Innocence: Lost

Chapter Thirty-One

"He's d-dead?" Ashton scratched his neck nervously. He swallowed and tried to keep himself from shaking. Mitchy nodded rapidly.

"Someone shot him. They think it was one of Jack's guys. I'm not sure, but his parents came home when he didn't answer his phone," It was surreal to hear Mitchy speak about it. Ashton flicked the ignition off and rubbed his face.

"Is Cal okay?" Ashton asked.

"I've never seen him like this. He's...he's different, Ash," Mitchy opened Ashton's door. He slowly stepped out. The sun was unforgiving, though autumn was still near.

"Why is everyone at Luke's house?" Ashton frowned. There were cars parked all in Luke's driveway.

"Because, it was only fair to tell him. He's one of us now," Mitchy shook his head, almost disbelieving Ashton's words.

"One of us."

Ashton was not expecting to see a relieved look on Luke's face. Tears were pouring out of his eyes, and Ashton noticed his hair to be shorter. He couldn't even comfort Calum. He couldn't think of anything apart from Luke.

"Ashton! I was so worried," he hugged Ashton's torso. Ashton felt ashamed. In any circumstance, he would have been relieved that Luke had forgiven him. Now he just felt dirty.

"Hey, Luke. I think we need to talk about some t-things...I..." Ashton almost whimpered.

Luke's eyes kept pouring salty tears, "Not now, Ashton. Please, hold me. I was on my way to talk to you, but then—I found out about M-M-M-M..."

Ashton hushed him.

"You don't have to talk. Shh," He murmured.

"J-Jack's in a gang, Ashton. J-J-Jack is in a gang!" Luke cried. His innocent eyes were like candy melts. They were pooled with loss and forlorn.

"I-I...oh," Ashton frowned. Luke balled up Ashton's shirt.

"I don't care about the money. I just need you. Once I find the guy who killed my a-angel—" Luke sniffled.

Ashton sunk into himself when Luke hugged him. There was a gun on Luke's bed. Ashton could see the locks of hair from when he must have cut it in the trashcan. Ashton realized he had left Luke in a mess.

Mitchy and Calum were in the living room. Luke's door was closed, and he and Ashton were sat on the bed. The blonde boy was nervously playing with his ring that Ashton had gave him.

"Luke, we should really talk about some stuff. Why do you have a gun?" Ashton motioned to it. Luke shrugged.

"I found it," he ran a hand through his short curls. It was then that Ashton noticed bright red scars across his knuckles.

"How did you get these?" Ashton tried to touch them. Luke moved away.

"Look, I had a bad weekend. Just h-hold me and shut up!" Luke crawled in his lap. He looked nerving, scary even. He shoved Ashton against the bed with a crooked smirk.

His short curls still flopped in his eyes, but those eyes weren't bright blue anymore. They were cloudy, timid, and angry.

Luke laughed evilly, tears still pouring from his eyes and on to Ashton. They seemed to sizzle on the older boy's skin.

Luke was wearing nothing but a t-shirt and underwear. It was Ashton's favorite look, but there was something off-putting about it. This was not Luke. This was a monster.

"What's the matter, Ashy?" Luke cooed into his ear like a demon in his nightmares. Luke was so close to him, but his personality was so far away.

"I-I...I just want to talk, baby. I need to tell you something. I have your money back!" Ashton yelped when Luke bit at his neck. That was his job.

"I don't care about money," Luke growled. He bared his perfect white teeth and ran his hands up Ashton's shirt. Luke was crazy. The loss of his best friend had finally sent him over the edge.

Luke was Ashton.

Ashton couldn't take it. He had to overpower Luke and pin him to the bed.

"Baby, in order to get your money...I had t-to do something very bad," Ashton whimpered. Luke tugged his hair and tried to kiss him. He kept giggling and squeaking but not in the way that made Ashton moan. It gave him fight or flight tingles.

"What? Did you kill him?" Luke teased and laughed.

Ashton swallowed, "Not...n-never on purpose," he said so quietly that he was sure Luke didn't hear.

"Wait, wait, wait..." Luke sat up on Ashton's lap. He swallowed and tilted his head to the side. It wasn't innocent. It made him look psychotic.

"I, your brother...w-we have a history. He offered to help give the money to pay you back, but I-I had to kill Michael. I couldn't do it. So, I fought with one of his guards and then I-I accidentally shot him," Ashton whispered.

Luke stared at Ashton for a second. He played with his ring again and then threw it on Ashton's chest.

"You know? I was going to break up with you for lying to me. I had it, Ashton. I...I then realized I couldn't be without you, but this! YOU'RE A MONSTER! You are the worst person I have ever met. You sick bastard. You are lucky that I do not call the cops right now. You thought that I'd care about the money that much?!" Luke shoved Ashton. He pulled his fist back and dropped a blow to his face.

Ashton just took it. He'd never hit Luke. Luke kept laughing and screaming.

"EVERYONE WAS RIGHT! Think of Calum! Think of me, goddammit. You don't even deserve to rot in jail!" Luke tried to choke Ashton but he was too weak. Ashton would have been happy to be put down by Luke.

At the hands of an angel, hell wouldn't be so bad. Ashton would only die young if Luke were responsible.

He watched as Luke reached for the gun. He heard it cock and a loud clicking noise. He closed his eyes. He was now ready to die.

"Thank you for being my last love, angel eyes. It would be an honor if you killed me," Ashton whispered.

Luke growled and pointed it to Ashton's head. Ashton gave Luke a sincere look full of love, but he could see the young boy faltering. 

"I hate you!" Luke screamed. "I hate you!"

His hands shook. He growled and then switched to point the gun to his own head.

"I hate you because I can't do it, so I guess I will do the next best thing," Luke whispered. The cold metal almost made a ring noise against his temple. Ashton screamed back and fought to wiggle the gun out of Luke's hand.

He was unsuccessful. The gun fired and hit the ceiling.

"Baby stop!" Ashton whimpered.

"I need you, angel!" He tried again.

"We can go together," he said. The last sentence seemed to interest Luke.