|Eight|

•Week One• (6)

After our agreement to let Jasper stay, we helped him set up a bed on the couch for him to sleep on.

We then left Jasper alone in the living room. I didn't want to interact with him more than I needed to, but he actually seemed really nice. He was genuinely polite and kept complimenting me. It flattered me but also creeped me out. He was just like Ted Bundy.

After leaving him on the couch, I went to Jack's room where we agreed we would be having a sleepover. I walked in and Ryan was already asleep, wrapped in blankets and curled up.
I smiled, happy that Ryan was able to sleep after having to go through all this. He's amazing.

Jack was sitting on his bed, obviously tired but refusing to sleep.

I walked over to him. "Jack, you need to get to sleep."

Jack shook his head. "I'm NOT sleeping."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't act like a three year old."

Jack crossed his arms. "Don't act like there isn't a murderer in the house! I need to stay up to protect Ryan."

I glanced at Ryan's sleeping form.

"Fine. Then we'll both stay up." I sat down next to him. "We can't make too much noise, though. But do you have any weapons to defend ourselves in case something does happen?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah. I have a pocket knife, a baseball bat, and I locked the door to my room."

"Thanks."

We then sat in the dark, silence passing over us. I kept watch over Ryan, Jack's pocket knife in hand. And Jack watched the door, loosely holding his baseball bat.

Hours passed and Jack eventually fell asleep. He was so tired that I didn't bother trying to wake him up. I could do this on my own (A/N famous last words, lmao jk.... Unless...)

A noise sounded from outside the room. I jumped, but Jack and Ryan didn't wake up.

I looked between the door and Ryan before sighing and getting up. I quietly pulled the baseball bat out from under Jack, and pulled out the pocket knife. I inched toward the door and softly opened it.

I walked out and was consumed by complete darkness. I held my breath, letting my eyes adjust to how painfully dark it was.

I quietly made my way to the Living Room, feeling the temperature drop.

I glanced in. Nothing.

Someone tightly grabbed my wrist, I almost screamed but instead I completely smacked my head into the wall on accident.

The person gasped, and I realized it was Ryan. He pulled me away from the wall and made me turn to face him.

"What are you doing out here?!" He whispered at me.

"I heard a noise- wait, shouldn't you be asleep? You need to stay in Jack's room."

Ryan crossed his arms. "So do you, and you need rest."

Before I could protest, he pulled me into Jack's room and wrapped me in a blanket.

"Go. To. Sleep." He said. "I don't need you to protect me. I need you to take care of yourself. It's 5:00AM."

I sighed and laid down. He was right.

I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, and I soon fell fast asleep.

~

The next morning I awoke with a start. I had the same reoccurring dream again, and it terrified me. A shiver ran down me, and I looked around the room. Jack was still fast asleep, and Ryan was..... Ryan was gone. Again.

I threw the blankets off of myself and quickly ran to wake Jack up.

He woke up, albeit slowly.

He rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Yeah? What's up?"

"Ryan's missing!!!!!!"

Jack was fully awake now. "WHAT?!"

We rushed out of the room and into the kitchen. Ryan wasn't there.

We ran to the Living Room. Jasper was gone. All his stuff was completely missing, and there was a splatter of blood on the couch.

Ryan walked up to us. "Good morning!" He greeted cheerfully.
His voice took on an achingly sweet tone that sounded almost bitter.

"Where's Jasper? And why's there blood on the couch?" I asked.

Ryan brightly smiled and it made me feel happy. "I had him arrested this morning! The police came and he obviously put up a fight. He stabbed a policeman with a hidden knife he planned to murder us with. So that's why there's blood on the couch."

"Ouch. I hope the guy is okay," Jack said, wincing.

Ryan nodded, still smiling wider than I've ever seen him smile.

"You guys are finally safe," Ryan said, giving a sigh of content.

I couldn't help but notice the way he said "You guys" instead of "We". Because, wasn't he in danger, too?

"Well, what now?" Jack asked after a moment of silence.

"Umm.... We could maybe have breakfast?" Ryan suggested. "I'm starving."

~

We spent the whole day together. Just the three of us. It was really fun, but I had a bad feeling in my stomach the whole time. Something was wrong. Something wasn't right.
I didn't know what, though.

It was late afternoon when the head detective showed up at the door. I opened it and greeted him.

He immediately pushed me aside and walked in. "Where is he?"

"Who?"

"Your brother," he said.

I felt nauseous. Why the hell was he here when the killer was already locked up?