Got a secret, can you keep it, swear this one you'll save. Better lock in in your pocket, taking this one to the grave.

Sorry! I missed a little bit. I'm back.

Canary gasped a little when she saw the girl's arm. "I'll be right back," she said, and hurried upstairs. She brought down some gauze, alchohol, and cold, wet rag. "Hold out your arm," she said, and held the icy rag against the bruise. "You're swelling."

Nellie
"I'm so clumsy" She murmured, closing her eyes "Just last week it was broken ribs, sister. When are you finally going to see what a monster he is?!" "Jace is the most wonderful man on the earth, Nellie, and you'd do well to hold your tongue on such matters"

William: "Fine then, I'll be the one to speak up," I say, feeling more and more agitated by the minute. "What the hell even happened? Because you didn't trip, you didn't run into a wall or whatever the bloody he'll you want people to believe."

Nellie
Tears sprung to her eyes, and I cursed Jace for making her cry "It...it was my fault, really... I should have just shut up, he was right... and... he apologized after. He really didn't mean to hurt me, it was my fault"

Canary bit her lip and finished wrapping up the girl's arm, then smiled sympathetically. "Sh, it's alright, it's not your fault. He shouldn't have hit you." She held her hand for a moment.

William: "Right. And I'm sure he'll tell you that when he beats you so hard that you have a miscarriage? Or when he pushes you down the steps and you break your neck?"

Nellie
I could tell she was trying her hardest not to burst into tears "No, Jace isn't like that, honest. He's a really good man, sweet and kind, he's just looking out for me" "What did you two fight about?" "I wanted to call you, and maybe we could all go to the docks together, like old times... but he said it was too dangerous, and he wanted to go on a walk with me, just the two of us. And I told him I hadn't seen you in days, but he just kept asking me why I didn't want time with just him, and then..." She couldn't keep the rest of the tears back any longer, and wept into her hands

William: I sigh. "Stop crying," I say after a moment. "What use are tears? Especially when you'll probably be going back to him in the end?"

Nellie
"You're right" she sniffled, wiping the tears away "I am going back to him. You just don't know Jace!" "You are certainly NOT going back to that creep" I growl, then turn to Will "I've tried to confront him, but he hit me across the face last time, and I had a black eye. Would you please help us?"

Canary bit her lip, this time out of anger. That man needed to have some sense knocked into him. If only her father weren't sick, than maybe she could convince him to help confront him. A large man like him would be a lot more convincing.

William: Suddenly, it hits me. These were these girls I helped before... "Look, I don't know if you want me to help..." I say evenly. "I don't even know why I'm getting into this."

Nellie
"Wait... you're that one guy! That helped us before! Thank you so much for that, we still owe you" I muttered, running my hand through my hair "You helped me get my sister back, please help me not lose her again" I could tell Esther was getting angry "He's not the man you make him out to be! He loves me, and I love him to!"

Canary: "Do you love him, or are you scared of him?" She suddenly chimed in, her voice a bit stronger than usual.

William: Damn hero complex. "Fine then," I say. I look down at the bandages on my arm. "But I don't know how far this'll go."

Esther
"I... I really love him. I love him more than I've loved anybody else"

Canary just shook her head. "Then why is it that someone who loves you so much, who you love, hurts you so badly?"

It's a psychological thing; some people that beat their wives and girlfriends aren't necessarily bad people, they just feel the need to posses
Esther
"He doesn't mean to, he would never hurt me on purpose!"

William: I look at the girl's sister and then back to her. I don't want to do anything unless she was on board too. "Then let's try to go talk to him, see if we can straighten things out."

(I know, this is Canary trying to convince Esther )

Canary sighed, realising that no matter what anyone said, Esther wouldn't budge.

Esther
"Fine... but don't say anything about this, alright? Just talk to him, you'll see what a great person he is"

William: I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms. "Fine. Where is he?"

Esther
"Back at the house..." I sighed, pointing at a house down the street

William: Ok, stay calm Will. I head out of the shop and start heading to the house they pointed out, clenching an unclenching my fists. I knock on the door and take a deep breath. "Hullo? Does a Jace live here?"

Jace
I walk out, holding a wet cloth I was about to bring Esther "Yes, this is he" I had dark, dirty blonde hair and deep green eyes

William: "Mind if I come in for a bit?" I ask as I take out a cigar and a match. "Just thought I'd talk to you about something."