Expulsion gave Liam Barrett a dangerous choice. Needing to transfer for his final year, he'd known immediately where to go. It was a distantly familiar place that'd taken everything from him; had once ruined him so absolutely and twisted his persona...
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Charlie hurried through the twists of the darkening streets and alleyways. Rounding a sharp corner, and looking around, seeking out a body, he saw nothing out of the ordinary.
ㅤ"Liam, whereabouts are you?"
ㅤThere was no response over the phone; the silence worrying. Although Charlie wasn't entirely confident that this wasn't a joke, he didn't think Liam would've set a prank of such poor taste. Charlie would rather be disappointed in Liam's character than ignore a genuine call for help.
ㅤHis visit to his sisters' had made him sensitive.
ㅤStuffing the useless device in his pocket, he focused on hidden corners and quiet sounds. He held his breath and cocked his head, suddenly stopping in his tracks. Quick heartbeats obstructed his success but, underneath, a faint scraping of dirt pricked his ears.
ㅤFollowing the noise, he eventually found Liam slumped against the wall on the floor, a hand limply clutching at his side. The blotches were black in the dark but Charlie recognised it immediately. Blood was spreading across Liam's white shirt and through his fingers. Not what he'd expected.
ㅤHe got to his knees and pushed Liam's hand tighter on the wound.
ㅤ"Shit." He slapped Liam's cheek, accidentally harder than necessary. "Liam, dude. Wake up."
ㅤCharlie cursed and wetly fumbled with his phone to call for an ambulance, blood smearing across his screen. A sudden hand grabbed his arm and his attention jolted onto the other man. Liam was conscious.
ㅤ"Don't call anyone," Liam croaked.
ㅤCharlie relaxed, relieved he hadn't stumbled upon a body he'd have to plead innocence over. It oddly wouldn't have been the first occasion. Police hated his kind.
ㅤLiam's face was gaunt and ill. More surprising than his bloodied state was the determined glare piercing through his half-open eyes. He wanted his request taken seriously. Charlie nodded, put his phone away, and patted his shoulder.
ㅤ"How'd you end up this way?"
ㅤLiam huffed a laugh, wincing when it inflicted pain. "Knifed."
ㅤCharlie silently accepted this and thought of what to do next. Liam didn't want to go to hospital, but he couldn't stay there either. He needed moving.
ㅤNow that Liam had regained consciousness to hold the wound himself, Charlie let go and carefully wrapped his arms around Liam's back, fitting his shoulder under Liam's.
ㅤ"How bad is it?" Charlie asked, not yet confident in shifting him.
ㅤLiam's jaw ticked with his clenched teeth. "I don't actually know."
ㅤCharlie mentally wagered the odds. Liam was stronger than when he'd first woken up and didn't seem disoriented. "Okay", he decided. "I'm going to have to move you, can you stand?"
