𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚋𝚘𝚘'𝚜 𝙻𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛

Chapter 12

TW// Physical abuse, mentions of guns.

[Tommy's pov]

"Ranboo?" I spoke. "Why'd you leave the call?"

His shaky breaths were all I could hear.

"Hello?" I called again.

"Dad..is home," I heard Ranboo say. "Riley, sh-she's not safe."

"Riley? Is that your sister? Why isn't she safe?"

Concentrating on some clicks and shuffling on Ranboo's end, I overheard another voice.

"Lock t-the door," Ranboo stuttered.

I felt puzzled. He sounded like he was about to cry.

"He was running up the stairs," the other voice said. "I'm scared."

That's probably his sister.

"Ranboo, whats happening?"

"YOU LITTLE FUCK!" I heard someone yelling from afar while banging on the door.

Something is terribly wrong. This 'something' is worse that what I thought.

"Rye...remember t-the plan?"

I caught on to the fact that he probably couldn't hear me. I decided to stay quiet.

"No, fuck the plan. I'm not leaving especially when you're like this."

"Language."

"Say that to the bitch outside."

"GUESS WHO GOT THE KEY, YOU SHITS?!"

"Oh, no."

"Fuck, no," I mumbled to myself. I got up and walked back to Techno's room while still listening to the call I was in.

"Go now. I'll come to you w-when it's s-safe. I promise."

I bursted into Techno's room, phone held up to my ear.

"You good?" Techno asked after taking a quick glance to me.

"No, we have to go to Ranboo's right now. It's an emergency."

"Sorry, Dream. Duty calls."

"Techno, hang up," I said before taking his car keys and going to his car.

"You're dead now."

"No, Dad-"

I finally understood what was happening. Roughly, to say at least. He was definitely getting abused by his dad. I got in the front passenger seat and saw Techno locking the house gate. I wanted to cry, hearing Ranboo's agony through the call. I could only imagine what he's been going through.

"What's wrong?" Techno asked softly, getting in the driver's seat before closing the car door.

"Ranboo's getting abused by his dad, I think."

"What?!" He asked, stopping himself from starting the engine. "What did he say?"

"Not much from Ranboo, but his dad said 'you're dead' or something along those lines."

"And you let me talk to Dream about season two lore?!"

"I didn't let you," I cut myself off before we argued over the wrong thing. "Just drive!"

"No, I'm calling 911," Techno pulled out his phone. "Trust me they'll get there sooner."

"Fine, be quick."

"You know his address, right?"

"Yeah," I clarified.

[Ranboo's pov]

My dad continued beating me up and I cried. I would usually hold in the pain but the courage I'd felt the previous evening melted away. There was nothing I could do about it. Thinking I was so close to blacking out, sirens filled my ears. The twinkling red and blue glow of the lights shining through the window held an undercurrent of warning. It cast a wavering spectrum of colours on my dad's face. It didn't seem to bother him, though. I could hear crashing and clamouring from below, it was only a few moments before-

"PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR," said an officer, who held a gun firmly with both hands.

Was it bad that I felt safer around a stranger with a gun than my own dad?

"I WILL NOT HESITATE TO SHOOT."

Hearing those words, my dad stopped. He put his hands behind his head, staring at me. He tried to make a run for it when the police officer went closer, but failed. His hands were now cuffed behind his back. I sucked in deep breaths of air, blinking quickly so the tears could get out of my eye. The police lead him downstairs and that's when I remembered. Riley.

I grabbed my phone, clicking the lock button and proceeded to climb out the window. Then, I crossed the street. In a matter of seconds, I entered the thick copse of trees and the world dimmed, as if only several minutes of twilight remained in the day. It was somehow beautiful and creepy, all at once. The reality of this plan I made earlier squeezed my heart like a crushing fist. I crashed through the trees as quickly as I could, thick bed of leaves and fallen twigs crunched underneath me. My eyes stayed riveted at the park's direction until I got there.

I dropped down, hurting my knees from the intense pressure. "Riley?!" I called out with the only voice left in me.

A twig snapped somewhere on my left and I jerked my head in that direction. I stilled my breaths to listen only for nausea to trickle into my chest. I was getting tired of being hit by waves of panic. A shadow figure caught my attention, I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Ran?"

It was Riley. She walked closer and got a good look at my face before running to me. I was relieved to see that she appeared okay, and felt myself relax. I opened my arms for a hug that she accepted.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry he hurt you."

Tears flowed steadily down my cheeks. She curled her head into my chest, her warm breaths soaking into the cotton white hoodie of mine. I put my chin on her head lightly, right hand wrapped around her waist while my other hand trailed through her hair. Her hands were around my bruised body --- which made me feel like vomiting --- even though her grasp wasn't that strong.

"Are you alright?" I looked at Riley for confirmation, pulling her away from the hug.

She nodded, resting her face back on my chest.

"It's okay," I whispered, pushing her hair behind her ears. "We're going to be fine."

I felt the slightest hint of peace, as fleeting as it was, and tried to enjoy it for however long it might last.