The Test Subject

Ashton was waiting for me outside the girls toilet. He had a huge smirk on his face, soon enough one was growing on my face. I rolled my eyes at him as he crossed his arms over his toned chest. I shook my head at his recent behavior. "where do you plan on going, Ashton? our last attempt at escaping ended up with me getting stabbed in the back by my best friend... literally" i said. My voice was whispered. The worry was bubbling deep within my stomach. But all i have to do is look at Ashton and any kind of pain or hurt evaporates into thin air. "you're the girl who knows the layout of this place. You even said that yourself"He grinned at his quick reply. My face must of looked clueless because i could see the growing aggravation on his. "you must know some place that light actually exists. Lily, you've been here 17 years and you're telling me you've never found a place that made you smiled from your cheek to your eyes?" i racked my find for a place. A place where I've never been happier. A place where the darkness, the blood splatters aren't reminds you're nothing. "its the people that make me smile, not the place" i shrugged. He raised a eyebrow at me. "Lily, please. Just think" i suddenly thought of a place Harry took me when i was much younger. He took me to the back of the field. Flowers were blooming, the sun shined and nothing else mattered. "I know i place but its been abandoned for a few years"
"that doesn't matter. Lead the way then Dora The Explorer" Ashton laughed at his own joke but once again I didn't get it. He often jokes about things on the outside. I think he occasionally forgets I was born here. It doesn't bother me because I do too. "this is impossible" i sighed. "we're going to get in some much trouble, oh and don't forget the danger" Ashton cut me of by fake laughing. "danger? i laugh in the face of danger" i giggled at his sudden posh accent. I brushed past him leading the way. "course you do" I smiled to myself. Only he has this effect on me. "so where is this place?"Ashton said nervously as we walked past a wall with claw marks and blood. "hell" i said sarcastically. My pace got slower as we were by Miss Butts room. I knew this but did he?her room door was a dark brown color. It looked normal but i had the feeling when you get told to go to the head teachers office but much worse. He quickly grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. My face was impossibly close to his. I could taste his breath. I felt my breathing tremble. My eyes instinctively looked down at his thin lips. "do you know what you're doing" he whispered slowly. His eyes slowly but surely locked onto my lips. "no" i giggled ruining the moment. "come on, this way" i said as i ran to the door on the other side of the long corridor. I made sure my feet were soft as they hit the hard metal floor. "Lily, what has gotten into you" i heard him call. I smiled as i realized I have no idea.
I stopped running, allowing Ashton to catch up to me. My smiled faded as i looked at the field. The grass was a awful green color, it looked almost dead. The sky was grey, like it was about to pour down with rain. The mud was the kind you could sink in. More strangely, the grass looked like it was drowning in the sinky mud. The flowers in the back had died, withered away into nothing. The trees were bare, naked for every one to see. There was no happiness left in this place. "this is the place that made you smile from your cheek to your eyes?" Ashton questioned. His voice held sarcasm and that really annoyed me. "it was beautiful" i said, my voice trailing of into silence. "now its nothing but barren land" i wanted to look away but i couldn't find the strength. Suddenly Ashton wrapped his hand around mine like a vine. My eyes met his and he slightly smiled, reassuring me. "we can make it beautiful again" he said. He looked straight a head. He took of his shoes and through them in any direction. He then rolled up his trousers. "what are you doing?" I asked. "take of your shoes, Lily" he came up close, killing any distance we once had. "don't you trust me?" he said in my ear. He said the exact same thing when he touched my back, he said the same thing when i was covered in black bruises and he said the exact same thing before we got in trouble. Yet, i do trust him. "i trust you, Ashton" He crouched down and started taking of my shoes. Next he rolled up my trousers. "you do realize our feet are going to smell" i scrunched up my nose. "your feet always stink anyway" he giggled. I faked gasped.
I stared at the thick mud and realized Ashton was serious when he said he wanted to go out there. "there's a greenhouse over there" he pointed out as he opened the door. I was surprised it wasn't locked. "I'll race you" he smirked. I shook my head. "no" i whined. "its now or never baby" he laughed. my stomach did flips at the use of the word baby. "its not that bad. Every one does it on the outside" he lied. "i seriously doubt that." The fresh air felt good against my skin. "well im going to get muddy, you can stay here if you want" suddenly he ran into the field. He was headed for the greenhouse. He was making gagging noises and i found it hard not to laugh at the sight. He was having difficulty walking through it. I looked away briefly and saw the same boy from last night. I gasped out of shock. "sorry didn't mean to scare you." he laughed while crossing his arms. "are you following me, because if you are--" i asked harshly. "yes" i raised my eyes at his honesty." you're going to get killed if you follow that" he indicated with his head that he was talking about Ashton." i was protecting you, you need my help" i scoffed. "i don't want or need your help, you creep" i snapped. "you obviously do. You cant even kill yourself right" he called to me as i jumped into the mud. Surprisingly it wasn't that bad. Sure it was thick and hard to walk through but i was actually having fun. "see you're doing it" Ashton said holding his hand out to help me. " i thought this was a race" i said playfully. I accidentally scrunched my toes up and i wanted to be sick. "oh its on like donkey Kong" and with that we tried our hardest to get to this rubbish greenhouse.
The mud was slowly going away as we got closer to the house. The smell got worse and the fun was disappearing. Although Ashton seemed to enjoy himself. "I won" i screamed throwing my fists in the air. "whats my prize" i whispered in his ears. His head snapped in my direction. "don't do that Lil, i don't want a hard on" i was clueless. "a hard on...." i said slowly making him burst out laughing. "you're so naive" he said through laughter. I stared straight into his eyes. "can you stop? im not naive" i said sitting on a brick that looked like it would crumble. "I'm not sweet nor am i innocent. I know im inexperienced but im not easily misled, so can you just stop now, Ashton?" i sighed rubbing my temples. I looked down at the dry mud. It had small footprints imprinted on it. I expected him to shout. I was shocked when he just nodded. "okay"
"you're not mad?"
"why would i be mad? i know you're not naive. Your anything but" he smiled. He started to open the door. he rolled his eyes as the door wouldn't budge. "here let me try" i stood up and walked towards the door. Ashton scoffed. I realized then Ashton doesn't know that im super strong at the moment. I used all my strength to kick the door down and it actually came off flying. "Never underestimate me, you'd be surprised of what im capable of"

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