Chapter Twenty Three; Not Edited

"How about we let Calum explain?"

I turned my body around in his grasp so that I could glare at the boy with so much hate that it could make anyone wince. I smiled in satisfaction when Luke winced a bit but then he regain his posture which was a hard cold expression.

"I'm not explaining anything you asshole." I spat with cold venom. Out the corner of my eye I saw Michael grinning with happiness at my boost of confidence. I couldn't blame him. I was scary, even to myself.

"You better, or I will happily use this." Luke said, grabbing the knife from his pocket, making me roll my eyes at his threat. "I'm not playing around anymore Calum." I physically felt myself gulp when the cold blade touched my pale neck.

"I don't know what to explain." I cried, finally giving up to his mercy. Luke must of known this because I felt the knife being lowered from my neck and to my side.

"Oh, sweetie." I heard him say and I could myself being drain from my constant fighting of trying to break out of his tight hold. "I'm feeling nice as of now, so I will explain what's going to happen."

"You five will leave this room and pretend that nothing happen and I will spare your lives. If you refuse to do I will do things I would probably regret." I watched the blue dyed boy glare at everyone and then he gulped. I looked around and noticed why he looked so scared. Ashton was gone.

The tables seemed to turn because Luke looked angry as hell and he knew he lost. "Seems like your plan failed." Ryder said with a smirk so wide that it made me smile even wider. A growl left the boys lips as he gazed hatefully at everyone, but he decided to give me a wink which left me and Michael fuming. "You better run Luke while you still can." The tan boy advised the taller boy. I watched the blue dyed hair boy back away slowly, his eyes flickering to the window behind him and with one last look he bolted out of the room with no regrets.

After he left, I felt myself falling to the ground and right before I crumbled a pair of arms grabbed me before my back could hit the hard floor. "It's okay baby, I'm here." I looked up to see the redhead looking down at me with comforting eyes and a smile that made me know I'm safe now. "Luke is gone. He will never come near you again."

"I'm not so sure about that." I saw Ryder frown and he held out the phone in his hand for everyone to read. My heart dropped every minute I read the words that were written in the message.

'Calum and to everyone reading this, you just caused hell for yourselves. Every turn you take and every corner you hide in I will find you and make your life living hell. Good luck trying to escape the darkness within and without.

Red'

I gulped when I read the last part of the message. I wanted this terror to end once and for all, but I guess that's not happening anytime soon. All of sudden the door to the room burst open and Ashton ran in with some other students and teachers. "Ashton, he is gone."

"And why do you have a flower crown in your hair?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood, in which it did because everyone giggled. "It looks good on you though." Ashton beamed at hearing those words and I couldn't help but smile at his cuteness.

"Yes, we all agree Ashton looks good, but we can focus on the situation we're in." Ivy spoke up from where she was holding Harry, who had a frown on his face. I looked around to see the help that was supposedly going to chase Code Red has left the room. "Where did the others go?" I asked, looked at Ashton who just shrugged in return.

"Well this is a plot twist." Harry joked, which caused everyone to glare at him. I looked at the curly haired boy and gave him a small smile because he was only trying to lighten the mood up since the tension was so thick.

I yawned, which was noticed by everyone and Ashton let out a coo when my boyfriend looked down at me with fondness. "Let's get you home, yeah?" I nodded because I was tired but then a thought came to mind. "Michael, can I stay at your place?"

"I was waiting for you to ask that question, love." I rolled my eyes at the redhead and I let out a squeak of surprise when Michael lifted me up from the ground. "I won't drop you." He promised and I snuggled my body into his arms while I watched him carry me to his car with Ashton following in pursuit. "Ashton sit in the back with Calum." He told his stepbrother, who nodded and got in the car beside me. "It's going to be okay Cal." Ashton smiled softly down to me while I ruffled his hair in a playful manner. I count him as my older brother, even though he is a couple of months older than me

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Seven more chapters after this one. Should I finish the book tonight?

- Kirsten & Claire.