Help Me (sequel to Save Me)

Chapter 5

The room is peaceful as the men sleep, both of them happy that they've become friends and aren't down each other's throats anymore. Johnathon is still excited that Remington knows Andy Biersack, his idol.

They're both woken when screaming is heard from outside the room, and exchange knowing glances as they sit up in their beds. "They should sound proof this place," Remington mumbles, annoyed that he's been woken up. He always finds it so difficult to go back to sleep.

Johnathon yawns. "Why haven't they, though?" He watches the younger man get out of bed. "Where are you going?"

Rubbing his eyes, Remington answers. "Toilet," he says as he pulls his dressing gown on, "If I don't come back it's because I've been murdered," he jokes, "but seriously, if I don't come back in-like-ten minutes, come get me, yeah?"

The man isn't sure what Remington means by this, but nods. "Sure, dude, see you."

Satisfied, Remington opens the door and slips it into the corridor, keeping his head down as he walks quickly to the toilets. He wishes they had their own bathrooms. He makes it to the cubicles and squints as the bright lights come on.

Johnathon wonders why Remington had sounded so worried when he said that. What did he mean? The man doesn't really know why Remington's here. He hasn't asked, and he doesn't really plan on it, not unless Remington asks him first. It seems like the boy is fragile.

Remington washes his hands and leaves the bathroom, the door banging behind him and making him jump. He knows that a slamming door will always make him jump, ever since Holly used to slam the door every time she came home. He never got used to that. In a way, it would have been worse if he did get used to it.

As he's walking back to the bedroom, the person who woke them up screaming comes into view, kicking and screaming and being held tightly by a doctor. Is that what he looked like the other day, when he had that stupid hallucination in the canteen? God, he hopes not. He stops walking as they get nearer, trying not to stare at the poor woman as she's practically dragged down the hall. He knows that if he looks at her, he'll probably see Holly, and that does not need to happen. The doctors don't need two crazy people in one night.

Once the woman has gone past, he carries on to his room, opening the door and going inside, closing it behind him. "She's still at it," he says, "poor thing."

Johnathon is still in bed, reading that shitty book he was given. "Who is it?"

"Hayley Simmons, or something like that, I don't know. I didn't really look at her." He gets back in bed and yawns. "I feel sorry for her, you know. That was me the other day. It's not nice." Remington isn't saying this for sympathy, but just because he sympathises with he woman. It's awful to be so terrified.

The older man hums, thoughtful. "Did I really scare you that much?" He asks, suddenly worried that it was his fault Remington had started screaming.

With a shake of his head, the singer sinks down into the pillow. "I mean you did scare me, but everyone scares me. It's complicated." He doesn't want to get into it. He isn't sure his tired mind can take it. He might be sick.

"I'm sorry," Johnathon apologises, "I should have moved when you asked."

Remington closes his eyes. "It's okay. These things happen," he mumbles, remembering how Sebastian had said this when he visited.

The room goes quiet and the men try to go back to sleep. It can't be past one in the morning. Remington wants to see Andy, to ask him if they'll ever fall out of love like Sebastian ad Larisa did. He feels so terrible for his brother. Those two were written in the stars.

What if love is fake? Remington asks himself, and frowns. He can't bear the though of losing Andy. God, that would be awful.

He doesn't know what would be worse. Losing Andy, or losing his mind.

An alarm rips through the building and Remington bolts up, covering his ears and sliding out of bed. He knows what's going on. Someone's set off the fire alarm. Probably that Haley girl. She seems like the type to do that.

Johnathon gets up too, yawning, and opening the bedroom door. "You alright, mate?" He asks, noticing how Remington has his hands over his ears. The boy shakes his head. He can't stand the noise. "Come on, it'll be quieter outside," the man says gently, ushering Remington out of the room.

The two follow everyone one else out of the fire exit and wait, shivering for the horrible noise to stop. Remington is trembling, and is glad that it just looks like he's cold. He hates the noise. He doesn't really know why. Probably Holly fucking with his head like usual.

The alarm goes off after five minutes, and he slowly removes his hands from his ears, shoving them in the pockets of his dressing gown. "If this is a false fucking alarm I'm gonna be mad," he mutters, "my head hurts."

There's confused chatter as the patients wait in the cold for information on what's going on. A member of staff shouts for everyone to be quiet. "Everyone back inside, this is a false alarm!"

Remington groans and turns to walk towards the door, followed by Johnathon. They walk back in silence, shutting the bedroom door behind them and crawling under the covers to warm up. Remington is still shaking even though he's not cold anymore. He rolls over in bed and tries to go back to sleep, wishing that Sebastian could be lying with him. He misses his brothers more than he ever thought he would. It's really bittersweet being here.

Because, sure, this place is helping him, and no, he hasn't had any more suicidal thoughts. But he can't be with his brothers. And he needs them. He'd be so much happier if they were here, too.