My New Stepbrother

15

Angel

I walked into the house slowly, feeling dread settle into the deepest parts of my bones. It's a feeling I am becoming all too accustomed too, but this time it's far more intense and resonates with me more then it ever before. It's an instant, instinctual feeling and I immediately know something isn't right.

Suddenly, like I'm not controlling my own body, I race to Blake's room as fast as my shaking legs can carry me. The closer I get to the room, the more fear I feel. Which was strange admittedly, because the last time I saw him he was perfectly fine.

There was just...this feeling inside that just told me to go to him as quickly as I possibly could.

I pushed open his bedroom door, trying to keep my fear at bay. But it was battling to come out, forcing me to become even more on edge then I already was.

"Blake?" I called out.

Then I glanced at his bed, he was laying there but I could only see his unruly curls from the top of his comforter. I quickly walked over, and pulled the sheets down, only to reveal a pool of blood and new marks on his arms. I immediately started crying, and shaking even more.

I knew I should've just come home last night!

I couldn't afford, or handle loosing anybody else. If I lost Blake, then I would lose the last sane part of my soul.

I felt his neck, and luckily there was still a heartbeat. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that maybe finally the universe didn't have it out for me, finally I was catching a break. His wounds were already dried over, so I didn't have to worry about him bleeding out.

I sat in the chair in the far corner of the room, just watching his bed, waiting for him to come to. I couldn't help but let my mind wander to what would've happened if he had taken things too far—if he had let his demons and anger consume him; he would've left me last night. I would've been all alone, all over again.

It would've broken me beyond repair.

I watched him for what felt like days before I finally noticed some movement under his sheets. I sit up fully then, wiping any tears that were lingering on my face. Then, slowly he sat up. He didn't even notice me at first. He rubbed his eyes, then looked down at his arms, his eyebrows scrunching in a deep frown.

"Ahem." I cleared my throat, getting his attention. He jumped, then held his hand to his heart.

"Geesh Angel. The hell are you trying to do?"

I looked at him incredulously. "What am I trying to do? I come home, to find your sheets bloodied and your arms torn through like fucking wrapping paper on Christmas morning! What the fuck were you trying to accomplish? Were you trying to kill yourself and leave me here all alone? That would be my ultimate punishment huh?" I was screaming.   "Not a fucking beating or, painful and uncomfortable sex, but...loneliness?!"

He looked sad for a moment, and I figured I was being too harsh on him. "Look I'm—"

"My mom...she was here. Last night." He whispered, not even looking at me.

Immediately I was at his side. He never talked about his mother much, so the most I knew about her was that she was a sore topic not only for Blake but for Peter too. I rubbed his bare shoulders, trying to bring some comfort to him.

"Well...what was she here for?"

He chuckled. "My dad. She came to see my dad. Here I was, begging her to talk to me...and she didn't even want to see me. Sh-She ran away from me..."