Devil inside > lrh

↠ tuo

Chapter eight:

*goes to microphone*

Calum hood is hot

*drops microphone*

I hold Ashton's hand as I stare blankly at the white creases of the blanket. It's been three days and Ashton has showed no signs of movement.

I blink once and twice before feeling the pressing need in my bladder. I stand up, giving my friend's hand a gentle squeeze, before leaving the room. However, when I close the door to Ashton's room, I see Calum and Lian talking amongst themselves, and Lian in a strange robe.

"What's going on?" I ask and they both turn their heads at me.

"Zayn sent us on an errand, apparently this warehouse has been having a strange demonic activity, he sent us to check it out." Calum answered and I looked at them, skeptical.

"Not to be mean or anything, but are you sure you guys are ready to go out? I mean Lian just started training and everything."

"We'll be fine, Angel." Lian said, her hand comfortingly landing on my shoulder "trust me."

I nod and send them a weak smile "it's just that- with everything happening I don't wanna get you guys harmed too."

"We'll be okay." Calum said, smiling at me. I hug him, then hug Lian and then they were off.

❁❁❁

I pick at the plants at my mum's grave, staring blankly at her tombstone.

My mind was a mess of emotions. I couldn't think properly and i felt as if i was gonna faint. So, i decided to visit my mum's grave. Talking to her has always helped me.

"Hey stranger." i turn my head and see Zayn. He wasn't in his usual proffesional attire but was in jeans and a singlet, smiling at me. "I never visit mum in a proffesional attire."

"Have you, seen her?" i asked, referring to the life locker.

Zayn nods, sitting down next to me "of course i have. She's usually not there but i've seen her there."

"What does she look like?" i ask softly and look chuckles and looks at me.

"She looks so much like you." he said with a fond look in his face "same smile, same hair, same eyes, heck, even the same frown. You two are so much alike its unreal."

I sigh and lay my head on his shoulder "i wanna meet her."

"You will, don't worry." zayn said with a smile.

I grunt, standing up, brushing my pants off "i have to go check on ashton. Wanna come with?" i asked.

He shook his head "i'm gonna go talk to mum for a bit."

I nod, kiss his cheek and make my way to the hospital.

❁❁❁

I was surprised to find that Ashton wasn't in his room. In fact, it even scared me.

I immediately run to the nurse's station.

"Hi um the patient at room 342 is gone, any chance you know where he is?" i asked urgently.

She typed at the keyboards "he woke up this morning, then a few hours ago he had requested to be wheeled to another room. Though he wasn't in the right condition, he was pretty persistent so we let him go."

"W-what room? Is he still in that room?" i ask.

"I think so, its room 450. Fourth floor."

But the fourth floor is for people who have serious injuries.

I nod at the nurse and ran to the nearest elevator, jabbing the number four with my thumb as i impatiently wait for it to ascend one floor.

I all but ran once the doors were open and went to the said room. I felt my knees go weak at the sight.

It was calum's turn.

Ashton was sitting on a wheelchair but was near calum's bedside. ashton looked okay, apart from the purple bruises.

I walk slowly forward, afraid to see what damage has been done to calum.

"Ashton." i whisper and ashton's head turns to me.

"Hey, Angel." he whispered and sighed.

"W-where's Lian?" i ask trying not to look at calum's condition knowing i'll be crushed.

"Training room." ashton said.

I nod and sigh, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.

"What's going on Angel?" he asks softly "first michael gets burned in his own home, next i get mugged, and now calum." he sighs "how long before they get luke? O-or worse you?"

My eyes soften as i carefully hug ashton, making sure i didn't hit any of his bruises. "I'm sorry," i whisper against his skin "this is all my fault."

"No it isn't, angel." ashton said, pulling away from the hug "now go find lian. She needs you."

I nod and leave the room.

❁❁❁

As i enter the training room, the thud of lian's blades were heard all around the room.

I see her in the middle, violently hitting the bulls eye as if her life depended on it. Everytime she threw, she would hiccup, and at rare occassions, maybe even sob.

Lian was crying.

She wasn't really the type to cry. She was strong, or at least she tries to be strong for all of us.

But i guess everyone has their breaking point; and hers just so happened to be this- calum being beaten to death.

"Lian." i said, hoping she had heard me.

"What?" she said, never taking her glare out of the bulls eye, and her arm never ceasing from the violent throwing.

"Stop." i said "your arm would hurt like hell the tomorrow."

"I don't care." thud "i am the reason calum is at the hospital bed right now" thud "i deserve this pain and more" thud

"Wait, what do you mean you're the reason?"

She lets out a snarl and hit the bulls eye one last time before collapsing on the floor and letting her sobs take over.

I walk over to her and hug her to my chest letting her tears seep into my shirt. I let her cry it all out and after a while, she was calm.

"It was a trap." she spoke after a while "and calum knew it. He was able to sense it as soon as we landed at the warehouse door. But i didn't listen. I was so stupid." she balls her hands into fists "i wanted to show off and test my skills and i was blinded.

"When we entered the warehouse, it was empty. Which is why i decided we split. He was hesitant of course, i was just a newbie and stuff but i didn't care. I didn't care and it almost got him killed.

"So we split, and then after a while of searching i heard a scream. Calum's scream. I ran as fast as i could but i saw him as a bloody mess on the floor and i hurriedly called ashton who took the attention of a nurse who seny an ambulance, and here we are now." she sobs "i'm so fucking stupid and it almost cost him his life."

"Lian stop blaming yourself you didn't know." i whispered to her.

She just shrugged and sighed "oh god everything is so fucked up."

I agree with her, doing a subtle nod.

"Oh." she retracts from leaning into me and pats around in her pockets "when i found calum's body, i found this." she gave me a tattered piece of paper.

Tuo

That was all that was written inside.

What could this possibly mean?

I wanna sleep bc school is a fucking pain in the ass im gonna cry.