{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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Calum wanted to learn everything about the life he was in, especially now that he was on the other side in more ways than one. If he ever wanted to go against Ashton again, he had to be physically and mentally strong.
He had to cover over his old scars with something, which meant covering his mental blemishes with knowledge, forcing them away because even the slightest remembrance of his old life would bring everything down on top of his head.
He tugged on his shirt, letting the end of the sleeves hug around his wrists to cover his arms up. He pulled at the fabric around his neck that hugged to his skin closely, another attempt of hiding the marks left behind by his halo and Ashton's hands.
A knock at the door took him from his examination at his self, going over to it and taking a deep breath. He opened the door all the way, instead of hiding behind it as he forced himself to keep eye contact with Harry. If he had to act confident until he became confident, Calum would fake it until it became real.
"China's leaving in a few. She wants to you to come down and do runs with her."
He only nodded, following Harry down the steps of the house with Miri on his heels. He rocked on his heels lightly, stopping himself to stand properly on his feet with his hands before him. He really hoped he didn't look as odd as he felt. He wanted to, at least, appear sure of himself, even when the small voice in the back of his head was getting louder as it screamed at him for leaving Ashton.
He wasn't really anything without the man he had lived with for a year, he had Calum's everything. His wings, his pureness, he innocence, his time, his clean skin, his clear mind, his angel. All Calum had were two halos, one that didn't shine but choked him slowly and one that didn't truly belong to him.
He could feel it against his skin, the chain much weightier now that it carried a precious ring that was the last of Calum's life. He reached under his shirt, fixing the ring and chain to lay over instead of hidden. He had no one to hide it from anymore. If someone wanted to take this halo of Luke from Calum, he'd have to be dead for them to even touch it.
He ignored the look Harry gave him, keeping his eyes onto the halo laying in his palm as he chewed the inside of his cheek. It was brighter than his own halo, the silver glinting perfectly in the light and Calum could only imagine it floating atop Luke's messy, blond curls. Of course he could only imagine it though. The angel was no longer here and Calum prayed he was in the garden because Luke of all people deserved to live there, even without his wings and halo.
Maybe he was there, waiting for Calum so he wouldn't be the only pure without his wings, so he could have his halo back and they could live together away from all of things Luke had caused and the sins that wrongly showed on Calum's skin. He picked his head up when China came down the stairs, following after her after she waved her hand at him. Harry followed as well, both of them quiet as she spoke rapidly into her phone and motioned for Miri to stay at the house.
Calum sat in the backseat, arms crossed together as he blankly started out the window with unfocused eyes. He mindlessly listened in on what China said, storing it away for no proper reason but his mind was on autopilot, like he'd listen in on Ashton's speaking.
He really needed to stop thinking about Ashton but it seemed like everything rerouted his thoughts back to the man that tainted his skin and haunted his mind. He should go back. He was only weighing China down and he could only think about Ashton, maybe it was a sign? He should go back to Ashton, let the man have his wings and his last breaths, so he could finally be with Luke and live, or die, in peace.
He sighed, stepping out of the car and leaving behind China and Harry, looking up at the house that cursed his everything from the past few weeks he had been gone. China hit his hand to get him from his thoughts before his doubts and fears drowned him in his spot and he reverted back into his old submission for Ashton.
He could do this. He was strong. He wasn't a burden anymore or disappointing. This was a step into the light if he ever wanted to be good enough to give Luke's halo to the man.
He tucked his hands into his pockets, standing on the porch behind China and towering over her shorter frame as he squared his shoulders. He was doing this. Luke would be proud, he thought to himself as he focused on the very light, faint feeling of the ring against his chest over his clothes as the doors opened and Michael stood there.
He looked pitiful, eyes casted down and body beaten. He looked like Calum, except Calum had gotten used to his bruised look and turned broken into beautiful by words of China and Miri as well. He stared at Michael, shaking his head and looking away because staring made it worse, even if it was in understanding. Having prying eyes boring into your soul and picking out your mistakes and wrongs was the worst thing to Calum when he was in his shoes.
He stiftend up lightly, clenching his jaw as he balled his fist with his arms crossed. He subtly watched as Michael clammed up, shrunken frame beginning to shake lightly as his bottom lip quivered. Ashton came into the living room in all his disgusting horror, eyes on Calum like a predator to its prey, except Calum was forcing himself not to back down as Ashton clicked his tongue when China snapped his fingers.
"Aye, we're here on business and I've got other things to do. So, let's begin, shall we?" She cocked an eyebrow, almost daring him to say otherwise, which he didn't.
They both sat on the couches across from each other, Michael taking seat on the arm of the couch Ashton was on. Calum sat on the edge of the couch as well, Harry choosing to sit right beside China as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Calum listened in, filling his own blanks in from what he knew on Ashton's behalf as he stared straight back at Ashton whenever the man would look at him. He didn't back down, eyes dark and sharpened, Ashton's all the same and they glared at each other like sharp swords clashing of iron against iron in a vicious battle of dominance;Calum fighting for a new one as Ashton fought to keep his grip on a power that he was slowly loosing on Calum.
Calum repeated his mantra to himself, never grabbing at Luke's ring but he focused on it and he focused on Michael.
Calum wouldn't be strong till he lived up to being able to protect Michael, kill Ashton, and find his way back to the garden to give Luke his halo back.
{~~~~}
Calum is slowly growing and I love it.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Michael is slowly falling into being Calum's replacement and Ashton seems to be loosing against Calum's fighting? So much is happening and you guys aren't ready. Or maybe you are?
