The Town of Anton

Chapter Fourteen

"Saige? Saige!" Deacon kept repeating my name, but I drowned out the sound. I was so lost and so miserable that I didn't care about anything.

I was hit with nostalgia and recalled a time when my brother put me first. It was the day before Christmas and our parents were working long shifts, so they couldn't shop for presents. I was devastated. Not only was I not getting any gifts, but my mom and dad wouldn't be here on my favorite holiday. I stayed in my room all day and cried. Alex must have heard me, because he went down the street to the nearest antique shop, traded in all his favorite toys, and came home with a beautiful metallic necklace that had purple rhinestones on it.

He then raced up to my bedroom and opened the door without asking, something I really hate that he does. I was laying on my bed; my head in the pillow, when he shook me. I sat up with water drooping down my face as he handed me the necklace with a huge smile.

He kept that smile perched on his face and said, "Merry Christmas, Sis."

I wore that necklace every day, even if it didn't match my clothes. It was because he put me first that I couldn't give up on him. I couldn't jeopardize who he was...who he is. But every second I spent lost in my thoughts was one second closer to losing him.

"Saige, we must get him to a hospital now!"

The loudness of his voice swarmed me, causing me to act quick and think later. I picked up his body, which sank in my arms, and ran outside.

Pansy, with guilt in her eyes, placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too." That was all that came out. I knew it wasn't her fault, but the idea of blaming her felt way better than blaming myself.

I caught a sudden breeze against my skin. The air was peaceful, even as I was holding Alex with all the strength I had left.

With my back facing the door, my ears opened up to a conversation I didn't think I was supposed to listen to.

"He came out of nowhere, Deacon. I couldn't stop her!"

"I know."

Pansy then said fearfully, "If she bit me, who knows what could have happened."

"Let's just hope Alex isn't who they said he is," replied Deacon.

What does he mean by that? Who's they? Is Alex in more danger than I had previously thought? What aren't they telling me?

I looked down at my brother. Blood soaked his clothes and skin, but it never reached his hair. Those dirty blonde locks were still dirty blonde locks and I felt some weight being lifted off my shoulder because of it.

But I still needed answers.

The urge to whisper something in my brother's ear occurred to me, but it didn't matter. He wouldn't have been able to hear it anyways.

Deacon finally approached me and we left.

Time stood still while we walked. Alex was getting so heavy that Deacon eventually started carrying him. No one spoke a word and it got me worried about other things besides my brother dying. I worried maybe him dying would keep him safe, as selfish as that may sound. But I wasn't trying to sound selfish. It was probably the most selfless thing I have ever thought. It was the words "let's hope he isn't who they said he is" that made me feel this kind of way.

I wondered what was going through Deacon's mind. He hasn't said anything, so I could only imagine the thoughts running through his head. And I also wondered if he was mad at me for what almost happened with Pansy. I mean, they do go way back some thirty years.

"What were you and Pansy talking about?" The words just fell out of my mouth and a part of me was glad it did. They shouldn't be hiding things from me, especially when it involved my brother, right?

"She blames herself for what happened."

We never stopped walking as he kept a steady pace along the road towards town.

"And she should blame herself," I said. "But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about Alex."

"Well, that's not important right now." His feet started to move faster and he was no longer walking at my side.

I yelled, "It is important!"

"It's not up for discussion."

"Stop it!" I yelled again, standing motionless in the middle of the road. "You sound like my third grade English teacher! He was just as stubborn as you are!"

"Saige, we need to keep moving! Your brother doesn't have much time." He pushed me forth, and he was right. But I wasn't about to go with him, not when it depends on finding out what he was hiding. There were supposed to be no secrets between us, and yet he was lying through his teeth.