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Michael couldn’t remember why his father hated him so much to the point he beat him black and blue at least once a week. He’d stumble into the house, reeking of alcohol and yell at him. Michael, of course, would comply to his orders of ‘come here’. He’d rather not know what would happen if he didn’t, so he always did. And he’d let his father hit him, bruise him, harm him any way he could.
Michael just had to take it because if he didn’t, his siblings would and he wouldn’t let that happen to them. It had to be him.
At least once a week, Michael wasn’t in the house. Typically it was the day of or after he got beat by his father. He would go to Henry’s, because Henry always knew what to do. Every time Michael knocked and almost flopped forward from leaning on the door when it opened, Henry would look at him sadly and treat his wounds.
It was clear to everyone around Michael that this was happening, though no one had made any move to stop it. Not even his teachers at school cared to know where all the alarming amount of bruises came from. Michael thought that they were supposed to care or call the police about child abuse.
Later that day, when Michael would get home from school, he would find father waiting for him. He had an unnerving smile on his face, while the younger internally groaned and rolled his eyes. Father was terrifying some days, but Michael had long gotten used to it. The fear he had first felt was now a raging, burning hot anger. Though he never let it show.
“Come here, Michael.” His father demanded and he simply nodded, slipping his school bag off and dropping it. He met his fathers eyes as he strode forward. It wasn’t until he was standing in front of the man that he noticed the bottle. Michael winced and waited for the impact.
Father swung the bottle and it hit Michaels arm with a force to be reckoned with. He gasped as the pain began to sink in, but this was only the beginning. A push, a shove, kicks to the abdomen, ribs, punches to the jaw, nose. For some reason, today’s round felt more painful than any other before. Michael distantly wondered if his father had been taking fight classes, though this was only one sided.
After father was done, the teenager hobbled to his room and collapsed on the other side of the door.
Henry had had enough. The past two months or so, Williams son Michael would knock on his door completely beat and bruised. He knew that was the result of his “friends” drunk spells and he hated to see it. He’d been gathering evidence from what Michael has told him and what he knows from William to manage to take this to the police. It broke his heart every time Michael showed up, even more beat up than the last.
So, when he finally had enough evidence, he called the police. Henry told them everything he knew but wasn’t sure what happened afterwards. Not only did he tell them about the abuse, but also about the disappearances of kids recently might have something to do with William Afton.
When Michael groggily woke up, it was to the sound of sirens and loud voices.
“Put your hands where I can see ‘em, Afton!” An unfamiliar voice shouted, cutting through the thin walls. Michael forced himself to sit up and then stand. He leaned against the door to his room and used the handle to help pull himself up. Quickly, he ripped open the door. The sirens were outside his house and two police officers stood at the door. Another one had a gun pointed at his father.
There was another one checking around when they spotted him at his door. They must’ve seen how bad he looked and immediately came over.
“Hey son, are you alright?” They asked and began to look him over.
“No.” Michael croaked out, only just now realising his dry throat. “Wha’s happening?”
“We’re taking your father away for his crimes. Is there anyone else in the house?”
Michael stares at the police officer in shock. How was this happening? No one had called to report this. Well, he surely hadn’t. Elizabeth and Evan barely knew how to use a phone, so they couldn’t have-
Wait. Lizzy and Ev. Where are they? Michael starts to panic, breaths coming too short. He needs to find them, needs to get them out of here, needs them to be safe. He tries to push past the police officer to find his siblings.
“Woah! Hey kid, not so fast now.” The police officer blocks the way. Michael feels frustrated tears spring to his eyes.
“I need— Liz! Evan?” Michael tries calling out.
There’s silence for a moment, except for the commotion in the living room. Michaels not worried about that though. And then—
“Mike! What’s going on?” Elizabeth yells but Michael is suddenly all too aware of his injuries. He leans forward, head spinning. The police officer helps support him, leaving Elizabeth in the dust with information.
A little while later, he’s calmed down and being escorted to the living room. Fortunately, father has been taken somewhere. At first, Michael was reluctant to go in, terrified his father would come out of hiding for a second round of beating, as if he hadn’t done enough damage already. But the police officers assured him father was nowhere near him and never would be again.
Eventually, Elizabeth and Evan pad out of their rooms to come and sit with him while the police officer, Officer Vanessa, asked questions.
She turns to Elizabeth. “Does your dad ever hit you or your little brother?” She asks softly.
Both Lizzy and Evan shake their heads. Michael clears his throat. “No..it’s always me. I’d- I’d never let him hurt them, even if it killed me.” Michael admits, because it’s true. He’d rather put himself in danger than have his siblings ever go through what he did.
Officer Vanessa smiles sadly. “You’re a very good brother Michael.” She says and ruffles his hair. Michael nods in response. “Do you guys have anyone to take care of you? Like extended family, or a family friend?” She questions with a head tilt.
There’s a brief silence where all three kids shift slightly uncomfortably. The only one they know of is Henry…but would Henry want to take on three whole other kids?
“Uhm..there is one. His names Henry and he has a daughter, he is fathers business partner but he cares about us.” Elizabeth speaks quietly, Evan nodding along to her words.
“Do you—“
“Henry Emily.” Michael interjects before Officer Vanessa can say anything.
“Okay, thank you.” Officer Vanessa stands from her crouched position in front of them sitting on the couch. She makes a move to leave to talk privately with one of her coworkers, but something stops her.
“Are you leaving? Please don’t leave us..” Evan mumbles quietly, quieter than Elizabeth and it breaks the officers heart.
“I’m not leaving, sweetheart. I just gotta talk to one of my guys who can help you out, okay?” She tries to provide comfort by smiling, though the little boy looks close to tears.
“Can..Can’t you stay here?” Evan pleads.
“Evan doesn’t like being alone. I mean, he has us, but we’re not enough sometimes…” Elizabeth informs and Vanessa nods, sitting down across from them.
Ever since the police came, Michael has been zoned out, only dragged back to answer questions they asked or to give important information his siblings wouldn’t be able to provide. He hates that they have to see him like this. At least they’re finally, finally getting out of here. Michael loses himself in his thoughts, while picking glass out of his right arm from earlier when father smashed a bottle into it.
It really hurt, but he’s not sure Vanessa could do much for him. Well, it never hurt anyone to ask.
“Officer Vanessa?” Michael asks, suddenly feeling very small, weak and vulnerable.
Vanessa looks up from her walkie talkie. “Yes, honey?” She speaks very softly, just like how mother used to. Tears well up in Michaels eyes at the thought of her. He shakes his head and shows Vanessa his arm, which now has blood trailing down it. “Oh my! What happened?” Vanessa gasps and leans forward to get a closer look.
“There’s glass. And it hurts.” Michael says, which doesn’t explain much, but Vanessa seems to get the message.
“We’re going to help you with that. Can you tell me how it happened, sweetheart?” Her tone feels patronising, Michael couldn’t care. All he wants right now is to be babied (he’d never admit it), as if he has no cares in the world. Mother always did that when he felt down.
“Father, he- he had a bottle. I came home and he was drunk and—“ Michael makes a swinging motion.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Apart from the obvious. The bruises on his arms and face aren’t easy to hide. Michael nods, shifting before lifting up the bottom of his shirt. Vanessa inhales sharply at the sight. The teenagers stomach is quite literally black and blue. She says something to the walkie talkie but Michael zones out again. He decides to close his eyes, hoping it’ll all be over soon.
When Michael wakes up once again, there’s something cold on his stomach and he’s lying down. He doesn’t remember how he ended up like this. He feels someone squeeze his left hand and Michael smiles softly, peeling his eyes open.
“Mikey!” Evan cheers as his brother shifts around, groaning quietly.
“Where are we?” He asks, not recognising the surroundings.
“The nice lady took us to Uncle Henry’s! We’re in the spare room right now.” Elizabeth speaks up from her seat, getting up to walk over.
“Where’s Henry?” Michael tries to sit up, only to get gently pushed down by Evan.
“He’s in the kitchen. We should tell him you’re awake.” Elizabeth moves to walk out of the door and no one stops her. Henry is here. Henry will help.
Michael sobs at that realisation. He’s safe here. Father can’t get him or his siblings now. The tears that have kept themselves at bay for hours finally spill down his cheeks. His breath hitches at the footsteps outside the room. Help. Safety. Home, finally. Michael sobs again, louder this time.
“Mike? Are you okay?” Evan mumbles from beside him. Michael sits up, keeping the ice pack on his stomach though. He pulls Evan up onto the bed and holds him close.
“We’re free, we’re fucking free Evan!” Michael laughs happily, burying his face into Evans hair and crying.
Evan gasps. “No more monsters?” He asks hopefully.
Michael nods frantically. “No more monsters. No more fights, no more..no more him .”
Evan starts to cry with him, both relishing in the joy of being free of their fathers torment. This probably isn’t the end, but it’s enough for now.