Tangled Love

Tobias' POV -

The front door opens and I hear a groan followed by a loud thump. I frown and grab the knife I keep under my bed before heading for the stairs. I walk across the landing, carefully making sure I don't expose myself to whoever it is downstairs.

The sight that greets me is a living nightmare.

What looked so little like Jake lay by the door, his clothes ripped in several places. Blood pours from his mouth and his face is black and bruised, one eye completely swollen and shut closed. He leans against the wall, using one arm to prop himself up before groaning loudly, hissing in pain.

I shoot down the stairs, taking them two at a time and jump down the last few.

"Jake!" I yell, kneeling down beside him. I gently lift his face and examine his cuts. He groans from the movement and I clench my jaw tightly, reaching for his hands. They're completely fine, no bruises or cuts. That meant Jake never fought back.

He always fought back unless it was Amil.

body stiffens as I realise he'd been beaten up for what happened earlier tonight. I punch the floor next to

uneasily, knowing if he did, he wouldn't be able to explain this to them.

he mutters, blood dripping from his mouth and down his chin. He's a bloody mess.

okay, don't speak."

but I can't do it alone. She appears at the top of the stairs within seconds, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Once she see's me with a

quickly trots down the stairs and kneels in front of Jake, tears forming in her

He's barely alive right

and I bite the inside

arm. On the count

up his left arm, throwing it over my shoulders and Ivory does the same on his other side. My other hand settles on his lower back

I say before heaving him up off the floor. He groans loudly, his knees buckling underneath his weight. I grit my teeth tighter

"You okay Ivory?" I ask and I hear her mumbling in agreement,

the stairs," I instruct and we both shuffle him forwards slowly towards the staircase, leaving a trail of blood behind us.