All of the Lights

Chapter Twenty-Five

Previously...

"I've never felt more hated in my life." Cody shrugged. "I'm just the second choice. I'm always the leftover."

"Cody..." I whispered.

"Don't even talk, Riley. I know you don't love me, or whatever. You just use me because I'm the only one who can genuinely make you happy... And then once you get a dose of sunshine, you go right back into the darkness." Cody pointed at Sam.

I noticed a figure by the steps. I glanced over, meeting eyes with Jake. He gave me a wide-eye look. He didn't look like himself. He stumbled back down the stairs before I could say anything.

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Chapter Twenty Five

"Jake?" I struggled to force out. Sam tightened his grip around me. I desperately tried to free myself from him.

"Riley, stop." Sam gave me a confused look. He didn't know what was going on. Both of the boys were clueless. I, however, knew exactly what was happening.

I had witnessed that wide-eye look before. I've seen it in myself.

"Sam, let go!" I fell to the floor. Sam lost his grip on me, and I crawled away from his feet. I pulled myself up and scrambled down the stairs.

"Jake!" I screamed.

Sam and Cody didn't even exchange looks with each other before they both sprinted after me.

I ran straight into the corner of the wall. My side screamed in pain. Adrenaline made me ignore it and continue to run towards Jake's room.

I reached his door, clinging to the handle. I jiggled it up and down. It was locked.

"Jake!" A voice that didn't sound like my own, squealed.

I kicked the door, quickly running back upstairs when I realized there was a key in one of Sam's drawers.

"What's going on?" Sam tried to stop me. I pushed past him, running up the stairs.

I made it into our room and frantically rummaged through his drawers. I let out painful cries as I dug for it.

"Where is it? Where is it?" I screamed.

A silver glint caught my eye. My heart pumped. I grabbed the key and ran back down the stairs. Sam and Cody were knocking on Jake's door, calling for him.

"Move." I pushed through them. I stuck the key in the hole, turning it to the side. The handle made a click. I opened it and ran inside.

"Jake?" I looked around his room. There was nothing.

"What the hell is happening?" Sam yelled, following behind me.

I ran to Jake's bathroom. I jiggled the handle, unable to get inside. He locked the bathroom door, too.

I fiddled with the key, quickly unlocking the door. I gave Sam a quick glance. His eyes were full of the same worry and fear that I saw when he found me in the bathroom that one night.

He understood. He knew what was happening. He looked like he was going to throw up.

I opened the bathroom door, closing my eyes and taking a deep sigh. I prepared myself for the worst.

What if he hung himself?

What if he's floating in his own blood?

I turned my head, my eyes landing on a figure crouched on the toilet seat. Jake held his head in his hands.