L E O
I sit here in the clean, moonlit filled room staring at my sisters pale, lifeless body. Her tiny malnourished frame swallowed by the large hospital bed, covered in wires and tubes. Her beaten, bruised and broken self covered in the thin white sheets. She looks so small. It stirs emotions in me. Emotions I never knew I had, emotions I never knew I could feel.
Why didn't we realise?
Why didn't we do something?
Why didn't she tell anyone?
Why didn't she tell me?
How could we not see? How could we not see the fake smiles, the forced laughs, the lack of light in her pale blue eyes. How could I not see? My sister. My twin. My partner in crime. How could I not see, see that beneath it all she was hurting. We failed her, we didn't protect her like we swore we would.
I think back to all the interactions we've had these last few weeks. Did she send me a sign, did I miss something? The gears in my head turning as I recall it all.
The day she came to school with a cut forehead and bruised cheek, did she fall downstairs?
Why didn't I question it more?
What if we had spoken to her that first day, what if we had just revealed it all, what if we had told her.
That's the problem with what if's, you'll never know. One thing I know for sure though, if we had told her sooner, if we had brought her home, She would be safe.
They both would.
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TWO DAYS EARLIER
Worry.
An emotion I wasn't used to, I didn't like it. Lily had left the cafeteria and had gone to find Jack, she never returned. She said she'd see us in class but she didn't show. Did she skip? If so why?
We had double music after lunch, she loves music- it makes no sense for her to skip.
As the school day came to an end, the twins and I rushed to find our brothers, in hopes Jack would be with them. As we made our way towards the parking lot we spotted all of our brothers standing with Enzo and Elliot, no Jack to be seen.
Where had they gone?
We rushed towards them as I quickly asked the question Kaden, Killian and I had been so desperate to know for the last two hours.
"Where's Jack?"
My brothers looked at one another confused, I had only spoken to Jack once or twice. He was nice, my brothers really bonded with him, especially Alex and Ace. I didn't like how he spoke to Lily but even a blind man could see the love he has for her.
Callan was the one to answer my question, his azure eyes filled with suspicion.
"Haven't seen him since lunch Le. Why?"
"Did he say he was going to skip? Did he say anything about Lily?"
The desperation in my voice turned my brothers suspicious look to one of worry. The rest of my brothers mirroring the expression.
"Leo what's going on?"
"Callan I need to know if he said anything"
"No, he said he was going for a smoke and we've not seen him since. He never said anything about Lily either."
My face morphed into a frown, where the hell did they go?
"Leo, what the fuck is going on" Ace spat, impatience lining his tone.
I ignore him. To lost in my own mind to deal with his outburst. Anxiety hitting me like waves as the worry in my chest increases.
Something's not right.
"Lily went to speak to Jack at the end of lunch. She told Leo and their friends that she'd meet them in class, but she never showed." Killian replied.
"Maybe they had to go home for something?" Carter murmured as he smoked his cigarette. "You said Lily was looking for him, I wouldn't be to worried. Call Jack if it's bothering you that much, I gave him your number yesterday in case he had to talk to Lily when she slept over."
I pulled my phone from the pocket of my black dress pants and typed in Jack's number that Carter had given to me.
Sorry the person you're calling is unavailable-
I took Carters words into consideration, maybe they had to go home for something. I'll give it a few hours and call him again later.
I tried to brush the worry I felt aside as I got in to Callan's car. The drive home slow as the New York traffic filled the busy roads.
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I busied myself with my sketch book, my art work inadequate due to the slight tremors coursing through my hands.
Jack still hadn't called me back- the worry intensifying with every hour that goes by, four have currently passed making it seven in the evening.
Fuck this.
I picked up my phone dialling Jack's number once again-
Sorry the person you're calling is unavailable-
Unease washes through me, my full body now on edge. I inhale sharply willing myself to stay calm. Moving my focus back to my sketch book as I pick up the pencil in my shaky hand- only to throw it across the room.
I need a distraction.
I exit my bedroom making my way down the hallway towards the home cinema. My older brothers- minus Zac and Grey, all present as they watch a marvel movie that doesn't grip my interest.
Alex is first to acknowledge my presence. His face slightly morphing in confusion as he observes me. His dazed look most likely due to the fact I've came in here willingly, they normally have to beg me to spend time with them. He pats the spare seat between Ace and himself indicating for me to sit down, which I do.
"What's wrong?" Alex whispers as I lean my back on the comfortable leather.
"Nothing."
"You wouldn't be here if it was nothing."
He stares at me, his gaze locked on my trembling fingers as concern flashes in his pale blue eyes.
"Leo"
I sigh, ignoring Alex. I focus my gaze on the movie that seems close to an end, curling my hands into firsts, so tight that my nails dig into my palms drawing small beads of crimson as I attempt to stop them from shaking. The unease never leaving as my chest constricts, my head pounding as the thoughts in my mind become to much- why hasn't he called me.
Alex's hand grips mine, as he pulls the nails from my palms. His once pale blue eyes darkened to near indigo, as he stares at the small blood stains that litter my palm. His free hand gripping my chin turning my attention from the large cinema screen to meet his concerned gaze.
"Leo- what the fuck is wrong?"
"Something doesn't feel right."
"What do you mean?"
"Jack, Lily. I called him again, he's still not answering. Alex something's not right."
"Leo" he sighs, interwinding my fingers with his. "She'll be fine, they both will. I'm sure Jack will call you soon, plus we'll see them at school tomorrow. Calm down, please."
I nod at Alex. Just calm down. We focus our attention back on the movie, well I try to.
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Half an hour later as the movie is now ending, thank god. The sound of my rings loudly throughout the quiet home cinema, drawing all my brothers attention to me. I exhale in relief as the screen reads Jack.
Finally.
"Jack-" I state as soon as I answer the call, my voice coated with relief.
"Sorry for calling you earlier. Lily left school and I was wondering-"
"Leo"
Lily? Her voice a mere whisper.
"Lily?"
"Leo please, help us."
Her terror filled voice catching me off guard. What the fuck is going on. My chest constricts painfully as my eyes widen in fear.
"Lil- what's wrong?" The panic in my voice evident as my hands begin to tremble uncontrollably, causing me to release my hold on Alex.
All my brothers attention now solely focused on my panic ridden self, as confusion and concern swirls in their azure iris's. I put the phone on speaker, allowing them to hear her next words.
"They're g-going to kill us, he has a gun."
My brothers tense at her words. Who has a gun? What the fuck. Tears fill my eyes as I listen to her terror filled voice.
I can't lose you again.
"WHAT THE FUCK-" Ace all but screams, his own eyes filled with fear at our little sisters words. The rest of my brothers not doing much better as cuss words roll of their tongues.
Compose your self Leo. Focus, for Lily and Jack.
I begin to walk out of the cinema room- my brothers quick on my tail. My phone clutched tightly in my palm as I respond.
"Lily who has a gun, what's going on? Where are you? Where's Jack?"
My fear doubling as I realise I've not heard Jack speak this whole time. Is he okay?
"We're in our house, our parents- they've got Jack. Please come qui-"
They've got Jack? Their parents?
A loud booming voice can be heard in the background as Lily gets cut off mid sentence.
"GET OUT HERE NOW LILY OR I'LL BLOW HIS FUCKING BRAINS OUT-"
Blow his brains out? He's going to kill Jack. Get out here? Is she hiding? Please be hiding.
"Leo, I-I have to g-go. Please help."
No.
"LILY DON'T, I'M COMIN-"
I don't get to complete my sentence. The line goes dead.
"FUCK"
I ignore my brothers calls as I run out of the house and sprint towards Lily's. Ace and Alex close on my tail as Callan, Carter and the twins run to the car.
My lungs burning as I sprint down the sidewalk. Please be okay.
Callan's car pulls up, mere seconds after- Ace, Alex and I reach Jack and Lily's house. My blood runs cold as a BANG! Echos down the long driveway.
Gun shot.
I'm frozen in my place, Carter pulls his phone out to call 911 as the second gun shot sounds. I don't even think as I rush up the gravel driveway, Alex hot on my heels. I try my hardest to open the locked front door, but I can't, I'm to weak.
After my failed attempt Alex steps forward and kicks the door open. The sight before me causing my breath to lodge in my throat, my stomach churning, as I feel my heart break in to a million pieces.
The pain so extreme, I wish for the numbness to return.
Jack is laying on the floor- his pale face filled with hues of black and purple. His once blonde hair now stained crimson as the blood pours from the side of his head. The most terrifying thing is the gunshot in his chest.
To his left is Lily.
My Lily.
My vision blues as I see her tiny frame- beaten, bloody and bruised. A pool of red liquid surrounding her small body as blood begins cascading from her stomach. Her fearful eyes focussed ahead- only then do I see the barrel of the gun pointed directly at her. I feel my feet move before my brain can comprehend what I'm doing, but I'm to late.
BANG!
The sound reverberates, causing me to flinch. Callan tackles the man to the floor as Ace kicks the gun from his hand. I rush to Lily as Alex's kneels beside Jack checking for a pulse.
"He's breathing." Alex murmurs, his voice sounded strained as tears pool in his eyes.
I place one had on Lily's stomach and the other on her thigh. The blood slowly beginning to seep up my finger nails.
It's like I'm watching in slow motion. Lily's azure gaze focuses on Jack as a small- barely noticeable smile pulls to her lips as she watches Alex help him.
I should've came here earlier, I knew something wasn't right.
Lily's eyes begin to flutter shut, the fear in my chest intensifying as I beg her to stay awake.
"Don't close your eyes Lil, please. I need you." my words chocked as tears begin to drip on to her pale almost translucent skin.
My tears.
My pleads falls upon deaf ears as she looses consciousness. The three words I've been longing to say falling from my lips as I pray I have the chance to tell her again.
"I love you."
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End of chapter twenty nine.
Sorry for the delay, I struggled writing this chapter :(
Next chapter will be Third Person POV.
Let me know what you think in the comments! ✨
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