x Two of a Kind x - 2. chapter Two

Henry knew that his room would soon be filled with many people, and that they would all be coming with more questions. Questions that he wasn’t ready to answer. His heart was beating faster than it had ever before. Henry fought really hard to maintain his emotions, but it was a losing battle. His body began to shake, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around his body trying to stop the tremors. As tears fought their way out of his eyes; Henry had escaped one cage only to fly into another. There were only two choices he could make now lie, or tell the truth. Lying meant that he would have to tell a cohesive story, one without any holes that wouldn’t make them question its authenticity. He could also just tell the truth, but they wouldn’t believe him they never do. Which could result in him getting killed, because ‘he’ would find out and kill him. There was already a chance that he was in trouble either way; after he had already tried and failed to get rid of ‘him’.

In the end lying was the road he had decided to take. So for the next hour he began thinking of a lie; that covered all the bases. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice that Jillian had returned. She was knocking on the door, like she had done before.

“Hi Henry, I’m sorry It took me a little while to come back. There was just a small mater I had to attend to.” she said with a cautious smile as she sat in the chair next to his bed. Henry didn’t say anything, but he did acknowledge her presence by giving her a small nod.

“Henry, I know what you’re going through isn’t easy. You may not trust us but you are safe now; Detective Lee and I won’t let anything happen to you, or your brother. In order for us to do that though you have to be completely honest…ok.” It was as if on cue there was another knock on the door. Detective Lee and another officer were standing in the middle of the door way.

“Detective Lee and officer Monroe would like to ask you a few questions?” Jillian said as she placed a comforting hand on Henry’s shoulder. Henry quickly shrugged her hand off, a little too aggressively. He felt a little bad for a split second, but he hated being touched. He also very much hated having more than one or two people look at him at one time. It made him feel nervous; and he began to shake his head no.

“No! Not until I see my brother.” He said as his eyes moved around the room; making eye contact with everyone inside. Henry had to find out what his brother remembers or if he even remembers anything at all. Before he could answer any of their questions. Henry was only fifteen years old and he considered himself to be very mature for his age, but It really didn’t matter what he thought because he knew that in their eyes he was still a child. So he would use it to his advantage as much as he could; play the role of a dis-stressed child.

“You’ll be able to see your brother once you have answered all our questions.” Lee said calmly.

“No, I want to see him now. The last time I saw my brother he was really hurt; I thought he was going to die. I just want to see if he is ok, for myself…please. I can’t get the image of him hurt out of my head.” Henry said as tears began to fall down his cheek.

The room fell silent, accept for Henry who was crying. Jillian immediately tried to comfort him without touching him. Lee knew that there was no way he would get any answers from Henry now and he couldn’t force them out him either. So he had no choice but try again later.

“Fine I’ll go speak with his doctor and see if it’s ok for him to have visitors.” Lee said leaving the room. Soon after Lee left Henry began to calm down, cleaning his face of tears.

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When Henry was wheeled into his brother’s room; William was sound asleep. It had been a long time since he had seen his older brother sleep so contently. William was broken; he had been for a while now. When they were younger William was the rock, the fighter; Then one day he wasn’t. it wasn’t long after that he came and the rest followed. Emotions began to well up inside of henry, but he refused to cry. He was so fed up with crying; it solves nothing. It only makes the hits harder, the yelling louder and leaves you with a massive headache. Henry was holding his brothers hand, but It wasn’t enough. He wanted to be close with his brother, like when they were little; before time ran out. He lifted himself out of his wheel chair; making the cuts on his feet burn and hurt under his body weight. A nurse and Jillian tried to stop him, but he didn’t listen to them. Curling himself next to his sleeping brother. Henry never fell asleep; he just laid there. Never turning or acknowledging the nurse or Jillian leaving the room. Sometime had past when William began to stir and wake up. His eyes scanning the room before they turned their attention on Henry; Who had been watching him.

“Will?” Henry whispered.

“Hens…what happened? Where are we?”

“The hospital.”

“Are you ok? All I remember is dad cutting you with the knife.”

“They bandaged me pretty good; so don’t worry I’ll be good as new.” Henry gave a small reassuring smile.

“How did we get here?”

“After dad came at me with the knife, you tried to stop him. He threw you against the wall really hard and knocked you out. He was kicking you, and I tried to shove him away from you. He really didn’t like that; so he tried to throw me down the basement steps. The old mas slipped and ended up going down himself. All I could think about was getting you out of there, so I grabbed dad’s car keys and dragged you to the car. We were able to get away; Until I passed out at the wheel and we crashed onto the side of the road. Which brought us here.”

William watch his brother for a few seconds; Then nodded his head wrapping his little brother in a loving hug. “I’m glad you’re ok; Your all I have left Hen’s.”

Henry hated lying to his brother, but he needed to plant these memories in Williams head for his story to work. He knew that if his brother were to ever find out the truth about what really happened; There was no way would be able to cope with it. The two brothers spent the next thirty minutes talking before William had fallen asleep again. Henry climbed into his chair to retreat back to his room. When he rolled into the hallway he could hear the news playing down the hallway; Most likely coming from the TV by the nurse’s station.

“Many people in the Oakfront community woke up this morning shocked to hear about the discovery of five bodies; that were found brutally murdered in this Oakfront house. We have recently been able to identify the bodies as Scott Thomas, Ray Bennett, Brody Huch who was a well-loved teacher at Oakfront high school and his wife Penny Huch. Along with Karin Saiber who was the wife of Albert Saiber. Mr. Saiber is still currently missing, and the police have requested that if you know any information on the where about of Mr. Saiber to please come forward. The Saiber children were also taken into custody, and are currently being treated for their injuries. We will keep a close eye on this case as the investigation continues” The reporters said.

‘Dad was missing? He’s alive?’ Henry thought to himself. He needed to know more, there was no way he could have gotten away. He began to role his wheel chair down the hallway. Before he could go too far, someone had grabbed the back of his chair. Making Henry jump into the air.

“Where do you think you’re going young man?” a nurses had stopped him, she looked familiar. She was the nurse that would go into his room and check on his vitals and stuff.

“I’m just...wait.” Henry was about to answer but the nurse didn’t give him time to. She turned him around and started pushing him towards his room.

“I know where you were going and you shouldn’t be watching the news.”

“And who are you to tell me what I can and can’t watch” he mumbled.

“You can call me Monica, and I am your nurse. I’ve been assigned to look after both you and your brother.” They had arrived back to the room and she made sure to watch Henry climb back into his bed.

“Jillian and Detective Lee have been called to another case; they will be back tomorrow. they thought it would be better to give you boys some space. So your free to relax.” Henry decided to remain quiet and just nod.

“You know Hun; you are only going to make it harder for yourself. They just want to help and protect you; even though you may not think they are. We don’t expect you to be happy, or to fully understand but you have to try too, without the attitude. I’ve been watching you since you arrived, and it looks like your holding back. Trying to sort things out all on your own, but you’re not alone anymore; So let us help you.” Monica said.

“I’m not going to tell you that it’s going to be easy, or that from here on out your life will magically get better. It’s going to take time, and it’s going to be a long road ahead. Wither you want to walk it or not is up to you. Just remember your actions and decisions can make it a bumpy road.” Then Monica left the room after he remained quiet.

Henry knew that Monica was right on a lot of things; He was confused, and conflicted. Henry use to it just being him and his brother. Opening up to other people was something he was inexperienced in. For the rest of the day an into the evening Henry had worked on puzzles that nurse Monica had brought to him; Until he went to sleep.

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It was well into the night when Henry was woken up to the feeling of someone sitting on his bed. they were swinging their legs, causing the bed to move. Henry wiped his eyes of sleep; to get a better look at who it was.

“will?” he whispered noticing it was his brother, but William giggled in response and continued kicking his feet. Which instantly made Henry tense up and slowly slide away from his brother.

“nun-uh, little brother…Try again” William said as he moved his pointer finger back and forth; As he gave Henry a big grin.

“Kevin”

“Bingo!”