The Survivors

Chapter 23-The Explanation

I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. Ayden is my half brother. Out of all the people it could have been, out of everyone it just had to be Ayden. I'm extremely happy Mom is alive but to know that the person I hate the most shares the same blood as me? I knew the story she had told me earlier had some holes but now it somehow all clicks and makes sense. Mom was young and beautiful, and that man took her right out of high school.

He had so much money she never had to worry about money. He dressed her up in diamonds and jewels, just like my dad. But he was extremely abusive. But to know she had a son? And that son being Ayden? No wonder he's so messed up, he didn't have a real mom and the dad told him that my mom committed suicide because she didn't love him. It kinda makes sense that Ayden would turn out like that because of his abusive father.

And to think it could have been me. Our positions could have easily been switched. I could be the jerk and he could be the leader. It's so weird and crazy but it all makes sense. I don't know if I'm upset or just shocked or slightly glad I have a brother. But Ayden? God why couldn't it have been Teren? We get along really well! Or maybe even Oliver or Lukas or even Elliot! But Ayden?

After that shell shocking news, Mom warned us that "they" were coming. So we decided to get moving and got back to the beach. We found water but she says we really shouldn't drink it, she would explain later. I stayed very close to Mom with my arm around her's making sure she's actually there. I had to ask Jenny a couple of times in secret to tell me if this is really happening. My friends look just as shocked as me. Mom was supposed to die in the accident.

I remember Dad giving me the news so clearly, but that was after the terror of waking up on a lab table. They had to do immediate surgery but something was wrong with my dosage of anesthetics. So I was able to wake up but not feel any pain...

Darkness swirls around me. My mind blurs and I can hear echoey voices. The blaring horn of the semi still rings in my ears along with the sound of the shattering glass. Mom... where's Mom?! T-The last thing I remember was the semi coming at us-, NO! MOM! Clear images of the semi ramming into the front of the with a loud crunch. My heart stuttering and my arm flinging out to protect her from it. Then she's gone. Poof.

The semi cut right through the car, taking everything with it. The glittering glass sparkling through the air as if in slow motion. The sound of the car being crushed. The way our sodas were thrown up into the air as we were hit. The memories are jagged and cut off, and out of order. We were talking about our little vacation and then I see the semi coming up. Then it swerved into us. I saw the front of it and I looked over at Mom with fearful eyes as she tried to swerve too.

I saw a bright light just as my arm begin to sear with pain before everything went dark. My head is hurting and my arm is completely numb. I'm so thirsty, I want water. Bleary and confused, I slowly open my eyes to be blinded. Loud voices come into focus and they are panicking.

"His heart rate is increasing!" someone screams out.

"Put him under right now!" a voice roars angrily.

"Increasing dose of morphine!"

My eyes are dodging and I feel a pulse coming out of my shoulder... I see a masked face over my face wearing strange goggles. He's got on a light blue shirt with a white mask over his mouth. OH GOD. My heart lurches with panic and I force my head to move. I see people wearing the same things all around me with bloody metal tools and gauze. NO. NO NO NO.

I inhale deeply as they run around me and then I let out a scream. I scream as loud as I can, crying out for help.

"SHOOT! GET HIM UNDER NURSE!" the angry male voice roars. I jerk my body only to have someone grab my arm with a bloody hand. WHOSE BLOOD IS THAT!? Fear shoots through me as the beeping sound increases as I panic. I try kicking my leg but I can't really move it. I look around wildly with my eyes, "Help!" I scream trying to arch my back as they hold me down, "Help me!"