Frank's POV

"Mum and I are going to Gerard's apartment. I need you to stay here and take care of everyone."
"Done,"Mikey nodded.
I glanced over his shoulder at Malcolm who was currently chatting to Melissa. He had been here an hour and so far he hadnt done anything to worry us. Except his presence of course. He was quite literally just here to enjoy my birthday party. Fucking weird.

"I want someone to take Claire and Lily upstairs. I dont want him near them. Okay?"Linda stared at Mikey hard.
"Right you are. I'll get Bob to. The rest of us will stay down here. I wont let him out of my sight. You dont need to worry about a thing."

"I'll try my best not to,"I sighed,"Mum can we please go now?"I asked impatiently.
"Alright come on then. Uhhh Frank and I are just going to go pick Gerard up!"Linda called suddenly,"He was feeling sick and went to his place for a nap but now he wants to come back so Frank and I are gonna get him. You guys stay here though. Party on, heh."

I looked over to wear Malcolm was pulling out his phone. He winked at me and slipped it back into his pocket. Mum stopped Lily from walking past her and took Claire from her.
"Frank and I are gonna pick Gerard up okay sweetie? I want you to stay in your room with Bob and Lily until I get back."

"Okay Mummy,"She smiled and kissed Mum on the cheek. Mum pulled Lily into a hug and whispered something in her ear before sighing and walking out. I gave Lily and Claire a quick hug before following Mum out. We drove in silence, not one word being said. There wasnt really much to say.

Mum started to get out of the car but I stopped her,"I need you to be down here for a quick getaway."
"No but I-"
"No buts Mum. I dont want you going in there and I wont let you in. You're staying here for a quick getaway.

She sighed and nodded at me so I got out of the car, making sure my gun was fully loaded. I carefully opened the door to the stairs and rushed up them as fast as possible, panting when I got to the top. I opened the door out into the corridor and shivered at the darkness.

People's halloween decorations were on some of the doors so everynow and then as I crept down to Gerard's place, a scary face would loom out of the darkness at me. The building was weirdly silent right now. I couldnt hear a fucking thing and it only put me on edge even more.

I reached Gerard's door to find it slightly open. I pushed it open carefully and looked inside. I almost cried at the sight. There were rose petals everywhere. And there was black and red candles lit everywhere as well. If it hadnt been for the fact that Gerard wasnt here then I would have cried with happiness. It was the sweetest thing ever and I was probably never going to enjoy it.

"Gerard?"I called softly. I went to take a step in but stopped. I looked down to see the very thin wire, almost invisible trip wire. I followed it and saw it connected somehow to a greneade or something. Fuck. I carefully stepped over it and walked in properly. The only possible sign of a struggle was next to the couch where some rose petals had been smudged into the carpet from being stood on. The coffee table had moved an inch but otherwise there was nothing.

A quick check in the bedrooms and bathrooms proved that I was the only one in there. I sighed and decided to go into Chloe's apartment. The door was shut and when I started to open it, someone yanked it out of my hands and grabbed me before I had a chance to react.

"Get the fuck off of me!"I shouted and struggled against the strong hands wrapping rope around my hands.
"Shut the fuck up,"They growled in my ear. I stopped struggling and looked around. Cole and Chloe were sitting on a couch together, facing me with the smuggest looks on their faces. Directly across from them was two chairs, facing them, and on one of them sat Gerard staring at me through puffy eyes. He had been crying.

"Gerard!"I shouted and started pointlessly struggling again. I was dragged over to sit in the seat next to Gerard. As soon as I was sitting down someone put tape over my mouth like Gerard's. In the next second I was tied to the seat. I strained against the ropes before giving up and staring at Cole's thoughtful face.

He got up and came over to me,"Dont get the wrong idea with this. I just need your phone,"He said as he started patting my legs to feel for my phone. I couldnt exactly say anything so I just stared at him. Whatever he was going to do could not be good.

"Thats Linda in the car, yes?"He waited for me to nod or shake my head but I did neither,"I'll take that as a yes then."
He started texting. He was going to text her and get her up here. No. No she would go to Gerard's apartment. She has no idea about Chloe's apartment. No.

I looked at Gerard desperately to see him looking at his lap, tears dripping from his nose as he shook his head. Suddenly my phone was being held in my face. I focused on it and read the message.

mum, more people than expected. they havent seen me yet and i could use some backup. i'll be outside gerards apartment. hurry.

I started screaming against the tape, pulling and tugging away from the chair as Cole started laughing. Even though it was pointless, I kept struggling. I couldnt just sit there. The guy who had tied me up walked over from the door and said,"Cole, she's almost to the top of the stairs. You need to shut him up."

"Frank fuck up. If you dont I'll get Malcolm to pull the pin on the explosives he's got with him."
I fell weak. Tears streamed down my face as I heard my Mum's soft footsteps go past the door. My body shook with tears as she called for me softly. No. I glanced at Gerard who was silently straining and pulling at his bonds.

Gerard's POV

My ankles were burning, my wrists were burning, and yet I still kept struggling. I dont know how I managed to stay silent. It had been pointless to try earlier but one last try had given me hope when the rops on my right arm had given way the tiniest bit. I looked up at Cole, before looking at Frank. He was breathing heavily through his nose, trying his best not to make a noise. Linda must have been at my place by now.

As if to confirm my thoughts I heard the explosion go off. Frank started screaming against his tape, his eyes begging to be killed.
"Wesley! Go check if she's dead,"Cole sighed, looking bored as he watched Frank's broken face.

A minute later there was a gunshot, intensifying the amount of shaking Frank was doing. Wesley came back in and said,"Now she is."
"Brilliant,"Cole clapped his hands and pulled his phone out,"Malcolm you can leave now. You did a good job. I need you to meet me at the airport okay?"

He hung up and looked down at us before ripping the tape off of our mouths. Frank's sobs filled the room straight away.
"Cole... How could you? She has had absolutely nothing to do with this,"I croaked.
"Oh but she has so much to do with it! She supplies you with guns. She is your boyfriends mother. A very good friend of yours. How can you not see why I needed to do that?"

I glared at him as he started walking away,"Oh Chloe? Untie one of Gerard's arms before you go?"
"Ooh arent you lucky. I thought he was gonna leave you like this,"She smiled at me. As soon as she had untied my right arm I swung it out and clipped her in the jaw.

"Ugh! Ouch that hurt!"She staggered backwards, her hand gripping her face,"You bastard."
"Fuck you!"I shouted as she walked out. I started untying my other arm so I could get Frank untied. As soon as we were both untied I stood up and Frank fell into my arms, sobbing heavily against my body.

"Shhh, I know Frank,"I whispered. I slowly started walking him towards the door. I couldnt even care that we could possibly catch Chloe and Cole. I was too blinded by the hope that this was a hallucination but deep down I knew that wouldnt be the case. It was all too real.

Frank and I slowly pushed open the door to see a big black mess. There was a small fire burning on the couch, growing larger by the second. Her body was in front of the coffee table. All black with soot. Except for the thick red blood flowing from her stomach.

"Oh god,"Frank uttered out at the sight of her. He let go of me and fell down to his knees, crawling through the debris to her,"Mum,"He whispered and somehow picked her torso up to cradle it. I got down on my knees next to her as the shock of it hit me and Frank's heaving sobs filled the night.