Behind my smile (UNDER EDITING.)

Chapter 14.

   Don't be silent during a storm, for your silence harms others.
- M
HAYLEY

I would usually laugh at Annie's facial expression, seeing the guilt wash over her whenever she did something that hurt me; that was until I found out it's a form of manipulation, she never tried changing her habits. She just wanted to control me, little by little.

And that did happen, for a while anyway.

I stare back at Annie's face, her skin is now washed out—an alarming colour of pale. Her eyes are wide as her lips quivered, the letters still scattered around me, no need to hide the fact I know they exist anymore.

"A shocker isn't it, poor Hayley," I smile at her, I forced my lips to stretch so wide I probably look like pennywise. "Let me tell you a funny story. Not too long ago, a day or two if you must know the details, a little kid found this...small secret box hidden in her beloved sisters room, but guess what!"

I paused, fear vivid in her pupils. "Guess what, Annie."

   "..what?"

"Ah! There's your innocent voice, how courageous of you to hide the fact you give me animal peels, the reason I've been going in and out the hospital—almost landing on a wheelchair. What a beloved sister you are to protect me from such a secret," I laugh.

   She opened her mouth to speak up, protect and defend herself somehow, knowing her she'd pull some good excuse and I'd believe it for a few seconds, before remembering who Im talking too. "Hayley-"

  I tsked, immediately cutting her off. "No, no, no. I'm doing the talking here. Not only that, but I've found out many secrets here, Caleb's death and the reasons behind it, the youtube videos, dads continuous cheating, you're manipulative characteristic towards your friends and family. Is it enjoyable, Annie?"

    "W-what's enjoyable?"

"Holding Hayden hostage simply because he has a secret that you will willingly spill if he leaves you behind," I spoke calmly even when my heart beat is speeding rapidly, so much that I heard the beats as they banged against my ribcage.

  The sadness that covered her face suddenly changed, anger taking over as her face turned red. She clenched her fingers together, eyes blasting fire at me. "Oh whatever Hayley, no one is going to believe anything that you read, especially a letter written by a dead person. Your just going to sound crazy," she smirks.

    Dead?

  I chuckle, "looks like mum and dad left a secret out. Oh how the tables turn, huh?"

Her little facade drops for a second, before she recovers and confidently speaks. "I know everything."

   "Don't think you know that your brother is very much alive and well, living across the world named Gabriel Smith."

    "what, your lying. Your just lying, this isn't funny Hayley," she screams at me, her body launching towards mine. I don't flinch nor move, instead I raise my eyebrows at her.

  Apparently this entire time we were mourning over our brother, he was across the world smiling and happily living with a fake name, a fake illusion.