Page 46 of Brody

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Inside, I found a few hundred bucks in cash, and a wooden box with an antique key.

“What is this?” I asked after bringing the box and the cash over to the bed.

“That’s my revenge.”

Aaron started laughing, but the laugh quickly turned into a cough. He grabbed a tissue from a box sitting on the bed next to him to cover his mouth, and when he pulled it away it was stained with blood. When he finally stopped coughing and his breathing returned to a steadier pace, he tossed the tissue into a nearby trashcan with other bloodied paper.

“I don’t have much time left. I’m sorry to put this on you, but I can’t just let them get away with it. Take the cash, take the key, and disappear.”

“What?” I shook my head, still holding the box with the key. “What do you mean disappear?”

“I mean go somewhere they can’t find you,” Aaron snapped. The sudden burst of emotion sapped his energy, and he had to take a moment to catch his breath. “I’m sorry. You’re confused. Of course you are. I’ll explain, but just promise me that you’ll hide this key somewhere that no one can ever find it. They’ll come looking for you, so you’ll have to hide, too. You always liked camping. That might work. Just get a tent, go out into the woods, and stay there.”

I stared down at the key, sitting comfortably in its little box. It was definitely an antique, with an intricate design and artistic flower carvings around the handle. It was the kind of key that would be used to unlock something important.

But not more important than my brother’s life.

I wanted to argue, to throw away the key and forget about it, but Aaron was so insistent with his request, there was only one answer I could give. I promised to hide the key, so long as he let me take care of him first.

We stayed in that motel as he explained everything about the key andThe Tamed Souls. During that time, I took care of him and tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

Two days after I first arrived at the motel, Aaron closed his eyes for the last time.

CHAPTER 9

Brody

The beepingof the hospital machines drilled slowly but steadily into my head. I would be hearing that rhythmic high-pitched noise in my dreams for months after this. The clean smell of antiseptic stung my nose, and the temperature was somehow too hot and too cold at the same time.

The only thing worse than the sounds and smells of a hospital was the furniture. Hospital furniture wasn’t even comfortable for an average person. For a man my size, sitting on that little plastic chair was akin to one of the punishments of hell.

I deserved it. No matter how uncomfortable I was, and the fact that it wasn’t that long of a drive back to Emberwood from Rynkirk, I stayed. Ellis was only in that hospital because of me. I had to stay by his side until he woke up.

It had been nearly twenty-four hours since his attempted kidnapping. Deputy Hillard had been by a few times to tell me about the investigation into the kidnappers and assure me that I wouldn’t be brought up on charges. Most of the kidnappers hadbeen killed in the crash, and the few that I had killed myself were clearly self-defense.

I was pretty sure he’d doctored his report about the events. The man I’d killed after the crash had not been a matter of defense. He was already injured and clearly not a threat.

No, I’d killed him out of revenge, but there was no talk about bringing me up on charges for it.

I probably should have asked more questions about the investigation, but I was too focused on Ellis to care.

Why wasn’t he waking up?

The doctors had assured me that he had no major injury. The chair that his kidnappers had strapped him to had done an ironically good job of protecting him. He did have a minor concussion, but it shouldn’t have kept him unconscious for so long.

The doctors didn’t say anything, but I could tell they were worried. Someone not waking up after a head injury, even a minor one, could be a sign of a more serious brain injury.

If only I’d brought him into the diner with me, then all of this could have been avoided. I’d promised to take care of him and keep him safe, and I failed.

How stupid could I be?

No, not stupid.

Selfish.

I’d slept with him, and then out of shame, I’d pushed him away. Now, he was lying unconscious in a hospital bed.

What if he never woke up?