**trigger warning**

March 16, 2011

~Ashton~

Donovan was super nice, but he left a lot. Not for long periods of time, but it was enough to freak me out. Something about the party made me feel on edge. Was it the fact that it was Damian's party? Maybe.

Donovan turned to me. "I heard there's a game of beer pong going on downstairs. Wanna join?"

I shook my head. I hadn't had anything to drink all night. Reasoning was that I knew we needed at least one sober person to get us all home.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm sure," I mumbled.

He turned around and left, leaving me sprawled on the small sofa. Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.

From Lucky:
Help.

My eyes widened. To say I was a bit shaken up would be an understatement. I spammed her with where are you and are you okay but there was no reply.

I shot up from the couch and ran out of the room. I scavenged down hallways, swinging every door open.

Once I got through this one hallway, I noticed a staircase at the end. I slipped steps, sprinting up the stairs. I looked in all of the rooms, but not finding Lucky.

"Lucky!" I cried out hopelessly.

After realizing there was nothing left in this hallway, I turned hack down the stairs, hoping to find another section of rooms.

"Dork?"

I turned around to find Calum.

"Yeah, it's me," I said quietly.

He nodded. "Do you happen to know where the-"

"Damian, get off!"

Calum and I made eye contact immediately, our eyes completely frozen and wide.

We heard an agonizing scream come from the room next to us. I jumped over to it, swinging the door open.

The door revealed a tall, broad man with Lucky swung over his shoulder.

"Put her down!" Calum screamed.

Damian mumbled something incoherent.

"Put her down!" I begged him.

Surprisingly, the man listened for once. But, it wasn't in the way that I had hoped.

Lucky's limp body was flung forward, landing at our feet.

Calum immediately bent down, checking on the girl.

"Lucky!" he cried quietly, going through her knotted hair.

He scooped her up, carrying her bridal style.

"Let's go, Ash," he yelled as we sprinted down the hallway, hoping to find Donovan, Luke, or Michael.

"Do you know where anyone is?" I panted.

Calum nodded. "I ran into them on the way here."

~Calum~

I held my crotch nervously. I really, really had to pee. I had asked around, asking where the bathroom was. I got shrugs and mumbles in reply, rather than an actual answer.

I casually turned into what looked like the living room. Luckily, I spotted Michael and Luke sprawled on a black leather sofa.

"Hey!" I waved them down, walking towards the couch.

"Do you guys know where the bathroom is?" I asked them.

Luke shrugged. "I think it's down the hall."

I nodded. "Thanks, mate."

Now, I had to find the hallway. Turns out, there were numerous halls in what I thought was a decent sized house. The whole building was like a maze.

I'd made it to about the third hallway before seeing a familiar blonde headed boy. He frantically opened and closed doors, tugging at his roots.

Was that Ashton?

"Dork?" I questioned.

The boy looked over at me, shyly nodding. "Yeah, it's me."

Jesus, he's quiet.

I took the opportunity to ask where the restroom was. I was sure he had come across one through all of the searching.

"Do you happen to know where the-"

I was cut off by a voice yelling.

"Damian, get off!"

I would know that voice from anywhere. It was Lucky.

Not only had I known her for years and grew up with her, but I had shown keen interest in her for a few years as well.

Ashton and I shot each other worried glances as a blood curdling scream. He sprinted to the door, swinging it open. The sight I saw was not one I ever wanted to.

After furious begging, chucked the limp body to us.

I could barely tell what was happening, unable to see through blurry eyes filled with tears.

I quickly picked her up, Ashton and I running as fast as we could to Michael and Luke.

The look of pure terror on Michael's face was heartbreaking. His baby sister looked half dead in my arms.

Technically, Michael and Lucky were the same age. But, he always counted the two minutes in between them. He was older.

He ran over to us, clutching Lucky's head carefully in his hands.

"What happened?" he choked.

"Damian," Ashton murmured sadly.

Michael presses his forehead to Lucky's shoulder. She still lay in my grasp.

"Give her to me," Ashton mumbled.

I carefully placed her in his arms. He held her up right, her head on his shoulder.

He sat on the couch, laying her head in his lap.

~Luke~

I ran my fingers briskly through Lucky's hair as her eyes would flutter open and closed. She was shooting in and out of consciousness.

I didn't like Lucky, not in that way. But that doesn't change the fact that I loved and cared for her like a brother. Kissing was a different story. We both knew it meant nothing.

Her faint whimpers in pain were the worst part. She sounded so hurt.

I felt bad for Ashton and Calum though. They had to witness her with pain being inflicted.

If anybody was unimportant in this situation, it was me.

Michael was her brother.

Ashton was her best friend.

Calum was in love with her.

I was just the kid she made out with in the hallway.

~Michael~

I watched as Calum ran towards Luke and I, crying as he held my sister.

She could've passed as dead. I thought she was dead, to be honest.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I inspected her fragile face. Fresh bruises decorated what seemed to be every inch of her body.

My baby sister.

I remembered when we were playing in the backyard when we were kids. We had to be about five or something like that. There was this big oak tree that we loved climbing. Lucky had managed to get up there, but I couldn't, so I asked her for help. She tried to climb down, but fell off. My parents didn't come out yet, so I tried to calm her down by kissing her knees and hands where she hurt herself.

I tried performing the same method now, but the dampening bit was that my kisses could cure her. She was too broken because of an abusive boyfriend. The worst part is that I wasn't there to help her.

As her brother, I'm supposed to protect her. The one time she need it, I wasn't there.

I cried as I peppered wet kisses on her bruises and face, as if it was an apology. 'I'm sorry I couldn't save you.'

Everything was messing with my head.

Ashton has her head on his lap as he called 911. Luke ran his long fingers through her matted hair while Calum checked the bruises he could see currently. There were some nasty ones.

My entire being was filled with regret.

sorry that was intense

michael makes me just 🥺🥺

also the picture attached is what michael would have looked like during their lil tree memory. cutie.