Chapter 14 - THE BROTHER I WAS TAUGHT TO MOURN“Michael.”
He looked at me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
He was older than me by three years.
I knew that because my mother had once told me I had a brother born before me.
She had said he died as an infant.
She had lied.
My father had lied.
Maybe everyone had.
Michael lowered the gun slightly.
“You have her eyes.”
I did not know whose eyes he meant.
Our mother.
I took one step.
“Don't.”
Michael's voice was calm.
“You don't get to walk toward me like a stranger.”
“I don't know you.”
“That is the point.”
Julian stood behind him.
“Michael was supposed to inherit everything.”
My father said,
“Not anymore.”
Michael laughed.
“You're still pretending you control this.”
I looked at my father.
“What did you do to him?”
My father looked ashamed.
“The system needed a successor.”
“What does that mean?”
“They took Michael.”
“Who?”
“Julian's people.”
Michael shook his head.
“They didn't take me.”
He looked at my father.
“You gave me to them.”
Silence.
My father could not deny it.
Michael continued.
“I grew up believing Thomas stole my life.”
“I didn't know you existed.”
“Exactly.”
“And Julian?”
Michael looked at him.
“He taught me.”
“To do what?”
“Become useful.”
Michael aimed the gun at Julian.
Julian smiled.
“You won't shoot me.”
“Why?”
“Because without me, you have nothing.”
Michael's finger tightened.
Then Caleb spoke.
“Uncle Michael.”
The room froze.
Michael stared.
“How do you know me?”
“You were in my dreams.”
He lowered the gun.
I looked at my son.
“What do you remember?”
“The red door.”
Michael's face changed.
“What else?”
“You told me Daddy would come.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“He remembered.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Michael.”
Michael ignored him.
He walked toward Caleb.
Rachel screamed.
“Stop!”
Michael stopped.
He looked at Rachel.
“I was there when they took him.”
Rachel trembled.
“You were one of them?”
“No.”
“Then why didn't you stop them?”
“I was twelve.”
Rachel's face softened.
Michael looked at Caleb.
“I failed you.”
Caleb whispered,
“You came back.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Every year.”
“Why didn't you say hello?”
Michael looked at me.
“Because your father told me that if I did, they would kill you.”
My father bowed his head.
I wanted to hit him.
Instead, I asked,
“Who controls Julian?”
Michael looked at the ceiling.
“He doesn't work alone.”
“Who?”
“Your grandfather.”
I stared.
“My grandfather died thirty years ago.”
Michael smiled.
“Another lie.”
I felt something break inside me.
“How old is he?”
Michael said,
“Eighty-seven.”
Nobody spoke.
Then the lights went out.
When they came back on, Julian was gone.
So was my father.
And Caleb's chair was empty.
I ran forward.
“CALEB!”
Rachel screamed.
The basement door slammed shut.
A speaker crackled.
Julian's voice.
“Thomas.”
I ran to the door.
“Where is my son?”
“With the only man who can save him.”
“Who?”
A pause.
Then:
May you like
“Your grandfather.”
The speaker went dead.
