The Nightmare Angel

One Last Ditch

   Michael sat alone on the couch of the house, the other boys were out at a meeting with management, but he was feeling sick today. There was a knock on the upstairs door and he sighed, heading up and answering it, shocked to see Joanne standing there.

"Shouldn't you be in the meeting?"

"They're with Zoe... I needed to speak with you," she said.

"About what?" He asked as she walked inside.

"About you and Luke..."

"Can you just drop it? We're getting married and you can't stop us."

"Wanna bet?" She said, pulling out a file. "This band needs a new scandal. You came out three months ago, it's faded away. When you announced your engagement sales went through the roof. Some sort of a gay pride stand... But now they're lower than ever before. So you're going to put up another scandal... I want you to cheat on Luke."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Michael asked.

"You're going to cheat on Luke."

"That's never going to happen-"

"You don't have a choice!" Joanne shouted. She pulled out a contract and handed it to Michael. "This is a contract of termination."

"Go ahead and fire me-"

"Not you. If you don't do as I say, we're going to fire Luke. Look, there's all the signatures I need. All I have to do is give it to your little boyfriend, and his life is done. And I'll make sure he knows you're the reason. Can you handle that? The guilt of getting him fired? The pressure of him insisting he doesn't blame you, but deep down a hatred slowly beginning to grow... he'll hate you, Michael."

"H-he'd choose me over the band any day," Michael whispered, not sure of himself.

"Would he? I mean, a burden as big as you? How can anyone choose you? Face it Michael. If it came down to it, he'd easily choose the band." A soft tear slipped down his cheek as he spun the engagement ring on his finger. "What sensible person wouldn't?"

"I-if I cheat on him, he'll h-hate me," he croaked out.

"Yes, but if you get him fired he'll hate you more, and he won't have the job that he's in love with. He'll be in a constant state of depression. Hell, he might even kill himself, and it will all be your fault..." Michael choked on a sob and looked down. "Have you made your choice?

"W-who would I even cheat on him with?" He whimpered, shaking with anxiety. "L-Luke's the only person in the world who's ever been interested in me..."

"His name is Shawn Mendes. He's another young boy trying to make it big, but he's come into a twist..." Michael leaned against the wall and ran a hand through his hair.

"W-what do I have to do?" Michael whispered.

"You'll meet Shawn tonight at your new apartment. Get aquainted, you'll be living together. You're to spend the night there and in the morning go around Sydney. Show off the new relationship. I want pictures of the two of you kissing and I want it to go viral. Then after that, you'll pack up all of your things and leave your engagement ring behind..."

"You're such a fucking bitch, I hope you know that."

"I do, darling. I do." Michael looked over at her and sighed.

"Am I allowed to see him before I start living in hell?"

"No. You'll give it all away. You're a sob story, Michael. You should actually pack a bag and leave now. Tomorrow I'll text you when you can come and get the rest of your things, I'll get Luke out of the house." He said nothing. He turned and ran upstairs, shoving things inside of a bag angrily. He hated her, he hated this. All of it. He didn't want Luke to get hurt, but either way he would. This was the best alternative though. At least he could still be happy. He never needed Michael for that anyways...

He grabbed the bag and his phone, running downstairs, seeing Joanne still standing there.

"Let's go. I'll drive." He rolled his eyes and followed her outside, headed to his added misery.

~~~~

Michael put his things in his room as Joanne went to get Shawn, the other kid she was black mailing... He had already received texts from all of the boys, asking where he was and if he was okay. Luke tried multiple times to call him, and finally he couldnt handle it. He answered.

"Hello?" He whispered.

"Mikey, where the hell are you? I've been worried sick baby." Just the sound of his fiance's voice, was enough to almost send him into tears.

"I'm fine... uh. I-I'm just at my parents. I think I'll stay the night tonight. I don't feel very well..."

"Do you want me to come over?"

"No! I mean... I'm fine... I'll uh. See you tomorrow," he lied.

"Oh... okay. Well I love you."

"Yeah, okay... bye," he hung up and let out his breath that was trying to hitch in his throat. He was on the verge of tears.

"Michael?" Joanne shouted. "We're here! He better not have left..." he sighed and walked out of the room, seeing her standing in the living room with a slightly younger boy. His eyes were red and slightly puffy. He had obviously been crying. "God, you two are all sorts of hormonal. I'll just leave you to it then. I'll check up on you in a few days. Have fun, boys." She turned and walked out, leaving the two boys alone in the most awkward situation they've ever been in.

"What does she have on you?" Shawn whispered.

"S-she was going to ruin my fiance's life," he replied. "You?"

"My sister... she's sick and if I get fired, I can't pay for her treatments..." Michael looked him up and down, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm really sorry..." he whispered. "That has to suck."

"It does... but you do what you have to do, right?"

"Yeah but you shouldn't have to do this. Not to help your sister. God I hate Joanne. She's such a fucking bitch." Shawn just nodded and looked down, not wanting to talk anymore.

"Look, uh. I had a really long day, and we both have an even longer one tomorrow, so I'm going to go to bed..." Shawn just nodded and walked into his own room without a sound. Michael sighed and went into his new room, locking the door and sitting on the floor. He pulled out the razor he brought with him, and twirled it inbetween his fingers. If he just killed himself it could all be over. Luke wouldn't have to be hurt, he wouldnt have to live an endless lie... but he couldn't. Someone as heartless as Joanne would still fire him. No. He had to go through with the plan. He had to break the love of his life's heart. He had to say goodbye. He took off his cuff and put the razor to his skin, dragging it across as hard as he dared without killing himself. He watched the blood flow gently down his arm and land on the black and red spotted carpet, blending in completely. He just sat watching it, feeling his head begin to spin before he grabbed the white bandage and tightly wrapped it up. He was more depressed now than he had ever been before. And it was only going to get much worse.