“Dad! Matua!” I yelled into the house, Felix hidden behind me, his hand tight on the back of my cardigan.

“Oh, hi baby,” Rio called from the backyard, and I headed out there, “Did ya have a good time?”

“Just work and lunch. It ended chaotically.”

“Are you okay?” Koa gasped, fixing his glasses, and I moved a bit to make Felix visible, a loud squeak escaping him before he hid behind me again, “Asher? Who is that?”

“It's Felix. My friend from university. Today was his wedding.”

“Ya can come out,” Rio called, keeping his voice gentle, “Why are ya hidin’? We won't hurt ya.”

“A-Asher told me about your… about the man you almost married, Mr. Bennett. I'm worried you'll be angry with me,” Felix whispered, making Koa laugh.

“No kiddo. I forgave Evander for that because it gave me Bailey and Rio. Then Asher. Why did you run?” Koa pushed his hair from his face, and Felix came to my side, chewing on his sleeve, “Oh. You're adorable, aren't you? Wow.”

“Matua,” I sighed as Felix looked up at me, confused, “I mean you are, Felix. But he said it to make you giggle. To help you relax. They don't know how shy you are.”

“Oh,” Felix nodded, and we sat down, Simon watching us curiously from the deck railing, “Um. I'm Felix Mahuta. I'm 23. From Pitt Island. Long-lost friend of Asher. I'm an orphan with no real family left. My Pa drowned when I was 14. We were fishermen and lived most of our time in a boat off the island's coast. Spent the rest of that in a huge house, settled on the beach. When I was finally old enough to leave for university, I met Asher in Auckland. We were both art majors,” he smiled at me, and I gently pulled his hood off, “He was my T.A. and helped me a lot. We became quick friends and spent every day together for two months. Then Ash graduated, but we promised to stay in contact. He was my only friend. I didn't make friends growing up because of how I lived. I was homeschooled on the boat. I loved it, I miss my Pa. He wouldn't have let this happen to me. As soon as Asher was gone, I was approached by a man named Joshua. He's the son of the current mayor of Pitt Island. They wanted my house on the island, but I refused to sell it. It's mine. Filled with my memories of my father. I want to go back and live there. They basically threatened me into this marriage. Stated that unless I married Joshua, they would seize my home. I'd lose everything. I agreed on the premise that I would get to live there with him. That nothing would be changed. They took my phone, my documents, everything. Forced me to drop out of University, and I've spent the last few years living as essentially a slave to the family. Think of Cinderella. I spent all day cleaning, cooking, and caring for Joshua. He never touched me, though, thank God. I was able to run away during the prep for the wedding. They left me alone long enough to climb out of a window. I happened to catch sight of Asher. I remembered he mentioned moving back here. I didn't expect to see them sitting at a restaurant near the church suddenly. I was going to find them somehow, even if it meant living on the streets for a while. I don't have anyone else. Asher was the only person I could think of. The Brenner family won't stop until I'm married to Joshua. Until they can gain access to my land. It's the biggest property on the island. But I don't know how to get free. I want my stuff back. My passport, all of it. But they won't give it back unless… there's one condition.”

“He has to marry someone else,” I whispered, and Koa nodded slowly, coming over to Felix and cradling his face.

“You are so strong,” he whispered, making Felix cry, “You did so good getting away from that. I'm sorry you were alone in all of this. I know for a fact Asher wouldn't have let that happen had they known. He talked about you constantly for years. He missed you terribly. We will help. Let's see…” he stopped for a moment and squatted, staring into Felix's eyes, “Felix. Honey, how are you feeling?”

“N-not great,” Felix shook his head.

“You're burning up. Your eyes are sunken. Rio, baby, go call Alexi. He may be retired, but he is a doctor.”

“Okay,” Rio ran inside as I started to panic.

“Felix,” Koa whispered, trying to be as gentle as he could, “Are you hurting yourself?”

“No!” Felix screamed, and Koa calmed him for a moment.

“I used to,” Koa nodded, searching Felix's face, “When I was a teenager. I destroyed my thighs with razors. Do you know what happens if you don't properly care for them and keep using a rusty tool? You'll get blood poisoning.”

“R-Really?” Felix swallowed slowly, and I gently rubbed the nape of his neck, “Can it kill you?”

“Yes.”

Felix sniffled and, for the first time in front of me, pulled the sleeves of his sweater back, showing twisted scars as well as fresh cuts that were bright red and yellow in some places.

“Thank you. For trusting me enough to show me. How far up your arms do they go?”

“To my shoulders. From wrist to shoulder,” Felix looked away, and I pressed my forehead to his cheek, “I've been doing it off and on for a decade now. I stopped. I really did for two years. I got better. I went through therapy and grief counseling. Then Joshua and his family ruined my life. I didn't know what to do. I fell back into it. It gave me control. I didn't want to die.”

“You won't. I swear. Rio!” Koa shouted, and Rio came back into the yard, holding his phone, “Did you talk to my Matua?”

“Yeah, he's on his way with his medical bag,” Rio nodded, “Caelan is comin’ too. They're both doctors after all. What do ya need right now?”

“Bowl of water, clean towels, and I think Kylie left one of her sweaters here. Can you grab that for Felix?”

“I can't take this one off in front of you,” Felix shook his head, and we all looked at him, “Asher. Remember how it always bothered you that I had secrets?”

“It didn't bother me. I just wanted to know you more,” I shrugged, running my fingers through his curls.

“I was born Taia Marama Mahuta. It basically means to paint the moon in Maori. My parents were indigenous after all.”

“It's pretty.”

“Oh my God,” Rio smacked the back of my head, “Felix is tryin’ to tell ya he was born female, ya idiot. No different than ya. I know ya got a brother named Bailey, but most people ain't use names the way Koa and I did.”

“Oh,” I whispered, “that's what you never told me? Felix, I figured it out a month into our friendship. Based on how you talked about the life your Pa wanted you to have. But I wasn't going to out you that way or say anything until you told me.”

“I feel so naive,” Felix started crying again, and I hugged him tightly across the chest, “Joshua stole my binder. They were going to force me to be Taia again. But I'm not! My Pa knew. I told him a year before I lost him, and he renamed me Felix. He was so happy to have a son. He didn't care, he just loved me so much. Told me that I'd still be able to have a husband someday, that he would welcome him into our family. That he could teach to run the fishing company I own.”

“You own a company?” Koa gasped.

“Well, I own a fishery and my Pa’s house. It's still being run by my Pa's best friend, Aata. He's gotta be worried about me. When I lost Pa, Aata, and his wife, Mika, took care of me. I lived alone, but they paid my bills and brought me food, and helped me with getting my stuff for school. They were my legal guardians. I guess I wasn't alone, but the Brenners threatened to shut the fishery down if I didn't follow their demands, and 80 people depend on that place to feed their families. My family has owned it for generations, and I couldn't let that happen. I acted like everything was fine, but I haven't talked to Aata or Mika in 3 years. We used to talk every day.”

“Can ya contact ‘em?” Rio handed Felix his phone, and Felix nodded.

“I have the fishery number memorized. I'm scared, though. I don't…”

“Call Aata,” I whispered, “tell him you're safe, tell him what's going on, and that we're going to figure out how to fix it.”

“Asher…” Felix stared at me, and I softly kissed his forehead, making him squeak again.

“I promise you that everything is going to be okay. You're my best friend. I won't let this happen.”

“Thank you.”

I pulled my parents outside and we moved out of sight of the window before I broke down, my hands shaking. The front door opened, and Alexander rushed inside to Felix as Caelan came to me, his white curls pulled back in a ponytail, welcoming brown eyes calming me as I stared at him.

“Hi baby,” he whispered, and I nodded, “It's okay, Ash. Take a deep breath.”

I did as he asked, my voice weak as I breathed out.

“Good job. You're okay.”

“I'm so worried about Felix,” I croaked out, “I was mad at him for abandoning me, and now I found out that he's practically been a hostage for 3 years. I can't fix this. But I couldn't leave him like that.”

“But you aren't solving things alone. We'll help. We'll figure out a plan for your friend.”

“I… I know. Goddamit, I'm mad at myself. I was right, Dad,” I looked at Rio, and he smiled gently, “Why? Why do I feel… I shouldn't.”

“Emotions are confusin’ and out of our control most of the time. It ain't bad, Asher. Don't be mad at yourself for still havin’ feelings for Felix. It might save his life.”

“Ash!” Alexander yelled and I went as quick as I could, leaning hard on my cane, “Sorry. I forgot about your legs for a minute. He's going to be fine. He has a minor infection due to the cuts not being cleaned properly but with this,” he set a tube of ointment on the table, “and with your help cleaning his arms, he's going to be fine. I already gave him ibuprofen to break his fever. Felix, you have to be gentle with your body for a few weeks. Okay? You're going to be fine, I swear. I'm more worried about you mentally.”

“It was a panic response. Fear,” Felix shook his head, “I don't want to do this to myself. I thought if I did it deep enough, I'd be able to go to hospital and get free. But I couldn't. I didn't want to die. I have too much to do in life."

“Oh. Good. Then I'm not worried if we can get you out of that environment. Rio told us. We need to find some way to get your stuff back. Did you sign any paperwork, any type of contract agreeing to this arrangement?”

“I… yes. I had to.”

“What are the conditions to break it?”

“Marriage to someone that isn't Joshua or his death. I'm not going to commit murder, though.”

“Well. How long do you think we have to figure out a third way out of this? Outside of your arms, do you have any proof of what they’ve done to you?” Alexander rubbed Felix on the back, and Felix sighed.

“Maybe two months? But no. Other than them holding my papers, I don’t.”

“Let’s decompress for the night. Eat some dinner, have a drink or two, and relax,” Koa called softly, and Felix nodded, “We’ll set up Bailey’s old room for you. It’s next to Asher’s. Kylie left a bunch of her comfortable sweat suits the last time they visited. I think they’ll be too long, but she’s as thin as you. You can be comfortable that way.”

“Thank you,” Felix whispered, and my parents went inside, my grandparents following as I sat next to Felix again and looked at the sky, “Asher? Can you make me a promise? Even if it’s a lie?”

“What is it?”

“Promise me that everything is going to be okay. That I won’t lose to them.”

“I swear it, and it’s not a lie. We’re going to figure it out.”