A Dangerous Past *On Hold*

Chapter 6

It must be around midnight by now. The sky is an expanse of black, littered with little white dots. Even Arlo can tell that something is wrong: he is skittish, jumping at any rustle in the bushes, making him uncomfortable to ride.

Alex strides ahead, setting the pace, whereas Lucas is at the back, making sure we aren't being followed. They both declined a ride after seeing Arlo's skittish behavior. To be honest, I don't blame them - even now, mere minutes from home, I'm tempted to dismount myself.

I slow Arlo down to walk alongside Lucas.

'I bet you've had a weird day.' He says, a peculiar combination of worry and supressed laughter covering his features.

'Tell me about it.' I frown - my poor attempt at covering up my own humor at the situation not going unnoticed by him. He laughs, seeing the mock annoyance on my face.

'Do you mind if I ask you something?' I question tentatively.

'Go ahead,' he responds, appearing nonchalant. I can see past this façade, however, and can tell that he is curious.

'You told me earlier that I shouldn't trust Alex, like you knew from experience. And then, when you took your hood down you were staring at each other like you knew one-another. So, do you know him, or does he know you?' I quiz, scrambling to get the words out.

We walk along in silence for a few minutes, whilst Lucas ponders his response thoughtfully. When he replies, his answer is careful and precise.

'I thought Alex would have told you. We knew each other a long time ago...' He stops, the words stuck in his throat.

'Go on.' I reassure him.

'He's my brother.' He deadpans. My eyes widen in surprise.

'Wait, what?' I can't say anything else, I'm so shocked. I never asked about Alex's family, as the one time I tried his walls went straight up. I don't know how to feel. Annoyed? Intrigued? Betrayed? Betrayed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I've know him my entire life, and we usually confide everything to one-another.

Lucas sighs. 'I'm surprised he didn't tell you, to be perfectly honest. Then again, I don't think he even admits it to himself. If he had it his way, I'm sure we wouldn't even be related.' He was looking down the entire time, but the pain in his voice was audible. When he looks up, his eyes are watery and full of hurt.

My heart breaks looking at him. Even though I can't remember knowing him, I can't bear to see him in pain. I get angry thinking about how Alex could be so, so...terrible to family - what if that was me? Again, my thoughts circle back to betrayal, he is my family, in my eyes at least. It obviously shows, as Lucas looks at me, concerned.

'You ok?' He questions, visibly worried.

'Well, given the fact that in the last 24 hours I've bumped into you three times, discovered that I should know you but I don't, been drenched by a living storm, had a sprained ankle heal quicker than should be possible, found out that you and Alex are brothers and finally that he disowns you. I'm honestly surprised that I haven't written off this experience as a dream.' I reply, almost laughing at the weirdness of it all towards the end. 'Sorry, feels good to get that off my chest.'

He looks at me stunned, then doubles over in fits of laughter.

'You-truly-have-had-a-weird-day.' He responds in between fits of laughter.

I can't help but smile - he's like Alex in that way. Other than the fact that their personalities are so similar, you wouldn't be able to tell that they are related: Alex has startling blue eyes; short, sandy brown hair and an olive complexion, whereas Lucas has hazel-brown eyes; dark brown, almost black, slightly longer hair, and a slightly paler complexion, similar to me.

His face is red from trying to contain small fits of laughter when I next look at him. That gets me started again and I nearly fall off Arlo trying to contain it.

We were so busy chatting that neither of us noticed that we are back at the house, resulting in me having to suddenly stop Arlo in order to avoid crashing into Alex.

'You two all right?' Alex inquires, noticing our heavy breathing and red faces.

'Fine.' Lucas replies whilst squandering a giggle. Alex eyes him warily, but walks into the house anyway, beckoning for Lucas to follow.

We exchange a quick glance and I return his mischievous smirk before he follows.

I jump off Arlo and lead him round to the side of the house and into the paddock. He gallops away and throws a massive buck – he obviously couldn't wait to be home. I put a juicy, scarlet apple in his feed bin and head inside.

'Lucas, why did you come back? You know the danger to you, me, especially Avery!' I hear Alex almost shouting as I come to the door.

'I had to Alex! Our home was invaded by them, I had nowhere else to go! Plus, I miss her. It's been three years!' Lucas sounds angry, but also distraught and...betrayed? I refrain from entering the living room, in fear I will stop the conversation. I hang back, behind the door.

'We both agreed that you wouldn't come back after I...' Alex trails off.

'You can't even admit it! If you had just left Avery's memories alone, then we wouldn't be in this mess, and they wouldn't have found her.' Lucas counters angrily.

I don't know what to think. My best friend lied to me for three years, and from what it sounds like wiped my memory so I couldn't remember Lucas. I storm into the room, blood boiling.

The shock and worry on their faces is evident. Whether it is worry for me or their secret, I don't know.

'How much of that did you here?' Alex questions quietly.

'Enough.' I respond. Tears of betrayal roll down my face.

Alex looks distraught. 'I'm sorry.' Is all he manages to choke out.