Michael grimaced as he heard Ashton screaming and sobbing. the tears he had tried to hold back for so long now came rushing freely out, making their way down his cheeks and to his chin before dripping onto his pant leg.
it was torture seeing and hearing your closest friends die, knowing that there was nothing you could do about it.
after a while the screams cut off, and Michael wasn't sure how he felt about it. He was glad that Ashton wasnt hurting anymore, but it also meant that he had just lost another friend.
he realized with a start that it was just Juliet, Haven, Luke, and himself left out of the original eight.
Michael waited in his hiding spot behind one of the distorted mirrors for a good fifteen minutes before slowly moving out. "Jules? Haven?" he called out, his voice echoing eerily off the walls. "Luke?"
"Luke is dead." Michael flinched as an unexpected voice sounded from behind him. Turning around, he came face to face with Juliet and Haven, both of whom looked exhausted. Knotted hair and smudged make-up was not a good look for anyone, but at that moment Michael couldn't think of anyone who was more beautiful than the two girls in front of him.
"he- oh." Michael stuttered, too burnt out to even question it.
"this is all my fault," Juliet sobbed suddenly, burying her head in her hands as she dropped to the floor. Haven hushed her, running a hand through Juliet's hair.
"don't you ever think that. we all came in here of our own free will, and if you think you could have changed that, then you're wrong. don't you ever think that, Jules." Michael was surprised at the fiery tone Haven had adopted.
"but, the joke, with the gate-"
"how could you have known what was going to happen? how could any of us have known?"
Michael felt like he was interrupting a moment, so he moved away slightly to give the girls some space.
Juliet looked into the fierce eyes of her best friend and a sense of wholeness enveloped her. Juliet had always known that Haven had a crush on her, but she never realized that she could even begin to reciprocate the feeling until now.
maybe it was the fact that this was a life or death situation, or maybe it was just meant to happen, but in that moment, with Michael sitting a few feet away, Juliet grabbed a fistful of Haven's shirt and pulled her face down to her own, crashing their lips together.
Juliet could tell that Haven was shocked, but after a few seconds, she melted into the kiss with a smile.
Michael watched in dismay as his two best friends practically ate each other's faces off. Well, he thought to himself, i never would have seen that one coming.
Haven pulled away from Juliet reluctantly. she felt giddy; Juliet kissed her. she could hardly believe it.
"wow," Juliet whispered with a breathy laugh, her large lips swollen from the kiss. Haven was sure that she had a huge, foolish smile on her face, but she didn't care.
she turned around to look at Michael and gauge his reaction, but the smile quickly slipped off her face and shattered on the ground when she saw him.
there was no way she could see his reaction. his features were gone, replaced by smooth skin.
Michael's face was wiped clean.
»»»»
this is really fucking short I'm sorry
I have a Pre AP Algebra II exam tomorrow that I really need to study for so this is (mostly) a filler
at least no one died tho amirite
let me know what u thinkkk <333
