Rejects // Luke Hemmings [au]

27

ONLY ONE CHAPTER LEFT IN THIS BOOK!!! SEQUEL COMING SOON OMG :))

Song: Haunting - Halsey

Mad Hatter - Melanie Martinez (idk why but this reminds me of this book??? )

January 25, 1957

4:42 pm

"Hello Violet" Ms. Woods smiles, sorting out some files on her wooden desk as I sit in the uncomfortable but familiar chair across from her.

"Hi" I mumble slightly, trying my hardest not to be rude to her, but I've just become accustom to it after all these years.

"I've got a lot to tell you today, do you think you're ready for that?"

"Yeah, I've been ready for five years now" I sit up straight, trying to get a view of the papers like some kind of excited little kid.

"First of all, I've pulled some strings and found out that you've been cleared for two years to leave, but you were kept here under the Warden's request" She tells me, looking over her glasses that sit low on her nose, "I can imagine it wasn't the warden's choice, but possibly Ashton's"

"So, you're telling me that I've been here for two extra years, just because Ashton wanted me here?" I question, anger pumping through my veins. All this time I've loved Ashton, he's been my best friend who knows every single thing about me, and how much this place has screwed me up, but decided to keep me here for his sake.

"We think so, yes" She nods, "But we have some more news, that you'll probably like"

I shake my head, looking out the window with my arms crossed over my chest. I'm not sure if I'll be able to like any news after hearing this.

"Your full name is Violet Walker" She tells me, looking me in the eyes, "I know you've always wondered, but I wasn't sure if it was going to trigger you"

Walker. Now that I think about it, I can remember that name from school. I like it, I think it goes well with Violet.

"If I've been clear for so long, how come you didn't notice? And how come I've still had breakdowns?"

"That's because this place is making you angry, Violet. This place changes people, and literally drives them insane. You are not crazy, it's West Hill"

There is a light knocking at the door, then Calum opens it to reveal him and Luke. He says he can't take us together because it's too suspicious to the other guards, and especially if the warden or Ashton saw it.

"Hey" He says lightly, taking a seat next to me, filling the space with his familiar scent that he always carries.

I smile and look back at Ms. Woods, who's looking at the papers again, writing something down. She's always writing something, but I don't really care enough to ask what it might be.

Calum drags a chair towards the small group of us and sits down before saying, "My girlfriend Leah and I want you two to come live with us for a while. I told her all about you two, and she wants you guys to come stay with us as much as I do. Of course, we won't be able to stay forever because Ashton will come looking, but it'll do for now."

I look from Calum, to Luke and notice his emotions are the same as mine; excited but somewhat nervous. Sneaking out of this place is very risky, and could easily get us into the electric chair, but I don't want to die in here knowing I never tried.

"I could call my parents, I guess" Luke shrugs. "They have a house in San Francisco"

"Are you sure you want to talk to them? What if they try to send you back here?" I ask nervously, feeling a nauseating turn hit my stomach.

"After I explain everything, they'll understand. I'll tell them all about the fucking Irwins too"

I smile at him solemnly. I stare about the small room, breathing in the all too familiar musk of sweat and tears. The wall paper seems to be wearing thin, nearly falling off the walls in pattern. Through the window behind Ms. Woods I can see the stone wall, blocking us from the outside world.

"I've taken the liberty of borrowing some staff uniforms for you all to use. This will be your ticket out of here" Ms. Woods reaches into her desk and pulls out three nurses uniforms. One for me, Luke and Michael. I take both mine and Michael's and shove them under my shirt to hide them from the possibility of other passing guards and staff.

"I'm so sorry this happened to both of you. I'm very happy to be able to see you go"

"Thank you so much. You've helped us tremendously" Luke replies.

----------------------

"Hey, Michael" I say, sitting down next to him at the cafeteria table. After leaving the psychology office, Luke and I both hid the uniforms under our mattresses and were escorted to dinner. Luke is getting food for everyone.

"Hi Violet" he says, not making eye contact with me. His eyes lay fixated on an uninteresting tile on the floor. I can tell he's stressed, and I can understand why.

We haven't told him about the plan. We aren't going to tell him until we actually bust him out of his cell, mostly because we don't know how he'll react. He may become so excited that he can't contain his smiles and the guards will know something's going on, or he'll freak out and start yelling. Either one is a possibility that I don't want to live through.

"How are you?" I ask, trying to make slight conversation. He furrows his eyebrows and finally looks up at me. His green eyes are dark and bloodshot, surrounded by enflamed skin. I can tell he's been crying.

"I'm being killed tomorrow, Vi" he spits.

That shuts me right up. How am I supposed to respond? 'Well that sucks I hope it doesn't hurt"? NO!

"Mashed potatoes and some kind of meaty thing coming right up" I hear Luke exclaim, placing our food trays down on the table. He sits across from me while Michael is once again in the headmasters seat of the table. Luke can feel the awkwardness of the situation, and stays quiet the rest of dinner, as do I.

Little does Michael know that he's not being killed tomorrow, but rather brought back into the land of the living.