My hands shake as I accept the change from the cashier, "forty-one cents is your change." He tells me placing the receipt and the coins in my awkwardly cupped hands. "Hey man, you don't look so hot" he whispers over the counter, as if afraid his superior would yell at him for making more than just small talk. "You okay?" I don't answer, I just smile and take the groceries from the counter. The automated door opens as I step on the mat and the cool air rushes in.

Axel is standing with two cups of coffee, "I'll put those in the car," He says and we trade items, "stay here, I'll be right back." He hurries off and I sniff each cup trying to decide which one was meant for me. Black coffee, seven sugars….gross. The other is flavored vanilla, with cream and sweetener, just like I asked for. I take a few sips and the liquid warms me. My fingers tingle from holding the hot cups and as Axel returns and takes his cup, I am almost unable to let go.

He smirks at me, "I find it funny that you pretend to be such a hard ass and then you go drink coffee like that." He points to my cup with his free hand.

"It reminds me of Sora." I look down at the coffee and think of my brother.

"How is he? You still haven't talked about what happened last night…" I start walking and Axel follows.

"Let's walk around the park once, I'll tell you as much as I can…"

…

It started with a pone call.

It was late, around midnight when he called me, crying. I could barely understand him, but I knew he needed help. I asked him what had happened, where he was… if he needed me.

"Roxas," he composed himself, "Do you remember when you disappeared for a week two months ago and no one, not even you, could figure out where you were or what had happened?"

"Sora, don't tell me you have something to do with…" My words trailed off.

"No, well… yes, I suppose I do." He sighed. "Why don't you tell me what you do remember and I'll fill in the blanks."

"I was at work, going through some papers…"

"On what?"

"Some papers on your…case" I admitted.

"How much do you remember about my case?" He asked.

"Let's see… you were put into hiding because…" My mind drew a blank.

"Because Riku was abusing me." He finished. "Roxas, I was put into hiding, and Riku kidnapped you and tortured you to find out where I was."

"I told him…" It was a question, but I was too struck to make it seem like one.

"No, he found the file on me. And he made a deal with both of us. If I stayed with him, he'd let you go. If you didn't try to find me…I'd be safe." Sora sounded unsure as he said the last part.

"Where are you right now?" I asked, getting angry.

"I can't tell you. I just needed to ask you something." Sora paused, "If I testified in court that Riku raped and abused me, how long would he be put away?"

"Well it depends," I was stalling; I wanted to know exactly how bad Riku was treating him, "Does he beat you?"

"Often."

"Does he cut you?"

"Yes, but the scars are gone."

"Sora, is he feeding you?" my hand was tight around the phone, I thought I was going to break the thing.

"Yes, and he allows me out as long as I promise not to tell you anything."

"Are you allowed to come see me? We don't have to talk about him, I just want to see you." It was a lie. I just needed him to be away from Riku.

"I can see you… Is now okay?" He sounded desperate.

"Yeah, meet me at the coffee shop." I hung up and grabbed my coat. The door creaked open and I bolted down the three flights of stairs to the ground level. I forgot the key, but I didn't have time to go back. The wind pressed against my face, cracking my skin and chilling my teeth, but I pressed back. I walked the three blocks taking all the short cuts I knew. He was standing there, under the neon "Open 24 hours" sign. That meant he was close enough to walk there.

"Let's go in, coffees on me." I said, holding the door open for him.

"Could I have a medium vanilla coffee with cream and sweetener please." The tired woman behind the counter punched something in the register.

"And for you?" She looked at me.

"Medium black coffee please." I handed her a ten dollar bill and put the change in the tip jar, the bills went in my coat pocket. As we waited, I looked over Sora. He was waif-like, thin and paler than usual. His hair was a mess and his eyes had dark circles under them. The woman handed us our coffee and we sat in the far corner, away from everyone. "Sora, you look awful, let me help you."

He glared at me and cleared his throat, "I guess I should stop dieting." He made a motion to his chest and then to his ear. Riku had him wired.

I nodded and took out a pen and a napkin. I wrote as I spoke, the words coming out of my mouth were trained, I've been through this before. "I've told you a million times you look fine, there's no need to diet." I wrote "I can help you, just tell me where he is."

"Well, I know you think. But I just don't feel the same way." He shook his head and wrote nothing for a while, "I can handle this."

"Why are you so against listening to me?" I asked.

"Because I can take care of myself." Sora swallowed hard. We sat in silence and drank our coffee. I took the napkin and dissolved it in the last few sips left in the cup. "Roxas, it was nice seeing you, but I have to get going, I don't want Riku to worry."

I hugged my brother and said, "If you ever need anything, let me know."

"It was good seeing you brother, good bye" He hugged me back and left me. I thought about following him, but I couldn't I knew Riku was probably expecting me to, and was armed.

I walked slowly back to the apartment, taking the longest rout possible. I just needed to think, and hour passed and my phone rang.

"There's been an accident, we need you to come to the hospital as fast as you can."

"I'll be there in ten minutes." I said and hung up, running as fast as I could, I made it to the hospital and to the front desk. "My name is Roxas, someone called about my brother, Sora."

The woman behind the desk checked the chart, "the last room on the left." She pointed down a hallway.

I sprinted down the linoleum tiles and opened the door.

"Someone pronounce him." A nurse said.

"1:26 A.M." The doctor said, checking his watch and my brother's pulse.

It ended with a phone call.

…

"Oh Roxas. I'm so sorry." Axel held me.

"Riku's in jail for 25 to life, I just wish Sora could be here to see him put away." My eyes were flooding with tears for my brother.