Against the Edge

Breaking Through the Darkness

The group huddled in the parking lot, uncertain and desperate for a way to reach Miguel. The phone calls, messages, and even a stop at the basketball court had turned up nothing. Blanca paced anxiously, her heart pounding, as Ethan clenched his fists, frustration evident on his face.

"Miguel's not on the court," James muttered, glancing around, equally bewildered. "We've checked everywhere he'd normally go."

"Maybe he went back to his apartment," Blanca suggested, trying to sound confident, though the worry in her eyes gave her away. They exchanged a quick look of agreement, and without another word, they hurried to Miguel's apartment complex.

The group made their way to Miguel's apartment, tension thick between them. As they approached, they spotted his car in the parking lot. Relief flashed in their eyes for a moment, they knew he was nearby.

Blanca knocked on the door firmly, calling his name. "Miguel? It's us! Please open up!"

Silence.

She knocked harder, but still, there was no response. Blanca took a deep, shaky breath and tried entering the passcode, but a red light flashed each time. After her third attempt, her hands trembled with worry as she glanced at Ethan, her voice barely a whisper. "Why... why did he change his door code? He never does that."

Just then, an elderly neighbor poked her head out from her door across the hall, drawn by the sound. She glanced over at the group with concern. "Are you looking for Miguel?" she asked quietly, catching Blanca's attention. "I heard him come in a while ago... he slammed the door. Sounded like something was wrong."

A sense of helplessness settled over the group, each of them unsure what to do next. Ethan stood there, looking as if he was trying to piece something together, until a sudden idea struck him. Without explanation, he dashed back to his car, emerging moments later with a basketball. He gripped it tightly, casting a determined glance at Miguel's door.

"What are you doing?" Mia asked, confused as he began bouncing the ball down the hallway, each bounce echoing off the walls, louder and louder.

"Just trust me," Ethan said, his face intense. He dribbled the ball past Miguel's door, even giving it a few extra hard bounces directly outside, trying to stir a memory from long ago. They all watched him, puzzled but hopeful. He was replaying a moment from their shared past, when he'd been the one to pull Miguel out of a dark place after his mother's funeral. But this time, there was no response from behind the door, only the empty sound of the ball hitting the floor.

After minutes of silence, Ethan's determination cracked. Frustration and worry took over, and he threw the ball aside, the echoes fading as he took a step toward the door. "Enough," he said, looking at James with a grim determination. "Let's break it down."

James nodded, the same desperation filling his eyes as he squared up beside Ethan, ready to throw himself against the door.

Just as they braced to charge, Louis stepped forward, holding up a hand. "Wait," he said, his voice calm but assertive. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small box and a set of cables, attaching them to his laptop and connecting them to the door's lock. "Breaking down a door is too noisy... and illegal. Let me try."

After a few minutes of typing and occasional muttered frustrations, there was a soft beep, and the lock clicked open. Louis smirked, satisfied. "All right, we're in."

The door swung open, revealing Miguel's apartment shrouded in darkness. The air was still, too still, as they filed in one by one. A heavy silence hung in the room, filling them with dread. Ethan felt his heart sink as he called out Miguel's name again, but the only reply was the unsettling quiet.

They split up, searching each room, moving cautiously. Blanca's eyes darted around, worry etching deeper into her face with every step. Finally, as she neared the bathroom, her hand froze on the doorknob.

A faint sound caught her ear, a shallow. As she opened the door, she froze, her eyes widening at the sight before her.

Miguel lay slumped against the bathtub, his arm resting limply by his side. A streak of blood stained his sleeve, and a small knife lay on the floor next to his hand. His skin was pale, his face serene but eerily lifeless. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was shallow, barely perceptible.

Blanca gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my god...Miguel..."

She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands shaking as she gently took his face in her hands, her voice trembling. "Miguel, please...please wake up."

Ethan and James rushed to her side, panic flashing in their eyes as they took in the scene. James swallowed hard, kneeling down beside him, checking his pulse. "He's alive, but we need to stop the bleeding."

Louis scrambled to find towels, quickly handing them to Ethan, who pressed them gently against Miguel's arm, trying to stem the flow. Mia stood by, her hand clasped tightly over her mouth, tears streaming down her face as she watched in horror.

"Why...why would he do this?" Mia whispered, her voice barely audible.

Blanca leaned over Miguel, her fingers brushing his cheek, her eyes filled with a pain so deep it seemed endless. She held his hand tightly, her voice choked with emotion. "Miguel, we're here...please, you have to come back to us. Don't leave us."

As Ethan and James worked to keep pressure on his wound, Louis took out his phone, quickly dialing for an ambulance. He struggled to keep his voice steady as he gave the operator their address, urgency clear in his tone.

Blanca didn't let go of his hand, her thumb gently brushing over his knuckles as she whispered to him, desperate to reach him through the darkness that seemed to engulf him. "Miguel, remember what you promised me? You said you'd always be here...you said we'd always be together. Please...fight. We all need you."

Minutes later, the distant sound of sirens broke through the silence, and relief washed over them. Blanca continued to hold his hand, whispering to him softly, her voice filled with a fierce determination.

As the paramedics arrived, they carefully lifted Miguel onto a stretcher, and Blanca followed closely, her gaze never leaving his face. Ethan put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring nod, his eyes reflecting the same fear and hope she felt.

"Don't worry," he whispered. "We'll make sure he's alright. Miguel's stronger than this."

Blanca nodded, wiping her tears, a glimmer of resolve returning to her gaze. She watched as they carried him away, her heart aching, but filled with an unbreakable will. No matter what it took, she would help him find his way back. They all would.