Never Coming Home

Divison and No, We're Not Talking About Math

A/n: RIP Sweet pea...

"Where's Frank?" Asked Ryan from the stringed can.

Gerard swallowed.

What could he say? Frank's dead? Frank's missing? Frank...

He paused.

Frank got out?

"I don't know.." Gerard finally sighed. "They took him away- They-"

He took a deep breath, scrunching his eyebrows together and trying to keep his thoughts from recollecting. He didn't want to remember surgeon cutting off Frank's hand. He didn't want to remember surgeon shoving his knife into Frank's stomach time after time after time.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Gerard heard Ryan ask. "You're crying."

"They hurt him... I have to go find him." Gerard responded, pressing his hand on top of his eyes. "He- He's the only one I have left."

"What are you going to do?" said Brendon, who's deep voice vibrated from the can.

"The door is still unlocked."Gerard responded, rambling now. "I-I can get out. I can go find him- and then e-escape."

"Honey, you're being irrational." Ryan sighed. "What if they catch you? They'll re lock the doors and we'll all be stuck again. Are you willing to do this all for Frank?"

"I'd do anything for him." Gerard responded without hesitation. "Wouldn't you?"

Without waiting for a response, Gerard walked over to his bed and lifted up the mattress, revealing the black shirt that he had worn the last time he snuck out of the room. After pulling the material over his shoulders, Gerard then headed towards the door, pressing his right ear to the cold shiny metal.

He waited.

There were no scuffle of heels on the marble floor. There were no deep voices or metallic tools clinking as they were rolled down the halls on a cart. Just silence, and that's exactly what Gerard needed.

Slowly but surely, the boy pushed the door open with a quiet screech of metal scraping on metal. He then peeked his head into the hallway, peering both ways.

Empty. Good.

Finally, Gerard stepped out of the room and into the cold lifeless hallway. He took a slow breath, shuddering as his bare feet touched the icy tiles. This was new. It was fresh and it felt good. Gerard could imagine himself in a field of grass, stretching as far as the eye could see. He could see the bright blue sky and the cotton candy clouds. Smiling to himself, Gerard felt that the soft breeze coming from the air conditioner that reminded him of a warm summer wind.

For a second Gerard thought "What if I just ran? What if I left the people here and escaped by myself ?"

He immediately felt guilty.

These thoughts are probably the reason why Gerard is being punished like this, although who could blame him? People get selfish sometimes.

Gerard couldn't help but grimace. After everything that has happened, why- why did he have to be pushed into this mess? He's seen too many things, Gerard believed, too much evil, and he's been through enough pain. And after all of this, why had he not learned, and why was he still selfish. Either way, Gerard was wrong. Gerard felt wrong in every little aspect.

Just as Gerard took another step down the hall, he heard faint voices and footsteps coming from around the corner. Quickly, Gerard backed into another room, assuming that it was Brendon and Ryan's room.

As he quietly closed the door behind him, Gerard heard someone say "is it time yet?"

It was a sweet and hesitant voice. One unfamiliar to Gerard. The voice began again, saying "if you're gonna take us, cut me up instead. Not Jenna. She's had enough."

Gerard turned to see two new faces, both equally as petrified. One was a taller boy with short brown hair and coffee eyes. He was lanky, like the body of a runner, just more defeated.

The other one, a woman who Gerard assumed was Jenna, was a slightly shorter blonde with stunning blue eyes and sun kissed skin.

The two stuck to each other like a baby sloth would its mother. Gerard clasped a hand over his mouth, carefully trying to select his words.

"I'm... not going to hurt you.." He said, "I'm Gerard. I'm another captive person here. I want to help you. Don't be afraid."

"Another prisoner?" Said Jenna. "I thought...." she shook her head. "I thought Tyler and I were the only ones here..."

"No." Gerard answered. "There's more of us. Three-" he stopped. "Two.. others."

The boy, Tyler, placed his hand on his forehead, relieved. "So he must still be alive..." he mumbled.

"Who?" Gerard asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jenna caressed Tyler's shoulders, saying "His friend, Josh. Tyler lost him the day we were taken, but he could have sworn that he wasn't put in one of those terrible rooms."

Gerard sighed, lightly tugging on his hair in concern. "Look... I'll see if I find him. Maybe we can make up a plan to escape..."

Somehow, Gerard knew that Frank was dead, so he had responsibility over all the new people he found. If he could just get them out...

Gerard could have a purpose again.

"Stay here." Gerard said, "I'm going to find your friend. Say nothing to the employees."

With that, Gerard exited their room and once again faced the empty hallway. He half ran this time, pulling open doors. What he found was a storage closet full of cleaning supplies and an empty room.

Finally, before pulling open the last door, Gerard heard muffled voices coming from behind it.

Gerard slowly twisted the handle, growing worried as he heard a quiet clatter and a silent "Shit, Haley. Be careful".

"I'm not gonna hurt you." Gerard hissed as he opened the door and shut it quickly behind him. As Gerard looked up, he saw a man, much taller than him, wielding a piece of the metal bed frame. The man was shirtless, one of his toned arms bearing a colorful sleeve of tattoos. They reminded Gerard of Frank, and he could feel his stomach twist in pain. It wasn't an actual pain. Gerard now realized that he missed Frank, and it hadn't set in until now.

The other person was a short and skinny girl. The only odd thing her that caught Gerard's eye was the girl's vibrant orange hair that contrasted well with the girl's sparkling brown eyes.

"What the hell is going on?" The bigger man said, "Who are you?"

"You're Josh?" Gerard asked, ignoring his question.

"Yeah." Josh answered through gritted teeth.

"I found Tyler."

The man hesitated, his muscles instantly relaxing. "How-"

"I'm Gerard. I have a lot to explain to you two."

The two patients looked at Gerard, their eyes full of fear.

There were six people now.

Perhaps, Gerard bit off more than he could chew.