1. The Bravest Child.
The boy had stopped crying.
He lay in his narrow bed, eyes closed, his face a alabaster mask in the moonlight. Occasionally a tremor would run down the length of his body. The sound of glass shattering and screams echoed threw his room vents, their fight was heard clearly in his tiny room. He clutched the bed sheets, pulling them tight under his chin. A dreadful heaviness inside weighed his body down, a feeling that his liquid blood had turned to lead. He had lost, and it left him exhausted and weak.
The boy curled himself in a ball in a small attempt to block out the world. The boy had rested there a long time, how many hours? He had no way of knowing. For all of the last three days had been a timeless eternity, but his father had forbidden him to move from the bed again. So he remained there, enduring the loss, frightened by his loneliness. Still the boy was strong; he will never make him cry again. “And I’ll make him pay for hurting me….” He thought as he closed his eyes welcoming a darker darkness.
Until something caused him to open his red rimmed eyes once more. A figure stood at the edge of his bed watching him intently. He had felt his warmth; yet his light wouldn’t save him, it would only diminish in his shadows in the effort. The boy sat up in his bed and looked at his brother with empty eyes.
The other was his mirror…. Identical twins since birth. They both had tan skin and brown hair, which they styled different so people could tell them apart. They also shared the same beautiful eyes. Ocean blue, yet his other’s eyes were warm, they were still innocent. He swore he would protect that purity.
“Logan…” The boy trembled when he heard his name called out in the darkness.
“Logan…” Sam’s timid voice called softly.
“You’re not allowed in here… Father has forbidden it.” Father? He wondered how long he would have to spit out that word. The cold response made the younger boy wince. Logan hated being cruel to Sam but he had to protect him. He’d shield him from the evil as long as he could. He would gladly take any punishment, if only to protect his sweet-natured little brother. “Get out now! Do you want to get me in more trouble!” Sam’s eyes began to water; he bit his lip to keep the tears back. The truth was Logan didn’t want Sam to get in trouble. He wanted his father’s anger to be directed only at him, Sam wasn’t strong.
“I said…!” Logan lost all his words when he saw tears run down his brother’s cheeks. His body moved on its own and quickly stood up and wiped away his tears with his pajama sleeve. “Shss.. Stop crying…” His voice was frantic and pleading, he couldn’t stand his sorrow. “ Sam I didn’t mean it…” Sam embraced his brother in a tight hug, he sobbed on his chest. “Its all my fault you’re in trouble! Why did you take the blame?! Father’s so mad…. I’m sorry.” Logan lightly hugged his brother back. When their embrace ended Logan grasped his brother’s hand and tugged him over to his bed. “Get some sleep…”
Sam rubbed his eyes shamefully embarrassed because of his tears. Logan climbed into bed and lightly tugged on Sam’s hand directing him to do the same. Sam sluggishly obeyed releasing his brother’s hand and climbing under the covers, wrapping them around him.
“Logan do you think our parents will get a divorce this time?”
Logan sat in the bed watching Sam. He had no answer to that question, but Sam trusted him for one. “No. They would never break up Sam, no matter what.”
“But he keeps…”
“Go to bed!” Sam’s face grimaced at his tone but he obeyed him turning deathly silent. He closed his eyes and scooted closer to Logan clinging on to his warmth. In a few minutes he was sleeping; the day took a heavy toll on Sam. Logan knew Sam had probably suffered the entire day feeling guilty. Yet he would rather feel guilty then Logan’s anger.
A night breeze drifted into the room ruffling Logan’s hair blowing wisps across his pale forehead. He breathed in the salty air of the ocean letting his mind drift away from the house. Logan returned to reality when the house became still. A dead silence filled the house and it terrified him. The soft click of the front door made his stomach turn. ‘She’s leaving?!’ he thought in horror. He quickly rose from his bed and rushed to the window. The shift in the bed caused Sam to arouse form his slumber… “What’s wrong?” He’s small voice called.
‘She cant….she… can’t…. leave us with that man!’ he thought ignoring Sam. She heard her soft sobs from the porch. Then he saw her heading towards the car. ‘No…don’t…go.’ He thought as tears filled his eyes.
“Logan…” He didn’t hear him, he was deaf to Sam’s voice. ‘Look at me. If you saw me you wouldn’t go. You wouldn’t abandon us.’ He thought about calling out to her but his voice had died. She opened the car door and climbed in. Watching the car door slam shut was like a slap to his face. He felt numb. ‘No…’ She turned on the light in the car and from what he could tell she was searching her jacket for her keys.
Her eyes were tear stained and her appearance was bleak. She looked like she had been shaken; her hair was a mess. Logan couldn’t stand to see her so he turned and looked elsewhere in the room. His gaze drifted back when he heard the car engine start. “No..” He watched numbly as the car backed out of the driveway and speed into the night. He felt weak and he slowly knelt down to his knees.
“Logan… Where is she going? Is she coming back.” He didn’t hear him. “Logan…” He felt a hand on his shoulder, the soft touch awoke him from his denial. She had abandoned them and they where alone with him.
“Sam get out of room now!” He shrieked. “Logan….” He was crying again. He would be coming soon he didn’t have time for his tears. “Get out Sam and hide…” He grasped his shoulders looking down at him.
“ But Logan….”
“Don’t come out even if I scream. You understand.” Sam didn’t respond. “Do you understand?!” Sam weakly nodded and Logan released him at the agreement. Sam quickly left the room throwing his brother one last look over his shoulder. When Sam was gone he leapt into his bed wrapping the covers around him. A fear like no other filled him.
Please don’t find Sam..
The moment Sam vanished he heard footsteps down the corridor. He felt his presence, he couldn’t see him but he knew he was coming. It wasn’t long until swaying shadow of a man stood at his door way. Logan’s father stumbled toward the bed; the familiar reek of alcohol on him.
“It’s all your fault….” The man whispered, there seemed to be guilt mixed with anger in his harsh voice. “Its all your fault you little bastard!” His raised a fist as he approached him. Logan cowered beneath the bed sheets.
Outside the full moon was clear edged and beautifully pure against the deep darkness of the night.
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