What Don't Kill You...

The house was pitch black, or it felt like it was. Maybe it came from the fear permeating throughout the air. The little boy was huddled in the corner of his bedroom. Did he have time to hide in the closet? There actually was a dim light coming through his door. It was from his brother's room. He could hear the cries of his older sibling. All that he could do was hide and hope that would bore him for tonight. Mom could come find him and his brother. Clean them up. Tell them what he did was not okay.

Footsteps right outside of his door. A figure of a person broke the stream of dim light coming into his room. Then came the announcement he was being looked for. “Boy! where are you? Hiding will do you no good!”

This was the truth, but it did not stop him from doing it. The longer he stayed hidden the more likely he might give up and be satisfied with his brother tonight. He moves quickly to the closet and hides in the back. While doing this he kicks a bottle over in his bedroom. It rattles its way to the doorway. He covers himself with the blanket so to hide his whereabouts.

One moment everything was dark and safe, the next a light shone down over him and he saw his face. He screams!

Patrick Daws jerks awake. He is covered in sweat. The dreams come more and more often

nowadays. The more he tries to forget the more He won’t let him forget.

Dylan, his older brother, by one year opens his door. “You okay? You were screaming out in your sleep again. Another dream?”

“Yep,” Patrick looks defeated.

“Want me to stay in here until you go back to sleep?” Dylan asks.

“Please?” Patrick agrees.

“Of course, scoot over. You have your alarm set to get up for school don’t ya? Because you are going tomorrow. No more skipping.”

“Yes, it is set. And I am not skipping. I don't feel good.” Patrick responds.

“Patrick, we both know why you are not going. You can't sleep most nights because of nightmares. Have you talked to Pat about this?” Dylan asked trying to help.

“Yes, but so far the dreams still happened. It makes me not want to face anyone. I always dream that he had finished-” Patrick stops.

“You can say it, Patrick. He had finished with me. I know. We were both there. I always prayed he would stop after me but he wouldn't.”Patrick sighs. “Let's go on to bed. I am tired and once I get still in here I will fall asleep in anyway.”

Dylan lies down on the other side of the bed as Patrick curls up and appears to be falling asleep again. The safety and security Dylan brought would be enough to keep the dreams away for tonight. Dylan was much taller than his brother, over 6 feet tall with long blond hair and a muscled chest from regular exercise. He was the exact opposite of his brother not even 6 feet tall. He wore his blond hair long as well but was built like a bean pole. It was easy for the two to share the same bed and for at least that night no more dreams interrupted their rest.

Blake...

The afternoon still felt warm to the touch of his skin as Blake Anderson steps off the bus. Next week there was talk of a cold front moving in but for now, they could enjoy the warm weather while it lasted. The walk up to the big two story house was not too far. The driveway circled in the front and cars parked to the side. There was a big porch on the front of the house with a swing that was partially hidden by a wall along the top of the porch. Many a problem had been solved in his family out on that big porch swing.

Blake set his books down in the kitchen. He passed the stairs that went upstairs just as one enters the house. Off to the right was the big family room that was connected to the kitchen in the back as well. If one looked to the left there would be a smaller formal living room that leads into a dining room. The kitchen itself was very large with their parents bedroom off the back of it.

Upstairs, Blake quickly went to change out of his school clothes. His bedroom was right at the top of the stairs. Then there was a bedroom right next to his which was his brother Nick’s room. There where three bedrooms on that side of the house that made an L-shape and the last one was the guest bedroom. On the other side of the upstairs there was a small den that had a little couch and love seat in it. Then a door lead to a bigger room that was his sister Taylor’s bedroom. She got this room because she was the girl. She was also Nick’s parental twin. Pretty much this means they were born at the same time but they don’t look very much alike.

For Blake to describe his siblings to an outsider would be like describing blood and water. The two were complete opposites. His sister, Taylor, had the look of an angel Blake had to admit with her long blonde hair, dark blue eyes, athletic frame, and friend to all. To Taylor being a cheerleader was an obligation to be good to others. Many of her friends saw it as a status symbol but for her she would help that geeky freshman that looked lost find his way. Their father says his profession being a pastor had something to do with it. He works as a head pastor at a nearby non-denominational church.

Nick, her twin, was the perfect example of a preacher’s kid. He was wild, no angel because his wings were clipped long ago. Nick was a star football and baseball player. He let the fame that came with this status of a being a jock go to his head. He would come home most nights long enough to let his parents see his face and he was off again. Their mother who was a therapist said often to their father not to push him to conform. He goes to the church services each Sunday as he is asked. Hopefully, some of those messages were getting through. She saw a beautiful, handsome, young man with short blond hair and dark piercing eyes with a strong frame. Her hope always was he knew right from wrong.

Blake was the baby. He was more into online gaming than he was signing up for sports at school. He was more of a scrawny kid. His brother seemed to tower over him. On that rare occasion Nick was around the house for more than a few minutes he and Blake inevitably would butt heads. Such an event took place the night before while Blake was on his computer.

The incident began as most do. Nick wanted something this time the remote for the TV and because he was seldom home, he could never remember where it was kept. Of course because he could not find where it was in the family room, Blake had to mislaid it because he always is the one watching TV. Or at least that was how Nick saw it.

Nick storms upstairs. “Blake, where is it?”

“Umm, it can be many things brother. Please elaborate.” Blake stays focused on his PC screen.

“The remote for the TV. It’s not on the table in the family room.” Nick says, extremely irritated.

“I don’t know. I have not been down there today. Just up here in my room Did you look -”

“I looked the entire room over!” Nick was almost raging. He steps into Blake’s room, when Taylor puts her hand on Nick’s shoulder.

“I know where the remote is, Nick. Come on I was just in there a bit ago.” Her touch calms his rage. His eyes were blood-shoot. He had been doing some kind of drugs today. Taylor was very aware her twin did not walk a life clean drugs, alcohol nor celibacy. It sadden her. At this moment she new for whatever reason Nick wanted to be mad at Blake and she was to him out of that room. She was not sure if Blake was aware that Nick was walking in to rip Blake’s room apart for something he did not have.

Nick walks down the stairs with his sister. Taylor point to the remote right on the table in the family room. “What’s you deal, Nick? You did not even look.”

Nick sighs. “I did look. He usually watches-”

“No, Nick. Whatever you took or high on, do not dare hurt him you understand me? He had no clue what your intent was.” Taylor says softly scolding her twin.

“What was I going to do?” Nick asks.

“You were going to tear his room apart looking for a remote sat right in from on your face. If you did that Mom and Dad would so catch on to what you are doing. You were willing to hurt Blake over a stupid remote control, Nick!” Taylor exclaims.

Nick hangs his head. His eyes become even more red. “Taylor, I just lost control. I don’t know why I was so angry. In my mind though I swore he did it all on purpose.”

“Why would he do that? Nick, Blake does not even care what your deal is. So why would he care about hiding some remote control from you out of anger? All he cares about is when he gonna get his homework done so he can game with his friends. Truth? He doesn’t seem to mind if you here or not.” Taylor said some words she immediately regretted but they were true and she was so angry at him.

“Harsh, Sis.” Nick wipes his face.

“I love you, but you have to got start doing better or you know I will go to Mom and Dad.” Taylor tells him.

“Yes, you have told me this. Since you found the remote I am gonna go watch some tv now.” Nick steps away and flops down on the couch as he flips the TV on.

Blake never knew how close things came to blows the night before. He was so focused on his PC. He just knew Nick was mad about a remote he didn’t know where was. Nothing new about Blake being blamed for things he didn’t do. Taylor showed up and dealt with him. Blake always thought it was that twin connection they had.