XAVIER IS DYING

Xavier is Dying: 7

Bella's POV

Chapter 7:

Everything was moving in slow motion.

Someone was holding me back by my waist as I wriggled around in their grip. I couldn't see through my tears but it was Xavier and I needed to be there for him. He couldn't be alone right now. He might feel better if he can feel my presence.

He was gasping over and over, small little breaths causing me to scream more as I tried to get out of the vice grip from around me. The only sound in my head being the chilling way he choked out my name before the blood started.

I couldn't focus on anything for long. My attention was briefly drawn to the blood on the floor then to the blood coming from his ears. The blood then drew my attention to his pale skin. Why was he suddenly so pale? He was okay this morning. People aren't that pale. He needs me.

I hadn't noticed the surrounding panic from everyone else had came to a stop.

It was now silent past my screams.

Everything had stopped.

It was quiet.

No more gasps.

I stared at Xavier for a moment, my thrashing stopping as I remained in what I realised was Ricky's arms. The blood trickled down from his ears and the corner of his mouth, his skin now deathly pale, eyes shut, looking sunken in. There was not an ounce of life surrounding him.

My best friend, the one that joked with me at school, would rant about absolute rubbish in the clearing, would help rate my food, would hug me a little tighter when it thundered, who'd reassure me over and over that I would make it in this world...didn't.

My best friend wasn't breathing, or talking, or laughing or anything.

And then reality hit.

My best friend, my brother was dead. Not for some silly little game we came up with. He was gone. Forever.

I thrashed and thrashed until Ricky couldn't hold me in his grip anymore and sprinted towards Xavier. He looked like he was sleeping in a strange way. It didn't feel real. Maybe he was still pranking me.

Maybe he's just sick. Yeah, maybe he isn't well and just needs some sleep to recover.

"Xavier it's not funny anymore, wake up," I sobbed out, my voice cracking as I nudged his shoulder.

I waited for him to suddenly open his eyes and start laughing when he realised he got me but he didn't.

Nothing.

He isn't waking back up. Why won't he wake up. My best friend can't be dead.

This can't be real.

I cried into the silence until there were no tears left to cry. I cried when the pack doctor arrived and pronounced him dead. I cried when Aries and Dante came back, absolutely distraught as they stared at my sheets being placed over his body to hide him. My sheets that we'd build forts with. I still cried when his parents found out and came to see their baby one last time, gasping and letting out their own sobs.

But now?

I'm numb.

They've already taken Xavier down to the morgue until the funeral and I just can't help but stare at the red blood stained to the floor. God, what did he ever do to deserve any of this, to be bringing his own blood up by the gallon - all Xavier ever wanted to do was love.

It needed cleaned. I needed to clean it before it stained. I grabbed a soapy pot of water and a brush and began cleaning it, wringing out a blood stained cloth every few minutes after wiping at the floor.