It was the next day when Edwin, checking his inbox, Edwin had received an answer from his mysterious correspondent.
Okay, don't freak out,
The message said. There was a big long gap and then a few words at the end.
Highlight the above and click off of the highlighted area if someone comes in the room.
Edwin highlighted the blank area, after glancing over the easy one step algebra problems underneath those last few word, having no idea what to expect. He started to read the words.
First of all, there isn't really much to do to get out of the situation you're in, unless you tell an adult, but I wouldn't recommend that personally. It usually leads only too more trouble then what its worth.
Okay, second of all, go get a knife.
There was another blank gap, though not nearly as long as the first.
'A knife?' Edwin thought dumbly. 'Why do I need a knife?'
To comply with the command wasn't difficult though. George was still at work; Derek was outside, trying to show Marti how to play basketball. All Edwin had to do was go down the stairs and into the kitchen, open up the silverware drawer and pull out a slender knife. It was the kind with only a slightly serrated edge and a wooden handle, the black between the two pieces of wood.
He went back up the stairs and sat down at his computer again. He quickly scrolled through the gap and read the next portion.
Doing this is kind of scary at first, but trust me when I say it helps with the pain.
Place the knife with the edge a fourth of the way from elbow to wrist on the inside of your arm. Push gently.
Was this girl insane? You didn't hurt yourself on purpose, no matter what else was going on. He read a bit further on.
You probably won't do this now, but keep the knife handy. At one time or another, this will appeal to you and you will do it.
Edwin had given this girl a voice. Middle pitched, kind of soft, slight nasal. It was a pretty voice to Edwin and he imagined her saying those last few words with a great conviction. How could she be so sure of herself?
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It was late at night and Edwin lay on his bed. It had been three days since he had read the message sent to him by SoccerGirlAbused and he still hadn't replied. He had nothing to say to someone who was crazy.
But he still wanted to respond, he still wanted to have a friend. He hadn't returned the knife; it was in his sock drawer. He rolled over.
Edwin had only felt so confused once before and that was the night before refusing to do Derek's home work anymore, so many years ago. At least, that what it seemed like.
He sat up and rubbed his head where he had hit it when Derek had pushed him into the edge of a door earlier today. Sometimes, the fact that Derek always had whatever he wanted and always got away with everything just made him so mad.
Edwin lay down again and started to count sheep. He got to 163 when he fell asleep. Tomorrow would be another day.
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Three more days later, Edwin decided on a response to his online contact. Short simple and sweet. He told her that she was crazy.
A few hours later, he had a response.
No, I'm not. Just do it. I do it all of the time. Nothing's wrong with me. If he's anything like my sister, it'll creep him out or scare him and he'll leave you alone.
Or you could talk to your brother and tell him that it's a good outlet…
Maybe he'll start hurting himself instead of you.
Edwin just shook his head at this message. He wasn't that kind of person. But this girl intentionally hurt herself. By cutting herself. 'Well if she does it… maybe it is okay.' The thought slithered silently into Edwin's head, like a snake.
Shaking his head, the thought was quickly banished. Hurting yourself on purpose was wrong and he knew it. The loss of too much blood and you could die. Edwin responded to this message by saying that cutting yourself was wrong and if the blood lost was too great you could.
Edwin stood up from his computer and opened his sock drawer and started to rummage through the socks. He saw the knife and started to reach out for it. He snapped out of the trance and slammed the door close. He would not cut. He would be stronger then that.
Edwin walked out of the room and down stairs to grab a snack. Hopefully Derek was in his room. Alas, he was not so lucky.
"Whatcha doing?" Derek demanding he flipped through some channels on the couch.
"Nothing," Edwin lied as she started to rummage through the fridge.
"That don't look like nothing," said Derek, turning around to see Edwin put a strip of cooked bacon in his mouth. "That's my bacon."
'Oh no,' thought Edwin and quickly said, "I'm sorry," in the most pathetic, apologetic tone he could muster.
"No your not," said Derek standing up and walked over to Edwin, the fridge door still open. The bacon had been left over from BLT's the previous night. Derek grabbed Edwin's right wrist and twisted it slightly.
"Stupid," said Derek, whirling Edwin around and pushing him into the fridge which he closed with his foot. Edwin was then pressed to the fridge with his right arm twisted around and pinned to his back. His left couldn't do much, except be a nuisance since it was trapped between his chest and the fridge.
Derek then grabbed the pressure points on Edwin's neck and quickly let go three or four times before punching him, with about medium strength on Edwin's shoulder blade.
"I'm home!" George shouted slamming the door.
Derek immediately let go of Edwin and ran to go meet his father.
"Daddy!" squealed Marti, scooting down the stairs on her bottom to go and meet her dad.
Edwin quickly walked out of the kitchen and ran up the stairs. George didn't notice, having scooped up Mart and swinging her into the air and then talking to Derek about the latest football game.
Up his room, safe in his haven once more, Edwin walked over to the sock drawer and opened it.
A/N: Okay, yeah this story has changed drastically to fit to how I'm feeling in life right now. Hopefully this chapter wasn't too OOC. Yeah... Umm.. longer this time and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for all the reviews and support and please continue to show your patronage!