Chapter 20

"Shit Cameron!" Cain screamed as he watched his daughter's boyfriend be knocked to the floor. He raced over and helped the dazed younger man to his feet.

"JACKSON!" Cameron tried to run forward again but Cain pulled him back

"It's suicide if you go in there Cameron!"

"I promised Aaron I'd find Jackson! Jackson was in there!"

"Cameron it's no good! Look at it! It's a burnt out shell! Jackson's dead!"

"I've got to try Cain!"

"And what do I tell Debbie huh? How do I tell her that you're dead?"

"How do I tell Aaron his boyfriend is dead Cain?"

"Cameron, please, I'm begging you. Don't go in there. I know he doesn't act like it, but Aaron thinks the world of you. He likes you, and why wouldn't he? You're a good bloke. He's already lost Adam and Jackson, nearly lost me... Don't you dare leave me to tell him he's lost you aswell! I'm sorry you didn't get to Jackson in time Cameron but we have to put Aaron first!"

"He'll hate me! He'll hate me now Cain! I promised him and I've let him down!"

"I think deep down Aaron knew it'd be useless. He knew there was no chance of Jackson surviving that. You've done an amazing thing for him getting that arsehole out of his life." Cain reassured, pointing to Ed.

"We have to get rid of it. The body. I can't go down for this Cain!"

"You won't. You can help me shift it. We'll drag him into the garage. It'll just look like an arson attack gone wrong. Grab his feet." Cain instructed as they hovered over Ed's lifeless body.

With a vigorous amount of effort they dragged Ed's body towards the blaze, Leaving him just inside the doorway.

"Rot in hell you bastard." Cain sneered, giving the rugby player a kick to the head for good measure.

They both returned to Aaron's side, the teen was lying unconscious, hand still clamped around his throat. A sob escaped Cain as he called for an ambulance and the fire brigade.

After giving over the details he ended the call and returned his attention back to Aaron, his lips tinged a pale blue. Cameron sobbed as he desperately searched for a pulse and was relieved to find that Aaron was still alive.

"Do you really think Jackson was inside Cain?" Cameron asked as he released Aaron's own hand from the slashed throat and replaced it with his own.

"He's got to be. His van's here. He killed Adam because he thought he was a threat to him and Aaron. He was hardly going to let Jackson live was he?"

"So Aaron was right. "

"What do you mean?"

Cameron sighed and looked up at the night sky "Aaron was convinced Ed was around, He was convinced he killed Adam. He told me he thought he saw him. Cain he...He was that scared...He trashed the garage, completely..and he...he hurt himself Cain."

"What do you mean he hurt himself?"

"I mean he hurt himself Cain, deliberately. I promised Aaron I wouldn't tell but I can't keep it quiet anymore."

"You mean like self-harm? Aaron wouldn't do that!"

"He admitted it to me Cain. His head was bleeding, and that's not the only thing that I noticed. Look at his arms!" Cameron said, pulling Aaron's shirt sleeve up so Cain could see the scratches.

"Oh god Aaron..." Cain whispered as a tear rushed down his face

TBC