Broken World

Chapter 42

       I awake the next morning outside and all alone. At first I'm majorly confused, but then all of last night's events hit me like a car. I feel something tickle my arm and look down. There's a piece of paper, and it has writing on it.

       Delilah,

              I didn't think it was fair for me to just disappear and leave you in the dark, so I wrote this for you. I can't stay around without you being my everything. You lied to me, and it hurt me more than you could imagine. I'm hanging myself later today in the woods. Remember the footsteps and growl you heard last night? That was me. I was trying to scare you off because I knew you'd use any means to stop me. I love you with all my heart, Delilah, and I am tired of being hurt, both physically and emotionally. I'll see you in the afterlife, my love.

       With love,

              Max

       I begin crying then because I just lost my friend. I'll never forgive myself for this now. He's dead because of me. This is all my fault. I run inside, ditching my blankets and pillows, and upon seeing my face several people begin to worry.

       "Find Kellin, Zoe, Jen, Jim, Kasey, Brody, and Warren and his gang. Get them here as fast as possible," I gasp through tears. Several people scatter to find the people I requested, and some surround me and give curious looks. I shake my head. They seem to understand and move aside. My friends show up almost at the same time, all wild eyed and panicked.

       "What's wrong?" Zoe asks.

       "All of you read this, quickly," I say handing Zoe the letter. They all read it, and looks of horror come to their faces. They seem to understand why I have a crazy look on my face.

       "We have to find him," Kellin and Zoe say at the same time. They look at each other, and I can tell they are having a moment of awkwardness because of them speaking at the same time. The group of us collect a few other kids and head out into the yard. We are all determined to find Max. We won't let him take his own life. We walk into the woods and begin silently searching. We don't want to make any sound in case it makes him speed up his plan. Our whole point is to save him, not make him move faster. I see what looks like a little camp, but when I get closer it's not Max, but a group of kids. I get closer, and that's when I see someone sleeping in the middle. Max has seemingly joined the group of strangers, or maybe he's just there until he gets ready to die. I make a bird call, and everyone shows up. The group sees the camp and Max, and we all exchange worried looks.