inevitable entanglements » a.i. + l.h.

32

Calum's eyes were laced with honesty. Or perhaps it was just the opium, Michael thought. It didn't matter, really, he knew Calum wouldn't lie to him.

 

As promised, Michael gave him some painkillers, watching silently as the side effects started showing. The drowsiness and the itching were noticeable as soon as the opium kicked in, but so far there was no sign of the dreaded nausea. Another side effect that recurred was the unlocking of Calum's usually sealed lips. He started spitting out truths that no doubt had been on the tip of his tongue for ages.

 

Luke twisted his question in his mouth, debating if he should or shouldn't ask. He didn't want to take advantage of Calum's state to make him confess things he didn't want to confess, but he felt like the information was unmissable if they wanted to build a proper friendship.

 

In the end, it was Ashton who asked.

 

“Calum, how did you end up here?”

 

The boy snorted, either annoyed by the question or the answer that had yet to follow. He didn't seem reluctant to tell them though.

 

“My parents, my siblings and I, we were a normal family.

 

“A year later, we weren't. I was on my own, taking care of Rosalie and Nicholas.

 

“Another year later, I let people fuck me for food and shelter.”

 

He made it sound simple and banal, ending his explanation with a painful shrug. They didn't know if it was the opium that hid his hurt or if this was his way of confessing things. Neither of them had ever seen him confess something when he was coherent.

 

"You mean there have been others? Before our father?"

 

Michael didn't take it all that lightly though. He had enough experience with people to know that understatements hid feelings that had yet to be dealt with. The feelings were for some other time though, maybe when Calum wasn't out of his mind. Right now, they needed more answers.

 

“A few too many, I believe. I'm generally not very good at things, that's all. I could get jobs here and there, but it never got me enough to support three people.”

 

Two and a half, Luke thought. He ate less than his younger siblings. Hell, he even seemed to take up less space than them.

 

"That's why I didn't want him to take you, Luke. You're new to this. You have Ashton. He loves you, he worships you. You should be his and his only. I don't want you to become like me, with too little left to worship."

 

They all opened their mouth to protest, ready to utter three entirely different monologues, but before they could do so, Calum closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they looked dull and glassy.

 

"Michael, can I sleep some more now?"