Original

by jayfeather12345

Drew Hayden made a vow when he was ten: he would never follow in his father's footsteps, and he would never endorse a cliche. But, somehow, nine years later, he's standing on a rooftop about to do the one thing that went against every fiber in his body. It started with an offer he couldn't refuse, it ends with a choice... which a certain brunette might have everything to do with.

Prelude

~ What Comes of it All ~

They stood at the top of the building. Four men clad in black, outlined by the glare from the moon. A clichéd ending to match its clichéd beginning. Drew almost smiled at the irony. He had fought his whole life to become something different; unique and original. Yet here he was, a pawn in another man's game.

"Are you ready?" Gary asked. His voice was loud. It needed to be, if the others were to hear him over the strengthening wind. "They'll be here any moment."

"I was born ready," answered Ash. His untameable hair was pinned beneath his hood. None of them could be recognised by their usual distinguishable features. Drew couldn't feel the coloured contacts in his eyes, but that made it worse. It was easy to forget that he looked different – almost as easy as it was to sometimes forget that he had become someone else; someone his old self would have loathed.

The wind was really buffeting them now, coaxing blood to their cheeks. They stood strong, in a line at the edge of the building, facing the city sprawled out below.

"Once we do this, there's no going back." Gary had to shout now. Drew wondered what the point was. They had passed the point of no return a long time ago. Gary could pretend all he wanted; he could ease his conscience by telling himself that he was still trying to do the right thing. But they all knew that none of them were going to move an inch from where they stood. They were going to see it through to the end. Tenacity was all they had left.

Drew stared out over the city. Lights twinkled below like stars reflected in an ocean. He committed the sight to memory. He would never be on top of a skyscraper again.

They didn't hear the door open, but they heard the metal slam shut. It resounded around the roof space, like a pre-death knell.

Drew turned his head to watch the others. Ash turned around first. Gary turned second. Paul hesitated. Always an outsider, it had taken him a long time to find his place in the world. Drew knew he wouldn't give that up. And, a second later, Paul turned.

It was down to Drew now. They couldn't do this without him. There was a reason the four of them had been chosen. But he had a choice, he had always had one – he had just never been strong enough to make the right one before. But if he didn't turn around, if he instead took one step forward… it would be over. She would be safe.

"Drew?" Gary shouted over the wind. "Come on, it's nearly over!"

Yes… Drew thought to himself, still gazing at the ocean of lights below. It is nearly over.