Faults

Chapter 17: Aydin

My classes go by so much slower now that Taylor is back. I have to constantly watch my back in fear of him attacking me once again. I also have to cover the left side of my face with my hair as I don't want anyone to see what my brother did to me. The scratches on my cheek are deep. Gashes would be a better word for what they are. The area around them is swollen and red due to the burns. How could Taylor do something like this to me?

I can't wrap my head around why Archie let him out this soon. Couldn't have kept him in there longer? We all know he deserves it.

Once the day is done, Archie comes up to me. Forgetting myself, I flip my hair out of my face. Keeping it over my eye all day makes my skin itch a little. Now that my hair reaches about five inches below my shoulders, I've had to fix how I comb my hair. With my injury, it only makes it more difficult.

I cross my arms over my chest, not pleased with Archie. His eyes widen as he scans my face and I immediately place my hair back in front of my eye. "What happened?" he asks, concern growing in his eyes.

"Nothing."

He frowns. "Aydin, that is not nothing. Tell me what happened."

"Tell me why you let Taylor out so early first," I grumble and begin to walk away.

Archie grabs my arm, pulling me back. "Don't tell me he did this. Oh no... This is all my fault. Aydin, I am so, so sorry. I thought eight months was long enough for him to be in there, but it seems as if I was wrong. There's also another reason I have for letting him out, just please give me a chance to explain."

"You better start talking," I say.

"I will, but I need to do something first," he tells me and walks in the direction of the schoolhouse.

I watch as he taps someone on the shoulder. My eyes widen when I realize it's Taylor. I don't see this ending well.

Archie waves his hand to the left, sending Taylor flying into a tree. Archie then stalks over to my brother, his walk slow and almost menacing. He grabs Taylor by the shirt collar and pulls him to his feet, holding him against the tree. As Archie begins to speak while pummeling my brother with punches, I quickly walk over to them, wanting to hear what Archie is saying.

"I was going to give you a chance to redeem yourself for your past actions, but the first thing you go and do with your freedom is attack your twin? I shouldn't have ever let you out, I should've just left you in that dungeon to rot until the day you die! It's what you fucking deserve," Archie growls at Taylor, hitting him with another punch. "You're a sick bastard, you know that? Every hit you're receiving is well-deserved. I hope this makes you hurt."

All of our classmates watch as Taylor struggles against Archie's harsh grip. It may seem twisted, but I'm not about to stop Archie from doing this.

Taylor grabs Archie's left arm which is holding him against the tree and begins to burn him, the skin on Archie's arm turning pink. "You son of a bitch," Archie seethes as he removes his hand, waving it to the right this time, sending Taylor away from the tree and onto the ground.

Archie walks over to him and says something that only Taylor can hear. I'm frozen in shock as I look at my brother, lying on the ground and Archie, heading back over to me. He grabs my hand and pulls me away from the scene.

"You... You stood up to him for me," I say as we walk.

"It's the least I could do for all of the mistakes I've made over the past eight months. You don't deserve any of what he's done to you or any of what I've done to you," he says.

I sigh. "What's done is done. I really appreciate what you did for me back there, though."

"It's really nothing. I suppose I should tell you my other reason for letting him out."

"I'm listening," I reply, needing to hear this.