Side note - this song came out a couple weeks ago and well he's my fav artists so enjoy the song while reading :)

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Axel

"I heard her," Dante whispers once Ian leaves. I keep my arms around Dante for comfort and reassurance. Now I know how he has felt protecting people his whole life. It feels good to be the one to protect and look after people, especially when they're supposed to be the strong one. But it's the worst when you fail. I know Dante is crushed at not having been able to save Lexi when she needed us most.

"Heard who?" I whisper back, never taking my eyes off my precious babygirl.

"Heard her final scream. Her cry of defeat." I stay silent, knowing he needs to get things off his chest. I always told him he shouldn't bottle everything up. "It... it tore my heart into a million pieces. I've never, uh, heard something like that before. It was like she was carrying the pain of everyone in the world. I think I finally realised what it's like when they say you never know until it's too late. It's too late and she's never going to give me a chance again. How can she when I promised I'd protect her with my life. Instead it cost her life. I should have known she didn't want to leave us. Do you think she even wants to see us?"

He sounds so defeated. Dante is the strongest person I've ever known. He can't be defeated. Ever. Now he sounds like he's lost a war. He might've lost this battle but he'll come back stronger from this. We all will.

"You know she will. She has the biggest heart. She knows shit happens and people make mistakes. She knows that we never meant to hurt her. She damn well knows that we were following her orders and wanted to give her space. Now it's about moving forward. I'm never letting her go no matter how much she begs me or threatens me. If she cries her heart out about how useless she feels then I'll hold her forever and tell her all the reasons why she's not. It's about going forward now."

We sit in silence, listening to the rhythmic beeping of Lexi's heart rate. It feels like the only stable thing at the moment.

"When I first met her on the plane, she was so concerned that I didn't get to witness the beautiful view," Dante chuckles, "I used that as my chance to get her number. I was a total stranger and she treated me as if everything in life is precious. I never really understood the excitement over a sunset or nature. It was just, always there. But since she took such interest in simple things, I actually started to appreciate it more. Now every flower or cloud or sunset I see, I appreciate it for being there, for reminding me of her. Who knew I could be so sentimental? Life is supposed to be simple, you know? I think every sunset and sunrise I'll be eternally grateful for, because some people don't live long enough to witness such beauty."

Lexi made us all see the beauty in the simplest of things, the simplicity of life. She made us appreciate every little thing.

Nurses come in with more comfortable chairs, which turn out to be recliners, for Dante and I to sleep on. I thank them and take a seat in one of them, getting comfortable. A long nap will do me some good now. Maybe clear my head a bit.

"I think I'll stay by her side tonight, so she's not lonely and we can watch the sunrise together. Who knows if she'll ever see another one again. I want my last memory of her to be good," Dante says, staying in his place.

"She's not going to die. I know she won't. She's so strong. Besides, she should wake up tomorrow or in a couple of days," I say firmly, intending to believe it myself. "Goodnight. Wake me if you need anything."

"Goodnight."

I close my eyes and listen as Dante talks to Lexi, as if she could really hear.

"Please sweetheart if you can hear me, let me know." Nothing.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that life has been hard without you. In the past four weeks, I... I don't know who I've become. You changed me for the better. You always listened to me, you made me feel protected. For once I didn't feel the burden of having to protect someone. But I was wrong. I was so wrong princess and I'm so sorry. I was so caught up in the new feeling of being loved, that I forgot you also needed protecting, not being controlled."

"You know, before you came along, I only cared for Ian and Axel. They were like my little brothers and I enjoyed being able to look after them and keep them safe. I felt useful and accomplished in a way. But when you came and showed me what it's like to be looked after, I think it was the best thing that ever happened to me. You were the best thing to ever happen to me. If I don't see you ever again, just know that I love you so much and I'm so grateful for getting the chance to have you. I hope you can forgive me."

"I really saw a future with you. The others love you so much as well. We all saw a future with you. We saw ourselves as a family, with or without kids, adopted or not. I really want us to be a family. We were going to ask you to marry us, we were going to see you walk down the aisle, Luke or someone walking you down to us. We were supposed to cry at your beauty. We were going to have a worldwide honeymoon. You deserve the world and so much more."

"If you ever wake up and decide to stay with us, then I'll know that a miracle has happened to allow us a second chance. If you choose to leave us, we understand. We just want to see you happy. Your happiness is my happiness. I'll be by your side for every decision you make. Hell, if you want me to jump off a bridge to make you happy, I'll do it."

"I still like to envision a future with you, but in the end, it's your choice. Please come back sweetheart. I need you. I love you so much."

As if actually hearing him, the heart monitor picks up slightly in speed, almost as if to say she loves him too. And I know she does. She loves us all. Ian is taking it harshly now because he hates being the cause of something negative in people's lives. He'll come around to it and see Lexi will forgive him. It seems these days I'm the only one who has faith in Lexi.

Content that Dante feels a bit better and positive Lexi will wake up soon, I get comfortable, allowing myself to relax and finally rest my body and mind a little. No more drinking. No more numbing myself or shutting out the world to cope with things. Where's Lexi to slap some sense into me?

Please wake up soon. I need you, babygirl.

Dante

Axel's soft snores are a quiet lullaby to the night. His snores and Lexi's heart monitor synchronize to create a peaceful, soothing tune. Resting my head on Lexi and I's intertwined hands, I allow myself to close my eyes. At least she can still hold me in this moment.

Sleep doesn't come and I didn't expect it to. My body won't rest until it knows she's safe. Throughout the night, nurses come in to refill the bags of fluid and make sure I don't need anything. My silence was all they got. If Lexi can't speak for herself, then I shouldn't as well. For some reason, I can't seem to function without her. It's hard to breathe without her. It's hard to live without her. I would give anything to have her back right now. Anything. I'll take her place if I have to. Just come back Lexi, please.

As the sun rises, I notice the colours. Orange, pink, blue. It's so beautiful. Breathtaking.

"I'm glad I could watch this sunrise with you," I whisper, kissing Lexi's hand, "because if this is your last, then it will be mine as well."

Finn's words to Ian yesterday haven't left my mind. She could most probably be so mentally damaged or pregnant or a shell of a person if she survives. She shouldn't have to suffer anymore, shouldn't have to live even a second of pain for the rest of her life. But we will always be by her side. Always.

"Would you like something to eat?" one of the nurses ask.

"No thank you." The first words I've said to them. I will not eat without Lexi.

"Dante, you have to eat," Axel says, approaching me from behind. How could he sleep and eat with Lexi like this? Does he not feel the pain? Has he not lost his appetite? Or anxiety prevented him from sleeping? Maybe it's because he believes it's my fault as well. He feels no guilt. It really is my fault.

I want to be with Lexi. I want to suffer with her. I want to be as close as possible with her, in life and death. It's not like Ian and Axel love me as much as they love Lexi. They wouldn't mind if I left them. They think it's my fault. Ian can't face me and Axel is rubbing it in my face that he feels no guilt.

Is this how Lexi felt? No reason to live anymore. Helpless. As if everything is my fault.

The next two days pass along with my hope. Ian hasn't come past. Apparently he's working excessively. Axel is constantly contacting people, probably to see how the company and captives are doing. I've only moved to go to the bathroom. Other than that, I never leave Lexi's side. I can't.

Finn visits at least twice a day, bringing food, drinks and clothes for us, as well as flowers and stuffed teddy bears for Lexi. He's been helping Luke with the captives, keeping them company until Ian, Axel and I deal with them.

I can't physically bring myself to leave and look after myself. She's the important one in this situation and it's been days since she's been barely alive, over a month since I've seen her eyes. Seen her move and live her life. I miss her more and more everyday.

I've stopped feeling pain. I don't feel any hunger. No thirst. No aching from barely moving from this position for three days. When people say they would die for someone they love, I didn't think they would really mean it. But I'm dying for Lexi. I'll die again and again just so she can live. So Ian and Axel can give her the best life.

By the third night, Axel decides to go and sleep the night at Ian's place, to give him a break from work.

I lay my head next to Lexi's and bask in the silence of the night. I miss how she used to tell us about her day when she would go out. The joy of experiencing freedom, something she's never had before. Something we were slowly taking away without us realising.

The first time she went out with Astra and returned with so many things for herself. We told Astra to buy everything that Lexi even looked at for a second too long. Lexi spoke as if she was the happiest and luckiest person in the world. She was elated. But at the end of the night when we asked her what she was most grateful for that day, she said Astra.

Astra still doesn't know. None of us have the heart to tell her. She still thinks that Lexi isn't talking to anyone. I know from the conversations Axel has with her. Astra will be heartbroken if she finds out.

She is the closest person, apart from us, to Lexi. the way they speak in hushed whispers and giggle, the way they both glance up at Ian, Axel or me then get back to talking. When Astra sleeps over and they watch movies and talk well into the night.

Would Lexi want Astra to know? They've told each other everything. Even about the first time Lexi was raped. Astra cried with Lexi and they sat in silence. I stood at the door that day when I shouldn't have. Astra is the older sister and best friend that she never had. It's only right to make sure Astra is here when Lexi wakes. If she wakes up.

Just this one small thing for Lexi. For Lexi.

Lifting up my head, I grab my phone, which Axel had put on charge before he left and hover over Astra's name.

For Lexi.

I press call and place the phone next to my ear.

"Dante? Why are you calling at two in the morning? Is it Lexi? Is she ok? Did she return home?"

I remain silent, thinking about the best way to break the news. Less is more, right? "She's in the hospital."

"What happened? Since when? Send me the address right now. Is Ian and Ax there?" she exclaims, voice laced with panic as I hear rustling and moving.

"I'll send you the address. I'll explain everything once you're here." I hang up and text her the address. The damage is done. Astra knows and she's going to be so pained at the news. Maybe more so at the fact we never told her straight away.

Within half an hour, Astra is running through the door and pushing me aside. Literally shoving me off the chair to get a better glance at Lexi.

"You didn't have to push me," I grumble, too weak to even try getting up. Astra stands there, frozen. She doesn't move. She doesn't speak. Just observes.

"When?" she whispers dangerously.

"Three days." She turns to me still on the floor.

"Three days? Three fucking days?! You didn't think to tell me that my sister, my best friend, has been in the hospital for THREE DAYS?! How dare you? Do Ian and Axel even know? Wait. Was this you-"

"When the love of your life lays almost dead in the hospital, everyone and everything else slips your mind and the only thing you can think about is dying with them, joining in their pain," I say, sorrow settling deep in my heart. "She tried to kill herself. You didn't see. You didn't get sent the video of her being tortured and raped and calling for me when I wasn't there. You didn't hear her screams and know that you promised you'd be there for her and you weren't. I promised. I broke my promise. She'll never want to talk to me again. She could die and it will be my fault. I can't do it anymore. It hurts."

I bury my head in my hands, weeping for the loss of my love, my life. I'm as dead as she is. I can't live anymore. "It hurts too much." Sobs wrack my body as a release of this agonising pain. I'm pulled into the embrace of Astra, who has settled down beside me. It feels wrong to be comforted. I don't deserve it.

"Those fucking pricks will pay and I'll be there to show them never to mess with my sister. She'll wake up and she'll love you so much for being here with her, for never leaving her side. No one can keep every single promise they make. We're humans," Astra reassures me. "Let's sit next to her, in case she wakes up now."

She helps me up and we take a seat next to Lexi. "Sleep," she whispers, "I'll wake you up if anything happens." For the first time since I've been here, I know someone cares about Lexi as much as I do. I know Astra would burn down the world before letting anyone near Lexi, probably even the nurses.

Knowing Lexi will be looked after, I allow three days of restlessness to take its toll and pull me into deep, restless sleep, but sleep nonetheless.

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Hey guys,

I love Astra. Should I do her POV soon?

Also I was reading back on the past couple chapters and I had so many spelling mistakes (english is my first language, I was just tired and lazy to go over but I'll fix everything once the story is done) sorry guys I wasn't drunk ;)

Until next time...