Hamilton Academy: He's Always Watching

Part One ~ Chapter Twenty

“I would rather go square dancing. In a thunderstorm. In Alaska”
-Matt

------------

Chapter Twenty

I watched in despair as Mr. Grey clutched my brother’s neck tightly. Ethan’s face was a deep shade of red. Blood dripped from my ankle from where Mr. Gray had sliced it. I tried to stand and get to Ethan, but I couldn’t.

            “Please,” I rasped. “Don’t do this.” I reached out my arm, wishing I was close enough to rip Ethan from Mr. Grey’s arms. “Don’t kill my brother.”

            “I will do this.” Mr. Grey’s flashed with anger. “I will kill your brother, and then I will kill you.”

            “No! Spare Ethan! Take me, I don’t care, just please don’t kill Ethan,” I pleaded. If he killed Ethan I would be nothing. I would be dead inside, having witnessed the murder of my own brother. I would want him to kill me after that. I couldn’t let Ethan die though. I had to save him.

            “I will not spare your brother! I will not spare you! The two of you will both be going down!” Mr. Grey’s laugh was cold hearted and unforgiving. “Elly will regret leaving me! I must kill the ones she cares for!”

            “Ethan!” I wailed as Mr. Grey took out a knife.

            “You have no chances left. I have tried to kill you more than once now, and I don’t plan on letting you get away this time. Give up now Matt, for your brother will soon no longer be with you. Any last words?” Mr. Grey’s lips curved up in an evil smirk and he sunk the knife through Ethan’s heart.

            “NO!” My head fell into my hands in anguish and I felt tears drip from my eyes. Ethan’s lifeless body slumped to the ground, blood pouring from his chest. Everything I ever said to Ethan seemed to hit me like a tidal wave. All of the times I had yelled at him or gotten angry, and all the times we had hung out and cared for each other. He was gone. None of that would ever happen again. I could never tell him that I loved him again. He died knowing I sat right there watching. I wished on everything in the world that I could have saved him; that something had gone differently. There was nothing I could do though; nothing would bring Ethan back to life. Even if I died, Ethan would still be gone. I had witnessed the murder of my own brother.

            I couldn’t erase the images from my mind of Ethan’s helpless face. His eyes had begged me to do something, and I hadn’t. I couldn’t stand up, I couldn’t walk. There was nothing I could have done differently, yet I still blamed myself. I didn’t keep my brother safe.

            “Alright Matt, your turn now.” Mr. Grey fingered the knife, wiping away some of my brother’s blood. “How would you like to die?”

            I sprung out of bed, heart pounding. The images of my brother’s mangled body still filled my head as I tried to calm myself. I knew it was just a dream, but that didn’t make it feel any less real. I touched my hand to my ankle, making sure it was still intact. Knowing it was fine only slightly reassured me. I kept having nightmares about what could have happened to us all. I was afraid that one day the dreams would all fade into reality, and we would all be dead.

***

"Wait!" I exclaimed, grabbing onto my brothers arm before he left.

"Yes?" He sighed, looking at me expectedly.

"Where are you going now?" I wanted to make sure I knew where he was, I didn't want anything else to happen to him.

"My cabin! Where else would I go at ten at night? Come on Matt, even you should know that one!" Ethan slowly shook his head, waving to some girl who walked by.