Alone, Together

Chapter Three

My whole body tensed as Zach's icy voice hit my ears. I clenched my hand into a fist, ready to break free from Zach's strong grip. But, as I started to slightly wither, Zach pressed the knife closer against my neck.

"Why are you here?" Zach repeated his demand, tightening his grip on my shoulders. I squealed in fear and pain.

"Jamie, I swear to god I will slit your neck. Why are you here!"

"She's probably a spy for your idiot brother. She probably heard everything," Cindy slunk from behind Zach, her cyan-blue eyes cold as ice. I turned to look at Cindy, astonished.

"Heard what?" I say in a shaky, scared voice.

"Oh, you're playing stupid now, are you?" Zach hissed in my ear. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. The knife pressed further into my neck. I felt heat starting to pulse from the spot a thin slice was.

"WHAT DID YOU HEAR?" Zach yelled, slapping me straight across my face. Numbness stung my cheek before pain pulsed throughout my body. My eyes watered as I grit my teeth, trying to pull back from Zach's iron grip.

"Just kill her and say she drowned." Cindy commanded with a snap of her fingers.

"But she'll have the slice across her neck," Zach argued, turning toward the blonde. I growled, "Why do you have to kill me? Making out isn't a big deal,"

"Aw, you're so pathetic." Zach threw me to the ground with a thud. I landed on my leg, feeling it scrape against the ground with a stinging pain. I let out a yelp of pain. "I'm thinking I will kill you. And just leave you to rot in the ocean."

"Why must I die!" I snarl, a storm of concern bubbling in my throat. I sounded like a scared six-year-old.

"You heard our plans, idiot. And for being a little snitchy spy, then you will pay with your life."

"What plans?" I hiss through gritted teeth.

"I'm done with your games, kiddo," Zach grabbed my shirt collar and pulled me up. I felt the same cold knife press against my neck. "Say goodbye-"

A leaf being crunched made us both turn our heads. Straining my eyes, I managed to see a shadow in the night air. Zach tossed me to the ground, going to investigate in the brackens. I landed with a pitiful thud beside a patch of ferns. Lifting my head, I saw the black shadow leap out at Zach, tackling him to the ground.

"Adam! What the hell are you doing?"

"Stopping you from doing whatever you're about to do!" Adam growled, his teeth shining in the moonlight.

"You are almost two minutes older than me. You're not the boss of me!" Zach snarled.

Adam flashed out his pocketknife, pressing it against Zach's neck. Adam's other arm was pressed against Zach's arm, keeping him pressed to the ground.

"I knew you'd choose her over me. You always talked about her. You ignored me, focusing on a sister that you hadn't seen for eight years!" Zach's voice was filled with hurt.

"Sister..?" I whisper.

"You idiot! I told you not to tell Jamie!"

"Me? An idiot? I don't have to listen to you!" Zach snarled, leaping from the ground. He threw his brother off, and Adam landed beside the ferns with Jamie.

"Sister..." I repeated, my voice hoarse.

Zach was now standing, staring at me with anger blazing in his deep, blue eyes. Adam was sitting next to me, his eyebrows burrowed into his eyes. Pity and sorrow filled Adam's eyes.