JEFF

HOMES UNVEILING

From the looks of Peter and Margaret's faces, they were shocked by what they saw. Maybe even more than shocked. Horrified? Mortified? Terrified?? A combination of all four more likely. Liu didn't seem to react that much. He had blinked once. Twice. Then trice before looking between his parents and his brother. He wasn't sure why they look so surprised. Did they expect Jeff to look normal after 2nd degree burns? At least he wasn't flaking like he was last time. Jeff's skin looked rather intact and like leather and one could tell he hadn't slept in days by the dark circles under his dazed eyes. His hair looked darker than before. Shorter too. Liu and his parents were then told to wait outside as doctor Even removed the rest of Jeff's wrappings. His dad placed a hand on Liu's shoulder as soon as they entered the hall and the teen looked at him.
  "Son, you're mother and I have to tell you something important," Peter started. "Because of these resent events, we have decided to tell you that you and Jeffery are adopted."
  "What?" Was all Liu could utter. Peter squeezed Liu's shoulder as they sat down on a bench.
  "We couldn't have a baby of our own, honey, so we looked to adopt. And found you two," Margaret said with a small smile which faltered, "But... You two had came from an abusive home and it had an enormous and terrible effect on your brother."
  "When you were six and Jeffery were five, he was diagnosed with a mild case of psychosis-" Liu interrupted his mom.
  "Are you saying he's crazy??" He said a little too loudly for his parents liking however there was no one in the halls with them.
  "Liu, we know how this sounds," Peter said, "but Jeff is in fact unstable."
  "Does Jeff even know about this? About his condition?? Or even about being adopted? Why didn't you say anything when we were younger??" The boy became more frustrated its every question he asked. He didn't get an answer to any of those questions before the door opened up and the doctor came out.
  "Do you have any clothes he can leave in?" The doc asked. Margaret dug into her purse and took out a black pair of pants, black shirt and Jeff's favorite white jacket. She also pulled out his shoes with socks in them and handed them to Even. He ducked back into the room. A few moments later Jeff was being wheeled out of the room and given to their mom. His brothers head lulled side to side with his eyes closed and look of slight discomfort on his face. It looks like they had doped him up a little more. Their dad and the doc exchanged a few words before Peter gave lead toward the elevator.
  The car ride home was quiet with Jeff coming in and out of consciousness. Anytime Liu's brothers head would fall, he would snap it back up, blink a few times before letting his head bob again. It made Liu uneasy. More than he was when Jeff first got his headaches and more when he wasn't sure that his brother would play along on lying to the detective. Whatever the hospital had given Jeffery started to ware off when Peter pulled into the drive because Jeff made a face of disgust. Liu had to help him from the car and up the stairs. The boy's parents stayed down stairs as Jeff and Liu went to the younger siblings room. He set his half loopy brother on the made bed before sitting next to him.
  "I don't know if you can fully understand me real well because of the drugs but...." Liu started, trying to form what he wanted to say in his head.
  "We're adopted..." Jeff gruffly said with an arm over his eyes.
  "They said they hadn't told you," Liu said a little befuddled.
  "Brother, you're not the only one who likes to eavesdrop," Jeff responded, peeking from under his arm, "Can you get the blinds?" Liu closed the blinds and the room darkened. Jeff muttered a thanks. Margaret called from down stairs for Liu. The elder brother looked at Jeff, who was glaring at the door, before going to the door.
  He stopped and again turned to Jeff, "I heard your retrial is tomorrow. I don't think we can lie through this one."
  "Nah, probably not."
  "Just thought you should know," then Liu was gone down the hall.
  Jeff laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling as he fought the sedatives effects. He had struggled to focus and understand his brother as they spoke and now he was blissfully alone. His vision would blacken in spots and then whiten as he jerked himself out of the stupor. Hours went on like that with the black dots lightening as the effects wore off slowly. Liu came back when dinner was done, which was quiet. The food Jeff once loved to eat now seemed tasteless and hastily made. The entire time they were eating, Jeff saw both Peter and Margaret stealing glances at him. Paranoia nagged at the back of his mind. He finished his meal quickly before retreating to his bedroom again. The lighting in the dinning room made his retinas sting and he could feel the beginnings of a headache.
  Later Margaret came into his room to say goodnight. He never responded, the pain in his head made him unable to speak. His mother noticed this and got that pill to 'fix' him. He could feel his anger boil in his chest but didn't show it. Taking the pill and watched as she left. He threw it across his room before going to lay on his bed.
  Something poked into his side as he laid on his mattress and he sat up and stuck his hand under the mattress. He pulled Keith's knife out. There was still dried blood on the blade and handle from weeks ago. Didn't the cops or investigators search their rooms? Jeff questioned. The metal was cold and the grip felt right in his good hand.
  The throbbing in the back of his head started to get worse as he looked over the blade. Something seemed to click as he caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection. He heard the door to his parents room open and close. It felt like an urge now. An array of emotions and feelings he couldn't force down and he stood, knife in hand and he crept to his door.