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T h e H o l l o w s I n 
O U R F R E E D O M
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A L E X I

A mural.

With the brightest of colours, but with flecks of black—gold would be good too. Perhaps a frame, a gold frame.

Or even a statue.

A beautifully crafted stone statue—no, marble statue. With gold. I'm seeing a running theme of gold, just me?

"Miss Abbot, you are not going to die."

A fountain!

A big–

I removed my oxygen mask, "What?"

The nurse smiled at me, placing the clipboard back at the end of my bed. "You'll survive, Alexi, you just need to keep an eye on your breathing and use your asthma pump whenever you start to struggle to breathe. Otherwise, you're fine, though, please do contact your local GP or hospital if you have any problems or worries."

I stared at the nurse. "I'm not dying?"

She frowned, "Did you want to die?" She asked.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Well, no, I don't think my beauty would last through death."

The nurse's facial expression didn't change, though I guess she was trained to maintain that—just like we were. "No one's beauty lasts through death."

I pulled a face, and she was soon gone.

I put my oxygen mask back over my mouth—just for good measure, and Jace soon came back into the room.

I removed the oxygen mask when I saw him holding a cup, "Is that hot chocolate for me?" I asked, peering over at it.

Jace smiled, "It's a black coffee, so no."

It was only a few hours after the explosion, and I had spent most of the time worrying about everything and everyone. Well, and planning my funeral.

"What did the nurse say?" He asked, blowing on his coffee before taking a short sip from it.

"She said many things. Basically, I'm not going to die, and I think my asthma pumps are down there," I said, reaching out and pointing over at the end of my bed. Jace left his coffee on the side-table and stood up to retrieve the pumps, holding them up to me.

"Okay," he said, "did you want to change?" He asked, holding up a plastic bag.

I sighed. "Alright then, let's see what nonsense you've bought me."

Jace scoffed before pulling out his purchases. I pursed my lips when I saw what he had bought.

"Safe choices." I nodded, pairing the top and the jeans together in the mirror.

"See? It isn't nonsense." Jace said, crossing his arms over his chest.

I rose my eyebrow at him, "The shoes, though, seriously? I think the Oompa Loompa's want their faces back."

Jace shook his head, though I thought I saw a small smile on his lips. "They were the only practical pair I could find." He explained, whilst I stared down at the monstrosities in the shoebox.

"They're orange," I responded, glancing between him and what I had to put on my feet.

"They're also trainers." He put in.

I stuck my hand out, "They're orange!"

Jace rolled his eyes, sitting down on the guest chair. "Was it hard for your parents to dress you when you were young?" He asked, raising his eyebrow at me as if he had a point.

I scoffed, "My parents never did anything for me." With that, I pulled the shoes out of the box and threw the empty box to the floor.

Once I was seated on the bed tying the laces, he joined me. "I'm sorry, Lex, I shouldn't have mentioned them."

I shook my head, smiling up at him. I think Jackson Clarke may just be the most compassionate and sincere boy I have ever fallen for. My usual type, well, was usually bad. Both the boy and the relationship.

"It's fine," I told him, "just because they were horrible people doesn't mean that you can't ever speak of them," I said, glancing down for a second to finish tying the laces, "in that case, why do we teach about the Nazis? The KKK?"

I looked back up at Jace to see him gazing down at me. I frowned, confused. "What?" I asked him, sensing that words were on the tip of his tongue.

He smiled, "I just never knew how smart you actually are, Alexi Abbot."

I raised an eyebrow, "What? Because I give you stupid, reckless girl vibes?" I asked, watching him smile and lace his fingers through mine.

"If so," I said, placing both my feet on the floor, "you're right. I hated school and I never knew how to spell the word academic, never mind know how to be it." I looked down, "That was always Carter's job," I whispered, "don't get me wrong," I said, raising my voice again, "Sky was smart, just, not as smart as Carter. He was a really good guy."

Jace tightened his grip on my hand. "How long did you know him for?" He asked.

"Not long," I responded, "I was the third wheel in Sky and Carter's friendship—I actually met Carter first...he...helped me," I shook my head, feeling myself get lost in the past, "he was just really kind, really pretty and really smart—I always felt that it was a shame that Sky didn't love him like he loved her."

"What about you?" Jace asked suddenly. I furrowed my eyebrows at him. "Did you ever like him?" He asked.

I laughed. "No," I said, "though we used to joke about being friends with benefits all the time."

"Oh," he said, raising an eyebrow, "did you now?"

I licked my lips. "Don't get jealous," I said, watching his face get closer to mine.

He didn't say anything, he just kissed me.

Frickle, I really like him.

His silence was something I liked. He didn't feel the need to explain himself, it was just all in the way he was. His body language was so honest and easier to read than his words half the time. I guess if you were to compare it to Jameson, well, he buys Sky dresses and has hour-long cryptic conversations with her about how he loves her as they eat pizza.

I still ship it.

Jace and I pulled away, and I just smiled. Silently, we agreed to leave the room, heading for another room.

We saw Avery instantly, putting her phone away in her pocket.

Seeing us, she said, "Lexi, you're okay." She seemed to grin in relief before she reached over to hug me. I think Avery was a priest in her past life.

"Were you on the phone?" I asked, pulling away from her.

She hummed in confusion before her eyes followed mine to the pocket that she had buried her phone in. A look of realisation crossed her face. "Oh..no, no phone call." She smiled at me.

I narrowed my eyes at her, though let it be when I saw Jace lean around the glass of the door next to us.

"Colton is okay." Avery clarified, after following my eyes to Jace and then following Jace's eyes to the door.

Jace and I nodded, and I think we shared the same sense of relief.

"I wouldn't worry too much about it," Avery said, "though Toby does want to see you guys."

I shared a look with Jace out of confusion. We both thanked Avery, bid her farewell and then left to talk to Toby.

"What do you think he wants to talk to us about?" I asked Jace, whose hand grazed against mine every time I leaned too far to one side. I was still dazed.

Jace shook his head, "I have no idea; I hope everything's okay."

I hummed in agreement, and then spent the rest of the walk to Toby's room speculating about why he wanted to speak to us. It could be anything.

Jace knocked on his door when we reached it, and a nurse beckoned for us to come in. I smiled politely at the nurse, who soon left, before looking over at Toby. What I saw kind of made me feel sick—and I was a professionally trained Guardian; I didn't get sick, and I wasn't a wimp.

"Toby," Jace greeted, whilst I remained silent, "how are you?" He asked.

Toby's eyes flickered over to mine, and I think once he saw the shock in my eyes, shadows cast over his. "I'm fine." He replied to Jace, though watched me. "But that's not what I wanted you guys here to discuss."

I think Jace looked over at me, probably to trade confused looks, but I was frozen. The boy who laid in front of me right now was not Toby Espan—but this is what the monsters did; they destroyed innocent lives.

"I know about...you guys," Toby said cryptically.

I frowned, finally moving and exchanging glances with Jace. "That we're dating?" I asked, confused.

Toby shook his head, "Look, it was right at the top of the bag that you took down," he said, eyes on Jace, "I get why you haven't told anyone, but this puts you at risk," he was now talking to me.

I furrowed my eyes, "Toby I have no idea what you're talking about."

Toby sighed. "The pregnancy test?" I froze. The...what? "The one in your bin bag that read positive?"

"I–" I began, though didn't know how to finish.

"Well that's impossible," Jace begun, and I turned to look at him, "we haven't..." his eyes met mine suddenly. I watched it all unfold in his eyes as he looked at me.

He swallowed, "You didn't...did you?" He asked.

I frowned. "What?" Then I realised, "oh my god, Jace, no! I'm not even pregnant!" I exclaimed, whirling on Toby.

I shook my head, "What sick impulse did you have to decide I spin this one?"

Toby raised his eyebrows, "I didn't 'spin it'. I actually wanted to protect you. I couldn't have you putting you and your baby's life in danger."

I threw him a confused glance.

He sighed. "Look, Sky has gone crazy, she wants to go to war and pretty much Jameson is freaking the fuck out."

"War?" I asked, raising my voice.

"Where is she?" Jace asked.

I was listening, but I was also thinking. A pregnancy test in our bag...how?

Then I realised.

Jace never took our bag downstairs.

He took Sky and Jameson's.

"Oh my fucking god."

Sky has gone to war.

Pregnant.

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oops

I honestly thought this chapter had already gone up because of how long it's been lmaoo

oops again

YO GUYS WHO'S THE BABY DADDY (if Sky is actually pregnant) IF THEY WERE USING PROTECTION 🤔🤔🤔

-I'll leave you with that

FABULOUS SONGS

Songs that played when I was writing this chapter (in order):
Secrets and Lies - Ruelle
Hurricane - MS MR
Recover - Ruelle
Young And Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
Empty House - Billy Lockett
Burden - Subtact (Mr FijiWiji remix)
Under Control - Ellie Goulding
Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine
Swing - Cover Drive
Fools - Madison Beer
Atlantis - Ellie Goulding
I Really Want You To Hate Me - Meg Myers
Clocks - Coldplay
Sweet Dreams - Emily Browning

END OF FABULOUS SONGS

Date written:
09/06/18
11/06/18
14/06/18

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Next update: whenever I'm next free 🌚 my exams start in 16 days sooooo :)
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CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN SPOILER:

What's up with Sky?