My World: On Fire (A Black Veil Brides Fan-Fiction)

22. Betrayal

Andy -

"We need to go get that statue before Phyra does," CC says, scooching towards me.

"Yeah… but what are we going to do with him?" I gesture to Ash's body without looking at it.

Just as the words pass my lips, a bright flame appears out of the corner of my eye. Ashley is on fire.

I scramble to my feet and stare down in amazement.

"What the fuck?!" CC shouts and launches backwards.

The others race over to us.

"Someone get some water!" Sammi screams.

I'm stuck in place. The most disgusting smell reaches my nostrils and I can the feel the bile rising in my throat.

The flames engulf Ashley, licking at his face.

I can see his skin blistering and peeling away. I can't tear my eyes away from his burning body.

Someone tugs at my jacket and I find myself stumbling away from the heat.

Jake rushes around the corner carrying a bucket. He throws the water at Ash and for a moment the flames are extinguished, leaving a charred, faceless person. Then the flames start up again.

They flare up suddenly and I avert my eyes. When I turn back the flames are gone, and so is Ashley. There is no pile of ash… there's nothing.

"What just happened?" Jake asks, dropping the bucket at his feet.

We all glance at each other and shrug.

"JAAAAAAAAAAAKE!" There's a shout from around the corner of the building and I turn to see Cait sprinting towards us. She's very pale and has a determined look on her face.

Jake catches her as she slams into him. "What?!" he asks.

"Where is it? Where is the statue!? Where is Phyra?!" She's still shouting. Man, she's angry. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she opens them again she looks around at our faces. Her eyes slide past me and to the empty space on the ground at me feet. "Where is he?" She whispers. "What did you do with him?" She looks up at me and I can see the tears forming in her eyes.

"Nothing," I say. "We did nothing. He just… disappeared."

She frowned in confusion before looking back to Jake. "You've got the map Jake… So where are we going?"

Ashley –

I'm bleeding. Seriously bleeding. I didn't know that I had this much blood… No one seems to notice the blood that is pouring out of my chest until it is too late. No one notices until I'm on the ground.

My head is swimming and I feel all light.

Cait is talking to me. She's crying. I don't want her to cry. She's… Did she just say that she's pregnant?!

I smile. She's just trying to shock me into staying alive. It won't work. I can feel all of the energy seeping out of me just like the blood.

My vision goes all blurry and I can no longer hear Cait's screams.

I'm gone. Well, I can't really be gone can I? I mean, I'm still thinking… And I can still feel the pain. Fuck this hurts. I try to move but I'm paralysed. I'm not sure if my eyes are closed or if I just can't see.

I stay there, presumably in that alleyway, for what seems like an eternity before I begin to feel a bit different.

The pain subsides and is replaced by a strange warmth. It's oddly comforting…