Ashes - (Sequel to Dark Flame)

Ch. 13

WARNING: There's a LOT of cussing in this. Lots of Rated-R things.

Liam POV:

Sometimes I wish that I could just rewind time. I've made too many mistakes in my life, and I'm reminded of that each and every day. I trusted too many people who have betrayed me like it was nothing. What have I done to deserve this? Two of my best friends stabbed me in the back, and have spent the past 5 years making the wounds deeper and deeper. I've just found out that Zayn has also been in Enrique's gang this entire time. That would explain why he's not dead, even though Zayn swore to me he was dead. I silently thanked myself for not telling Juliet while we spoke on the phone.

Oh my god, Juliet. Zayn knows where they are. She told him where we were. I have to call her somehow. I wonder if Louis would help. No, he's not in anymore. I can't bring him back in now that he's out. He's got a wife, a child, and twins on the way. Louis is safe where he's at, if I endanger their lives, I could never forgive myself.

As I walked around the streets of London, I noticed how the gangs have affected the streets. There were only a few people walking around on the once filled sidewalks. Many shops had to board up and close their businesses in fear of robbery. Guards stood on every street corner, assuring safety of the citizens who were left.

What the hell happened here?

If I could rewind time, this is what I would fix. I wouldn't kill people, rob people, and certainly wouldn't get involved with the gang, even though it seemed inevitable. I could have stopped all this, instead, I ran from it. Suddenly, I got an idea. I had to go see the smartest person I knew when it came to gangs. I had to go see my dad.

Juliet POV:

Leo woke me up again for the third night in a row. He missed his father terribly, and even cried for him in the middle of the night.

"Daddy! Daddy!" he cried as I turned the light on, but continued to sob when he realized it was just me.

"Leo, baby, come here," I held him close to me.

"Momma, where daddy?" Leo sobbed into my chest.

"He'll be home soon baby, I promise," I said, tears forming in my eyes.

"You do?" he asked and I nodded, "I'm sleepy, momma." I put him back into his bed and walked towards the door. As I turned out the light, I felt someone place a cloth over my mouth, then everything when black.

I opened my eyes to a dark room and had an eerie feeling that I've been here before.

"Ah, Jules, you're finally awake," a voice said that brought chills down my spine.

"Z-Z-Zayn? Is that you?" I asked, looking around to see if I could find where the voice was coming from.

"Of course it is you dumb bitch. Also, you're wearing a blindfold, that's why you can't see."

"Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends, Zayn."

"Will you shut the hell up already?" another familiar voice added. Harry.

"Why can't I move?" I asked, begging to know more.

"The sedative is wearing off," Zayn said.

"S-s-sedative?" I stuttered.

"Can't you fucking talk right?" Harry yelled.

"Harry, shut the hell up. Listen, Jules, if you cooperate and tell us where Liam is, we won't kill that little spawn of his, and possibly not you."

"Leo?" I asked.

"Don't you know your own kid's fucking name?" Harry spat.

"Harry, what the fuck did I say?" Zayn yelled. "We got you, and we have your precious little bundle of joy. You should probably start talking, we tracked his phone and it led us straight to you. What a dumb ass, that Liam."

"Please, Zayn, don't kill Leo. He's your godson!" I begged.

"Like that shit matters to me. I'm the most powerful man in London, ask me if I give a fuck about you or your kid?" The words felt like acid burning into my skin. I felt so betrayed; so exposed. "Start talking right now."

"I don't know where he is. I promise I don't." I felt the blind fold get ripped off of my face. Zayn was right in front of me, holding my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes.

"WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?" he screamed. I heard Leo begin to cry and I lost it.

"Fucking great, they're both cry baby bitches," Harry complained.

"For fucks sake, I'll give you 48 hours. If I don't have his location within that time, little junior over here dies while you watch. Understand?" Zayn asked, pointing the gun he was holding at Leo. Zayn's eyes no longer held the same compassion in them. The brown eyes had turned black. He was gone forever.

"Zayn, why?" was all I managed to choke out.

"Why? Well, let's see, I'll give you the story. When I was 17, Liam found me and let me join the gang, but that was after he killed my entire family of course. Why didn't he kill me? Because I had potential, he said. I had to stay on his good side, grow stronger, and then destroy his life too. It's worked out pretty well, don't you think? When I said I killed Enrique for him, I just let him go, which resulted in me gaining his trust. Of course, I did kill him a month ago, so I could gain his power. I'm more powerful than Liam could ever be."

"Oh my god," I said in disbelief.

"God doesn't exist here. Sleep tight, hope you get your shit together and tell us, bitch," Harry laughed, walking out.

"Can you untie me so I can sit with Leo, please?"

"Sure, it's not like you can get out of here anyway," he cut the rope that held me to a chair, then turned the light out and walked out.

I quickly flung myself out of the chair and ran to my child, who was still sobbing. I held him tightly and silently prayed that this was all just a dream.

Only I knew it was reality.

�M��~y�