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MAX COSTELLO

PAST
SEPTEMBER 2019

I am not one to feel nervous very often but right now, I was feeling all nerves right down to my core. It's probably because I actually care about the job I have been offered, it's an amazing opportunity to get into the industry of graphic design and strip comic art.

This was an offer I could not fuck up, no matter how laidback I really was. This shit was real and could set me up for a bright future.

When I first applied for UAL I did it because I felt like I had nothing else to do. Being an artist straight off the bat is nearly impossible unless you already had a following or a lucky break. I had neither so going to art school was the next best thing.

In a way I wanted it to guide me into realising what I wanted to do with my life. I had always enjoyed doodling, making stupid animations and adapting graphics of books and movies. I just never realised that I could actually make a career out of it.

This was my big break because I finally understood that my work was worthy. With the help of Oliver, I really believed that my work was amazing because it is amazing. I wouldn't have bagged this job if they thought I was shit or even average, to them I was different and unique. That's all the convincing I need.

Oliver started his first week back at university for second year this week and I start my brand new beginning in something I love. Timing could not be better for the both of us.

The offices were situated in central London which was ideal for me, I was planning on moving out with my old house mate to a nearby flat which would make the commute so much easier. But staying on his parents sofa would have to do for the moment.

I had dressed semi-smart for my first day, not that I really owned any super smart clothes but at least I gave it a go. I found a half zip black fleece to match a pair of black jeans and white trainers.

As I approached the front desk my eyes fall upon the guy sat behind a computer, tapping away at the keyboard. "Hi," I say to get his attention.

"Hi," he grins back. "Welcome to The Virtual World. How can I help you?"

"It's my first day," I nod. "In the creative graphics department."

His eyes light up as he nods. "Yes..." he says as he looks down at a sticky note that was attached to his desk. "You are Max, correct?"

"Yes, that's me." I nod once.

"I will let Jodie know that you are here right away," he says as he clicks at the keyboard instantly.

"Thank you," I tell him gratefully.

"Have a great first day," he says as his eyes peer over his computer. "You can wait over there for Jodie."

His long arm points to the wall opposite the reception, mini black leather chairs separated by white tables with comics and plants on them. "WIll do, cheers." I say as I take off towards the seated area.

I perch myself on the edge of one of the black chairs, rubbing my palms against the tops of my thighs as I glance around the reception. People were coming and going like there was no tomorrow, not one person looked the same.

Piercings, tattoos, multi-coloured hair, platform heels, crocks, low hanging gold jewellery, blazers, mini skirts. The list went on and on. Never have I seen so much diversity in the space of a couple of minutes. Inclusion really was a statement here and I was all for it.

"Max?" I hear my voice and I instantly stand up from the chair.

My eyes meet a woman with caramel highlighted curly afro hair, her brown eyes were beaming at me as I nod and hold out my hand. "Hi, I'm Jodie, your communications manager. Nice to meet you." She grins brightly at me.

"Nice to meet you," I say as I take her hand and give her a firm shake.

"Are you excited for your first day?" She asks as she drops my hand and walks us towards the lifts.

I nod instantly. "Yeah, really excited." I say enthusiastically.

"Well today isn't going to be too hectic, I promise. We'll get your computer logins, access to the building and then you will meet the team you'll be working on the project with." Jodie turns to me as she uses her lanyard to open the barriers.

"Sounds good," I say as I follow her into the nearest vacant lift.

"You have no idea how stoked the team are to meet you and work with your illustrations," she says as she presses the third floor button.

I blink back at her and smile. "Really?" I say in disbelief.

She nods and clutches the iPad that was in her arms close to her chest. "You completely broke comic book conventions with your iconic drawings and storyboarding. Honestly, we didn't stop talking about it for weeks."

My lips fall open but I couldn't bring myself to say anything because I was in pure shock. These geniuses were that amazed by my work?

"Wow," I exhale as the lift doors 'ding' open. "I had no idea you guys were that impressed."

"Impressed?" She quirks an eyebrow as she pushes off the lift wall and down the hall. "We were utterly in awe, when we saw your work we just had to have you. We couldn't let that talent slip between our fingers."

I drink in her words and look out through the glass walls, people were sat at their large double screened desks. I could spot a table at the far end which had four graphic tablets built into the wooden desks.

There were endless displays and posters that covered the walls, ideas upon ideas of their next project.

"I really look forward to working here," I say after a few moments.

She glances over her shoulder with a smile. "Trust me, you'll love working here. Most people say they don't even feel like they're going to work because they love what they do so much." She tells me before walking me to a vacant desk.

"I hope that's true," I laugh before placing my backpack on the desk.

"We'll set you up here for now," she starts. "Then I'll ask everyone to come into the meeting room where you can meet everyone working on the same project."

I nod back at her as I unzip my fleece and pull it from my body. "Can't wait," I say as I drape the fleece over the back of my new desk chair.

Jodie glances down my arms at the endless tattoos, she smiles and steps away for a moment. "I'll jot down your log in details and you can set up your emails and everything," she says as she turns to walk away.

"Great thank you," I say after her.

I glance back at my desk and pull out the chair, placing myself down onto it as I stare at my double screens. My hand leaning forward to grab my mouse, lighting up the computers.

My chest inhales a deep breath before I relax back into the chair.

This was going to be good for me, so damn good for me.

PRESENT
SEPTEMBER 2021

As I stood outside Oliver's private ICU room, the doctor was trying to explain to me his state and what not to do when I step inside. But everything he was saying was going in one ear and out the other, all I cared about was seeing him. I could barely wait another second before the doctor taps his clipboard against the wall and allows me in.

I press my hand to the door and inhale a deep breath, attempting to keep my emotions together before I even saw him.

Once I push open the door and take one step inside, my eyes searched the room for him. A low gasp escaping my lips as I cover my mouth with my hand, trying my hardest not to break down in tears.

Oliver's body was lying against the hospital bed, tight white bandages wrapped around both of his hands, both of his eyes were the deepest shade of purple and blood was crusted to the inside of his nostrils.

Jamie was right, he barely looked recognisable. They had battered his beautiful face.

Then I glance down at the tube which was lodged down his throat, the machine beside him beeping every so often.

"Oh my God," I whimper out as I edge closer to him slowly. I knew it would be bad, but not this bad.

I didn't realise my arm was shaking until I raised it to grip the edge of his bed. My feet shuffle closer to his side before I drag a chair to sit down next to him, trying my hardest to keep as quiet as possible.

A single tear dribbles down my cheek and I quickly wipe it away, clearing my throat as I continue to look at him. The thought of Oliver being alone, when they barged their way into his flat, the idea of him being scared, begging for them to stop. That fucking crushed me.

I shake my head and bury my head into my hands. Fuck. My heart shattered inside my chest into a million tiny pieces.

My palms massage themselves into my eyes before I wipe my hand over my face and attempt to recover. Then I lean forward and caress the back of my finger down the curve of his cheek. "Hi baby," my voice cracks through my tears. "I'm here."

I couldn't look away from his bruised eyes, I never wanted to see him like this and I realise that it's all my fault. I got him into this trouble and he is the last person on Earth who deserved it.

It should have been me. It should have fucking been me.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper before averting my gaze.

I hang my head in shame and drop my fingers to his arm. Gently squeezing his cold skin, wishing that he could know that I was here and I wouldn't let anyone ever hurt him again. That he didn't have to be afraid because I was going to put an end to this, not caring what I had to do.

Wires were poking out every angle of his body, attached to his fingers, an IV directly into his veins along with the breathing tube which was located in his mouth.

Every second looking at him destroyed me even more. I didn't know how it was remotely possible but I felt worse with every moment that passed by.

Oh how I wished we could swap places, he didn't belong here. He should have never been in this position.

My phone chimes in my pocket and I pull back to retrieve it.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

1 video attachment

I glaze my eyes over the screen as I click onto the video, taking a sudden breath when Oliver's face pops up. Blood was dripping from his nose and his eyebrow, his eyes beginning to swell already.

My jaw clenches as I close my eyes and attempt to look away. I physically didn't want to see, I couldn't. Watching him get hurt would be the end of me, I couldn't fight back what I did if I saw him get hurt.

"Shut the fuck up! Or I'll beat the shit out of you until you're fucking paralysed." The video blasts, my eyes open and I turn back to the screen.

Tears had coated my cheeks as they pull a tray from the oven, Oliver's pleas to stop them from hurting him was making it hard for me to breathe. Then the agonising scream that left his lips as they force his hands down onto the scorching metal.

I close my eyes tightly as his screams fill the air, my cheeks now completely soaked as I try to control my jagged breathing. My head shakes violently as I open my eyes, tears blurring my vision as he falls to the floor. Clutching his hands to his chest as he sobs into the ground for mercy, his red blistering hands on show.

"Fuck," I curse out as I run a hand though my hair and grip at the roots tightly, trying to make the aching pain in my heart disappear.

The video cuts and I wanted to throw my phone full force into the nearest wall and scream at the top of my lungs. Nothing could explain the pure fire of hatred that rushed through my veins.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

£10,000 OR YOUR PRETTY LITTLE BOYFRIEND WILL BE IN A COFFIN INSTEAD OF THAT HOSPITAL BED.

I lock my phone and keep it firmly in my hands, staring at the wall ahead.

My eyes blink over and over, my body turning numb from what I just witnessed.

My poor innocent boy, fuck. Fuck!

I glance up at him again, this time not bothering to push away my tears. They wouldn't stop, no matter how hard I tried. My hand reaching forward to gently caress his bruised cheek again. "I love you so much Oliver, so fucking much," I sob as I shake my head, my eyes burning painfully. "I am going to fix this, okay? I am going to fix this, whatever it takes."

Guilt was suffocating every inch of my mind as I stared back at his broken body. I had done this to him, this was all me. He almost died because of me.

My eyes blink as I fight back more tears. "I'm so sorry," I whimper again. "I never meant to hurt you, I never wanted it to get to this."

I quickly raise my hand to wipe my nose and exhale a deep breath. "I will fix this, I promise."

. . .

Read up to chapter 43 on Patreon
www.patreon.com/dreammcatcher
Link is also in bio!

Oh my god, I am sobbing

Max listening back to the video, fuck that hurt my heart so much when I wrote it

What did you guys think?

Can Max fix this or is it going to get out of control?

Also guys I have a new book that I'm starting this month called Untamed, it's on my profile and is based around two boys on probation at a spooky manor but two months before they had a one night stand and it's their first meeting since. Make sure to add to your libraries so you don't miss it!

See you all on the next one, love Sav x

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