Darkened Roses [Complete][Book 1 of Roses Trilogy]

Chapter 23: Unsure

*caution suicidal action/thought contained*

•3rd POV•

Three months had passed since Rosalyn's plane had crashed. Where laughter and happiness once filled the Achievement Hunter office, the air was now damp with sadness and loss. The police couldn't find the body of Rosalyn, yet had found the other passengers body's when they combed through the broken plane again. Ray kept a small part of hope that she had survived. He convinced the police to at least search the area. No trace was found of her.

They had collected a few items that either reminded them of Rose or something she had given to them. The office put the things in a small wooden box and used that for their small private funeral. She had been buried in a place that only the six men knew of. It was a small forest near the office, and in the middle was a clearing. Rose bushes ringed around the outside of the clearing and some bushes were bigger, sheltering animals or other flowers underneath. In a way, the clearing was the perfect place for her.

Ray had become depressed as the first month passed by without any word if Rose had survived. He barely ate, never took care of himself, barely cleaned the apartment. The only time he would eat or consider bathing was when someone, usually Gavin, Geoff or Michael, came by and forced him.

The second month flew by, his hopes halfway crushed. He had been with her, had her and then let her go. He deserved this because of what he did to her. He betrayed her, betrayed her trust. Rays thoughts turned darker as they rolled into a third month without Rose. This was when Gavin discovered how dark Rays thoughts had become.

"X-Ray! I brought tacos!" Gavin called, stepping into the barely kept apartment. His nose wrinkled at he stench that covered everything like a top sheet on a bed. The Brit walked into the living room, empty. He checked the bathroom but that was empty too. Suddenly a broken sob reached his ears from the bedroom. Gavin raced down to the room, entering just in time to see Ray, standing on a stool. Rope was tied in a noose around his neck and was tied to a hook by the ceiling fan.

"Ray!" Gavin took a step forward, but stopped when Rays head snapped up.

"Don't come closer" His voice was deadly quiet.

"Ray, c'mon man don't" Gavin tried coaxing him.

"I will be with her again" His voice was soft as his head tilted downwards.

"This isn't the way to do it, Rose wouldn't want you too" Ray started sobbing softly and Gavin quickly rushed over, taking the noose off and gently guiding Ray away from the stool and to the bed. They sat down on the bed, Ray leaned into Gavin's side, wailing his heart out and Gavin just rubbed his back and sang softly. (a/n: song Hey Brother by Avicii)

Hey brother! There's an endless road to rediscover
Hey sister! Know the water's sweet but blood is thicker
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

Hey brother! Do you still believe in one another?
Hey sister! Do you still believe in love? I wonder
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

What if I'm far from home?
Oh brother, I will hear you call!
What if I lose it all?
Oh sister, I will help you hang on!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

Hey brother! There's an endless road to rediscover
Hey sister! Do you still believe in love? I wonder
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

What if I'm far from home?
Oh brother, I will hear you call!
What if I lose it all?
Oh sister, I will help you hang on!
Oh, if the sky comes falling down, for you
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

By the end of the song, Ray had quieted down, no sobs came from him. Gavin looked down at his friend to find him sleeping soundly, eyes closed and breath rising and falling slowly and steadily. Gavin pulled out his phone and called Geoff.

"Hello?" Geoff's voice echoed through the phone.

"Geoff, I need your help"

"Gavin? What's wrong?" Geoff's voice was concerned as Gavin held back his own shock.

"Just come to Ray's apartment" click the phone was hung up. It took Geoff only ten minutes to get to the apartment, and didn't even bother knocking.

•Gavin's POV•

Ray curled into my side more as he slept as Geoff stepped into the door. His eyes immediately flew to the couch and he walked briskly towards us. He settled down on the other side of Ray.

"What happened?" The man asked, shifting his weight on the couch, focused on me.

"He-he tried to kill himself" My hand flew to my mouth. The shock shut down my systems as Geoff gently moved Ray to him, as my hands started shaking. My breathing increased its pace and spots danced in front of my eyes. Geoff laid Ray on the couch, and then helped me lay down on the floor, after covering it with a thick clean blanket.

xx meanwhile xx

•Rose's 3rd POV•

Rose had no idea of what was going on back home. Her body was tired, covered in dirt, blood and grime. Her hair was greasy and ratted, and she had no clue as to how long she had been in the wilderness. Light shone from in between two trees ahead of her. Hurrying towards them, she broke through and found a small town. Relieved to finally be back in civilization, she went to the nearest building, a store and walked in. She went straight to the clerk at the counter with one simple request.

"May I please use your phone?"