choked back a sob as he picked up his discarded shirt and walked to the staircase leading to his room.
He went up a few steps before turning to look back at his aunt.
Aunt Cass glared up at him, bloodied belt in hand.
Hiro remembered the amazing, loving, aunt he used to know.
He longed for the aunt he remembered, not this stranger standing at the end of the staircase.
His eyes shimmered with tears from the pain on his back and from the loss of the only adult left in his life.
Tadashi was right. She'll never change.
"Did you not hear me? Get your pathetic self up those steps or you'll get five more!"
Hiro jumped as Aunt Cass raised the belt and he bolted up the stairs.
He went into the bathroom and took a deep breath before turning his back to the mirror.
Hiro gasped and dropped the shirt he had been clutching as he took in the damage his aunt had done.
About twenty bloody, red lines ran across his back going every which way, some thin and some thick.
The tears began to fall as his eyes went to each cut.
Hiro let out a sob as he gently ran his hand along his back, ignoring the stinging pain.
I should've listened to Tadashi. We should have done something sooner.
He grabbed a towel and pressed it to his back to stop the bleeding before throwing it in the trash.
He then picked up the shirt and threw it away too.
Hiro walked slowly to his bed before laying on his stomach.
He didn't bother putting on a new shirt.
Tadashi will find out anyway. I can't keep this from him, no matter how hard I try.
He looked over at the clock and it read 3:00.
His eyes widened as he realized how soon his brother would be coming home.
He thought about how he'd have to face Tadashi and tell him how he didn't fight back.
He let the tears fall as he buried his face into his pillow.
I could have pushed her and ran. I could have just run like hell but I'm a coward and I let this happen.
Hiro started crying before he fell asleep.
Hiro jumped awake as he heard a door slam.
He looked at the clock which read 4:05.
Hiro then heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
He scrambled to get up and backed up to the wall.
Tadashi's smiling face appeared. "Hey, Hiro how-"
Tadashi stopped speaking as his eyes landed on his little brother.
He immediately knew something was wrong at the expression on Hiro's face.
"Where's your shirt?" he asked as he slowly walked over to Hiro.
Hiro pressed himself against the wall as Tadashi placed his hands on the wall on either side of Hiro so he couldn't go anywhere.
Tadashi frowned as his brother turned his head to avoid eye contact.
"Hey," he said as he gently cupped Hiro's face and looked in his eyes. "What's going on, Hiro?"
Hiro shook his head as more tears fell.
Tadashi noticed Hiro push himself as close to the wall as he could get.
Hiro was hiding something but didn't want to force it out of him.
"Hiro, please tell me what's wrong. Did something happen? Are you hurt?"
Hiro took a shaky breath before nodding slightly.
This is going to break him.
Tadashi took a deep breath before pushing Hiro's hair out of his face.
"Can you tell me what happened?" he asked softly as he looked into Hiro's eyes.
"Well I-I built this bot a few days ago..." Hiro explained up to the part before Aunt Cass got a belt.
"Then s-she..." Hiro really didn't want to go on.
Tadashi held only worry and concern in his eyes as he tilted Hiro's chin up, making Hiro look in his eyes.
"Hiro," he said quietly. "What did she do to you?"
Hiro pushed off the wall and winced before turning around.
He heard Tadashi's breath hitch. "Hiro."
"I'm sorry, Tadashi. I was scared, I tried to get to you b-but-"
Tadashi spun Hiro around and embraced him gently.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. This is Aunt Cass's fault and she's going to pay. I'm so sorry I wasn't here."
Hiro hugged his older brother back tightly as he sobbed into his chest.
Tadashi held Hiro against his chest for a few minutes, stroking his hair before the crying stopped.
He hesitated before running one hand slowly against Hiro's back.
He quickly drew his hand back when Hiro gasped.
"It's okay. I'm sorry," he said before kissing Hiro's head.
"Hiro, I'm going to feel your back and I need you to stay calm, alright? I'll be real gentle," Tadashi said as he looked down at Hiro.
Hiro nodded before tightening his hold on Tadashi.
Tadashi slowly ran his hand down each of the cuts being as gentle as possible and softly shushing Hiro when he whimpered.
"Alright, bud. There's one more and it's real big. I need to see how deep it is."
Hiro took a shaky breath before Tadashi ran one finger over the top of the cut.
Hiro whimpered and stayed still until Tadashi reached the middle.
He gasped and quickly tried to pull away from Tadashi who held him tighter.
"Hey, shh, it's okay. I'm done. Shh, shh." Tadashi held Hiro even tighter.
Hiro quickly settled down and relaxed in his brother's arms.
"There you go. You're okay," Tadashi said softly as he held Hiro.
Tadashi sat down on Hiro's bed, pulling Hiro onto his lap.
He pulled out his phone as he dialed the number for the police.
Tadashi's held his brother's hand as he explained their situation to the police before hanging up.
"The police are on their way for Aunt Cass. You okay?"
Hiro nodded before hugging Tadashi who wrapped his arms tight around his little brother.
A few minutes passed before footsteps could be hear coming up the stairs.
A red-haired woman in a police uniform beckoned to them.
"We've got your aunt in custody. You can come down."
Tadashi nodded before standing up and looking in Hiro's eyes.
"Hey, we're going to be okay. She'll never hurt you again."
Hiro hugged Tadashi as a few tears fell.
"We'll all be okay now. I promise."
Thank you everyone who has read this! I'm glad so many people liked it and hope you'll all like the sequel coming up sometime!