Silent Scars

CHAPTER 25

𝙰𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝚞𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎!!
( •̀ᴗ- )

Luca’s footsteps were heavy as he climbed the stairs, the first-aid kit tucked under his arm. His thoughts churned, replaying everything he’d heard downstairs. The argument, the accusations, Leonardo’s sharp tone, all of it weighed heavily on him. But the worst part was the truth he’d just pieced together.

Domain.

The burns on Ariana’s arms weren’t just irritated. They were worse. The abrasions, the fresh redness, Domain’s grip had caused them. Luca’s chest tightened with a surge of anger. He had known his brother could be reckless, but this? This was too much.

He reached Ariana’s door, pausing to steady himself. The last thing she needed was to feel his frustration. He knocked softly, his voice calm.

“Aria, it’s Luca. I’m coming in, okay?”

There was no response, but after a moment, he pushed the door open gently.

Ariana sat on the edge of her bed, her posture rigid, her arms wrapped protectively around herself. She didn’t look up as he entered. Her long sleeves were tugged down again, as if to shield herself from the world.

“Hey....”

Luca said softly, kneeling beside her.

“I just want to check on your arms again. Is that okay?”

Her fingers tightened on her sleeves, her hesitation clear. But then, slowly, she loosened her grip and extended her arm slightly. Luca’s heart broke at the gesture.

“Thank you.”

He said gently, folding her sleeve back with care.

The burns were worse than he’d realized earlier. The skin was red and inflamed, the abrasions fresh. It was as if the old wounds had been dragged open again. His jaw clenched involuntarily as he imagined Domain’s hand gripping her arm, squeezing too hard in the heat of his temper.

Luca took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.

“This might sting a little, but I promise I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

He said as he dampened a cotton pad with antiseptic.

Ariana flinched slightly when the pad touched her skin, but she didn’t pull away. Luca worked slowly, cleaning the burns and wrapping them in fresh bandages. The room was quiet except for the soft sounds of his movements.

“I’m sorry.”

Luca said after a moment, his voice low.

Ariana’s gaze flickered to his face briefly, confusion evident in her eyes.

He hesitated, unsure how much to say.

“Last night… when Domain grabbed you…”

He trailed off, unsure if she wanted to revisit the memory.

“He shouldn’t have done that. And if he made this worse… I’m sorry.”

Ariana didn’t respond, but her fingers curled into the fabric of her pants. The smallest signs of tension rippled through her, and Luca hated that she had to hear any of this.

“None of us should have let it happen.”

He continued softly, his voice steady but heavy with guilt.

“But I promise you, Aria, it won’t happen again. Not while I’m here.”

He finished securing the bandage, his hands lingering for a moment before pulling back.

“All done. You’ll need to let it rest, okay? No moving around too much. I’ll check on it again tomorrow.”

Luca said, offering a small smile.

Ariana nodded faintly, her gaze fixed on her lap.

Luca stood, gathering the used supplies and placing them back in the kit. As he moved toward the door, he paused, looking back at her.

“You’re not responsible for what happened.”

He said gently.

“None of this is your fault.”

Her fingers tightened again, but she didn’t lift her head.

With a soft sigh, Luca stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Leonardo was waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He straightened when he saw Luca.

“How is she?”

Leonardo asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Luca shook his head, his expression grim.

“The burns are worse. Domain made it worse.”

Leonardo’s face darkened, his jaw tightening.

“I’ll talk to him.”

“No, Leo.”

Luca said sharply, his voice firm.

“Talking isn’t enough. He doesn’t see what he’s doing, and she’s the one paying the price.”

Leonardo frowned, his brow furrowing.

“I’ll handle it, Luca.”

“You said that before.”

Luca snapped, his frustration boiling over.

“And look what happened. She’s hurt, Leo. She’s terrified, and Domain doesn’t even care enough to notice.”

Leonardo’s expression softened slightly, guilt creeping into his features.

“I’ll make sure he understands.”

He said, his tone more measured.

Luca sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“She can’t take much more of this, Leo. She’s already been through enough.”

Leonardo nodded, his gaze steady.

“I know. And I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Luca didn’t respond, his weariness evident. He brushed past Leonardo, heading downstairs, leaving his older brother to grapple with the weight of his words.

In his room, Domain sat on the edge of his bed, his fists clenched. He had heard every word through the thin walls, and though he wouldn’t admit it, Luca’s anger hit its mark.

For the first time, Domain felt the stirrings of doubt, not just about Ariana, but about himself.