What This Is

Chapter 25

Luke's POV
"Beth, something's going on. She never leaves the front door open."
"I know Luke. Tell you what, I'll get a movie ready, and you go get her."
"Okay, deal but do NOT come towards us unless I yell for help alright? I have a feeling something's very wrong..."
"What Luke? Luke please tell me what wrong!" Beth begged me, tears welling in her eyes.
I sighed, not needing this. Lacey was somewhere in this house, and needed me right now. That is, if what Beth said was true.
"Beth she's not a whole lot different from Sam. And Sam, as you know, has a very large impact on her. Don't panic, because she doesn't need it okay? She needs you to be strong right now," I nudge Beth into the living room and turn to head down the lit hallway whispering over my shoulder, "Oh, and I call dibs on the love seat," smiling for I earned a slight chuckle. I first check her bedroom which was vacant except for her music playing and her phone on her bed.
I pick it up to turn off the music when I see the screen that's open. She was on iMessage with Sam.
Sam: remember what I told you, you murderer. Do everyone a favor.
I growled, making my way to the bathroom and-
Shit. The door's locked.
"Lacey. Open the door. Please, please open the door."
When there was no response, adrenaline rushed through my body. I pick the lock with ease (I guess living with my dad actually did some good in the sense of picking locks) and let my eyes adjust to the darkness.
Lacey stood in front of the mirror, muttering to herself.
"You're so ugly."
Pop. Drop. Swallow.
"You're worthless."
Pop. Drop. Swallow.
"You hurt people."
Pop. Drop. Swallow.
"You hurt Sam."
Pop. Drop. Swallow.
"You killed Sam."
Pop. Drop. Swallow.
"I'm sorry mommy."
Pop. Drop. Swallow.
"I'm sorry Beth."
Pop. Drop. Swallow.
"I'm so so so sorry Lucas Grey."
Pop. Drop. Swall-
Lacey choked, coughing the pill back up. She screamed in surprise as the familiar hands grabbed her shoulders and asked, "How many is that?"
'I lost count 10 minutes ago..' She thought. Lacey's eyes must have spelled it out because the next moment, Luke had her bent over the toilet and gagged her. She barfed every pill she just swallowed back up. Luke pulled her back to her feet and started to bring her out of the bathroom.
"NO!!!! I'M GOING TO DO IT!!! LET GO!" Lacey screamed, grabbing the bottle from the counter and pour the bottle into her mouth.
Or, at least, tried to. From the behind her, Luke held his hand in such a way where she couldn't swallow however many pills she had in her mouth and slapped the bottle out of reach.
"Leth GOE LUCKE!!!" Lacey screamed with her mouth full.
"Spit them out."
"No."
"Fine."
Luke felt bad, but he had no other choice. He gagged her again, succeeding in her spitting all the drugs out.
Lacey's head was a blur. She couldn't think. All she could think about was getting out of Luke's grip and getting those pills.
Luke must have sensed this, for then he picked her up and taking her to her room.
"Stop kicking me baby," Luke grunted, laying her on the bed.
She finally stopped kicking, instead focusing on the lyrics of the song playing.
"...summer has come and past, the innocent can never last, wake me up when September-"
She grunted when the music shifted, but allowing the all familiar Yiruma to play.
She hummed along to River Flows in You, but fell silent when she felt Luke spoon up behind her, successfully making her relax completely with his soft, protective touch.
Luke whispered soothing, loving comments into her ear as she fell asleep.

"...So that's what has happened today," Beth concluded her summary of the day.
Lacey's mom cried out loud, feeling horrible for her daughter. She wasn't there. And she should have been.
"Larissa, please don't cry, she wasn't thinking properly. Sam got to her, um, again. But both me and Luke are going to make sure she doesn't come anywhere near Lacey again. I cleaned up the mess that Lace and Luke made in the bathroom so you wouldn't have to deal with it. I had a movie ready for Lace when she came out, but I guess Luke took her to her room. I went in and took a photo of them just because it was adorable and sent it to both of them. See, look!"
"Awe that's sweet," Larissa tried to chuckle but it came out strained, she knew the answer to somethings, like what Sam did before (she always teased Lacey about Keylo) but still had a lot of questions.
"What mess did they make?" Larissa asked, almost terrified of the answer.
"Well, I don't know how it happened, but there were pills everywhere."
Larissa tried to think, what pills?
A voice behind them startled both of them when it stated, "They were sleeping pills. And they were everywhere because I made her throw them up. Then I threw them out of reach, because she tried to overdose again. And then I made her spit the pills that found their way into mouth again. I then took her into her room and lied her down, turning on some of Yiruma's work, since I knew that stuff helped her sleep. I knew she just needed to calm down. Then I just, um, I cuddled her, so that she wouldn't be alone."
The story line fit like perfect puzzle pieces for both Beth and Larissa.
"I thought I got rid of those pills when her father left..."
Luke shook his head, "She hid them. Oh, and Beth? You threw them out right?"
"Of course!"
"Thank you guys so much, you will never know how much I love you guys," Larissa weeped.
Beth went home later that night along with Luke.
Larissa stayed up until her daughter woke.
"Mummy?"
Larissa gave her sleepyhead a warm smile.
"Yes love?"
"Why does my neck hurt?"
"Come sit."
Larissa carefully caressed the marks on her daughters neck.
"Um, what all do you remember?"
"Not a whole lot, but based on the picture from Beth, I'm assuming it ended well," Lacey explained.
"Luke had to, uh, well you refused to spit out the pills so he was forced to gag you twice, so you would spit out the pills."
Suddenly, everything came rushing into Lacey's mind. Her attempt to overdose was clear in her mind, how confident Luke was and how forceful he was at the times it was necessary.
And everything she said, everything Sam said...
"I'm so sorry mommy," her mother held her as a harsh cry left her mouth and the tears streamed in rivers down her face.
"Shhh, it's okay baby girl, you're going to be okay, it's okay," Larissa soothed her daughter.
When her daughter calmed down, she held her face and looked straight into Lacey's eyes. "I quit my job. I wasn't around often enough and I'm so sorry for that. But I was offered a different job that has steady work hours, only 8am to 5pm on weekdays. I will be here for you. And I want to ask you, do you want a therapist? I'll get you one if that's what you want."
Lacey nodded, wiping her raw cheeks. She felt that would be a good idea. It was a chance to get better. She startled to get up when her mom stopped her.
"Oh and, I want you to know, there's a reason I was working so much. I needed more money, so I could bring a former member back into the family."
Lacey cocked her head in pure confusion.
"Get your boots darling, we're going to the barn."
Lacey's smile couldn't be brighter.