sleep.

Chapter IV: Jason

Warning: this chapter contains gore.

     Malcolm sighed and put down his phone. Even though he liked rain, he hated thunder and lightning. It always came out of nowhere and startled him. He’s not afraid of it, it’s just super irritating.
     “What? What was it?” Jake asked.
     Malcolm stood up, sighing, “It’s nothing.”
     “Thunderstorm warning?”
     Malcolm looked at Jake with a puzzled look on his face, “how can you read my mind?”
     “Mentally connected, Max. Remember?”
     Malcolm looked down and held his arm, “mhm…”
     “Listen, I know you don’t like thunderstorms, but I've always wondered. Why?”
     “You can read my mind, so I don’t need to tell you…”
     “I actually don’t know. Why do you think I’ve been wondering?”
     “How do you not know?”
     “You must’ve forgotten about it.”
     “Yeah… maybe…”
     “Then how come you still don’t like them?”
     “I guess it’s because… even though I don’t know what happened to make me hate thunderstorms, I still remember how it made me feel.”
     “Ah. So.. do you.. want to remember it?”
     “I… I feel like it’s best if I don’t.”
     “Roger that.”

3 months earlier…

     It was midnight, and it was raining. Jason laughed as he grabbed Malcolm’s arm, running into the forest with him. “Jason, stop. I really don’t think this is a good idea.” Malcolm said, worried.
     “Oh, come on, Fluff. I’ve been here many times. It’ll be alright.” He stopped and looked into Malcolm’s eyes, smiling before leaning in for a kiss. Malcolm smiled, “Alright. If you’re sure it’s safe.”
     “Of course it is! I know this forest like the back of my hand. Come on, I wanna show you something cool!” He continued running, still grabbing Malcolm’s hand as they rushed through the forest. “Jace, stop! I can’t run as fast as you! You’ll end up dragging me!” Malcolm said, laughing a bit.
     “We’re almost there, Fluff!”
     They stopped. A shelter made of sticks sits in front of a tree. Jason quickly sits under it and gestures for Malcolm to join him. Malcolm happily sits next to him. Jason looks down at his hands, fidgeting with his fingers. “Fluff, I know I can trust you, and you can trust me. We’ve been together for almost 2 years. I think it’s time we.. move forward.” He reaches into his pocket, pulling something out but hiding it in his hand. Malcolm looks at him in slight shock and hopefulness. “Jace… please tell me…”
     Jason puts the item into Malcolm’s hand, Malcolm looks at it. It’s a ring made of wood. “I made it. Don’t wear it. It’ll give you splinters. ‘I’ll get you a real one soon, but.. I need to know right now. Do you want to be with me? Forever?”
     Too stunned to speak, Malcolm stares at the wooden ring in amazement. He nods, tearing up a bit and smiling.
     “I’ll take that as a yes.” Jason says, smiling before leaning in and kissing his cheek. He stands up and points to a tall tree. “Now, let’s climb that tree and officiate our elope.” Malcolm wipes his tears before standing up. Jason holds his hand and they both walk toward the tree, gradually getting soaked in rain as the thunder roared in. But they didn’t care. They were together. They both wanted to grow old together and live a great life next to each other. “I love you so much…” Malcolm says, tearfully.
     “I love you too.” Jason replies, looking at him and smiling. “Come on. Let’s climb.” He says before walking toward the tree. They held each other’s hand and both looked up to the top of the tall tree. Another wave of thunder roared. Jason let go of Malcolm’s hand, stepping right up to the bottom of the tree before he started climbing. Malcolm went after him. They were both climbing a long way up to the top of the tree. Jason looked down and smiled at Malcolm, “I love you so much, Fluff.”
     “I love you t-” Malcolm was cut off by another roar of thunder, this time, with lightning, going straight through Jason’s body. Jason screamed in agony before exploding. Pieces of him spread all around the forest. His guts fell onto the floor of the forest, and his blood dripped onto Malcolm, soaking him as he was almost covered in Jason’s blood. Malcolm gasped, still staring up at the spot of the tree Jason held onto, his left severed hand still holding onto the branch of the tree.
     “J-Jason?” Malcolm muttered under his breath, his heart racing with shock and disbelief. His eyes started to tear up “No. No, please. Please! Jason! Jason, please!” he cried, the rain slowly washing the blood off him. “This isn't real. What the fuck! What the fuck just happened! Jason! Come back, please! Don’t go! No, Jason, please! You’re everything to me! I can’t lose you! You’re all I have left!” Malcolm bawled, pressing his face against the trunk of the tree, begging for this to not be real, begging for it to just be a dream.
     He looked up and saw Jason’s severed hand holding onto the branch. He grabbed his hand and held it close to his chest, releasing his grip from the tree and falling back, falling a far distance from the tree.
     His life started to flash before his eyes. He remembered all the memories with Jason. The person who made him come out, the person he’s known since he was 4 because their moms were friends. The first person he fell in love with. Not just fell in love, he felt as if Jason was the only one who was there for him. Because, well, he was. He was there for him when they were 4, and Jason has helped him get through his life and be happy, even in the hardest times.
     Malcolm’s tears rose up from his eyes as he fell. He closed his eyes as he held Jason’s severed, bleeding hand closer. His world slowly went darker, as he felt as if he was transporting to a new world, his falling started to feel like slow motion. His body goes from normal to injured as he is now laying down in a hospital bed, no longer holding Jason’s hand.
     “Where.. Where am I?” Malcolm asks as he sees a blurry image of someone standing over him. “Malcolm? I’m Jake. You have amnesia. I’m going to take care of you from now on.”

Author's Note:
Shiiit I cried when writing this chapter because it's based on a true story except much more graphic.