Living Dead | Onhold

Chapter thirteen

The more I thought about my encounters with Milton, the more I started thinking I killed myself. I mean, looking at the way I feel right now, I'm pretty sure I felt ten times worse when I was alive. I remember Nicky telling the police I started acting differently about two years ago, but little did I know it was because I killed somebody. Not just anybody, but somebody I considered a friend. Apparently, the realest friend I had. I'm pretty sure he allowed me to be me, but I took his life.

"Milton?" I finally said.

"Yes?"

"Do you think that maybe if I had not befriended you... you would still be..." I cleared my throat. "You know, alive?"

"Maybe." He paused, "but we can't test fate. And we can't really run from death. Can we?"

"But it's my fault. Don't you think?" My eyes welled up.

"What's your point Alisson?"

"Milton." I shook my head and tried keeping myself from crying, "if you and I had not formed a friendship, we would both still be alive!"

"We can't test fa -"

"Stop telling me about fate!" I yelled, more sad than angry. I put my hand on my chest as my sobs got louder. "If we had not become friends, you and I would still be alive. You know why? Because I would have never gotten to know about your phobia, Camilla would have never been jealous of you, she wouldn't have found out about that phobia of yours, and I would have never had to witness the murder of my friend! Murder committed by my sister!" My voice cracked as I raised it, straining my vocal chords. I moved one of my hands from my chest to my neck to lessen the pain. "And like a coward, I would have never had to kill myself to numb the pain." I said the last part in almost a whisper.

Milton shook his head, "You didn't kill yourself."

"I did!"

"No, I would suggest you go into your memories with each and every one of your friends and family members. Because, both of us got murdered by people very close to our hearts."

"What are you talking about?" My eyes widened.

"Al, someone in your circle did this. Your circle was not that big. It won't be hard for you to figure out."

Suddenly, everything started being clear. My friends are having secret conversations without Nicky. Perhaps that would explain everything more clearly.

I jumped on him, "Milton you are such a genius?!"

He fixed his glasses, "technically, I always have been. And you knew that because you came up to me for some school related help. Remember? And your grades had been increasing since!"

"Ha-ha. Cocky much?" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not cocky, I'm just confident." He fixed his bowtie.

"That's where you're wrong, my dear friend! Confidence is knowing who you are and not being afraid to show it. Cockiness on the other hand, is thinking you know who you are and rubbing it in everybody's face. And right now, you are being cocky. Who's right now?" I smirked.

"Ha! Technically, you're wrong. I don't rub it in everybody's face. Just yours."

I stared at him for a while before we both burst into laughter.

"You're stupid." I said, laughing so hard, I had to throw my head back and lock my hands around my torso for support.

"Always have been." He said, gasping for air.

The sight of us laughing together seemed surreal. I couldn't believe that the Milton who was so mean to me not so long ago, and the Milton who couldn't stand the sight of me, is the very same Milton who is joking around and laughing with me at this very moment. I know...