This time, Brad spoke first.
He spat on me. “Shut your mouth. You don’t
get to talk here!”
“You have no idea how the Walkers protect
- me. My brother is ignoring me because he
doesn’t want me to get hurt by people like
you!”
When I saw Brittany nodding in agreement, I
understood.
That’s how Brad had been pretending to be
me all the time.
Brad saw that I was mad and had the
bodyguard drag me to the water.
<
He held my head under the water.
No matter how hard I struggled, it kept
happening again and again.
I couldn’t breathe.
The cuts on my head had mixed with the
water, turning the pool red.
“You think you’re strong? You’re so righteous,
you must be the son of Jake, it’s just a pipe
dream!”
“Say you’re lying! Say it! If you don’t, I’m
gonna drown you!”
I didn’t give in.
I had died once already.
Ashley would wake up and tell Jake
everything.
I didn’t have to worry about him not knowing
how I died.
He would take revenge, and I could die in
peace.
Someone grabbed my hair and pulled me out
OT the water.
I coughed, and I heard Brittany’s cold voice.
“He’s still stubborn, so there’s no need to
hold back. Let’s do something drastic!”
She had the bodyguard drag me to the sink
and unplug the wires.
She sneered, “What do you think will happen
if I put this in the water? It’s going to be a lot
of fun!”
I was too weak to struggle, but I was scared
to die like this.
When Brittany was about to put the wires in
the water, the door opened.
Jake came in with Ashley.
He yelled, “What are you doing?”
He pushed past everyone.
He pulled me from the water and asked, “How
did you get hurt like this?”
Ashley was holding my cold hand, and she
said with regret.
“I’m sorry, I woke up late. I already told your
brother everything, I should have woken up
sooner.”
I gave a weak smile and comforted them.
I slowly said, “It’s okay. I’m alive.”
I was sleepy and wanted to sleep.
Brittany was staring wide–eyed at Jake.
She didn’t understand how someone like me
could be with someone like Jake.
She looked at Brad, wanting an answer.
She whispered, “Brad, what’s going on? He’s
not your brother?”
Brad was pale and stuttered.
He took a few steps back and started to run.
Jake yelled, “Stop him!”
“This man and Brittany and the bodyguard are
all arrested and taken away. No one can leave
until Ethan tells me everything!”
I was finally able to close my eyes.
I didn’t forget to thank Ashley.
L
I gave a thumbs up to Jake.
When I woke up, I was in the Walkers‘ house.
The Walkers were standing around me,
watching me.
When I opened my eyes, everyone sighed in
relief.
My mom hugged me, crying.
“Honey, what happened to you? I was so
worried. I thought we were protecting you, but
you still went through all of that!”
My dad frowned and sighed, “What went
wrong?”
