No Clue

By a Thread

Luke sat at the corner table of his own cafe, watching as his fiance handled sales. He smiled softly, listening to the man speak Italian with the locals.

Luke's phone began buzzing next to himself, and he saw his brother's contact. He smiled softly and answered the video call. Ashton popped on the screen with a goofy grin plastered on his face.

"Hey Ash," Luke said, connecting his headphones. "How was Bora Bora?"

"It was incredible. Marriage is the most amazing thing in the fucking world. And by marriage, I mean marriage to Calum." Luke laughed lightly and glanced back at Noah.

"Are you settling in to the new house?" Luke asked.

"I mean... I guess. Mums, Lauren and Harry are staying with us right now..."

"Because of Michael?" Ashton sighed softly and nodded in response.

"They're terrified and they don't want you to know..." Luke pulled his legs up and crossed them beneath himself, a nervous habit he had developed years ago when he was dating Calum.

"He can't find me," he said softly. "I'm over sixteen-thousand kilometers away..." Ashton just nodded in response.

"I think they're scared for us honestly... they're worried he's going to come looking for you and he'll be upset when you aren't here..."

"A-are you worried about that?" Ashton just shook his head in response.

"I'm just glad you're safe, Luke... but you know you can't hide out forever, right?"

"I know... but they'll catch him if I hide long enough..." another voice spoke on Ashton's line.

"I've got to go," he said. "I love you, bub."

"Yeah, love you too." Without another word, Ashton hung up.

"Who was that?" Noah asked, sitting next to Luke after the line was gone. Luke moved back into a normal sitting position before placing a kiss on Noah's lips.

"Just Ashton, checking in..." Luke looked out the window and felt his breath hitch in his throat when he saw the ghost of someone he once knew. Someone so much worse than Michael. And if Michael could rise from the dead... maybe G could too...

~~~

Calum unlocked the front door of the semi-abandoned home and walked inside. Dozens of memories echoed through his husband's childhood home. Calum made his way upstairs and walked down the hallway to Harry's bedroom, finding the small, stuffed penguin they had been talking about. Calum shoved it into his bag and turned to walk out, stopping infront of a familiar door. He turned to Luke's old room and pushed the door open, finding it exactly as it had been after the night he moved out. Calum walked over and picked the comforter off of the floor. It had been there since the night he was taken again three years ago... the only person who dared to enter the room since had been Andrew when he packed the boy's clothes so they could move to England. Everyone else decided it was best to forget the final memory the room held. Calum folded the blanket and set it on the bed, sighing softly. He turned to walk out, but froze when he saw the window propped slightly open. He walked over quietly and pulled it shut, sealing the latch in place. He saw a piece of ripped fabric caught on the windowsill and reached down to grab it, freezing when he saw the flannel material covered with dried blood. He turned around quickly and saw the closet door open, just a crack... a single green eye peering out at him. Calum let out a sudden breath before running as quickly as he could out of the room. He heard quick footsteps following him and he began throwing things down to stop him. He glanced back and saw Michael trip on a small metal shelf that he knocked over before starting to run down the stairs. He felt suddenly another body connect with his back and they tumbled the rest of the way down. They landed in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. Calum was face down on his stomach with Michael laying ontop of him. He struggled and flipped around, trying to fight him off.

"Why is it always you?!" Michael shouted. "Why can't you just stay out of my fucking way and let me have Luke?!"

"First of all, you crazy, fucking bitch... I'm not even dating him anymore! I married his fucking brother! Second of all, you'll never find him! He moved far, far away so he wouldn't have to ever see you again. He hates you!  You terrify him!" Michael pulled out his knife and flicked it open, holding it infront of Calum's face.

"Are you saying... that Luke is single?" He asked quietly.

"You're fucking crazy..."

"Is Luke single?!"

"H-he's getting married," Calum said softly. "Not to me, and not to you." Michael's expression fell for a moment, giving Calum just enough time. With all of the force he could muster, he kicked up, nailing Michael right in the groin. He fell off of him and Calum pulled himself up quickly, beginning to run to the front door. Michael grabbed his bag and pulled him back towards himself, making Calum trip and fall. He rolled away as Michael lunged, sending his knife plunging into the hardwood floor. Calum stood again and ran towards the kitchen, trying to find any escape from the madman chasing him. He made it to the glassdoor before suddenly feeling something plunge into his back. He braced himself against the door as a familiar pain spread through him. Michael walked over and pulled the knife out of his back as Calum turned to face him.

"Where is Luke hiding?" He asked, grabbing Calum by the shirt collar as he tried to fall onto the floor.

"I-I'll never tell you..." Calum whispered. Michael rolled his eyes before plunging the knife into his stomach. Calum let out a soft grunt before sliding down the glassdoor and falling onto the floor. Michael kneeled next to him and began rifling through his bag.

"Fine... maybe it's time I try another tactic..." he said, pulling out the stuffed penguin.

"Maybe there's another Hemmings-Irwin that would like spending some quality time with me..."

"N-no..." Calum muttered, trying to pull himself up as Michael turned to walk out. "L-leave them alone!" he was shouted.

"Just shut up and die..."