The Fear Of Falling Apart

-34-

This is it, guys. The beginning of the end. Please read all following chapters with care <3

Tanith's POV

We finished the first European leg of the tour without a problem. Every show was packed with people, and every show was just as awesome as the first. Fin's videos were getting more popular, simply because they were capturing the best moments of the tour. I called Sarah and Brendon every few days, and Fin called Pete too. I usually ended up talking to all three of the parents, just because I could. We filmed the second music video in a desert, planning for the third one to be filmed in the break.

After finishing our show in Dortmund, Germany, we made it to the bus early and packed all our stuff up. We flew to New York that night, arriving early in the morning.

The next few shows went without flaw, but it was when we were headed to Kansas City that things got bad.

We had finished our sold out show in Tampa, and the next day was deemed to be a bus day, as there was a solid 17 hours travel.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm going to bed." Frank yawns, tossing his jacket on the couch and kicking off his shoes. "Goodnight." He says lazily before disappearing down into the bunk hall.

"Me too." I decide, my eyes already heavy with the thought of sleep. "Night guys."

"Goodnight Tan." Ray smiles softly, kissing my head as I pass.

"Night." Fin calls, smiling a small smile. I smile back and then head to the bunk hall. I kick off my shoes and climb into my small space, not caring about the fact that I was sleeping in my clothes. 'I'll shower tomorrow at the venue.' I think lightly, allowing my face to sink into my pillow and my eyes to fall closed.

--

I wake up slowly, blinking at the inside of the curtain of my bunk. I stare for a moment or two longer before deciding that I should probably get up. I roll out of my bunk and land on the floor. Except, that wasn't my bunk. It was the spare one above Gerard.

I slip on my shoes anyway, only now realizing that the bus isn't moving.

We shouldn't be at the venue yet. There was seventeen hours between us and the next show, and I can guarantee that we didn't drive that overnight. I trudge out of the bunk hall and into the main living area.

"Oh my god." I whisper, staring at the scene laid out before me.

The sofa on the left has been ripped to pieces. The refrigerator's door is hanging wide open, and packaged food and drink has been strewn across the room. Anything that was previously on the counter is now somewhere on the floor, most of it smashed to pieces. The door to the outside world is wide open, and sunlight streams freely inside.

I spot Franks jacket from last night sitting in the corner, torn up, and I start to panic a little bit. "Guys?!" I call loudly. Nobody responds.

I return to the bunk area and rip open the curtains, one by one, praying that someone, anyone would be there. When I've been through all of them I realize that I'm all alone.

"Fuck." I say to myself, running a hand through my hair. I walk back to the living room and try to calm my thoughts down enough to think.

Phone. My phone. I can call someone.

I searched for a good thirty minutes, but my phone was nowhere to be found.

"Okay. Your okay." I say, trying to think. Maybe I can find a phone to call someone with if I go outside.

I step out of the tour bus and wince as I spot the large dent in the back. Maybe someone crashed into us, but that wouldn't explain the interior.

The bus was parked on the side of a quiet street. It was about midday now, but the streets were empty.

I begin to walk down the street, feeling a slight ache in my side as I do so. I don't walk overly far before I hear the footsteps behind me. They're coming closer and closer, and I spin around to see a man I had hoped would burn in hell.

It's the man from the night Diane crashed, the night that was supposed to be Fin's celebration. My 'father' is running towards me, face full of anger and fists curled into tight balls by his side.

I don't give myself a second to think; I just take off running as fast as I can. My feet pound harshly against the pavement, and I almost fall as I try to take the corner. "Help!" I scream, trying my best to keep running away from the man behind me. "Somebody help me!"

The streets are too empty. Nobody's here.

What's something people will come to look at. Something to get their attention.

"Fire!" I shriek, jumping onto the road and continuing my run. "Fire!"

Still nobody comes. My breathing is getting heavy, and I can hear him catching up. Oh my god, I'm going to die. He's going to kill me.

Suddenly a front door opens, and I see a girl about my age step out. Her eyes widen when she sees whats going on.

"Tanith!" She screams, waving me over. I recognize the girl as Ashlee, and start to head towards her, not even questioning why she was there.

My legs ache and my strides become smaller and smaller. Just as I'm about to run up the steps and into the safety of her house, the man behind me grabs my arm and yanks me backwards. I scream as I go flying, falling onto the road. My head cracks sharply as I fall onto my side and groan, trying to push myself up.

"Tanith!" Ash screams, running out of her house towards me.

I try to scramble away from the attacker, but he moves too quickly. He lifts my arm into the air and stabs a syringe into it, pushing down the plunger without hesitation.

Not this again. He drops my arm and throws the syringe carelessly onto the ground. I watch my limb fall beside me onto the bitumen. A fatigue begins to come over me, and I feel it taking a hold. Suddenly I can't move at all, and my eyes fall closed.

But I'm still awake.

Maybe this is what happens before death. Maybe it's all just an endless sleep. But it hurts like hell.

But I can't think about anything anymore. I find myself falling asleep again. I wish I could plead and cry and scream, but I'm just too tired.

So I let myself fall asleep, hoping I would be fortunate enough to wake up and see my family again.

I'm sorry, guys. Things don't really get that much better from here. Please read with caution and keep yourselves safe. <3