For Life

The sound of my footsteps softened as I neared the house. Owls hooted beneath the moon. A warning.

I stalked up towards a bush on the side of the house. Leaves crackled beneath my feet. I heard a cough beside me. Allie. The only person I could trust with a secret like this. Well, the only person I could trust with any secret.

“Are you trying to blow our cover?” I asked, a smile creeping up on my face.

“You worry too much. I wasn’t any louder than us talking right now. Don’t worry. This will end exactly how it should.”

The house was sturdy; made of bricks. It was dark, inside and out. No lights were in sight. I clutched the knife harder in my hand as my palms sweat. My breaths shook as I remembered why we were here.

My world screeched to a halt 8 days ago. I watched my younger brother bleed to death right in front of me. I couldn’t save him. I tried. I tried so hard. I grabbed everything I could to stop the bleeding. But there was so much blood. He kept bleeding through all the shirts and towels I could find. So much blood.

For Sammy. For Sammy. For Sammy. I couldn’t chicken out. I couldn’t forget why I was doing this.

I took a deep breath and looked over at Allie.

“You ready?”

“Always,” she replied.

“And mentally?”

“Friends for life. No matter what.”

I nodded, nerves prickling my skin.

We crept closer towards the front of the house. I tried the knob on the front door. Locked. I had to try. You never know when you’ll get lucky.

We went back to the side of the house and found a window. Allie tried pushing it up, but it didn’t budge.

We walked around the house, trying every window we found. Nothing. The last window we tried was open just a crack. I pushed up with every last ounce of anger for Sammy. But it still didn’t open. It was stuck.

Shit. I couldn’t let him get away with this. He shot Sammy. He killed Sammy. My baby brother was gone because of him. Everything he could’ve become and everything he could’ve done in life is has all been reduced to What-Ifs.

The adrenaline and anger thrummed through my body. I grabbed my knife and stabbed the glass. Over and over and over. I situated my hand over the blade itself to get a better grip and use more force. Blood trickled down my wrist as it cut into my skin.

For Sammy. For Sammy. For Sammy.

I didn’t care if the sound woke him up. I wasn’t just ready for a fight. I was craving it.

I’m pretty sure Allie was saying something but I couldn’t focus on her words. I was completely caught up in my anger.

The glass cracked. Just a couple hits later and the glass shattered. I shielded my eyes.

“Great job. Let’s go.”

I stepped through first with Allie right behind me. We stood in a bedroom. Fortunately, it was empty. Maybe our element of surprise was still intact.

We walked softly towards the hallway, peering out the doorway. The house was still dark. Even if someone was there waiting for us, I don’t think we’d be able to see them.

One other door on the side we were on. And two doors opposite us, on the other side of the hallway. All of the doors were closed except one. One door across from us was open a sliver.

I pushed the door open, stepped inside, my eyes still adjusting to the dark, and immediately crumpled to the ground. My head was throbbing as I tried to regain my grip on reality.

He was awake and had hit me with a baseball bat. Allie was currently trying to wrestle it away with him. But he was taller and stronger. I stood up as he pushed her hard and she fell against the dresser.

He was still focused on Allie. He didn’t notice when I stood up. I grabbed my knife with both hands and dug into his back with the knife. Going through flesh and bone required so much effort. But the adrenaline kept me going, even after using up so much energy with the window. I pulled the knife out and stabbed again, my anger propelling me. I couldn’t let him get away with this.

Him. Stephen. I thought I knew him. I thought I loved him. I still don’t understand why he would hurt my brother. Allie saw the aftermath and saw Stephen fleeing. She told me everything as her tears fell down her cheeks. The following days he tried to call me, but I ignored them all. I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. He had taken my brother from me. We didn’t call the police. We wanted to handle this ourselves. So Allie and I plotted our revenge.

Stephen turned around and fell to his knees.

“Why?” He cried, tears glistening in his eyes.

“For Sammy.”

“Didn’t you get my letters?” He croaked out.

“You killed my brother. I don’t care what you have to say.”

“No. I didn’t,” he sputtered out while coughing up blood.

“Liar!”

I crumpled to the ground again. My head was dizzy as I tried to sit up. My vision went in and out of focus.

Stephen was lying next to me, struggling to breathe as his blood drained.

Allie stood above us and began to read from a paper I didn’t know she had.

“Rebecca,

I think Allie might be dangerous. I think it may have been her who killed Sammy. I don’t know if you’ve read my previous letters since you haven’t replied, but I didn’t do it. It wasn’t me. I would never hurt him. I loved him like my own little brother. Originally, I thought Allie just saw someone who looked like me and thought I did it. But now I think she was planning this. Don’t trust her. Be careful.

Forever yours,

Stephen”

“What?” Confusion blared inside and I gagged, almost vomiting.

“No!” I screamed, but I had never seen that look on Allie’s face. I’ve known her for years and couldn’t believe this was real.

“I took it from your mailbox,” Allie said as she sauntered over, answering questions I didn’t have the strength to voice yet. “And yes, I did kill Sammy.”

“What?” Is all I could ask.

“He took something from me years ago and I needed it back. He shouldn’t have gotten in my way. And then it was so much fun toying with you.”

“I thought we were friends.”

“We are. And we’re bonding right now.”

Then I remembered Stephen. I turned to the side and shook him. His eyes were closed and he looked pale.

“Stephen!” I cried, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Tears streamed from my face. I didn’t know. I shouldn’t have done this. I felt for his heartbeat but couldn’t find one. My heart shattered. For Sammy. For Stephen.

“You monster! Why would you let me do this?”

“Friends for life, remember? Well, and death.”

Allie grabbed the knife and stabbed me. Shock covered my face. I grabbed at my chest and felt the blood gushing down.

For Sammy. For Stephen. For me.