The Nexus

The Menace among us

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The boys sat in a tense silence, their hearts pounding in their chests. The ICU waiting room was a sterile, impersonal space, filled with the hum of machines and the hushed whispers of other worried families. They had been waiting for hours, their patience wearing thin.

Still, no word from Link, the charismatic yet reckless friend who had dragged them into this mess. It had all started so innocently, a casual phone call from Link while they were in school, demanding a car race. Despite their young age and their parents' warnings, they had agreed, fueled by a mix of excitement and rebellion.

Carlos, the cautious one, had tried to warn them of the dangers, but his words had fallen on deaf ears. Now, as they faced the consequences of their actions, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

The trio had been inseparable since childhood, growing up in the same neighborhood. They were known as "The Lost Puppies," a testament to their bond. But Link's arrival had disrupted their dynamic. While Link had quickly charmed Sam and Jeremy, Carlos had remained skeptical, sensing a darkness beneath his charismatic exterior.

Link's ADHD had further complicated matters. Jeremy, always the empathetic one, had discovered Link's condition and vowed to keep it a secret. His loyalty to Link had deepened, leading to a closer bond.

Sam, feeling left out, had eventually joined in on the fun, craving the excitement and camaraderie that Link brought to their lives. The trio had become a quartet, their friendship forged in shared experiences, both good and bad.

Now, as they waited for news of Link, they could only hope that their friend would be okay, wherever he is. They had made a terrible mistake, and they were prepared to face the consequences.

Carlos couldn't contain his anger. "So Link has ADHD?" he spat, his voice laced with venom. "That could explain everything."

Sam turned to Jeremy, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Why didn't you tell us?" he demanded. "Since when did we start keeping secrets from one another? Dude has freaking ADHD! And you kept it from us? I mean, one day he could decide to blow all of our heads out and he won't even feel remorse about it."

"He won't do that, Link is not that kind of a person," Jeremy defended.

"And how would you know?" Carlos scoffed. "I can't believe you're actually defending him even after this."

Jeremy took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "You want to know why I hid it away from both of you? Well, two things... One, you guys may feel frightened to have him around, and he didn't want to scare anyone. Two, and if at the end you agreed to let him be part of us, it's going to be out of pity and he didn't want to be pitied, nobody wants to."

Sam's face paled. "What are we going to do if the cross-road boy dies?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Carlos's eyes narrowed. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I can't be part of this, not when my dad is running for mayor and that's why I'm trying my best to stay out of trouble, and you all should too." He counted himself out, his voice cold and calculating.

The thought of Link going to jail sent shivers down Jeremy's spine. "None of us had anything to do with the incident, so chill," he said, trying to calm his friends. "Secondly, we're all minors. If he dies, we won't get arrested, and we all know who Link's dad is. The story will be over before we even know it."