Chapter 7: Alive

"No..."

The word escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"You're lying."

The man didn't flinch.

"I wish I were."

I looked at my mother.

She couldn't meet my eyes.

"Mum..." My voice trembled. "Tell me he's lying."

She remained silent.

That silence hurt more than any answer.

"You knew?" I whispered.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

"I never wanted you to find out like this."

I felt as if the floor had disappeared beneath me.

"For three years..." I said slowly. "You let me believe my brother was dead."

"I was trying to protect you."

"From what?"

"The people looking for him."

The room fell silent.

The man stepped forward carefully.

"My name is Samuel."

"I don't care what your name is."

"I promised your brother I would find you if anything ever happened."

I folded my arms.

"If my brother is alive, where is he?"

Samuel hesitated.

"I don't know."

My heart sank.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"The last time I saw him was eighteen months ago."

"Eighteen months?"

"Yes."

"He was running."

"Running from who?"

Samuel looked towards the window before answering.

"There are people who believe your brother took something that doesn't belong to them."

"What did he take?"

"I don't know."

"You're lying again."

"I'm not."

Before I could speak, a loud crash came from outside.

Someone had knocked over a flower pot.

Samuel rushed to the window.

He carefully pulled the curtain aside.

His face hardened.

"They're here."

My mother's breathing became uneven.

"How many?"

"Two cars."

My heart pounded.

"Who are they?"

Samuel turned to us.

"We don't have much time."

He reached into his pocket and handed me a small brass key.

"This is what your brother wanted you to have."

I stared at it.

It looked ordinary.

Old.

Worn.

"What does it open?"

Samuel shook his head.

"He never told me."

A car door slammed outside.

Then another.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Steady.

Coming towards the house.

Samuel's voice dropped to a whisper.

"Whatever happens... don't let them take that key."

The first shadow appeared behind the frosted glass of the front door.

Then...

Someone slowly tried the doorknob.