We Were Young

Taken

   Luke sat staring out the window at work as the snow fell silently, illuminated by the street lamps. He and Calum were the only two left in the office. He was trying to find a new angle on the case now that Ashton was gone.
"Luke..." Calum asked quietly, walking over to his ex, pulling his coat on. "D-do you need a ride?"
"No... I'm fine thanks. I'm just getting ready to leave..." he nodded and turned to walk out, stopping suddenly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out something small, turning and looking at the taller boy.
"I know you still hate me... but I just, I want you to have this. I have no other use for it..." he placed the small ring on his old friend's desk before he turned and walked out. Luke sighed and grabbed the engagement ring, staring at it sadly. He slipped it on his ring finger and stared at it, a tear slipping down his cheek. He pulled the ring off and dropped it into his desk drawer, standing up and grabbing his things. He waved at the security guard before walking out the front doors and disappearing into the parking lot as the snow fell heavily from above. He stopped shortly when he saw Calum's car still in the lot, a pile of papers scattered on the ground near the driver's side door. He cautiously approached it, not seeing Calum anywhere in sight. Something shiny stood out from under the snow and Luke leaned over to pick it up. The boy's car keys sat freezing in Luke's hand as he looked around. Something was wrong. He began pulling his phone out to call the authorities when it was knocked out of his hands and he was pushed against the red SUV. He saw the reflection of his assailant in the tinted car window as the snow fell away from impact. The man shoved Luke's face into the window and pressed a needle into his neck, injecting him with an icy hot liquid. His body began to numb as he tried fighting to get away. The snow began forming into large clumps and swirling in strange patterns before he fell to the ground, limp.

~~~~~

   Hollow voices surrounded him, trying to pull him back into consciousness. He tried moving, but his limbs were pinned back. He forced his eyes open, but was met with a blinding light and they shut reflexively. Something was wrong. His eyes burst open again and he ignored the blinding light, looking around the room. Calum was sat infront of him, hunched over. His white dress shirt decorated with spots of dry blood. Voices came from the hallway, along with the small beam of light that hit Luke directly in the eyes. The room around them was dark and hard to see, only illuminated by the light from the hall. He tried to call out to Calum, but his voice came out muffled and strained. He tried again, choking on his own word. Something was in his mouth, stopping him from speaking. He tried to stand again, but his hands were tied to the chair from behind him, and his legs bound to the legs. The door opened all the way and an outline of a man appeared, blocking the ray of light from the hall with his large features.
"Good. You're awake," he spoke in a thick British accent. He flipped a switch and a light came on in the room, causing Luke to wince. He looked back up at the man, taking in his features. He had a round face, covered in light stubble. His hair was a sandy blond color and short and his stomach stuck out uncomfortably. He wore a very expensive suit and tie. "Mr. Hemmings, you've caused quite an amount of trouble, you know," he whispered, stepping into the room with two other men. They were both smaller than he was, but still very tall and muscular. "My business is under investigation because of you, and every business has it's secrets that can't ever get out..." Luke tried asking him questions. "Of course, we haven't been properly introduced, have we? My name is James Cordon... I'm the boss here, Mr. Hemmings, and you. Well. You've declared war." He crossed the room and stopped at a metal table, full of strange tools, each looked painful. "When you kept pressing to get Blackbeak investigated, I knew you were going to be trouble. I have to admit, you have a certain passion about you that has been quite impressive, but enough is enough. Countless of my faithful workers have been arrested, my most valuable assets have pulled out of our deals, and you two. You broke my best chance at winning this damn case." Luke started shaking violently. "Ashton was totally on board until he showed up... he was ready to blow your case completely. When he told us he had a change of heart... we had to get rid of him." Luke felt anger building up inside himself. They killed Ashton? "Now, you and I are going to work out an agreement. Understood?" Luke just shook his head, eyes locked on the man pacing infront of him. "Oh Luke, don't you understand... you really don't have any other choice here." He untied the gag from behind his head and pulled out the rag from his mouth.
"What if I refuse to help you?" He asked as Calum looked up weakly, a black eye forming and a cut on his lip.
"Well, that's what your fiance is here for..." he said, looking at one of his workers. The man stepped forward and punched Calum in the face, pulling his gag off.
"I already told you," he said, spitting blood to the side. "I'm not his fiance anymore... he doesn't give a shit about me." James glanced between them, noticing that neither of them wore a ring anymore.
"That's just unfortunate. I guess we'll just have to kill you now then, bring in his brothers..." he snapped his fingers and the man who punched Calum pulled a gun out from his pants, pointing it at the Kiwi boy's head.
"N-no, wait. Stop!" Luke shouted. "I'll help you, j-just don't kill him. Please..." James smirked and motioned for his people to leave the room.
"Now that's more like it."

~~~~~

"You're an idiot, I hope you know," Calum said as he pulled on the restraint binding his wrists together, rubbing them raw.
"What choice did I have, he was going to kill you..."
"Yeah, well as soon as you do as he says he'll just kill both of us." Luke shook his head and looked down.
"We'll figure something out. I don't know if you've noticed, but I've gotten pretty good at surviving..." Calum laughed lightly.
"I've noticed." Luke looked up at him and sighed. Things weren't really looking all that great. If he messed things up, they'd big be dead by morning. "Why do you want to save me?" Calum asked quietly.
"What?" Luke asked, surprised at what he was saying.
"After I hurt you... why do you even want to save me?"
"Because, even though you were a total dick when you cheated on me, and yeah, it really hurt... You're still one of my best friends, and I still love you. Even if it's not that kind of love anymore." Calum stared at him, biting his lip.
"I just want you to know... I never meant to hurt you. You probably don't believe me, but it's true. I just wasn't thinking straight."
"Did you even once think about me that night?" Calum sighed and shook his head.
"No..." Luke just nodded his head and looked at the tiled floor. The door opened and James walked in.
"It's time to go, Mr. Hemmings. Better say goodbye while you can," he said as one if his goons walked in with a syringe.
"Don't worry... I'm getting you out of here, Calum," he said as he felt a hand grab his hair and force his head sideways. He felt the light pinch in his neck and felt the icy hot liquid before feeling everything beginning to go numb. Things began blurring and he shook his head, trying to stay awake. "I-I'll save you..." he whispered, before falling limp once again.