AFFLICTION- LRH

Chaotic.

Maeve's POV:

"I told you I was going to sleep there tonight, Michael!"

It's been a month.

"I don't care, Ashton. I have a bad back and I will be sleeping in the bed tonight!"

And the house has never been so chaotic.

"You two could just share the bed." Calum shrugs, adding kerosene to the fire as we all watched the boys fight over the spare bedroom.

Although this place was huge, it only had three bedrooms, one of those being where Luke and I slept. Kouvr and Calum realistically got the second.

Leaving the third one up to grabs for two boys.

"I am never sharing the bed with Michael again," Ashton scoffs, blocking off the entire door with his body to keep Michael from entering, "after that night I woke up to him kissing my cheek in his sleep, it was decided."

"I was asleep!" Michael shouts, his arms flying in the air, "how was I supposed to help that?"

"You two sound like an old married couple, and it's fucking annoying." Luke chimes in, staring up from his book on the couch, "I feel like I'm watching a reality tv show instead."

"Then tell him to give me the room tonight!" Ashton whines, "he had it last night, and the night before!"

"And you had it-"

"ENOUGH!" Kouvr shouts, her voice echoing loud enough for both Luke and I to cover our ears, "Michael, take the couch tonight. You two are going to alternate every single night until we leave. No ifs, and, or buts!"

"Haha." Ashton sneered, sticking his tongue out his out  as he races into the room,

"Ah, Kouv." Michael rolled his eyes, slumping his way to the couch as he plops hard against it, his arms crossing in front of his chest, "when did you become mean?"

"She's not mean," I snort , "she's fair. I would've told you both to suck it up and have you both sleep on the floor."

Kouvr eyes Michael, her brow raising, "and you thought I was the mean one."

Michael huffs from the couch, looking like a storm cloud ready to burst. "When did you become the boss of us, Kouvr?"

Kouvr just smirks, "Since I got tired of listening to you two squabble like kids over a toy. Grow up, boys."

The room erupts in laughter, even Luke cracks a smile, putting his book aside. "You know," he says, still chuckling, "this is better than any comedy show."

Ashton, now comfortably sprawled on the bed, yells out, "Hey, Michael, want me to leave a mint on your pillow for that five-star couch experience?"

Michael throws a cushion at him, missing by a mile. "You're hilarious. Write a book."

But then the laughter fades as Luke's expression turns somber. "Speaking of books, I heard Burke's been trying to rewrite history with Cody's story."

The room goes quiet, the weight of the topic pressing down on us.

I feel the bubble forming in my chest, my stomach collapses as I whisper, "what's he saying?"

Luke stands from the couch, walking over to me as he places his hand firmly against my shoulder, giving me just a small squeeze as a way to remind me no matter what he is here, "Rumor has it he has already begun to take over redemption." His eyes scan toward the others, Ashton now stepping out of the room as he leans against the frame of the door, "He has more and more people going there every night to kill. I only know this because of Alex, the guy who helps with the protective services for Burke."

We all sit in silence a moment, before Ashton clears his throat, his face serious. "As long as we remember the truth, that's what matters. And that we're here, together, alive. That's what Cody would've wanted."

Kouvr nods, her gaze firm. "Exactly. We just need to figure out how the fuck we are getting out of here unscathed."

My mind was a whirlwind. I didn't even realize I had begun to shake in anger until Luke's entire body closed around mine, his soft whispers in my ear trying to calm me down as he holds me tighter and tighter.

I was losing my fucking mind, and I didn't even know it was happening.

"I can't stand this anymore," my voice shakes, following after my bodies lead as I begin to take heavy breathes, "I'm going fucking kill Burke myself."

Luke steps forward, his voice calm but firm. "Maeve, we need to think this through. Going in alone is exactly what he wants."

"Think it through?" My voice begins to rise, "While he's out there, twisting the truth, dishonoring my father's memory?" My hands clench into fists. "I can't just sit here and do nothing!"

Michael and Ashton exchange worried glances, sensing the danger in my tone. "Maeve, we're all angry," Ashton says gently. "But we can't let that anger blind us. We have to be smart about this."

Kouvr steps up, bringing along a soothing presence. "We'll get justice for Cody, but we need you here, with us, not out there on a suicide mission."

The tension in the room is palpable, a tangible force that presses against everyone's chest.

We all know the stakes are high, and my resolve could either be our salvation or our undoing.

But I didn't care.

Burke had officially gone to far.

He got the boys once.

He got my father.

But he sure as shit won't get me.

"We are coming up with a plan." I swallow, "and we are going to get it done. I don't care what it takes."