Ace tries to move his arms, he realizes they are tied to the bed. Ace looks around and doesn’t see Jax, his heart starts to race, “Hello?” He asks trying to look through the dark room. He starts to shake as he recognizes the room, “N-no, I can’t be here. Please tell me no, I don’t wanna be here again please,” Ace says as he starts to cry. A man walks out of the dark and climbs onto the bed, he smiles as he grabs Ace’s legs, “D-don’t touch me, st-stop,” Ace says kicking as he continues to cry, “Pl-please,” He says as he gives up.

“I paid good money for you, don’t make this hard or I’ll hurt you,” The man says pulling Ace’s legs onto his shoulders.

“Please, stop. I don’t want this, I wanna-I wanna go home,” Ace says crying harder and harder.

“You have no home,” The man says kissing Ace.

Ace lays there as the man takes control of him, he gives up. With tear stains on his face, Ace’s eyes fade.

After the man was done with Ace he dresses and drags him out into the ally, “Stay here until your father or someone picks you up,” The man says slamming the door.

Ace lays on the ground and stares at the sky, his faded eyes fill with tears. Ace slowly stands up, as he stumbles. He looks around and walks towards the dumpsters, he lifts himself into one of them and searches around. He finds nothing to clothe himself and climbs back out, Ace then walks to the end of the ally and peeks his head out. He sees people and starts panicking, “Why does it matter if they see me? why should I care? I-I don’t I guess,” Ace thinks walking out into the street.

Minutes pass and a car stops beside him, “Are you lost?” the man asks looking Ace up and down.

Ace turns and looks at him, “No,” He says staring at the man.

“Let me rephrase, do you know where you’re going,” The man asks.

“No,” Ace replies looking around him.

“Names Apollo,” Apollo says parking the car.

“Ace,” Ace says.

“Get in,” Apollo says tilting his head towards the passenger seat, Ace walks to the door and gets in the car, “So, why are you walking around naked on the streets?” Apollo asks as he starts driving.

“I just got raped,” Ace says with no filter.

Apollo’s eyes widen and then he shakes his head, “How-how old are you?” He asks looking over at Ace from the corner of his eye.

“Fourteen,” Ace answers as he sits motionless.

Apollo looks over at Ace and then back at the road, “How’s about we get you some clothes,” He says trying to change the subject.

Ace sits silently, emotionless, “Why do you care if I’m clothed, it seems like no one else cares,” He says staring at Apollo.

“Because I don’t wanna see a young kid walking around the city naked,” Apollo says staring out the window.

Ace smirks, “You’d be the first,” He says looking down at Apollo’s hand, he slowly reaches down and grabs it, “And...you should stop, no one should care about a waste of space like me,” He says smiling. Apollo doesn’t say anything and looks down at their hands, “You know why I got in this car...because I-I’m done caring about what happens to me,” Ace says leaning his head back, his eyes fill with tears as he smiles. He closes his eyes and the tears fall as he drifts to sleep.

Ace shoots up from the bed, his heart beating fast. His lip trembles as he starts shaking, he slowly gets up from the bed and stumbles. He walks over to his pants and reaches in the pocket, he grabs his cigarets and lighter. Ace heads out to the balcony as he lights it, Ace shuts the door and falls to the ground. He starts crying as he pulls out his phone, he dials the number and presses call.

“Hello?” Apollo asks in a tired voice.

“Th-they’re back, the thoughts, the dreams, the memories, all of them. I can’t stop them this time,” Ace says crying harder.

“O-okay, I’ll be right over. Just stay on the phone with me,” Apollo says getting up from his bed.

“The thoughts, th-they’re back….and this time I don’t think I c-can stop them,” Ace says curling up on the floor.

“You have to try until I get there, okay? They won’t get you, you just have to trust me,” Apollo says getting in his car.

“Tr-trust...I trusted many people and all of them have broken me, w-what if you break me? What then?” Ace says holding his head.

“Ace, you need to trust me,” Apollo says speeding up.

“N-no, I...I can’t,” Ace says hanging up the phone.

“Fuck!” Apollo yells, he dials Dakota’s number, “Pick up, pick up. Dakota!” He yells as she picks up.

“Why are you calling so late?” Dakota asks rubbing her eyes.

“It’s happening again, Ace….he’s thinking bad things, I’m on my way there but I don’t know if I’ll get there in time. I need you to go to the address I send you, I’ll call you if I get there before you,” Apollo says hanging up.

“Trust me, trust me he says. He just doesn’t get it, I can’t trust people I can only lie. I-I can’t do it, no,” Ace says putting his cigarette out on his arm, he smiles and walks inside. Ace looks over at the bed where Jax is still sleeping, he shakes his head and walks to the bathroom. Ace shuts the door and turns on the bath, he sits on the toilet and silently cries.

Minutes pass…..

Apollo pulls into the parking lot, and gets out of the car and runs inside. Ace stops the water and takes off his clothes, he climbs into the bathtub and sits there for a second. Ace slowly slides down into the water and lets his breath go, Apollo runs up the stairs and bangs on the door. Jax shoots up and quickly climbs out of bed, he walks to the door and looks through the peephole.

“Hello?” Jax asks quietly.

“Jax let me in, it’s Apollo,” Apollo yells, Jax opens the door, “Where is he?” He asks grabbing Jax.

Ace slowly faints, he lays on the bottom of the tub lifeless.

“I don’t know,” Jax says looking around, Apollo looks around and sees the bathroom door.

“What’s this?” Apollo asks as his heart starts beating faster.

“Bathroom-” Jax says as Apollo cuts him off.

Apollo bangs on the door and kicks it, “Do you have a key, damn it?!?” Apollo asks as he starts shaking. Jax shakes his head and goes and grabs a key from one of the kitchen drawers, Apollo takes it from him and gets the door unlocked. He opens the door and sees Ace in the bathtub, he runs over to him and pulls him out, “Why, why would you do this. You scared me….y-you fucking scared me,” Apollo says as he starts crying. Ace lays there lifelessly, Apollo lifts him out of the bathtub and sets him on his lap. He grabs Ace’s nose and puts his lips to Ace’s, he breathes twice then pushes down on his chest three times.

After Apollo does this a few times Ace comes back. Apollo blows into Ace’s mouth again, Ace’s mouth fills with water. Apollo pulls away as Ace spits the water out, he cough’s and starts to cry again.

“It’s ok, it’s ok. Just breath,” Apollo says holding Ace tightly towards him, Ace hugs him tightly.

“W-why?” Ace whispers as he falls asleep. Apollo’s heart drops as he continues to hold Ace.

“What the fuck just happened?” Jax asks looking worried. Apollo looks up at him and then away.

“Right now is not the best time to talk about it,” Apollo says picking Ace up, “I wanna make sure he’s safe first,” He says carrying Ace out of the bathroom and setting him on the bed. Apollo sits down on the floor next to Ace and grabs his hand, “Because….I love you,” Apollo whispers as he cries.