Isaac wasn't in school for the next three days. The office tried calling his house and his family members, or at least the ones that were within the same country, but there was no lead as to where Isaac may be or how he was doing. 

"I'm sure he's fine." Nala reassured me. The emptiness in her voice was so obvious that I actually cringed. "Nala, stop lying to me before I start screaming your real name at everyone in the school." I threatened. 

Nala stared at me, her green eyes wide. "You wouldn't." She gasped over dramatically. 

"You bet your ball-kicking legs I would."

Nala let out a shout of laughter. I jumped. Not the response I had been expecting. 

But, then again, I never expected half of the crap that Nala did. 

"Listen, Cece." Nala said, touching my shoulder and stopping me in the middle of the hallway. "You're worried about Isaac, right? So you should do something about it. The school can't seem to find him? Find him yourself."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Maybe you've got a point." I said slowly. "I just don't know where to start."

Nala tilted her head, as if she couldn't believe what I had just said. "Oh, yeah!" She shouted sarcastically. "We don't know where to start! OH WAIT! YOUR GENIUS FRIEND WHO YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LIVE WITHOUT HAS JUST COME UP WITH AN EXTREMELY LOGICAL IDE--"

"Shut up and tell me what you want to say, stupid." I said, slapping my hand over her mouth. Nala licked my palm and I jumped backwards. She grinned at me. "Start at his house."

"Nala, he's not answering his home phone."

"Would you want to talk to anyone over the phone if you just lost your last remaining parent?"
"No."

"My point, exactly. Now go get 'em, Tiger."

I blinked at Nala. "You should advise me more often." I told her eventually. 

Nala smirked. "Obviously. I'm the smartest human being on the earth...I just like to keep it to myself."

I slapped Nala's arm. She slapped mine back.

Then the bell rang.

School was over.

<>

"Mom, I'm running to Isaac's house!" I yelled over my shoulder, walking out the door. My mom came running out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with a towel. 

"Was he back in school today?" She asked me, a spark of hope in her voice. I paused. I hadn't quite been expecting followup questions. "Uh...yeah. He invited me over to...uh...catch him up on his school work." I said.

My mom nodded, smiling. "I'm so glad!" She gave me a quick hug. "Be home before dinner!"

I nodded and plastered the best smile I could manage on my face. 

My mom walked back into the kitchen, and I walked out the door. 

<>

Walking into Isaac's house was like walking into an old abandoned home that everyone is afraid of. Every light was off, the door was unlocked, and the blinds were drawn, giving the house a dark, eerie feeling...even though it was just before five. 

"Isaac?" I called quietly, looking around. A bird chirped loudly from outside a window. I jumped about a foot into the air, screaming. 

My face heated up a bit and I took a deep breath, calming myself down. I didn't work up the courage to call Isaac's name again until I stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Isaac! Are you up there?" I yelled, taking cover behind a wall right afterwards. I felt like something was about to jump out at me. 

There was no response. I sighed, hoping this would be simpler. Then I hiked up my skirt (metaphorically, of course. I'm wearing jeans) and walked up the stairs.

Every creak I heard seemed to echo around the house. I winced and jumped the last two stairs, landing with a thud. 

I poked my head around all the rooms, not quite sure which one was Isaac's. 

I froze, half way down the hall. I head something. Breathing. 

Nervously, I poked my head around the corner. There was a closed door. I shut my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to open it.

Locked.

I huffed loudly, opened my eyes, and pulled a bobby pin out of my hair, jamming it into the lock and jiggling it around a little bit.

Stop laughing at the word jiggle. This is supposed to be serious. 

The door swung open with a slight creaking noise. I cringed and stepped inside cautiously.

And that's when I discovered something that I will never forget. Something that will haunt my nightmares and hunt me in the dark.

I saw Isaac, dragging a knife slowly across his arms, adding to the cuts that already covered his body.