Sam is a dude to let everyone know. - Kirsten

Chapter Twenty Six; Not Edited

"What?!" I held back a sob, trying my best not to show my sudden change of mood, but I failed miserably. I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist, pulling me into Ashton's chest as he tried to calm me down. "That's so sad." I cried into the boy's shoulder, trying to let everything out before my emotions consume myself.

"I know Calum, but there is nothing that we can do now." Ashton said, rubbing my shoulders with his large hands as he tried to soothe me. "All we can do is be strong for ourselves and for Michael who is suffering the most."

"Alright, but can I ask a another question?" I asked, dreading to hear the answer to this question. I saw Ashton nod his head and it made me start to speak again. "When did Sam die?" I watched him tense up and he let out a loud sigh before turning to look at me.

"Today Calum, two years ago today." Ashton said, putting his head inside of his hands. I heard a tiny sob coming from his direction and it broke my heart. "Michael isn't at work. He is at her grave, mourning her death with pure sadness that I've ever seen."

I honestly didn't know how to respond and it made my stomach churn when I watched Ashton break down even more. "Um, Ashton. I hate to do this, but can we talk about my dream this morning." I saw Ashton look up at me and nod his head as for me to speak my mind.

"It has been the same dream for the last couple of days," I said, deep in thought as I continued to relive the dream that I wanted to keep hidden deep inside of my mind. "I always end up at my house and for some reason it has been burnt down and someone was chasing me there each time." I felt the boy's eyes on me as I spoke these words. "I end up running in my parents room and their closet before hiding in there, until the end of the dream comes."

"What happens at the end of the dream?" Ashton asked and it was my turn to tense up. "You need to tell me if you want me to help you though this." He said and I nodded because that was true, he would help me through this, even Michael can.

"A shadow always shows up at the end. I always think the person will leave but then the door opens to show a outline of a man." I feel the tears coming, making me lean into Ashton's shoulder. "Luke was the one who always finds me, but I never know what he does to me because I always wake up before he can do anything."

"Oh my god, Calum. I'm so sorry." I felt his arms wrap around me as he comforted my broken self. We sat there for a couple of minutes and talked about anything that came to mind.  A noise coming in front of the house pulled us out of our deep conversation, making both of our heads turn to hear yelling and screaming. Without me even looking at Ashton, I ran to the front of the house, ignoring Ashton's calls to come back in case if it was Luke breaking into the house to get her.

My eyes scanned the living room, until they landed on a familiar redhead who was clutching his chest with a pain expression on his pale face. "Michael! What the hell happened?" I gasped, just seeing the blood on his shirt that was staining the black fabric. The redhead raised his head to look at me, green meeting blue as we looked into each other's eyes. "I got shot that's what happened." Hearing that almost made me want to scoff with annoyance because of course he did. What would caused that stain on his shirt then? So I rolled my eyes, making sure he didn't see before I responded to what he said.

"Who shot you, Michael?" I asked, biting my lip as I waited for him to answer, scared to find out who did this to him. "I don't know. Everything happened so fast." He gasped and I told him to wait there while I go get the medic stuff. I walked down the hall to see something I never wanted to experience. Ashton wasn't here. Worry sprung in my chest as I started to search for him, until my eyes landed on a folded note, grabbing it I ran to the bathroom and grabbed some supplies before ascending to Michael to clean his wounds.

"Calum, what's wrong?" I didn't answer him, but I felt him tense when I started rub stuff on his wounds, making me wince just to see him like this. "Baby? Why are you so pale looking?" I tried my best to ignore him, but then the tears came after I was done helping him. "Michael, he is gone." I cried, making the redhead look at me in confusion, but before he could ask I said three words that made both of our words come crashing down.

"Ashton is gone."

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Four more chapters left in Code Red. Who is excited for the end? I'm not lol.

- Kirsten & Claire.