"You got a cold, cold heart,

You build a house of cards.

I know all your secrets,

I know all your lies,

I know where you keep 'em,

Buried deep inside."

❁❁❁

ASHER'S EYES ROLLED to the back of his head and Robin and I watched in horror as he collapsed right in front of us.

I jumped at the loud thud that followed when his body hit the ground, and I was frozen to my spot as I stared, stunned and scared speechless. He let out a small groan before his head lolled to a still. His eyelids fluttered, but didn't open again.

"Asher!" Robin was immediately by his side, hitting Asher's cheeks in an attempt to get him to regain consciousness. When Asher didn't move an inch, Robin cursed under his breath and wrapped his arm under his body, lifting him up with some difficulty.

I rushed to his side to help move Asher to the bed, but almost fainted when I caught sight of Asher's back. Scars that looked like long brown vines climbed up and wrapped around the broad of his back, protruding out slightly in a ghastly manner. As if that wasn't frightening enough, a couple of strokes looked fresh, gaping open and shining bloody red. It looked as if he has been whipped.

"What the hell happened to him?" I gasped, running my hands over his scars and shivering involuntarily. I felt the bile rise in my throat, and I looked away to catch my breath.

"Let's get him on the bed first," Robin sighed, looking resigned. He didn't look one bit surprised at the sight of Asher's horrific injuries. As we settled his limp body onto the bed, I couldn't help but take a closer look at his scars. I watched as Robin prodded Asher's ribs expertly, as if checking if he had any broken bones. The, he moved on to checking the rest of his body for any more injuries. It seemed that along with the bruises scattered on his torso and lesions on his back, the skin on Asher's knuckles were split, as if he had punched something repeatedly.

"Is he going to be okay?" I asked, my question coming out with a squeak. I wasn't used to seeing blood or gruesome injuries, and just the thought of it made me feel queasy. Robin nodded solemnly, before he disappeared from the room and reappeared with a small pail and a cloth in one hand, and a first aid kit in the other.

Silently, I watched as Robin dipped the cloth into the pail, wringing it out and wiping Asher's wounds. The sinking feeling in my stomach returned when Robin continued to bandage up his wounds expertly without a single emotion on his face. He looked as if he wasn't bothered that his friend was bleeding or unconscious. He looked as if it was just another day in the life of Asher Dane.

Was it?

Vaguely, I remembered when Robin helped to soothe my injuries after that nasty incident with Jake. Those words he said before he left, something about his friend going through the same thing. Refusing to open up.

My eyes drifted back to Asher's unconscious face. With his eyes closed and muscles relaxed, he looked almost handsome. Finally at peace. His usual anger and hatred for the world dissipitated completely.

"Now the secret's out," Robin said quietly, closing the first aid kit. He let out a sigh, standing up and covering Asher's body with a thin blanket.

"What happened to him?" I asked softly, not sure if I really wanted to know.

"His father has a...way with discipline," Robin explained, cringing. Rubbing his hands together, he cast another look at Asher. This time, a look of genuine concern flashed through his eyes. "Asher doesn't like to talk about it, but we've been friends for years. It's hard to hide things like that. When he figured he couldn't hide it anymore, he allowed me to bandage him up and care for him. But he never explained why his father treated him like this. So I wouldn't know any better than you about his situation."

"Is this why he called off the engagement?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. "Wouldn't he just be sabotaging himself since it was a family agreement? I doubt his father was happy to hear about it."

"Clearly," Robin replied, pursing his lips. My mind wandered back to the fresh wounds on his back, and I cringed involuntarily. "None of us has the answers. Asher's the only one who knows himself, fully and truly."

"How long has this been going on?" I couldn't help but prod. Even though I knew I was intruding into Asher's privacy, I couldn't help but want to satiate my curiosity. All this time, Asher had been hiding his abuse by wearing sweaters, swearing and glowering at anyone who would try to get close to him. For the first time, I wondered if the crude and angry Asher Dane I thought I knew was just a facade that he put up in order to hide his ugly secret from the world. And if so, what other secrets were there?

"Would you believe me if I said he has been enduring this all his life?" Robin laughed humouressly. "This is why he is the way he is, Alexandra. He wasn't born angry at the world. The world turned its back on him. I'm only telling you this so you can better understand him, at least a little bit. I'm not saying that he's right, but hurting Emily is the last thing that he wants."

"Whatever it is, breaking off their engagement was probably his last resort."

❁❁❁

When Asher roused from his sleep, it was as if he hadn't spent the last two hours unconscious with the most serene expression across his face. He sat up with a scowl, immediately locating my eyes and glowering.

"Why are you still here?" he snapped, making me roll my eyes.

"You fainted, asshole. As much as I wanted to leave you, Robin forced me to stay," I retorted back, jutting my chin out stubbornly. Who cares if he was injured? If he was an ass, I would treat him as such. Besides, I doubt that he would want any sympathy or pity, especially from me.

"You can leave now," he muttered stubbornly, looking away. With a shrug, I stood up. While waiting for him to wake up, Robin cooked some porridge for him and I helped to clean the broken pieces of porcelain off the floor so that he wouldn't injure himself further. He didn't need to change his bandages, so there was no need for us to stay any longer, anyway. Even though I didn't exactly get the answers to my questions, I figured there was no use asking him. If he refused to tell even his closest friends what was going on, why would he ever open up to me?

"There's some porridge in the microwave," Robin informed, standing up. "Remember to eat it. I'll take Alexandra back."

Asher nodded wordlessly. When we turned to leave however, Asher finally broke his silence.

"Don't!" Asher blurted out. I stopped in my tracks, looking over my shoulder at him. Asher cleared his throat, looking away abashedly. He gritted his teeth, hesitating before he finally relented. In a soft voice, he pleaded.

"Don't tell Emily," he said quietly.

"I won't," I replied, before crossing my arms and giving him a pointed look. "But you have to promise to talk to her. You don't have to tell her everything, but she deserves an answer from you."

"But—"

"No buts, Asher. At the very least, apologise," I said sternly. When I saw the look on his face, I hesitated before confessing.

"You know...you know that she cares about you, don't you?"

Asher went silent.

❁❁❁

THE RIDE BACK to my dorm was filled with unbearable silence. I put in one of Robin's old rock CDs and turned the volume up in an attempt to fill the quiet. I stole a glance at him, but if I got anything from his expression, it was that Robin could probably be a really good poker player if he decided business wasn't for him.

"Are you angry?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes," he answered. "Not because you went to Asher's without telling me, but because you didn't trust me enough to confide in me first."

"I'm sorry," I apologised sincerely.

"We're serious now," Robin stated, tearing his eyes off the road for a second to look at me. In that moment, I felt so exposed, so vulnerable. "We need to communicate. Even if it makes us uncomfortable. Even if the things we say aren't pretty."

When I didn't reply, he sighed softly and reached for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine.

"You know it's us against the world now, don't you?"

My heart thudded against my chest at his words, and the guilt I felt from before returned. We barely began dating, and I've gone and done something so inconsiderate. And worst of all, I've hurt his feelings.

"Yeah," I answered softly, stroking the back of his hand with my thumb. "I'm sorry, Robin."

"It's okay," he replied simply, but his words rang with sincerity. "I know you didn't mean it."

"Is Asher going to be okay?" I couldn't help but ask. Robin hesitated, but couldn't decide on an answer.

"Only time will tell," he replied, almost regretfully. "Perhaps talking to Emily will help him figure things out. He's stubborn, but I think you knocked some sense into him."

"You really think so?" I murmured absentmindedly, my mind wandering back to the sight of Emily's little body curled up on my bed. I wondered if she had woken up already, and if she did, that she figured out something had happened. "Do you think he'll talk to Emily?"

Robin nodded.

"Yeah. He might be stubborn, but he isn't heartless."

We contemplated Asher's situation in silence, no doubt troubled but hopeful. Perhaps Asher's relationship with his father might not improve, but Emily could be the one to be there for him as he goes through his troubles with his father.

"He must've been lonely," I said quietly, my expression crumbling.

"He has me," Robin replied firmly. "And Yuko and Logan. We won't ever leave him alone. Even if he begs us."

I glanced over at my boyfriend and locked eyes with him briefly. We broke out into grins as he turned his attention back to the road.

"You must already be regretting agreeing to be my boyfriend," I joked, trying to lighten the dull mood. Robin rolled his eyes, letting out a small chuckle.

"You've been horrible," he chided, his smile turning playful. "Guess you just have to make it up me, huh?"

❁❁❁

A/N: So the secret's out, kind of. Maybe I'll include a bonus chapter in Asher's perspective once this book ends (even though it's still a pretty long way to go). Let me know if you guys are interested in reading in Asher's POV :)

Also, if you or someone you know is going through a similar situation as Asher's, please get help. This isn't a subject to be taken lightly.

Song of the Chapter: Secrets and Lies, by Ruelle.