I stare at him for a second. Stare hard.
Hiss. Sigh.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Must have been my imagination.
“Everyone thinks I’m the asshole,” I tell him, leaning in even closer. “But we both know that’s bullshit.”
Hiss.
Sigh.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
“You’re the fucking asshole.You.But no one’s gonna know, are they? That’s what’s so great about a having a little brother who always keeps his mouth shut, right? But guess what, bro? I’m sick of it. All of it. You crossed a fucking line.”
It’s liberating getting this stuff off my chest.
Best part? Ezra can’t argue, can’t overpower me, can’t doshit.
He just has to take it.
Like I’ve taken it, all these fucking years.
“And don’t get me started on that gangbang bullshit with Haven.” My chest is so tight my words come out in a croak. “The fuck is wrong with you, huh? Was that just supposed to be another prank, like the internship stuff? Or were you trying toget back at me for all the times I ran off to the woods and left you home alone with Dad?”
Beep. Beep—Beep
I laugh, but nothing about this is even remotely funny.
“That’s what this is, isn’t it? Revenge? Playing the long game, huh? First, you forced me to join your circle jerk of a frat. Then you lie to me about a job, because you know that’s the only fucking reason I’d put up with your bullshit day in and day out. What better carrot than a chance to get out of this turd mine of a town?”
I put my face so close to Ezra’s, I can smell the stench of unwashed skin and disinfectant soaked into his body.
beep—beep—beep
“I came here because I felt fucking guilty. Guilty! But you know what? Friday night was when I saw things clearly for the first fucking time in my life. All it took was a little molly to put it all in perspective,bro.”
“I hope you die in this bed, youmotherfucker.”
The last is a bark filled with malice and hate, easily loud enough to carry to the door.
beep-beep-beep-beep-beep
I glance over my shoulder, the hairs on my nape standing up, but the doorway is clear.
When I turn back to Ezra, my fucking soul leaves my body.
His one eye is as wide open as it can go. A sliver of bloodshot white, pupil pulsing as he tries to focus. My stomach twists so violently I have to swallow down bile.
Jesus fucking Christ.
He’s awake.
beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep—
Then he must realize that there’s a fucking tube down his throat, because he starts gagging and choking, one hand flailingwildly until he latches onto my wrist and digs his nails into my skin.
