The Sign of a Murderer (a Chandler Riggs gay fanfic)

Chapter 5

"I don't have any friends. At least...not anymore. All sixty-five of them abandoned me."
"We didn't abandon you, we're just a little bit scared of you. We're still your friends, we just don't want to be around you because you've changed a lot. We miss the way you used to be, when you were the best friend anyone could ever ask for."
"How do I know that you're actually one of my friends?"
"April seventeenth, 12:45 p.m. you fell off the nursery play-structure while we were playing grounders with Joshua, Alison, Nathan, and Matthew, you ended up busting your head open. You had to take three weeks off until your skull fully healed. When we heard that you were coming back we threw you a surprise party because the day you returned was also your birthday."
"How do I know that you're actually telling the truth? And you aren't some random child with one of my former friends communicating with you through a hidden speaker that only you can hear?"
"You don't, but if you check the right front pocket on my jeans you'll find a school picture of us standing side by side, hugging each other with one arm."
I walked over to my captive's jeans and checked the pocket he told me to and he wasn't lying. I looked on the back and there was some writing on the back.

Andrew and Ryker, brothers for life. Always there to protect one another, because brothers never give up on each other.

"Andrew? Is that really you? If it is what's that secret I told you when we first became friends?"
"You told me that you were gay."
"I also told you one other thing, can you tell me what that was?"
"That you had dreams about who you're true love was going to be. Is that all you need for proof that it's actually me?"
"There's just one more thing."
"And what would that be?"
"What did you get me for my ninth birthday party."
"A PlayStation 3 and a signed Julio Jones jersey."
I walked over to Andrew and released him. Once he was dressed we hugged for a few minutes and then left my basement, then we went up to my room to catch up.

5 minutes later...
"Ryker, why...oh why did you have to turn into a murderer? You were the sweetest person that I've ever met, but now you're a bloodthirsty assassin. You even killed my brother."
"Ryan, was your brother?"
"Yes, except he was adopted. I'm willing to forgive you, but it's going to take some time for me to fully accept your apology."
"I wouldn't have turned into a bloodthirsty murderer if it wasn't for my deadbeat father!"
"Your father had nothing to do with you turning into a murderer. You chose to follow in his footsteps. You're your own person and you're in control of what decisions you make, and only you can shift into the person you want to become. And I believe that you can change back into the kind person you used to be, all you need to do is..."
"Make friends and take anger management classes?"
"Yes, but you should also listen to what everyone else has to say about you and promise me that you won't get angry."
"If you and everyone else think I can actually change back to my former self then...I'll do it. I'll go to this seminar and I'll be sure to take any and all feedback to heart."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."

Tomorrow...
Ryker's POV
"Ryker you already know why you're here, so I'll get straight to the point. You've changed and not for the better. All of your friends here barely recognize you. We miss the gentle soul you used to be. You were a very caring person before, and we believe that you still are, it's just that your judgement is extremely clouded. All you have to do is let us help you; because everyone here is willing to help..."
"You really expect me to believe that you can help me? Because if you do plan on helping me, you're just going to be wasting your time. I'm too far gone. Nothing you do will bring me back."
"Ryker, you have to have faith because..."
"Have faith!? Yeah right, you guys will be wasting your time. I know you want to help but, no matter what you do I'm always going to be know as Ryker "The Murderer" to all of you. So don't bother."
I got up from my seat, walked over to the exit and was just about to leave when Andrew called out to me.
"Ryker, I know that we must be making you angry with all of this feedback, but you have to understand that we're just trying to help you. We don't just want our friend back, we want the person who would always give ten dollars to any homeless person you saw, donate an immense amount of food that would be given to those who needed it. You can see where I'm going with this, so please stay and just hear us out for just a little bit longer."
"You got ten minutes."
I walked back over to my chair and sat down.
"Andrew made some solid points Ryker, you used to be an extremely generous person. You were always smiling, always cracking jokes, you...you were an amazing person. Even when someone was being bullied you always stepped in and always told the victim one of your classic jokes that's still funny to this day to cheer them up."
"Do you guys really believe that I can change?"
Everyone (besides Ryker): "Yes we do."
"My only question is...where do we start?"