An Artist Colors

Chapter 12

"Uncle Vic, please, I need to know don't I?" Victor nods but proceeds to look at his hands in his lap nervously. Everything just seemed harder to confess to his innocent nephew that had no fault for their actions.

"I decided to move in with him, making up the excuse that there was a college I wanted to attend to that was closer to Ethan's apartment than our house. I convinced my parents to let me move in with him by stating it would not only be closer but cheaper for both of us. Since Ethan lived in a different town, we lived like a couple. We didn't look alike, much less with our modifications, which was like a dream come true. We wanted to get married so badly but us being brothers and I being underaged made it impossible for it to happen."

'Wait... so... what did you guys do? Did anyone ever find out about your relationship with him?" Matthew asks curiously wanting to know how and why Ethan and Victor stopped being in a relationship.

"I always did what he told me to do. I never questioned his authority because I wanted to be told what to do. I know it sounds crazy but I loved being free from choice. I felt like I had less responsibility and everything he wanted me to do I enjoyed. I remember the day it ended like it was yesterday. We were full of lust, close to showing each other our love for one another when the door opened. We instantly got apart and to say we had bad luck was an understatement. We had been caught by our parents and to say they were upset would only cover one-eighth of what they were feeling. Once our parents gave us the speech of our lives and left, Ethan started blaming me. That it was my fault, for being so perfect, for seducing him all these years. He made me feel like a slut and didn't hesitate to say it himself. He took out his anger on me, beating me, calling me names, making sure that I actually believed it was my fault. I moved out, back into my parents' house and there was a lot of tension between me and my mother. Our parents were more upset with the fact that I was a minor than us being related but still didn't press charges on Ethan because it would bring shame to the family name. He ended up leaving me for my best friend because he could actually have kids with her. I still loved him but she married her soon after the year they had gotten to know each other. I tried to warn Lisa but she didn't listen. When you were born things started to change. Ethan's attitude started to change quickly and dramatically. I would go and visit Lisa when Ethan wasn't around to avoid any trouble but I started noticing how much you looked like me. I thought it was kinda strange but I was really happy that my nephew looked like me. There were many times during your youth when your father tried to convince me to be with him behind Lisa's back but I couldn't. I really thought about it, I loved him but I wasn't going to be so cruel to you and Lisa because of my selfish needs. It wasn't until you turned eight when I started seeing the same patterns. Ethan would film you, which is normal for every parent to capture special moments in their child's youth but he had you wear what I wore. Had your room exactly how I had mine and even got you to wear my old clothes. I thought it was sweet at first but it was the little things that had me question his actions. Lisa said it was nothing, that he was just trying to give you a fun and happy childhood so I pushed it aside. I regret pushing it aside, maybe if I didn't I would've realized his intentions sooner but when I finally did it was too late. I realized that his obsession moved from me to you the day you turned eight. The day your mother died I knew something was up. I kept questioning Ethan but he wouldn't listen to me. He was still mad at my rejection and wanted nothing to do with me unless I agreed to get back together with him.I feel horrible for what happened, I feel like if I would've accepted his offer he would've been less violent and wouldn't hurt you. I remember what I was doing and where I was the day you killed him. I was back at my parents' house in his room thinking that on that same day we had given up our virginity to each other. I was looking around and saw something had moved since the last I was in there so I thought that maybe mother had been in the room. The thought soon left my mind because I knew that she hadn't stepped foot in mine. As I got closer I saw the pictures of me and Collin scattered all over the floor surrounding the familiar box I had opened when I was seventeen. I opened it again and there were more tapes and another piece of paper along with the one I gave him when I was thirteen. It said I love you dad, never forget it, love Collin."