Not All Outlaws Are Bad

Lyra's POV
I woke up to the beeping of machinery. I had no idea where I was, but the room was a blinding shade of white. I winced and shut my eyes, immediately opening them again when I felt someone softly place their hand on my right arm. I started silently hyperventilating. Someone was in here with me and I had no idea if I knew them or not.
Suddenly the events of the previous night hit me in a sickening rush. I cringed away from the touch, fearing that it was Jason. "Hey, it's ok. It's only me." I recognized that voice.
I sagged with relief. "Ashley..." I murmured. I slowly let down my guard and allowed myself to be engulfed in Ashley's secure embrace as the tears poured down my cheeks. His hand slowly travelled up my side until it came to rest on my shoulder. I hissed in pain as his hand came into contact with the scars, jerking away at his touch. He stared at me, his face becoming unreadable as his eyes were drawn to my shoulder. I looked down and realized with horror that the hospital gown had slipped, revealing every traitorous scar that rested there. I hung my head, feeling sick with shame and fear. I had no idea what Ashley was going to do, but I could only hope that he wouldn't lose faith in me after this.
He looked back up and met my eyes, his turning gold with pain. "Why?" His voice was husky and deep with tears. I wanted to apologize and do that moment over again, but it was better now that he knew.
"I can't help it. It's all I have. And it's getting worse. After each cutting, I find a reason to do it again." I hung my head, feeling like shit. That was when my mother walked in.

Ashley's POV
I stared at the scars on her shoulder, wondering how a beautiful girl like Lyra could do this to herself. I whirled at the sound of the door shutting. I saw an unfamiliar woman stalk right up to Lyra. "Darling," she said, wrapping Lyra in an awkward hug. She pulled back, her eyes quickly skimming over Lyra. This was obviously Lyra's mother. Her eyes settled on her daughter's exposed shoulder. "What is this?" she asked, her voice turning cold and dangerous. Lyra frantically pulled the gown back up, but the damage was done.
"Just some scars." She stammered. It happened so fast that I never saw it coming.
The slap rang out like a gunshot, and Lyra gingerly traced the outline of the handprint that was quickly becoming more and more visible. "YOU UNGRATEFUL CHILD! HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE ME LIKE THAT!"
"Mom!" Lyra sobbed, plugging her ears with her hands to drown out the inhuman shrieks. Her eyes met mine and I was shocked to see that they no longer shined. They were dull with pain and despair. She was giving up. Her mother hit her with a reckless abandon. I finally raced out and returned moments later with a cop.

Lyra's POV
Ashley left after Mom started hitting me. She was all about image, and I had just ruined that for her. I needed my knife. I took the beating stoically, realising that I was no longer beautiful. Ashley couldn't want to be with me after what he had just witnessed. He returned with a cop. The cop arrested her for child abuse, and I was released from the hospital. As they were dragging her away, Mom met my eyes. "You no longer have a home with us." I think it was that phrase that hurt me most of all.
I walked home with a limp and got there in about ten minutes. I hurriedly filled a duffel bag with every black item of clothing that I owned, which honestly wasn't that much. I only had two black shirts and one pair of black skinny jeans. Next, I got my knife and bandages and disinfectant. Then my toothbrush for purging and my other one for its original job. I took down all my posters and carefully placed them in the bag as well. Lastly, I got my iPod and headphones. Then I left the place I had called home for fifteen years. I wrote a note to Izzy that explained everything.

Izzy's POV
I raced home to comfort Lyra after what had happened at the hospital. "Ly?" I asked, suddenly apprehensive when no one answered. I bolted up to her room, but she wasn't there. As I passed my room, I noticed that the door was open slightly. I went in and noticed the note on my pillow. I knew it was saying goodbye before I even sat down to read it.
Dear Izzy. Mom told me to get out. I got everything I needed, so I guess that this is goodbye. Have a good life, because I don't think that I will be seeing you again. I love you more than I could ever scream.
I smiled, knowing that she couldn't resist quoting Andy Biersack. I thought back to last night, when Andy had hugged me, and I suddenly knew exactly who to tell.

Ashley's POV
I heard someone pounding on the door to the tour bus. "Ashley! Andy!" Someone was yelling at the top of their lungs. I yanked open the door to see Izzy looking up at me, a look of terror on her face.
"What is it?" I asked. She shoved a note in my face. I drew back far enough so that I would be able to read it.
"I searched. She has her knife with her." Izzy looked like she was going to burst into tears at any moment. " I think she's going to kill herself."
"Shit! Andy!" I yelled. He came up behind me, stopping dead when he saw the look on Izzy's face.
"You've got to help me find her." She whispered brokenly.

--timelapse--
"Where would she have gone?" Jinxx asked Izzy. She bit her lip, thinking.
"The bridge. She'll be at the bridge." I wasted absolutely no time. I was out the door and halfway down the road before anyone knew what had happened. When I reached the bridge, I sobbed in horror at what I saw. Lyra was crumpled in a heap on the rocks, surrounded by blood. She was still consious when I reached her. I stripped off my shirt and noticed a small smile on her lips as she stared at my Outlaw tattoo. I wrapped my shirt around her wrists and held her and sang to her until the others arrived. She passed out on the way to the hospital.

Notes