Jackson rushed over to Mark, who had his arms wrapped around himself really tightly, as though he was scared by something. By his thoughts, perhaps.

“Mark? Mark, are you okay?” Jackson tried to pull Mark’s arms away, but they were as tight as iron.

Jackson watched helplessly as his friend screamed to himself multiple times. Then Mark stopped crying out.

It shocked Jackson – Mark stopped screaming out so suddenly that it actually worried him. Jackson settled down on the bed, right in front of Mark, who had his eyes casted down. “Mark?” He called out, his voice soft, careful even.

Mark breathed out shakily, his hands trembling. Jackson tried to reach out and hold Mark’s hand to see if he was really okay, but the other shrunk away from his touch.

Never has Jackson ever seen Mark this fragile and vulnerable before.

“You’ll be okay,” Mark spoke up, his voice hoarse from all the shouting that he had done. Jackson peered at Mark a little closer. Mark was speaking to himself.

“You’ll be okay.”

A frown marred Jackson’s face. It was as if Mark didn’t even acknowledge his existence in that room - it was as if Mark didn’t know he was there.

Jackson had an idea of what Mark might be going through, but he has no idea how serious it could be.

If only he knew that it was more than self-harming.

It was depression.

Mark was in a battle with the demons that were in his mind.

And even if he tried –

‘It’ll be useless, Mark. You know they’re don't genuinely care for you, don’t you?’

– His efforts would be futile.

Because Mark was already losing in the battlefield.

Mark woke up from his slumber, his head dizzy. This is weird.

He could feel warmth enveloping around him. That was when he realised that he was sleeping in someone’s arms.

“Um- Jacks?” Mark muttered drowsily, trying to release himself from the other’s hold.

Jackson mumbled something incoherent before rousing from his sleep. “Had a good rest, Mark?” He questioned in an unusually soft tone, one that he never used on Mark before.

Oh no. That sounds like a pity tone.

“I’m fine. Why’d you ask?” Mark pushed Jackson’s arms that was around his torso away and got off the bed.

Jackson shook his head. “Just… that outburst you had earlier….”

Mark visibly flinched at Jackson’s statement, but he didn’t bother to say anything about it.

“Are the others home?” Mark smoothly changed the topic.

Jackson sighed and moved so that he was sitting at the edge of the bed. He knows that what he was about to do was risky, but he had to do something. He can’t just stand on the side lines and watch as his friend s