No memory-5sos-ot4

Chapter 13

Ashton being gone was definitely too noticeable to them. Things that had once felt so normal now felt strange without Ashton around. The house was noticeably empty and quiet. It was strange to see an empty chair at the kitchen island, and the guest room no longer had the life it use to. Ashton hadn't been there too long, maybe only a month and a half but he changed so much. The bed at night felt empty despite holding three people, the house seemed to be almost lifeless even though three people still lived in it. They tried to go back to the way things were before Ashton but it was impossible. Michael knew something wasn't right as Ashton wasn't answering his phone, and he usually always did. Calum was currently sitting in the living room, watching some children's cartoon show, and Luke was in the calm room where he had began to spend a bit more of his time at. They tried to keep it as normal as possible but it was all very clear that there was something missing, they weren't happy with just the three of them anymore, they were still happy with each other but they wanted Ashton as well. Things became way too quiet for them around the house. They began playing the tv louder, and listening to music just to fill the space where Ashton's laughs, or voice use to reside. Michael was in the kitchen fixing himself a sandwich and fixing Calum some dinosaur chicken nuggets when phone dinged loudly, echoing around the silent kitchen, as Michael was too lazy to walk the two feet to turn on the radio they had placed in the kitchen. Lazily, with barely any energy, Michael slid his phone towards and tapped the screen making it light up.

Ashton 🥰: Stop trying to get ahold of me. I don't want anything to do with any of you anymore. You manipulated me completely to think you were good and that you cared when you bought me all of those things but now I see that was a complete lie.

Michael furrowed his eyebrows and continuously reread the message. Michael almost immediately knew that Ashton didn't type this message because he didn't know how to spell the word manipulated, something was most definitely wrong. He was almost terrified to think of what could be happening to Ashton, knowing if most definitely couldn't be good. Michael walked down the hall and knocked on the door to Luke's calm room, being sure to know loud enough to be heard but not so loud that it would startle Luke too much.

"Who is it?" Luke asked turning the music off to be able to hear better, even though he almost didn't want to speak to anyone at the moment he knew he had to.

"It's me Mikey, I need your help with something." Michael said leaning agains the wall next to the door.

Almost a second later Luke opened the door, knowing it must've been important.

"With what?" Luke asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"I got a text message from Ashton's number but Ashton doesn't know how to spell manipulated." Michael said handing Luke his phone.

"Hmmm. See if you can get another message from him, I might be able to find a location from it." Luke said reading the message.

"What if I can't get another message?" Michael asked pushing off the wall.

"We'll figure something out. We always do. It's what we do." Luke said gently kissing Michael's cheek.

"Daddy! Dada! We gots dis fwom da pewson wif da blue bag." Calum said coming down the hall with an envelope.

"You mean the mailman, baby? Let me see that." Michael said holding his hand out.

Calum handed Michael the envelope then held his arms out to Luke who picked him up immediately placing him on his hip. Calum laid his head on Luke's shoulder letting out a little sigh.

"Me miss Ashy." Calum said, nuzzling into Luke's neck.

"I know, baby, we all do." Luke said gently patting Calum's side.Michael opened the envelope and pulled out a letter, in Ashton's handwriting. Luke read over Michael's shoulder as they both read it in silence.

Michael, Luke, and Calum,

I know I haven't been replieing to your calls or mesages but know that I am not in any danger. Everything with my parants are great, they are great people not harmful. So please know I don't need any help. It's all defintly okay. I really hope and need that you are to come really quick at reading this letter. I am unsure if I will have time to write you again, as I don't really know when or how I will revive much free time. I still have the things you've left me.

~Sincerly Ashton Irwin

"This is definitely from Ashton." Michael said continuously rereading the letter.

It didn't make any sense to him and it kind of annoyed him, this letter was saying things were okay but Michael just knew that things weren't find but he didn't have an actual reason to believe that. It confused him so much to the point that if felt like his head was spinning and it hurt. He's never dealt with anything like this before and maybe his own want of wanting Ashton to come back was messing with his head so much that he was unable to see that Ashton didn't want to come back. But again he knew, most definitely knew something was wrong.

"Mikey." Luke said shakily, grabbing Michael's wrist suddenly, immediately alerting Michael to something being wrong.

"What? What is it? What's wrong? Are you okay?" Michael asked, obviously very concerned as to what could get Luke so worked up for his voice to be shaky that quickly.

"Read the letter again but this time only read the underlined words." Luke said pointing to the letter.

Michael did as told and gasped as he realised what the letter was actually saying.

"Oh my god." Michael said.