No Clue

Lost Memories

Pain traveled across every surface of the boy's pale, beaten body. He struggled against the shackles on his wrists and ankles as two figures laughed maniacally. A dragon made of fire lit itself on his chest and he screamed out in pain, begging for his captors to let him go. Gerald smirked as he hooked an IV into his arm, allowing the vibrant blue liquid to poison his body. Michael stood on the boy's other side, running his hands up his body as he kissed his neck.

"Shh, baby. It'll be okay," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. "Don't worry. We'll never be split up. They can never tear us apart."

"Please! I want to go home!" Luke shouted, trying to pull himself out of his bondage. "God, please! Don't hurt me! Please! Let me go!"

"Luke!"

"Let me go! Get away from me!"

"Luke, it's alright!"

"Please! God, don't hurt me!"

"Luke!" Ashton shouted as he held the boy in his arms. His younger brother struggled against him, screaming and crying as he tried pulling away, his dream slowly fading away. "Luke! It's alright! You're safe!" He shouted. "You're safe!" Luke stopped struggling and burried his face in his brother's chest, crying as he tried pushing away. Ashton hugged him tightly as their mothers ran into the bedroom.

"I'm sorry," Luke sobbed. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's okay," Ashton whispered, holding the young boy tightly to his chest. "It's okay. You're safe now."

"Darling, what happened?" Liz asked, running to their side as Anne stood in the doorway. Harry peeked around the corner, staring at his older brothers in fear. Luke continued sobbing and muttering.

"M-Michael," he sputtered out, hiding his face in his hands. "Michael..."

"Luke, it was just a dream. He can't hurt you anymore," Ashton said.

"Michael, I'm so sorry," he said, rocking himself back and forth. "I couldn't remember, I'm sorry!"

"Luke..." Ashton whispered. Liz turned and looked at her wife, seeing Lauren and Harry standing at the door, hugging eachother with tears in their eyes.

"Anne, dear. Call Jack," she said calmly. "Ask him to take the children for the night..." Anne quickly turned and saw them standing there.

"Come now, my dears," she said, guiding them away.

"Ashton, you should go too-"

"No. I'm staying with Luke," he whispered, still holding the boy as he cried softly. "He needs me." She sighed and nodded in response, standing up.

"Come get me if you need me..." she turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind herself.

"Luke," Ashton whispered. "Buddy. I need you to tell me. What do you remember about Michael?" Luke stopped crying and sniffed, resting his head on his brother's chest.

"H-he loved me," he said softly. "He was insane, and he loved me. I thought pretending to love him back would save me..."

"What?"

"I-it was just towards the end. G had run off for the last time and Michael was insane. I wanted to come home to you guys but he told me that he could be my family. I don't know what it was. If the drug got to my head... if it was Stockholm syndrome... but that night when he was having me, I didnt have to pretend like I liked it. I didn't have to pretend I liked him."

"Oh, Luke..." Ashton said softly.

"The l-last night, before he tried killing me, I remembered why I was supposed to fear him." Ashton sighed and hugged his baby brother as he began crying. "I'm never going to be the same again," he cried. "I'm always going to be broken. I'm always going to be the crazy kid everyone pities. I'm going to lose Calum..." Ashton froze in his place as his eyes went wide.

"C-calum? Why would you lose Calum?" Luke sniffed and wiped his eyes before looking up at his brother.

"He doesn't love me anymore," he whispered. The crack in his voice broke Ashton's heart. "I-I'm going to grow up and eventually I'm going to be alone and broken... I won't have anyone anymore."

"Hey, that isn't true. You'll always have me. Always. And mums, Jack, Ben, Lauren, Harry. We're never letting anything happen to you again, understand me?"

"We can't all live at home forever, you know. I know that mums expect me to because they never want to let me out of their sights again, but someday maybe I won't be s-so broken... you're all going to get married and move on with your lives. Maybe I'll just find a place where I can hide far away from where anyone can take me again..." he sighed and lay down against his pillow. "I'm eighteen and I've already accomplished everything that I will in this lifetime," he whispered.

"What are you talking about?"

"I missed the remainder of my senior year, I'm a drug addict with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and who knows how many other mental disorders, meaning I'll never find a job, and Mum's are never going to let me out of the house again anyways..." Luke sighed and rested against his pillow. "I have nothing left to lose, but the sad part about that means I have nothing left to live for..." Ashton felt another tear slip down his cheek as he hugged his brother tightly to his chest. He held him until the boy fell back asleep, words evading him. One thing was perfectly clear - he had to help his little brother find something left to live for.