Demons (hemmings au)

Twenty-Five

I wait impatiently for Luke to continue talking knowing that his story might change everything for me. I know Ashton just tried to kiss me earlier, but he is still one of my best friends. I know he is hiding something, but the fact that he may be a bad person has never seemed more real to me than in this moment. I can tell Luke to stop talking now, we can go back to acting like everything is okay and kiss in my guest bed but I know that will not happen. I need to know this. 

“Luke what has Ashton done to you?” I ask quietly with a deep breath, not ready for what he is going to say. 

“Those guys El, his four friends. They were the ones. That’s why we couldn’t do anything, they wouldn’t be sentenced,” Luke says shakily, I can hear the tears that are welling up in his eyes. 

I stay quiet, trying to comprehend what he is saying and after a few seconds I get it. That mansion we were in belonged to one of those boys meaning all four of their families must be outstanding members of the community, I’m sure all four boys are starters on the varsity football team. They would never be convicted, it would be written off as a dumb mistake. 

“Luke, I’m so, so sorry. There must be something you and your family can do,” I cry, sitting up and bringing him to me as he sobs. I know as I say it that he is right, there’s nothing his family can do but I don’t know what else to say. 

“No there isn’t Arielle, and I’ve accepted that. Just seeing them again, I couldn’t take it,” he answers, and I understand completely. We should have never went to the party, I should never have put him in that position in the first place. 

“Okay, so what does Ashton have to do with all of this? Was he one of the guys too?” I ask quietly after a few seconds of silence. I want Luke to say no, I want him to say no so badly so I can still believe the bubbly, giggly boy I’ve always known and loved is still that same boy; but, I know Luke’s answer will not be one that I like. 

“Ashton, Ashton was the guy….you don’t have to hear this Arielle. I know he is one of your best friends. I don’t want to ruin that relationship,” Luke replies. I know he is just trying to save me from what he is about to confess but now I have to know. 

“Luke tell me, please,” I murmur, hiding my face in his chest so he can’t see my facial expressions when I hear the truth. 

I feel Luke’s chest go in and hear him take a deep breath before he vibrates from talking, talking so low that I can barely hear him. “Ashton was the guy that lured her upstairs. After John left her to go dancing with someone else, Ashton came in and took her upstairs. He laughed in my face when I got up there before telling one of the guys he wanted to go back down to the party, and left. He left while they killed her,” Luke sobs into my neck. 

I freeze. Time stands still. On one hand I am relieved that Ashton, himself, wasn’t involved in the killing but what he did was almost worse. The Ashton I know, or knew isn’t real. He was never real. It was all a lie. Was he planning on doing the same thing to me at the party earlier tonight? All of these thoughts flood my mind and I start hyperventilating. I can’t help but think if Luke hadn’t of come looking for me sooner I would just be another victim, trapped upstairs with the four guys, Ashton going back downstairs to party some more. 

“Shh, shh don’t worry El. Nothing is going to happen to you, I won’t let it,” Luke reassures, brushing some hair back from my face as he puts his hand underneath my chin to bring my gaze up to meet his. I still feel the tears falling from my eyes, as much as I believe and trust in Luke I can’t help but be scared. I’ve been hanging out with Ashton for almost my whole life. 

“El, I promise I will never let anything happen to you. I love you so much, nobody is going to touch you,” Luke continues, bringing me into his chest and laying us down on the bed together. I nod my head in reply, not really having anything else to say as the tears continue to fall.