Faking

8

Chapter Eight

Four Years Ago- Liam's POV

The spiteful wind blew against my pale face, the tips of my toes along with my fingers were numb, red with frost, causing me to involuntarily shiver. It was bitter outside, my mind hissed for me to go back home, -or the alleyway that was- but I didn't. After all, it wasn't home without Louis.

I have to keep the search for my younger brother going, if I didn't, I might never see the blue-eyed boy again. I couldn't risk it, I had to find Lou, and once I had, I wasn't sure if I'd ever let the boy go. I wouldn't let myself make the same careless mistake again, I wouldn't lose another brother, I couldn't handle it.

The images were on a record player, replaying the days clearly. The day I woke up and my youngest brother wasn't there with me. The feelings were vivid, it didn't get better with time. The shock, the anger, the overwhelming feeling like nothing would be okay without him, it was all mixed and frustratingly dull.

My feelings had to be shoved to the side, however, as I'm sure it was nothing compared to how Lou was feeling. He was scared, I could feel it. He's never been alone, always had I been there. Never had he been forced to be alone like I was, I wouldn't do that to him. I would look for him till my heart stopped beating, till the zig-zagged line went flat.

Hopefully, I'd find him soon, he's the only one I have left. I couldn't make it without him.

Four Years Later -September First, 2021

Five years, almost. The mark would be coming soon, the anniversary of my brother leaving me. So many long, painful years filled with nothing. Over the time without Louis, there wasn't anything to be put into the timeline. A few muggings, close calls on death, just the usual. Just...days without Louis.

My mind was dangerously edging onto ifs, wondering if he was okay, or if he was looking for me too. I hadn't had a clue as to what had happened to my brother, if he was taken, I'd the cops had saw him and not me, nothing. Stupid of me to wonder in that unfitting territory.

Territory I had mistakenly gone down before.

My stomach yelled and groaned as my feet carried me down the crowded streets of Chesire, arms wrapped around my middle as if it would protect me from the blanketing cold. It didn't. I was starving, not having to eat for a week and a half starting to take a toll. To be honest, I was surprised I was walking right now. The last time I hadn't eaten this much was since Louis had been here and I couldn't afford enough food for the both of us. I had passed out.

Even though the pain was encasing, I was pretty sure I could last a few days. I had to, as I still had to find Louis. The hope I had wouldn't dissipate until my heart stopped beating until the zig-zagged line went flat. I missed him greatly, it pained me every day I woke up and he wasn't in my arms, and I knew he was in pain too. I could feel it. I always had been connected to him with emotions.

I wondered where he was. I wondered if he was safe, even if I tried not to go into the if's. I had never really won that battle before though. My own mind betrays me more than anyone else. Sometimes, I'd see Lou out of the corner of my eyes, just walking on the streets. I'd see his painfully small figure, his feathery hair. When I went up to him, it wasn't. It wasn't him.

Just a resemblance.

My legs carried me heavily through the streets, a frozen breeze brushing past me. My attire wasn't exactly the greatest, it never had been. A rugged t-shirt only made to hang loosely off my sharp and outlined bones. Scattered with whole, no different from my jeans and shoes. My whole body ached, begged not to move, as that only made the strain worse.