The Government Vlogger

Chapter 22: Live Stream

Their moms helped them get out of the car, into the house and into their rooms.

After they are settled, Brody grabs his phone and texts Max.

"Hey, Max! So the live show isn't until later. I am most likely just going to play some video games and take a nap until the live stream starts," Brody texted.

"Cool with me! I am most likely going to shop online and eat." Max replied.

"Have fun with that."

"You bet I will. My favorite shoe store is having a sale so I am going to be shopping for awhile."

"Got to go. My mom brought up some food to go with my pain meds."

"I forgot about those. Better take mine too. See ya!"

"Talk to you later! Bye!"

The two did their own things and slept until it was time for the live stream. They texted each other before the live stream started.

"Hey. You up?" Brody questioned.

"Yeah. You ready to watch and see what AJ has come up with now?"

"I got my snacks and I am ready to watch."

The boys opened up their laptops and logged onto the website where AJ was going to have his live stream. They got the notification that he was life. They clicked on the notification and began watching the live stream, but they were taken back. It wasn't AJ in the frame but it was AJ set up in the background. The person in the frame looked like AJ but older, probably in their twenties. Their face was red and their eyes were red and puffy from crying. The person choked back the tears and began to talk.

"Hello everyone. I knew that this was AJ favorite thing to do so I might as well tell everyone...that...AJ is no longer with us."

"What?!?" Max and Brody exclaim in unison.

"It appeared to us that AJ committed suicide this morning. He was walking home from his job and...ran into the street. He was hit by a car. I wanted everyone who followed him to know that he is in a better place now. We wish we knew so we could help him. But to all of you out there, thank you for making him happy. He did what he loved and shared what he loved with people like you. Thank you."

Then the person ended the live stream. Everyone watching was in shock. Max immediately picks up his phone and calls Brody. After one ring, he picks up the phone.

"Brody!"

"Did you see..."

"Yes! I cannot believe he is gone too! All of our friends are disappearing and I don't..." Max began to state but was interrupted by a sharp pitch. "Brody? Are you still there?"

"Yes. We got to talk in person. I will be at your house in five minutes."

"Mom!" Brody called to his mom. "I am going to Max's house."

"I will drive you." She replied. She came upstairs and helped Brody downstairs and into the car. "Since it is late, I can only let you stay for an hour."

"That's plenty of time. I just want to check and see how he is doing." Brody responded.

"You're so sweet!" His mom stated as she started the car and pulled out of their driveway and drove down the street. In less than 2 minutes they were there. She helped Brody get out of the car and walked him to the front door. She rang the doorbell and Max's mom answered.

"Hi, Brody!"

"Hey! I need to see Max. Where is he?"

"He is in his room."

"Go on up. I will be in the kitchen talking to Max's mom if you need me." Brody's mom announced.

"Thank you both," Brody concluded as he wiped off his shoes on the rug and went upstairs to Max's room. He opened Max's door and found Max sitting on his bed looking at his laptop screen.

"Hey, Brody!"

"Hey." Brody shut the door and locked it. He made his way over to Max's window and closed the blinds. He turned off his phone. "Turn off your phone and laptop."

"Okay." Max followed Brody's orders and shut off both of his electronics.

"Hand them to me."

Max handed them to him. Brody took off his hoodie and wrapped the electronics in it and shoved it into a drawer in Max's room. Then, Brody sat down on the edge of Max's bed.

"What did you do all of that for?" Max questioned.

"S. If we talk about anything she is probably listening."

"I didn't know we were going to talk about..."

"That's why I can over here. I had to tell you something but I cannot tell you over the phone. We started to but then we heard that sharp pitch noise. That may have had to do with her but I didn't want to take the chance that it didn't."

"Smart. But what did you want to tell me?"

"I think 'she' had to do something with AJ's death."

"What?"

"Whoever was telling us about his death..." Brody began to say but was interrupted by his mom knocking on the door.

"Brody! Sorry, sweetie but we got to head home, there is a big storm coming and I don't want to get caught in it on the way home."

"Okay, mom! Be out in a minute."

"So what were you saying?" Max asked.

"I'm saying that 'she' is not going to leave us alone. She knows we are still out there and that we know." Brody states as he gets up and grabs his things from the drawer.

"What do we do?"

"We forget. We pretend that nothing ever happened. It was a bear and we stick to that story. It was Christine dad who killed her. AJ committed suicide. Sheila is missing and we do not know where she is. Those are the stories we live by. We forget the truth. I know it sounds wrong, but what other choice do we have?"

"You're right..."

"Brody! Come on!" His mom called from the front door.

"Coming! So, Max, what's our story?"

"Christine's dad is a murder and Sheila's family is M.I.A. and we miss them," Max announced.

When he said this, he felt that it was wrong, but what could he do? He said goodbye to Brody and the two went on with their lives, being known as the kids who were attacked by a bear.