{completed}
"You killed me but didn't make sure the casket was sealed."
-
Ashton was an evil monster, a demon with an angelic shell that honestly did nothing to cover up his horrible soul. He preyed on the innocent, his victim being that of Calum Ho...
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Leaving had become the easiest thing in Calum's life as he pulled on his jacket. He didn't pack much, not wanting to take anything except for what was needed. Ashton could keep everything he bought Calum, all the expensive materials and shinny jewelry, the bags and the shoes. He could keep everything he had taken from Calum too, just not Luke.
He clipped his chain together, letting the light ring lay across his chest, protected by his clothes. It was cold against his bare skin, laying right on the tanned flesh as he walked around the house. He hadn't bothered to clean up, Ashton didn't own him anymore and could clean up his own sins, like the blood on the carpet and the putrid black room upstairs.
He clutched his phone in his hands, the case having been cleaned off his own blood before he packed. It still carried Luke's name in the call log, not that Calum had wasted his time with calling a number to a dead man. He just stared at it, pretending that he didn't kill Luke and that he could call if he wanted.
He pulled his shoes on, pulling his hood over his head as he opened the front door. He stared out at the night, putting his hand down his shirt to grip at Luke's ring tightly.
"I'm strong." He whispered softly to himself, hearing Luke's voice echo in the back of his mind.
He nodded as he left down the steps, walking up the street as he hugged himself closely, fingers secure around the silver band. His steps slowed as he got further away from the house, not entirely sure if he was going the right way but hoping he was. Even if he wasn't going the right way, the thing he needed to hope for was that they were still there, that they would take Calum in or else he'd only have Ashton to turn back to and he'd rather die than go back to Ashton.
His feet dragged a bit, scuffing up his shoes but he could care less about making the effort to lift his legs past what he was doing. He could barely walk, feeling a sharp pain stab through his leg and into his chest with every step. His ears rang but he could see warehouse row coming up, praying that he would be allowed in as he knocked on the back door.
It swung open, Calum jumping back to avoid getting hit and furrowing his eyebrows at Harry as the younger boy looked at him with the same confusion he held on his face.
"Calum, what're your doing here? Is Ashton here?" He looked around skeptically when he said the other man's name, as if he'd just magically appear in the moment.
"I-I'm alone. I need....I need to see China."
"I can't just let you-"
"Please, Harry." His voice was desperate, pleading with Harry to get let him in, "I'll handle it if you get in trouble."
Harry sighed, glancing around with nervous green eyes before he nodded and let Calum into the warehouse. He walked the boy down the hall to where China and her guards were. She looked up when they came into the dirty light, looking behind Harry to Calum.
She held her hand up to the guards, both stopping in their tracks to where they were going to grab Calum. She moved forward, motioning for Harry to move as she walked up to Calum with soft eyes. She sighed at him, putting her fingers through his hair gently. He fell into her arms, the shorter woman easily supporting his weight as he curled up and cried.
She sent the other men out, one of her guards dragging her victim out to leave her alone with Calum as she wanted. They both sat on the floor, China letting him lean against her chest as she brushed her knuckles over his bruised cheek.
"He-He....kill-killed-" He shakily grabbed the ring from in his shirt, dropping when she placed her hands over his
"I know, Calum." She watched him drop his hand back under his cheek, lying against her like a child to their mother.
"Can I please stay with you instead? I can't go back to him and not think of what he did."
"Of course you can. You know that. Come on."
She helped him up when he moved, grabbing his hand and taking him to where the rest of her men had disappeared to with Harry. He followed the green eyed boy out, letting China finish up with her business and curling into Harry's side at the sound of a gun going off twice.
Harry opened the car door for Calum, sitting a seat away from him and Calum assumed it was for China to sit in. She came on a few moments later, wiping off her gun and passing it to one of her guards before she climbed over Harry and settled between the both of them. Harry passed the woman her phone when she held her hand out for it, Calum watching as she dialed some random number and pressing the phone to her ear.
"I have Calum. Yeah, he turned up about ten minutes ago. Yeah, two at all times. Well, I expect Ashton to show up eventually. Give him her room when we come by. No." Her words were sharp and commanding, Calum biting his lip as she spoke.
He leaned his cheek on her shoulder when she hung up, thankful that she still let him stay. He hadn't seen China in years though, way earlier than he had ever met Ashton. She disappeared after Mali had died, choosing not to keep contact with Joy and David but sometimes she checked in on Calum when he passed her mind.
He knew why she drifted away once he saw what she did for a living when Ashton and her met up one day. She always felt guilty for Mali's death, Calum coming to learn that it was because she was killed in China's defense. He forgave the woman much faster than the woman ever forgave herself, if she ever did.
She left him at her estate, Harry going inside with him so he wouldn't be alone in an unfamiliar place. He gripped Harry's hand when two men came from nowhere, Harry telling him that they were his guards for the time being and by China's command. He nodded but still eyed the pair warily, giving a fearful smile.
Harry gave them a look, eyes widened a bit and head tilted towards Calum to silently tell them to smile back. Both were forced and awkward, seemingly uncomfortable by doing so but it was enough for Calum to turn back to Harry to walk to his room.
He was left alone, told that the two guards would stand post at his door if he needed anything. He thanked Harry, the green eyed boy turning and shutting the door behind him, leaving Calum alone in the bedroom China had given him. He took out his chain, looking at Luke's ring with sad eyes.
Calum was strong for leaving but he wasn't strong enough in his eyes.
He wouldn't be strong until he could learn to work without his wings, breath even with his halo of noose still around his neck, and go back and kill Ashton for taking the one thing that kept him strong.
He wouldn't be strong until he was strong enough to protect others like Luke.
{~~~~}
Okay, see? I'm good person. He got away from Ashton. I let him do that, so stop hating me.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Calum finally left? Him going to China? Harry being there instead of with Ashton's gang? Questions, questions, questions....
