The promise.

Can't remember- Avery.

Apparently I did get some sleep, but when I opened my eyes Miles was gone and Alex came downstairs.
''W-where is Miles?''
''I let him go, overnight. I don't need him anymore, but I still need you. Miles has learned his lesson, but don't worry I told him to keep his mouth so no one will find you down here.''
I was all on my own again, I was scared I was alone with this man.
I didn't know what he wanted from me, I know he wants revenge but it's revenge for something I didn't even do, and it wasn't even Jace's fault.
He's a victim too, the drunk driver is the one who did this.
Why does he want revenge on the victims?

It has been days, I think. I don't know how long I am stuck here.
Alex is only threatening me, I still don't know what he wants.
I asked him if he knew who the drunk driver was, but he said that Jace, Miles and Thomas are the only ones responsible for his sister's death.
It got me thinking that they might have been the one drunk, but I knew Jace.
Jace never wanted to drink, he was scared to turn out like dad.
He avoided it, he hated parties too. So why did he go to a party, the night he left me?
My thoughts got interrupted by the door opening with a loud boink.
Alex came in with a boy, his face looked messed up and he seemed unconscious.
Alex didn't say a word and left me alone with the boy. I ran up to the boy, he was still breathing.
''Can you hear me?''
The boy coughed up some blood, but he opened his eyes.
''Can you hear me?'' I asked again. The boy nodded.
''Are you okay?''
''Do I look okay to you?'' he asked, I knew I just asked him the most stupid question ever. ''No ehm, I am sorry''
''It's okay kid, you were just looking out for me. Weren't you?'' I nodded.
''I am Thomas Thornbury'' The guy Miles told me about, he was also in that car crash...
''I am Avery''
''Avery...'' He repeated my name like I was a vague stranger. I mean I probably am, since Thomas was probably friends with my brother as well.
Thomas told me he couldn't remember anything of the car crash, because he was injured so badly.
Miles was the one who helped him through it. Thomas even told me he couldn't remember who he was after the accident, but Miles was always supportive to him and helped him to get his memories back.
I hope Alex really let Miles go, and not that he- Well no, I don't want to think about that. ''What does he want from you, you are just a kid...You weren't even involved in that whole crash''
''My brother Jace was, but I just don't understand why he wants revenge, it's the drunk drivers fault''
''I wish I understood and I am so sorry about your brother''
''Thank you''

Days later.. I've been trapped in here for I don't know how long, Alex barely shows up and I wonder what he wants to do with us, is he just waiting on the right moment to kill us?
I was scared, I don't want it to end this way. Thomas doesn't really talk, he is clearly traumatized from a lot. But I still tried to get to know him some more, so I carefully asked him about his past. He asked about mine, maybe he wants to talk about his as well. "Thomas," I said softly, breaking the silence.
"Can you tell me more about your life? Before all of this happened?" He looked at me, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Why do you want to know?" I shrugged, trying to offer a small smile.
"It helps to talk. It distracts us from...everything else." Thomas nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
"Alright," he said quietly. "I guess I can do that."
He took a deep breath, staring at the floor as he began to speak.
"I lost my parents when I was young. I was just a kid, barely old enough to understand what had happened. One moment, they were there, and the next... they were gone."
I felt a pang of sympathy, my own loss echoing in his words.
"I'm sorry," I said gently. "That must have been so hard."
Thomas nodded, a faraway look in his eyes.
"It was. I ended up in foster care after that. Bounced around from home to home. Never really had a place to call my own."
I listened in silence, my heart aching for the boy he had been.
"What about friends? Did you have anyone you could rely on?"
He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
"I thought I did. But after the accident... everything changed. The crash that killed your brother that night... It also destroyed my life. My so-called friends abandoned me. They walked out on me...''
I frowned, trying to imagine what that must have been like.
"So, you were alone?" Thomas shook his head, his expression softening.
"Not completely. Miles was always there. When everyone else turned their backs on me, Miles stayed. He was like a brother to me, the only family I had left."
''He was always there for me too. He feels like a brother. After Jace died, Miles was the only one who really understood. He became like a brother to me. He protected me, helped me through the worst of it. And now, he's gone, too. I just... I hope he's okay."
Thomas squeezed my hand gently.
"I'm sure he is, Avery. Miles is strong. He'll find a way back to us."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions.
"I hope so. We need him." Thomas's eyes softened, his own pain mirrored in mine.
"I know. But we have each other now. We can get through this." I nodded, feeling a strange sense of connection. Despite everything, we had each other, and that gave me a glimmer of hope.
"We'll get through this," I said firmly. "Together."
Thomas squeezed my hand back, a flicker of determination in his eyes
. "Yeah," he whispered.
"Together."