thanks to everyone on the discord discussion!

also i don't like this chapter either. next one will (hopefully) be slightly better

⚠️TW: death, blood, kinda gore, suicide reference, implication of potential abuse, gun ⚠️

Edge's POV

That was... an interesting meet up.

Ash... I wish I'd met her before all this shit happened. It would've been nice to be friends with her.

I'd like to think she wasn't... like that before...y'know, The Anax, June 23rd, that shit. Not to say she's a bad person, just a little... hardcore? With the retorts and the "take a picture it'll last longer" bro I would but that would be creepy.

Great. Not only was I not able to convince Ash Hsart to become an alliance, but now I'm thinking about her.

I walked down the street, keeping an eye out for gay executioners. I could be dead meat any second.

I glance at the pin on my gray hoodie. The pink, yellow, and blue stripes used to gleam in the sunlight. But now...

I wish I didn't have to think about now.

Now, the sunlight that once was bright serves as nothing but a bright ass bitch in the sky that makes shadows. Now, the streets that used to have hot dog carts, ice cream trucks, and children's lemonade stands just have crashed cars and bloodstained litter. Now, the people we used to be able to trust turned against us because of laws. Now, the laws that used to be the glue that held us all together are the things tearing us apart.

The only people I can trust are in that birch treehouse, and I'm almost there--

"You're here!" Someone shouted from the top of the treehouse. I don't know if they're glad to see me or someone almost burned something down.

"Yeah!" I shouted back, climbing up the ladder. "Is something wrong?"

Once I got to the top, I saw that Aston was waiting for me. "Evan Hansen fell out of the tree."

"The fuck?!?" I asked, rushing to a window.

"Not that one," Aston said. "Back window, by the kitchen."

I darted over towards the window to see where he landed. No... This is bad.

See, medical facilities are just like the police force. They get to choose who lives and who dies. Half of the nurses and doctors are for it, and half are against it. Those who are against the whole choosing thing protest every day, leaving no one to take care of the injured. So, the hospital would've been no use.

I looked down to see what happened. Oh shit. It looked like blood.

"Aston, get the med kit!"I shouted. "I'm going down the slide. Meet me at the bottom."

I slide down the slide, Aston following soon after. As I suspected, there was a lot of blood.

Aston handed me the med kit. I gently helped Evan sit up and cleaned the blood on his skin. Then I realized... he had an open fracture. He broke his arm and the bone pierced through the skin.

Evan, Aston, and I exchanged glances. None of us knew how to take care of something like this. We didn't know how to close the wound.

Evan was going to bleed out and die.

"Aston, get Connor Murphy out here now." I demanded. He nodded and went up the ladder.

"Your boyfriend is coming," I said to Evan. "How did this happen?"

"It wasn't like last time," He answered. "I promise."

"I know." I replied. "That's why I'm asking."

"Someone... from the Trash Cult..." He mumbled. "Came in and shoved me out. They had... short dark hair... tall... trench coat."

I almost dropped Evan in disbelief.

"I'm here!" Connor shouted from behind me. He took Evan into his own arms and I backed away.

"How did this happen?" Aston asked me quietly.

"Someone from the Trash Cult." I replied.

"The fuck?"

"Yeah." I replied. "You try and make one deal with them and suddenly murder."

"No pulse," Connor said. "He's... he's..."

"I'm so sorry, Connor, honestly," I replied. I looked at Evan's body. What exactly do you do with a dead body in times like this?

Connor started to tear up. No typical crying noises, just... tears streaming down his face. "What... what should we do?"

I sighed. "We either buy shovels or buy matches."

"You mean... bury... or cremate him?" Connor asked. I nodded, feeling guilty.

"W-What? No, no, Edge, we can't." He said. "Evan.. he's so young, just turned eighteen-"

"Well what do you suppose we do, Connor?" Asked Aston harshly. "Resurrect him? Oh yeah sure lemme just call fucking JESUS real quick-"

"Aston!" I whisper-shouted, elbowing him in the ribs. "He's grieving!"

Aston grumbled something to himself. "Okay, but we can't wait until the body rots. And we're sure as hell not keeping it inside the treehouse. People live in there. Keep the dead bitches outside."

It was so weird seeing Connor like this. He was usually either angry at someone or being protective of Evan.

If we tell him how Evan "fell" out of the treehouse...

Connor would definitely murder the entire Trash Cult.

"Connor, we're gonna leave you alone for a minute, okay?" I said gently. He nodded, looking bittersweetly at Evan, whose eyes were rolled into the back of his head eerily.

I grabbed Aston by the elbow and dragged him out of hearing distance from Connor.

"Aston, you can't tell Connor how Evan died," I said grimly.

"Why not?" Aston asked. "He'd kill the entire Trash Cult for us-"

"That is not what we want to happen!" I whisper-shouted. "Just because the Trash Cult has violent methods, that doesn't mean they deserve to die! There's-"

"There's good people in bad places, blah blah blah. You say that every day, Edge!" Aston snapped. "When are you gonna wake up a little?"

My voice suddenly got deep and serious. "Aston, I'd like to think that we get out of this alive. I'd like to think that despite the fact that our world is a bad place, we are good people. That there are good people in that treehouse. How is the Trash Cult any different?"

"Are you braindead?" Aston asked. "How are they different? Edge, they're murderers!"

"They only kill because they have decent reason to," I replied. "And if anyone from the Gay Meme Protection Squad dares to hurt them out of vengeance, then they can consider themselves removed."

"What is with you?" Aston asked. "Just yesterday you were talking about how horrible they were-"

"Yesterday I wasn't able to see from their point of view." I growled. "I may not agree with them, but that doesn't mean we have the right to disrespect them."

"But-"

"Aston did I fucking stutter?" I asked. "I can talk to the leader about their motives. I can't make them change the fact that Evan is gone."

Aston sighed in defeat. He doesn't always seem like it, but he can be persistent when he wants to be. I kinda felt bad yelling at him, but I would feel even worse if he sent Connor after the Trash Cult. I know he's sweet most of the time, but I can't risk him taking advantage of an upset and angry Connor.

This is the problem with being a parental unit for so many people living a giant treehouse. You know they're all sweet, and you try to make them feel loved, and when you know someone has trouble feeling the love, you know they won't hesitate to feel the hate. But you still  have to teach them to make others know they're loved, but you have to tell them what they're doing wrong in order to do so.

And that includes the Trash Cult. They deserve love too. Ash deserves love too.

But it's such a confusing loop. I don't even know if I'm making any sense. It doesn't make sense. Hell, why does The Anax expect us to believe in God, in a perfect creator, but somehow that creator gives innocent people the curse of their own mind hating them? Why would a perfect creator let people like Evan die at a time where they know what the world is, and they want to experience it, but end it all before they could? Why would a perfect creator-

I would write novels on the injustices and unfairness of a "perfect creator" if writing wasn't contantly searched, edited, and changed by The Anax's guards.

I will never stop fighting against The Anax.

"Are you gonna talk to our squad or find the motive?" Aston asked.

"I'll talk to them first, but I won't stay long." I replied.

Aston nodded. "I'll stay with Connor."

"Good," I said, heading up the ladder.

I opened the door, and everyone's eyes darted towards me.

I cleared my throat. "As you probably know, Evan Hansen fell out of the treehouse again."

"Did he fall?" Someone shouted from the back. "Or did he let go?"

"He. Fell." I growled. "However, it's... worse... this time. This time... E-Evan is gone..."

Chatter filled the room. I didn't even have to look down at the floor to know it was soaked with tears.

"I-I am... truly sorry that this happened. Grieving is completely natural and I encourage you guys to talk about this with each other," I said. I know I sound like a lame teacher, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.  "I-I'm afraid I gotta leave now for... purposes. Aston is in charge for now. He's with Connor at the moment. Speaking of, please understand that Conner is taking this hard. He's in pain. If he starts banging on your door saying he's gonna kill you, please understand."

"Why? Because I have a long history of violence?" A familiar voice asked.

Connor.

Shit.

"You are aware that I joined you guys because I was scared I was gonna hurt my sister?" He asked. I looked into his eyes, still bloodshot from tears.

"I- um- Connor, you know I didn't mean it like that-" I stammered.

Oh shit. He was getting this look in eyes, where his brows furrowed and his pupils became smaller. He raised his fist, ready to hit me. I braced for impact when-

"Connor!" A voice shouted. Zoe. Oh thank fucking god.

She pulled her brother to the side, lecturing him. I took the opportunity to slip out and climbed down the ladder.

Wonderful. Now I have to walk all the way to where I met Ash, and even then, no one except for Trash Cult members know where the entrance to the hideout is.

(time squip over the walk there because am lazy writer)

Okay. I'm in the alley where I met her. So... how do I find her?

I noticed an audio bug on one of the dumpsters.

Wait... idea.

They seek out executioners, right?

I cleared my throat, lowering my voice in hopes of sounding older.

"So you're saying this is where the Trash Cult hides out?" I said.

"Yes." I replied to myself in a slightly different but still low voice. "They won't suspect a thing. We can jump in a get them immediately."

Dangit. No response yet. Okay, just come up with more lines. Find a reason to stall.

"Did you get ammo?" I asked in the first voice.

"Of course," I replied in the second. "We can blast those gays the second we-"

"Drop the weapons!" A voice shouted. I didn't have time to look up before they had a grip on my collar, pointing a gun at my head.

~

So... any guesses as to who's got a gun at Edge's head?

Could it be the person in the trench coat who killed our dear Evan Hansen?

Could it be Briar Angelle, ex-detective of the KPD? Say, didn't she keep her gun?

Could it be another miscellaneous member of the Trash Cult?

Or... worst of all...

Could it be The Anax himself?

idk man i'm tryna be ominous

if you haven't joined the discord yet and wanna join, the link is in the previous chapter.

Thanks for reading!

Oh wait Aston's design