Knives and Nightmares

Chapter 13

I felt an emptiness inside of me, then I realized. I hadn't seen Liz in days.

"Where's Liz?" I asked Connor as we walked hand in hand down the school hallway, his giant sweater comfortable and hiding my scars,

"Uh.." He fumbled for words.

I stopped cold. I heard angry students groan and pushed around us.

"What do you mean, where is she?!" I screamed and let go of his hand to face him, I fealt empty. But I set that aside.

"Look, mel," he started as he grabbed my shoulder gently.

"Just tell me" I pleaded

"She's uh, gone.."

"She's...dead?" I asked not wanting to know the answer

"Nono, her parents- they, took her.. Away. She's currently moving into a house in Wisconsin." He sounded sad.

My legs couldn't hold me. I tunneled to the ground in tears

"Why, why didn't she tell me" I asked him between sobs.

"She, she couldnt..."

My best friend was gone.

"Why-why did she leave" I asked clutching his arm so I wouldn't fall over

"Uh," he scratched his arm with nervousness. "Her parents, they knew about you, found out she didn't eat... And well, they said you went a good influence..."

I lost my best friend because I had scars on my wrists.

The school day dragged on, so slowly, Annie snickered. She knew. I couldn't stand to look at her. Everything was so lonely without Liz,

"Gone...." I whispered to myself

As I walked out the double doors of the high school. "because of my scars.."

Something grabbed me from behind.

I screamed and thrust my elbow backwards

"Woah there tiger" Connor was laughing, then softly kissing my cheek, I laughed too.

I led him back to my house

"I would love to stay, sweetheart, but I have football practice, I'll come err after, get some sleep, okay?"

I simply nodded my head too exhausted to do anything.

"Alright, bye, beautiful" his lips softly brushed mine sending fire down my spine. Then he was gone.

I walked inside my old house, it smelled like shampoo and mac and cheese. 'Did Charlie eat?' The thought surprised me. I was too tired and upset to really put a thought into it. I climbed the stairs one by one, the world seemed I be slowing down. I groaned as I reached the top, I heard the shower running, it worried me a little, because I knew it wasn't mom, and it's not like I could walk in and see if Charlie was cutting again. I opened my door, swung my bag on the floor, tossed my jet black hair into a messy bun, I knew it wouldn't work because if my endless layers, but I still didn't care. I flopped on my bed, and fell asleep, dreaming of Liz....

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I heard creaking of the floor near my room and I shot up. I crept to my door to see who it was, the clock said five. It want Connor.

I peeked outside my door. No one. Just a note. I saw Charlie's writing. And bolted to his room and opened his door to see him sitting on his bed his black hair straightened and in his face as always, he sat there motionless with a hand full of pills and a knife. He was going to kill himself. He didn't notice me. I watched.

He played with his snake bites for a while, like he does when he's concentrating. A tear slipped from his eye.

"What the fuck." I said. It was enough for him to notice me.

"Shit. Mel, you went supposed to be awake."

"Too fucking bad."

He stared at me, his big brown eyes getting bloodshot with tears. He looked determined.

He popped three pills at once. He was still going to do it.

I charged him, knocking him over on his bed. The knife fell free from his hand. He swallowed another few pills.

"Charlie please stop! I need you, Charlie no!" I pleaded, tears in my eyes blurring my vision

"I'm sorry" he whispered

He took more. His hand was almost empty. I clawed at his hand screaming for release. He was too strong.

"Charlie fucking stop now, or I'm coming with you."

He looked so hurt.

He threw another in his mouth.

"Goddammit charlie!" I screamed.

The front door opened.

'It had better be connor.' I thought

I screamed again. Whoever it was rushed up the status two at a time and threw open the door "what the hell..?" Connor asked.

"Just grab the pills from his hand!" I screamed

In a daze, Connor ran to Charlie's hand, he was almost asleep. Connor was too late. He downed the other pills. I got off of my brother. And saw the empty bottle on the floor. Extra strength. All gone. Charlie reached for his knife

"I love you so much mel"

"CHARLIE NO" I screamed.