To Live Forever

Chapter 23

Jason sat on the porch of the gang's warehouse.

For some reason, Jason had formed a fondness to this place. It served as a port in the storm, as Jason always sat on the wooden bench, staring up at the sky as his mind swirled with all the things going on in his life.

After his sister had died and he was out in the street, running from the rich people who had told him to loose in a certain match and he hadn't, and as he stayed in cheap motels or safe places while being on the run, or running towards something perhaps, he had always thought of having a family again. Of loving someone again in the way he loved his sister, his parents. He always shut his feelings down when he thought of stuff like these, because somehow, he always thought that this would never happen.

And now, he had a family. He had brothers, people who cared about him, maybe even something more than friendship. And the threats on them made him feel so vulnerable that it was as if he was stripped off of his ability to protect anyone, even himself. And this was the worst feeling. Of being right there and not being able to do anything. He had felt this feeling too much and was sick of it. Sick of standing there while people just came and hurt the people he loved. Just like that.

"Can't sleep?" A deep voice asked and Jason looked on his side to see Noah sit next to him on the long bench.

"I...there's just too many things on my mind." Jason sighed and Noah nodded, eyes fixed on the sky which was just as dark and full of secrets as the grey eyed man beside Jason.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." He sighed as well and Jason looked at him.

"You're worried about Logan, aren't you?"

"I'm worried about everyone. But, yes, I think Logan is going to get affected by this the most. Especially after the attack on him and Nathan."

"Why?"

Noah hesitated and then exhaled slowly, "I met Logan when I was ten years old. He was fourteen. Nathan was eleven. My mom had died when I was nine. She was killed by a gang. My father knew all about the gangs which were in America, so he thought that one of them had killed mom. He went and visited George Gray. Logan and Nathan's father. I was there with him when he went to their house. I remember him fighting with him and accusing him of my mom's murder. But George Gray had not killed her. Another gang had. He made that very clear to my dad, but he still wanted answers. Who killed my mom? Why did they kill her? In return of answers, he made me stay with them. Asked them to train me and give me jobs around their gang so that I could grow up to avenge my mother, and maybe not be a complete disappointment." Noah laughed as if remembering good old days, "So, I stayed with the Gray's. I made friends with the two heirs. And after a year, George Gray was killed. Murdered. There was an uproar in the gang world. How could the leader of the most important gang die like this? That was the very first time I saw Logan cry. He was so vulnerable. This tall, innocent teenager who's mind was corrupted by his father's death, by the people's shouts of making him the new leader. He gave in to that. I remember him ordering everyone that Nathan was to never join the gang. He was too pure for that. But people forced Logan. 'How can a Gray not be a part of Gray Dawn?' Nathan was only thirteen years old, for god's sake." Noah frowned as if the memories were playing in his head. "Logan was always nervous for his brother. They are the only people, the only family, left for each other. And even if there's a shadow of threat on Nathan, he goes in a frenzy. It has happened a lot. But this time, its much more serious because these new people haven't targeted the leader and third in command of Gray Dawn, they've targeted Logan and Nathan Gray. And that is much more dangerous."

Jason blinked as Noah stopped speaking, the emotion in his eyes dying down as Jason replied, "You don't have to worry about that alone, Noah. Everyone here will always be there for Logan, for Nathan, for you and for everyone in Gray Dawn. I know I haven't been with you guys for long. But for some reason, I'm sure that I would gladly give up my life for you all."

Noah stared at Jason and then smiled, his face lighting up in the darkness and he sighed.

"We're all so messed up."

"Everyone is." Jason replied and Noah nodded as Jason asked, "Tell me about the other members. How did they come in the gang?"

"Well. Like I told you. After Logan inherited the gang, he found out that he couldn't work well with the older members, as they were too used to George Gray's strategies and tactics. And however good his plans were, Logan wasn't quite a...fan. So he petitioned for new members. He had three already, including him, Nathan and I. He needed some more who could fill in the positions which were necessary.

"The fourth member was Hayden. He was a normal kid you could say. A year younger than Logan. He had absolutely no experience in the gang world. But there was one thing. He had seen a very important murder happen by his own eyes. The people who were killing the man were Ink High. Of course, there aren't supposed to be any witnesses, so Hayden was brought back to the High Quarter to decide what would happen to him. Everyone wanted him to be murdered. Of course, they couldn't risk the gang world like that. The kid could go on and babble anything to anyone. But Logan stopped them. Asked Hayden if he could be of any help. After getting to know that he had an IQ of 149, Logan appointed him as the fourth member of Gray Dawn. He was happy, since he was getting money and a good place to live after his parents divorce. Right now, his sister thinks that he lives in a hostel and is doing some master's degree or something."

Jason smiled a little and Noah sighed, continuing, "Max was the fifth. He didn't have an easy life, you could say. He was accused of selling drugs by the police when he was fourteen. He hadn't done anything illegal, and he told everyone that he was framed. But he was kept on probation for a year, forced to do community service and things he didn't really deserve as he hadn't done anything wrong. After a year, the government let him go, he went back to his family, just to find out that they had kicked him out. His whole episode was too much for their family reputation." Noah scoffed, "Max's uncle took him in. His uncle is a retired advisor for the High Quarter, and he made Max train with them until Logan suggested for him to join Gray Dawn when he turned fifteen.

"Tyler had roots in the gang world ever since he was born. His father owed money to the gangs, and his mother had worked with some of the gangs as she was a messenger. His father trained him for being in a gang, and even though he was good at everything, he was much better at hacking. Every night, he broke into impenetrable accounts and companies and just for fun, changed up important numbers and dates on their databases." Noah laughed and Jason smiled as well, "We still joke about that. Anyway, so Logan wanted him to be in Gray Dawn, and after a few months, he said yes. I think Tyler was fourteen years old when he was recruited, just a year after George Gray's death."

"You've all been with each other for a very long time." Jason said, and Noah laughed a little, nodding, "Yeah. It has been good eight or so years. We were with each other throughout the struggles, and we plan on doing that for a long time. I hope." He added and Jason nodded.

"I hope so too."

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Alexandria 💞