Born To Die Part Two - The Charm Of A Conflict

Plan

Ashton blinks, the light in his eyes shining too bright. A yellow abrasion to his eyes. Where is he? He pulls himself up. The room is all white. He's on a small white bed with pipes as a makeshift bed frame. The blankets are thin and practically crumbling away. He doesn't remember falling asleep.

He remembers now. Niall Trenton had knocked them both out cold with his bony fists. He feels his eye; swollen, and probably purple.

He sees somebody stir from the opposite side of the room. Alexis stirs in her bed, a matching wound on her face.

'Alexis?' The room is confining, the sound barely travelling off the padded walls.

'Oh my god,' Alexis begins to sob, rubbing her eyes frantically. Ashton rushes over to comfort her. He rubs her back, shushing her and telling her everything is going to be okay. He wasn't so sure about the latter. She sniffles and detaches herself from his arms, 'I don't want to die in this stupid place.'

'You won't be,' A voice comes from the doorway, making both of them gasp. Niall stands in the doorway. They both begin to tremble in fear, but Ashton stands in front of Alexis, trying to protect her, 'I need to take Ashton Rockwell.'

Eudora appears behind him, 'And I need to take Alexis Florakis.'

The pair exchange a terrified look. What if this is the last time they see each other? They wrap each other in a firm embrace.

'I hope I see you again.'

'Me too.'

*

Kristoffer shakes, falling into his chair. His mind clouded with his friends' terrified faces, the glass covering their hardwood floors, the guns pointed at their faces. He pulls at his hair. He closes his eyes and breathes slowly, attempting to calm himself. He isn't wearing the work's approved dress code. Strangelove will hopefully let him off the hook. Just this once. He knows what he did isn't right. And they will hold it against him for the rest of his life. He scrolls through his emails to take his mind off things. Nothing new. Everything is the same old same old. It wouldn't hurt to escape. It wouldn't hurt to just leave. Disappear without a trace. He'd be alone and he would have nobody to let down. Just him and his old memories, with no new ones to come. He can hear barely distinguishable shouts from down the corridor.

'Why should I tell you anything? You're the one who shot Yen Yamaguchi!'

'Exactly, and that's why you should tell me.'

'What is... what's a lighter going to do?'

'You'll see.'

Kristoffer shudders and places his headphones over his ears. He suddenly has an idea.

*

Ashton wakes up again. How many times had he woken up today? The lights feel less luminous as his eyes flutter open. He notices a rather large crack in his glasses. The buzzing drowns out any thoughts. He sits up. He tries to focus on what has happened. He looks down at his body. His clothes are ripped in the legs, arms, and torso, yet still wearable. He tries to stretch his wings. A soft clicking noise comes from his back. He looks behind his shoulder to see two wings. Two blackened, burnt, skeletal wings. He feels tears prickle in his eyes.

They don't look like his,

They aren't his,

Yet why are they attached to his back? He places them back on his back. Everything comes flooding back. He remembers the fire and a shudder goes down his spine. Niall has left the room. He feels his chest rising and falling rapidly, his breath coming in hiccups. He places his head on his knees, wrapping his arms around his legs. Ashton suddenly hears muffled talking from outside the door. He can just recognise the voices over his soft sobs.

'This one?'

'Yes, Piercebridge. I'm not an idiot like you.'

'Okay, okay. Sorry.'

'See you later.'

He hears the sound of thick boots walking away down the corridor. As soon as they fade away, the door bursts open. Ashton lifts his head, and he sees Kristoffer standing in the doorway. His face twists into guilt and sadness, rushing to his side. The door slams behind him.

'Ashton, I'm so sorry,' He whispers, pulling him into a tight, unexpected embrace, 'I never wanted to do this.'

Ashton's breath catches in his throat, fear softly fizzing in the pit of his stomach. Kristoffer jumps at the feeling of his burnt and blackened wings.

'I know, I'm worse than before,' He sighs. His head falls onto Kristoffer's shoulder, 'You can leave again.'

'No, you'll be leaving. I have a plan for you to escape,' Kristoffer murmurs, 'I know this place like the back of my hand, and the security is super weak. If I leave this door unlocked, you just need to find the exit on the right of this corridor. Once I leave, get out as soon as possible. Then I'm sure you can figure it out from there.'

'And will I see you ever again?' Ashton's voice breaks with emotions, tears clouding his eyes again. They meet each other's eyes.

'It'd be best if you didn't,' He responds. He stands, holding out his hands to help him up. Ashton shakes as he stands up, his legs feeling like jelly. He looks at the floor. He suddenly embraces Kristoffer, resting his head against his shoulder.

'I'll miss you again,' Ashton sighs. He lets go, tears clouding his vision. He suddenly raises an eyebrow, 'Does Alexis know?'

Kristoffer nods, making his way towards the door. He gives Ashton a final look. No words are needed. They both understand what the other is saying. Kristoffer slips through the doorway and leaves down the corridor. He opens the door to the staff room, looking back at the two unlocked doors next to each other. He takes a sharp breath, and shuts the staff room door.

Ashton knows exactly what to do. He hears a pound of fists at his door. He rushes to see Alexis, covered in scrapes, burns, bruises, and cuts. Her breath is shallow and fast, like she had just ran a marathon. She immediately throws her arms around him.

'Alexis, can we save this for later? I kind of don't want to die,' He croaks. She detaches herself, looking a bit embarrassed.

'Sorry, I'm just relieved to see you alive,' She confesses. Ashton ignores her and jerks his head down the corridor in a questioning manner, 'Oh yeah, sorry.'