The Devil Child

Chapter Forty-Three

 Minny felt as though he was in a dream. There, in front of him, was Lennard. The long lost twin. He looked like how Minny remembered, but he didn't at the same time. This version of Lennard was well groomed, poised and proper, and looked like the real son of their father.

Minny wanted nothing more than to get out of his school uniform and put on his usual clothes. His colorful socks and his pants with the folded bottoms, his wild crazy hair. He missed it all. He missed who he used to be.

"Lennard, why did you do it?" His voice sounded like a wounded animal, cracking in the middle. It was sad, childlike, watery with tears. He felt on the verge of crying, just because he was looking into the eyes of his best friend. The boy who left him.

Lennard shoved his hands into his pockets and looked at the ground. "I'm sorry, Benny. I thought you would never make it on your own. You were a weakness I had to get rid of."

Minny's heart was shattering in two. His own twin wanted nothing to do with him. His older brother was a lunatic, a psychopath, and the girl he loved would never love him back. Minny hated his life with such a passion it surprised him how little he would care if he ended it. He was depressed. He was sad. He was weak, just like his brother said.

"Fuck you, Lennard. You left me with dad. He's threatened me, he has me going to the worst private school, and he hates me. You left me here. You left me behind when I needed you the most."

There was no hugging. There were no tears. Just shattered hearts and bitter words. Minny wanted nothing to do with his brother. Absolutely nothing.

"Minny, c'mon. I was stupid, and we were young. What matters now is that I didn't abandon you because I'm here. I left that rat in Polly's locker for you. I was hoping you would remember the time I put it in your bed. I was hoping you knew it was me."

Minny looked into Lennard face, trying to find the lie. His brother had always been the troublemaker, the liar. His brother was good at being two faced and doing what was the best thing for him, and only him.

"I had an inkling, but I didn't want to think it could be you. Why didn't you just approach me? Why send elaborate riddles and clues?"

"You would have never listened!" Lennard voice exploded. "Just like you're not listening now. I'm sorry for what I did as kids, but this is bigger than that. Dad's running for governor, and I need you Minny. I need you to help stop him. I want Tanner to run against dad."

Minny staggered back, shocked. "Tanner? He's a psychopath, Lennard!"

Lennard shook his head, his hand clenching into a fist. "No, he isn't. I visited him many times at that camp, Minny. Tanner didn't like what he was doing. Dad was forcing him. He was making Tanner do all those things. Tanner isn't a bad person, Minny. And we need him to stop dad. If dad gets in office, say goodbye to Polly, because she'll be back in conversion camp."

Minny's head was swimming, and he felt nauseous at the thought of his father as governor. He was a politician, but he would be horrible for the state. He would ruin everything. Tarnish the state. He wasn't a good man by any means, but he would win.

"No one is running against him." Lennard put his hand on Minny's shoulders. "And if no one is running against him, then he'll just waltz into office. He'll kill people, Minny. He'll take Polly away and lock her up for good."

Minny's shoulders were shaking. He was terrified of his father, but even more terrified of what his father was capable of. Killing was something he was. His father was blood thirsty, and would stop at nothing for the kill. For the thrill of the hunt.