The Boys Next Door

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

A few nights later, a storm hit. It was the largest summer storm we had had all year. All lightning and thunder, and the power went out across the whole town. Granted, the town wasn't that big, but it still went into a flurry of commotion. "Tae!" my dad yelled from downstairs. I fumbled for the doorknob. "Tae!" he yelled again, louder this time. "get down here now!"

"I'm coming, dad!" I screamed back, finally finding the handle. I wrenched open the door of my bedroom, using the walls for balance as I stumbled down the hall, knocking on Bea and Bry's door along the way. At the top of the steps, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, using the lock screen to cast an eerie glow so at least I wouldn't fall and break my neck. I landed at the bottom of the stairs, cutting off the light with Bry right behind me. The only indication that she was there, was the careful swish of her blanket as it dragged across the floor.

"Where's Bea?" I asked, suddenly nervous for my little sister.

Bryanna yawned, "She was in the basement watching a movie with Bryce and Anthony last time I saw her." My heart calmed, as we made our way into the living room. My eyes were slowly starting to adjust, and I could just make out the outline of seven figures, including Bry.

Wait. Only seven. I recounted to make sure, and sure enough one person was missing. My heart dropped to my stomach, and all the blood rushed from my head. "Mom," I said slowly, "Where's Noah?"

Mom, who was sitting in the large plush chair in the corner of the room looked around her, as if she had just misplaced a set of keys, "What do you mean, he was right here..." Realization struck her. She bolted up, wailing, "Noah! Noah, where are you??!"

I panicked, along with everyone else in my family. Soon, we were all screaming his name. Bryce even started tearing the cushions off the couch, as if Noah would've been hiding under the pillows, just waiting to yell surprise. I was looking in the bathroom, when I heard it. "Momma!" I swiveled around, ears perking up. It came again, louder and more desperate, "Momma!"

I sprinted down the stairs to the basement, bumping my leg into the table at the foot of the stairs. Pain ripped through my knee, but I ignored it. "Noah? Where are you?"

"Tae!" he let out a blood curdling scream, and I followed the sound. After hitting the couch with a curse, I flipped on the flashlight on my phone again to find Noah in a pool of blood.

***

I ran to Noah, dropping down to my knees, not caring one bit about my clothes, and the warm blood that was now seeping into them. All I could think of was Noah hurt. Noah, my little brother, the little light of my life. Noah, who was, now that I realized it, laying in a puddle of blood and glass. I ran my fingers over the cool skin of his cheek. "Noah," I whispered. "come on, bud, please be okay." I looked around me, trying to figure out what happened, and my eyes landed on a vase. One of mom's favorites from her trip to China. That was when the horror set in. "MOM!" I screamed. "DAD! I found him! Help!" A tear dripped down my face. "Please."

I lifted him up, but as soon as he shifted, he let out a cry, and my fingers got splashed with a fresh sticky wave of blood. I released him like a hot stone, staring at my hands in horror. My little brother. Bleeding out in front of me. My head was turning light, and my vision began to swim. So much blood.

So much.

All I could think of was the day I had to get blood drawn. The needles. And there was so much blood. And then I passed out. And now, all the blood, seeping into my skin, warm and sticky, and red.

"Tae!" My dad yelled, as he rushed down the stairs, mom and everyone else right on his heels.

My head turned slowly to my family, their faces white with fear.