The Truth Unfolded

The Truth Unfolded|8

"So, that's the full story."

I was speechless.

A child was accused of something she/he didn't do and it caused their whole life to spiral out of control. This ended with their parents and the child being killed in a car crash.

It sounded so similar to mine. How I was neglected by everyone in the school. How everyone spoke bad about me. But just wait till they find out what really happened. 

But the car crash? Could that happen to me?

"Wait, what's the leaders name?" 

"Johnny Herland and he has been a leader way before I was born. As I said, he was the only one alive from his family. Oh yeah,  He's 43."

My heart stopped. That's my little brother's name! But how is he 50 when he is 12? This is too familiar.

No, it couldn't be. Must be someone else but my instincts wasn't sure about that.

Without thinking, I spoke quickly in a hurry which sounded like gibberish.

"Iwanameethim."

"Huh? Speak slowly."

"I want to meet him."

She looked at me flabbergasted. "Hate to break it to you but you can't. The security around here is really tight and it's way past curfew. If they see you, they will shoot you. Remember that."

"But you don't get it. He's my brother. I'm Harlow Herland. He's 12 right now and he's born in 2007. 2050-2007 is 43. So, that has to be my brother. And, the story about a child being neglected because she/he got accused is me! I got accused for stealing the school trophy." Each sentence I spoke, my voice rose higher in understanding. 

Stephanie rubbed her chin in confusion. "Oh, I've heard that story."

"Wait, really? How?"

She looked at me, panicked. "My dad told me about it but I don't know the full detail. Ok, put your hand on the television."

"Wait, why?"

"Just do it."

I did as she told me and it turned green.

"Oh my god. It turned green. You are telling the truth!" She looked at me, dumbfounded.

"I think I am but it's better if I get a closer look. I can identify my brother by his appearance but we can't, can we? We might get caught."

I flopped on the chair with annoyance. If I am in the future, then I could discover everything. Starting with what happened to my family and the school incident.

"Actually there is something. Follow me."

We went through an underground passage with lead to a spiral of wooden stairs. At the top of the stairs, there was small door in which you had to crawl to get through it.

We opened the door and went in it, crouching down and-

"What the hell are you doing here, Stephanie?"

"Oh, I just wanted to talk, that's all." 

There was an awkward silence as this unknown guy looks at me.

"And who are you?"

"I'm-"

"She's a friend. She won't harm you, don't worry."

"Stephanie! You don't show random people the secret way! What if she's a spy and she's planning to kill us?"

"What the hell?" I laughed, quite uneasily. "I am standing right here, you know."