Savior [Completed]

Savior: [Six] [II/II]

“Nick? What happened?”

Ryan’s voice floated over me – I only actually processed what he’d said when he shook me and began to repeat his query.

“He…oh, God.”  ‘I have to admit, you got that part right.’ What did he mean? My hand was automatically dialing the number again – maybe I’d been mistaken somehow – but that little hope was soon crushed when the automated voice sounded through. ‘Sorry, the mobile you are trying is currently switched off. Please try-’

Switched off? I cursed, I think. I’m not sure – all my thoughts had suddenly gone haywire. He hadn’t just indirectly said he’d be-oh, God- I needed to get moving.

“Nick!”

“He-I think he said he’ll try something,” I blurted out.

“What?” Ryan and Rodney’s disbelief echoed simultaneously.

“I…I don’t know. Should we go there? Should I call 911? I’m not sure what he meant but now his phone is switched off and…”

“Let’s get a move on,” Rodney said grimly, “Ryan, keep the 91 for 911 dialed in. Nick, tell me what happened.”

We were moving now towards…well, one of our cars. I was far too disoriented to care at that point. My throat had closed up in itself and for a few moments, I couldn’t speak.

“He-he said something about if he-I mean, if I thought he’d try something and then said was right and oh, God. What if he-” I wasn’t coherent – I’m not sure if Rodney even understood anything I’d said, but I couldn’t help it. The panic had reached its climax, and I couldn’t think straight.

“Nick, calm down.” Rodney was relatively composed, although the crease-lines on his forehead had also deepened. “Do you think he might try something right now?”

“I don’t know,” I said weakly. Rodney had started up the car by this point, and we were easing out of the parking lot.

“Do you think there’s reason to worry he will?”

I shook my head. “I just don’t know,” I groaned softly, “I don’t know what he meant, but…I’m scared.”

Some sort of understanding seemed to dawn upon him, because his eyes suddenly cleared, and when he spoke, he was calm and unwavering. “Ryan, make the call. Tell them that you’re worried a friend might be attempting suicide.”

My heart was hammering in my chest. Was this what real fear felt like? Was this what I’d felt like when I’d been afraid for Sam, all those years ago, or had that been nothing?

“Hey, calm down,” Rodney said, “and just be positive, alright? We’re not sure what that meant.”

I just swallowed. I was helpless – there was nothing I could do. His line kept coming through as switched off, and if anything, it was only adding fuel to my fear.

I was suddenly aware of Ryan’s voice. “We really don’t know if that’s what he’ll do, but we’re really worried,” he was saying, “uh huh. Add-oh, right. Yeah, his address is…”

Rodney was saying something reassuring, I think, but I’m not sure because I wasn’t listening. My mind kept drawing up grotesque images of my best friend- I’d rather not dwell on them- and all the while another voice in my head had started up, chanting that this was all my fault.

I wanted to hurl. If anything were to happen to him, I would be responsible. First, I didn’t say anything  when I knew what was happening, and even after that, I gave him a window of opportunity to get out of it…