Forever Burn

by Trinity Lemm

  I swallowed the lump of fear in my throat. “What do you want?” I asked, my voice shaking. I slowly maneuvered my phone out of my back pocket, trying not to draw too much attention to my hands.

  “Well Tate,” he began, looking around, his voice began to get angrier and angrier as he spoke, escalating more with each word, “I’ve been nothing but nice to you all year, trying to do things for you and ask you out, but you always. Blew. Me. Off. Then choose Axel over me? Yeah, I don’t like that.” The insanity in his eyes was showing, true intentions becoming clearer. “And now that Axel won’t be back for a few hours, now that he’s out of the way for a while, you’re mine for now.”

  My heart started to race harder, adrenaline kicking in from the realization of what he was planning on doing. I dialed Axel’s number as quickly as possible, but right as he answered the call, the phone was ripped out of my hand. Lucas’s irritation grew as he ended the call. He slammed the phone down on the counter, diverting his attention back to me as he breathed heavily.

  My phone began to buzz against the countertop. Lucas’s jaw twitched, clearly aggravated from the interruption. He looked down at the screen, his face distorting into disgust. Even though I couldn’t see it, I had a pretty good idea that it was Axe. My heart jumped, hoping that he would know something was wrong.

  “Always in the way,” Lucas said, shaking his head. He picked up my phone and launched it across the room. I cringed as it hit the wall, shattered, and fell to the floor, knowing that my only source of reaching anyone for help was officially gone. He smiled menacingly for a second. “I told you he couldn’t protect you forever.”

  I wanted to bolt out the door, but I needed to be smart. Every move mattered. I knew I shouldn’t run until there was something that would prevent him from catching up to me. My adrenaline kicked up a notch as he slowly walked towards me, stopping when we were face to face. His hands pushed my hair behind my shoulders, and I clenched my eyes shut knowing what he was about to do. I let him come closer, not because I wanted to, but because I had to. His lips touched my neck, sending shivers down my spine, absolutely disgusted by the feeling. He came even closer, until we were basically body to body and that’s when I knew that now was my only chance.

  I hiked my knee up to his groin as hard as I possibly could and he yelped, huddling over and falling to the floor. And then I ran. I turned and made my way out the door and down the stairs as quickly as possible, not even stopping or looking back to see if he was behind me or not. By now, it was dark out, but I ran towards my car, not knowing where the hell I was going to drive to for safety, only knowing that I was going to get the fuck out of there.

  I was a few feet away from my car when I felt a hand grab me from behind and before I knew it, I was on the ground. Lucas sat on top of me, holding both of my arms down. The ground was so cold as I struggled against it. I cried out from how tight his grip was. He moved my arms above my head, transferring both of my small wrists into one of his hands. I tried to kick and free myself, but it was useless. I was too small compared to him.

  I screamed as his free hand traveled up my shirt, his touch making my skin squirm.

  “Stop!” I demanded, turning my head away from him. “Get off of me!”

  “Shut up!” he yelled, trying to silence my screams.

  The parking lot was filled with cars, but no one was outside. I wondered if anyone could hear my screams, hoping that someone would. I didn’t know what he was planning on doing from here. The worst things came to mind. He could either drag me back up to the apartment, throw me into his car and take me God knows where, or he could hurt me right here, right now.

  “Lucas, please,” I cried. “Please let me go!”

  My words went through one of his ears and out the other, ignoring my pleads entirely. His jaw twitched under his skin as he tried to tame me.

  “I won’t even tell anyone you were here. I swear! I won’t even tell Axel,” I begged, hoping that he would cave.

  But there was no reasoning with him. He wasn’t going to let me go until he got what he wanted. A tear escaped the corner of my eye as I struggled, fidgeting to try to get free, but distressed knowing that I wouldn’t. I was about to give up. My body was getting tired from trying to fight back. It seemed as if giving up and letting Lucas do whatever he wanted to me was the easier option.

  Axel’s face ran through my mind again. His glistening green eyes and charming smile, my absolute favorite view in the entire world. I loved him. More than anything. Thinking about Axe made me want to fight.

  I could feel my wrists becoming bruised from his grip, still holding them above my head as his hand made its way down towards my crotch. I started wiggling around more, trying my hardest to keep his hands away.

  Lucas looked over to his right, his eyes widening as a tall, dark figure launched at him, tackling him off of me and to the ground. I scrambled away, standing up at the realization that it was Axel.

  Lucas tried breaking free as he lay under Axe, but it was no use. Even though it was dark, there were enough lights surrounding the building to pick out the rage in Axe’s eyes. A specific rage that I had never seen in him before. Axe pulled his elbow back and sent his fist flying into Lucas’s face with more force than I’d ever seen. He repeatedly drilled his fist into Lucas over and over again, nonstop. He began alternating fists, still not slowing or stopping. Lucas struggled underneath him, attempting to use his arms to cover his face, but it wasn’t working. After a solid minute of repeated punches, he grabbed Lucas’s shirt in both hands, lifting his chest off the ground and smashing his head down against the concrete. Over and over again. Lucas’s body was becoming limp.

  “Axe,” I called out, realizing how hurt Lucas actually was. “Axe, stop! You’re gonna kill him!”

  But he wasn’t stopping. It was as if he couldn’t hear me. I was scared what would happen if I got too close, afraid that Axe might accidentally hit me, but I had full faith in him that he wouldn’t.

  I rushed over to him and put my hand on his shoulder. “AXEL! STOP!” I screamed.

  Axe immediately dropped him at my touch, slowly raising his shaking hands up and away from Lucas’s unresponsive body. Axe was breathing heavier than I’d ever seen him, his eyes widening as he gradually stood, realizing what he had done.

  I took a look at Lucas as he lay on the ground, his face unrecognizable. He had cuts and bruises scattered across his entire face, a gnarly gash above his left eyebrow. Blood was pouring out of his mouth and nose, covering his whole face. A small puddle of blood was forming underneath him, most likely coming from the back of his head. Both of his eyes were already becoming swollen. He was unconscious, but I was grateful that his chest was at least rising and falling. Not for his sake, but for Axe’s. If Axe got charged with murder, it would be the end.

  I had never actually seen Axel in a full-on fight until now. There had been plenty of times where I watched him intimidate people, but I had never witnessed him throw an actual punch. Axe had told me that he never wanted me to see him in a real fight because he wasn’t himself when he fought. And now I finally saw it for myself.

  It was no wonder why everyone was so afraid of him. Axe was ruthless. He was a monster when he fought. But I didn’t care if he was a monster or not. He was still Axel. And I still loved him no matter what.

  Axe stood over Lucas, staring at him, still in shock over what he had done. I didn’t know how long it had been since the last time he got into a fight, but he hadn’t been in one since we’ve been together, so it must’ve been a long while ago.

  “Axe,” I said, touching his hand. “We need to leave.” He wasn’t budging though, as if he was still in his own world. Axe’s white shirt was splattered with blood. Blood that wasn’t his. Anxiety started to race through me as I realized that sooner or later, the police would be here. And they would know that it was Axel who caused Lucas’s injuries. “Axe, baby,” I said, panic running through my voice. I gently grabbed his chin and turned it towar
ds me. His eyes met mine, finally snapping out of the trance that he had been in. “We need to leave. We need to go now. The police will be here eventually.”

  He slowly shook his head, his chest still breathing heavily. “There’s no point in running.”

  “What?” I brought my brows together as he grabbed me by the hand and led me back inside, leaving Lucas’s destroyed body lying alone on the concrete.

  He shut the apartment door, resting his hands against the wood for a second before turning to me. “Are you okay?” he asked, tears stinging his eyes as he brought his hand up to my shirt.

  I hadn’t even noticed that Lucas ripped it. I wasn’t even sure when he had. But I didn’t care. My ripped shirt was the least of my worries.

  I looked up at Axe. His emeralds worriedly scanned my face. My heart swelled knowing that even after what just happened, Axe was still more worried about me than he was about himself. I couldn’t hold any tears back as they streamed down my cheeks. “You came back for me.”

  His thumbs wiped my tears away. “Baby, of course I came back for you,” he said, bringing his comforting arms around me. “When I called you back and you didn’t answer, I got concerned.” My head rested on his chest, arms wrapped around his middle as I squeezed. He pulled away, inspecting me for injuries. “Are you okay, though? Did he do anything bad to you?”

  “He took my set of keys. The ones I thought I lost. That’s how he got in and then he chased me outside. He broke my phone too,” I cried. “But I’m okay.”

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll get you a new one.” He shook his head. “I should’ve fucking killed him.” His hands cupped the sides of my face. “I’m so sorry that I wasn’t here.”

  “Don’t be. You came back for me and that’s more than enough.”

  Axe was still pissed. And I had a strong feeling that if I had not stopped him, he would’ve ended up killing Lucas. He felt guilty that he hadn’t been here to protect me the moment Lucas got here. But absolutely no part of me was mad at Axe. In my mind, all that mattered was that he came back. And that was more than I ever could’ve asked of him.

  “I’m sorry you had to see me like that,” he said, almost embarrassed.

  I brought my hand up to his cheek. “You have nothing to be sorry for,” I replied, looking down at his bloody fist. Lucas obviously hadn’t been able to land a single punch on Axel, but seeing any sort of injury on him made me want to cringe, even if that injury was from beating the shit out of someone. I grabbed an ice pack out of the freezer and carefully placed it on his knuckles. He winced at the feeling.

  “I don’t want you to be scared of me,” Axe quietly said, worry resting in his eyes.

  “I could never be scared of you,” I assured him.

  His thumb rubbed the top of my hand, soft eyes comforting me. We looked at each other as the sirens started blaring. Immediately, my pulse quickened, but I could tell that Axe was trying to stay calm. He placed the ice pack on the counter, and we waited in silence for a few minutes, hugging the life out of each other.

  There was a knock on the door and instantly, I knew who it was. Axe took a deep breath, his eyes clenching shut as he kissed my temple. He knew who it was too.

  I watched as he slowly trekked over to the door, pausing for a second before opening it.

  A sheriff stood with his head tilted. He looked fairly young to be a sheriff, but he sure as hell didn’t look happy. His short dark hair and brown eyes reminded me of Ash.

  “Axel,” the sheriff said shortly.

  “I know,” Axe said, looking down.

  “After seeing what that kid looks like, I think this is the worst you’ve ever done.”

  “But he was attacking my girlfriend. What else was I supposed to do?”

  The sheriff looked at me past Axe. He eyed my ripped shirt, studying the look of fear on my face.

  The sheriff sighed. “I’ll see what I can do. But for now, you know what I have to do.”

  “But Uncle Jesse, please—”

  “I don’t have a choice. I have to take you in.”

  Uncle? No wonder why Axe’s charges had always gotten dropped. Or why he swore that the cops wouldn’t do anything during my birthday party when our music was blasting. Or why the sheriff looked so similar to Ash. Or why Axe said that there was no point in running.

  Axe slowly turned around, trying not to make eye contact with me as he put his hands behind his back. I stood, so shocked at the reality of what was happening.

  I rushed over, panic enveloping me. “You can’t take him,” I begged.

  “I’m sorry, but I have to. I’ll be in touch with you though, miss. I’m gonna need to get a statement from you.”

  “Please don’t take him,” I pleaded.

  “Tate, it’s okay,” Axe said.

  His uncle held one of Axe’s handcuffed wrists, ready to lead him out of the apartment. Axe let it happen, not fighting it. He looked back to me right before walking out the door, emerald eyes longing for me.

  “I love you,” he said, his eyes filled with sorrow as his uncle pulled him out of the apartment.

  My eyes glossed over as I stayed in place, drowning in disbelief and denial.

  What the fuck just happened?

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The Orange Jumpsuit

  I sat on the couch, drenched in tears for the next few hours as Ash talked on the phone, pacing the room. He was the first person I called after Axe was arrested. It took me a while to get a hold of a phone, but once I did, I called him immediately. He rushed back here in a panic, not caring that he was leaving his internship behind.

  My heart hurt. It hurt just as bad as it did on the day that I walked in on Axel and Olivia. It may have hurt even more than then. Because this time, it wasn’t just losing Axe that hurt; it was knowing that it was my fault. If it wasn’t for me, Axe would still be here. He wouldn’t be sitting in a jail cell right now.

  We had no idea what condition Lucas was in, and honestly, we didn’t care enough to. It sounded shitty, but he wasn’t my priority. Axel was my priority. And I was going to do everything in my power to get him out of there. I knew that Ash would too.

  Ash hung up the phone. “My uncle is going to build a case as quickly as possible, but he doesn’t know how long it will take.”

  A few more tears streamed down my cheeks. “Can I go see him?”

  “Probably not tonight.”

  “Why not?” I cried, my heart aching.

  “He just got there,” he softly said. “They have to get him into the system and all that bullshit.”

  Another tear fell down my cheek. “I need to see him.”

  “Tate, it’s almost midnight. You’ve had a rough day. Just get some rest and you can go within the next few days, when my uncle calls. I doubt they would even let you in if you tried visiting this late.”

  I wiped my tears away and nodded, knowing that Ash was right. There was no way I could visit tonight. The reality of knowing that I would be sleeping in Axe’s bed alone was a slap in the face.

  “Did you call Amberly?” I asked.

  “Yeah. There’s really nothing she can do either,” Ash placed a hand on my shoulder. His eyes were tired, stress overwhelming him, similarly to me. I didn’t know how many times this had happened before, but I had hope that Ash knew how to handle it. He pulled me in for a brotherly hug, trying to comfort me.

  “Get some sleep,” he insisted, retreating back to his phone to make some more phone calls.

  I collapsed onto Axe’s bed, another ocean of tears forming in my eyes. My hand rubbed the sheets on his side of the bed, feeling its emptiness.

  I studied the ceiling. Axe had protected me at all costs, no matter when or where. He was always there for me, comforting me when I needed him to. He saved me over and over again, and this time, it was my turn to save him. I would do absolutely anything to get him out right now, even if it meant switching places.

  I rolled over to his side, laying where he usually wo
uld. Anything to get me closer to him right now. But I couldn’t fall asleep in his warm bed, knowing that he was lying in a cold jail cell.

  I woke up almost an hour before my alarm went off, unable to fall back asleep. I had barely slept at all, lying awake for hours, overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings of sorrow, denial, and guilt.

  When the alarm read seven, I sprang up and got ready as quickly as possible. Visitation hours started at eight, and I planned on getting there when they opened. It had only been twelve hours since Axe got arrested, twelve hours since I’d seen or spoken to him, but I missed him as if it had been years.

  I didn’t really know how any of the jail shit worked. I had never been arrested before, and I didn’t know if they would even let me see Axe or not, but it was worth a try.

  I hopped in my car and drove straight there, not caring that I would be missing all my classes for the day. My hands were clammy on the wheel, nerves racing through my entire body, not knowing what to expect. After a short car ride that felt like a long one, I jogged inside and up to the front desk, proud of myself for making it there right on time.

  “Hello,” the woman at the front desk said as I approached. Her short black hair framed her face as she looked up from her computer. “How can I help you?”

  “Hi, um, I’m here to visit someone.”

  “Okay,” she said, typing into her computer. “What’s their name?”

  “Axel Burne.”

  Her eyes instantly darted up at me, studying me. A slow smile started to creep onto her face. “I’m going to take a lucky guess that you’re the girl he’s been talking about since he’s been in?”

  I smirked and gave a small nod, assuring her. My heart swelled for a second. “Can I see him?”

  She gave a small sigh. “He’s really not supposed to have visitors yet since he’s still getting put into the system and everything,” she stated. My eyes fell, disappointed. “Oh…alright. I guess I can make an exception. What’s your name, sweetheart?” she asked, writing on a piece of paper.