𝐝є𝕄σηｉČ ғ𝐥ᵒⓦᗴⓇᔕ || Apply Fic (closed)

ς𝕙𝓪𝔭ｔ𝐞𝕣 ８

Johnathan (Jacob Bixenman, left)

Blake (Troye Sivan, right)

The two boys were sitting next to each other on a pair of crates, holding hands. Jonathan had just come back from a thieving spree- probably the most important thieving spree of his life. He'd told the entire gang- even Nightshade, who normally didn't indulge in the private lives of her gang members- about his plan. And so far, it was going good. The Hollywood gang consisted of Nightshade- the leader-, Datura -the smart guy, he was called-, Bittersweet -the gang's angel-, Adenium -freaking psychopath-, and then the two boys, Johnathan and Blake, otherwise known as Cactus and Aloe. Cactus was tough and was the thief (he had spent many years stealing food and other necessities) and Aloe was the doctor of the group- there wasn't much he didn't know about healing.

Nightshade was doing as normal- pretending she wasn't listening, but she was. She listened to everything, especially conversations between Cactus and Aloe- the two made the perfect couple, even though Cactus was a bit hard to get along with and everyone loved Aloe. Datura sat with his laptop and had a bunch of 0s and 1s on his screen. Bittersweet was watching with interest, figuring out most of the conversation by watching Cactus and Aloe's mouths. Adenium played with the lighter in his hand, and was staring at the two boys. And Cactus knew that everyone was waiting on him, and that Aloe was completely oblivious to what was about to happen. As Aloe turned away for a moment to ask Bittersweet a question, Cactus pulled his hand out of his pocket (it had been there since the beginning of their conversation); in his hand was a black velvet box. Silently, he kneeled on his left knee and waited nervously to turn around. Even Nightshade stopped pretending to not know what was going on- her eyes were fixated on the couple of 2 years. Finally- finally- Aloe turned back around.

"Blake Mazen," Cactus started. Aloe stared at him with a wide smile. "We've been together for two years. We've been in and out of jail together, which is kind of like going to hell and back. We've had a fair share of fights, be it with each other or united against others. We've also faced our fair share of people telling us that we're going to be nothing. And that might be true- maybe we're not going to be anything more than gang members. But if I am going to be nothing, then there's no one I'd rather do it with than you. I've wanted to do this for a long time, and I don't think there's any other time than right now, surrounded by our friends. Our family. With that said," he opened the black velvet box to reveal a black ring with a blue band through the center of it, obviously stolen because no one in the gang had enough money to buy something that pretty. . "Will you marry me?"

Aloe, obviously overwhelmed, just nodded and the ring was slid into place on his finger. Instantly, they were mobbed by the gang, asking to see the ring and several congratulations. They started making wedding plans that night- it wouldn't be a big wedding, so it wouldn't take long to plan, but it would be amazing. It would be great because they would have each other and their friends. This went on well into the night and around 11:30, most of the gang was still asleep, but Nightshade, Cactus, and Aloe sat around the bonfire.

"Well, I know I haven't said it, so here goes." Nightshade looked over and gave the two a serious look. "I will not be wearing a dress." The two boys burst out laughing and Nightshade cracked a smile. "I'm just kidding, you two wouldn't be stupid enough to ask me that. Congrats, you guys."

"Thanks, Nightshade." Aloe said with a smile. "It means a lot."

"And you're right, we're not stupid enough to ask you to wear a dress." Cactus cut in.

There was silence for a awhile as they just stared at the fire, until Aloe spoke again.

"So when are you and Datura getting married?" Nightshade went rigid.

"What do you mean?" she asked tightly.

"Please, everyone knows you like each other."

"Datura and I could never work."

"C'mon. You can't be stupid enough-" But that was all he said because Nightshade launched at him, pinning him to the wall. Cactus, feeling a surge of protectiveness for his fiancee, pulled Nightshade off by the shoulders.

"Are you OK?" He asked Aloe.

"I'm- watch out!"

Nightshade had snuck up behind Cactus. Cactus tried to turn around but it was too late- Nightshade drug the blade across his neck and he fell to the ground, dead. Nightshade had obviously fallen into the fire when she was pulled back; her skin was read and blistered.

"Nightshade..." Aloe whispered.

"This is your fault, Blake." Nightshade growled. "It's your fault that he's dead." Aloe was too scared to move. He had seen Nightshade kill people before, but it hadn't meant anything. In this gang, it was either kill or get killed. But he had never seen her seriously injure a gang member, let alone kill one. By now, the gang had awoken to the noise, but they were all as stunned as Aloe. They stared at the dead body on the ground- the body that was so warm and lively not but 10 minutes ago. The body whose blood was still warm as it soaked into Aloe's shoes.

"He jumped in to save you." Her eyes seemed darker than usual. "IT'S YOUR FAULT! YOU'RE A MURDERER!"

"No." Aloe said- his voice was firm and steady though his body trembled. "You are a murderer." And then he died. Two dead in one day by the hand of Nightshade- her gang stared at her in terror.

Nightshade woke up, covered in sweat. It dripped off her head and drenched her chest. Datura was right next to her, sleeping peacefully.

"It was a dream." she whispered to herself, but she knew it wasn't. It was a memory. She knew what brought it too- Hemlock. Everything that had happened with Hemlock was so similar to what had happened to Aloe and Cactus.

It had been 3 days since Whisperhollow and it was the first time the gang had gotten to sleep. Where they were, no one knew. They had taken refuge in a cave for the night. The gang had been hungry and tired. And if they didn't find water soon, they were going to die. Thankfully, there was a town within eyesight from the cave, so Nightshade had told the group to rest and they would go at dawn. They were all still asleep but a gray light had spread across the sky. Resting her head against the side of the cave, she tried to prepare herself for the long trek to come.