Hidden Truths

Chapter 22

I wake up and notice that I'm in my bed. I look around and see John sitting on my desk chair. He looks at me when I sit up.

"I'm sorry. I honestly thought you knew. They told you everything else so I don't know why they kept this." John rushes to apologise.

"You're my brother," I say softly.

"Yeah..."

"We're a week apart in age."

"I know that."

"That means I have two older brothers and Alex."

He doesn't say anything this time and waits for me to continue.

"That also means Dad has five children. Three boys and two girls. Alex isn't the youngest, I bet he's so happy about that," I say with a giggle.

"Sam, are you okay?" He looks confused.

"I've never been better, John. Do you know what this means? At least three out of the five of us hate Dad. Anja can use that against him during the divorce proceedings because we all have valid reasons to why he's a rubbish father."

"I see."

I watch him for a minute. "John?"

"Hm?"

"How did you know about my mum?"

"I...I was actually going for a midnight walk because my mum and our dad were in their bedroom doing stuff and it was really loud," he says with a laugh.

I cringe at the thought of it. "Well it must be better than fighting and arguing all the time."

"Not much difference if you ask me. Anyway I happened to walk by your house and you were just sitting there in your garden covered in blood. I was curious so I stopped walking and hid behind a tree to see what you were doing. You were crying and kept saying the same thing over and over again. You kept saying sorry to your mum and then you said, 'I didn't mean to kill you, it just happened and I'm sorry'. Then you went inside and I didn't know what to do so I went home. It was none of my business and then a month later I found out you were my sister."

"You knew before everyone?"

"Yeah, Dad told me he had a wife and two kids but he left them to come to us. He didn't know he told me though because he was drunk. I'd never really liked him and since that day I'd hated him."

"How did you know about my scars?"

"That same night Dad told me about you guys he also said how he enjoyed abusing you and how he found pleasure in it. He said he'd punch you, kick you and whip you with his belt. He said all the bruises and scars made you pretty and your tears made you beautiful." John looks disgusted as he remembers it.

He's not looking at me anymore, his gaze on the ground as he tells me his side of everything. I think I finally understand him now. He's not a psycho; he's just looking for the truth the way Alex and I had been. Sure I don't fully trust him yet, but I don't hate him anymore either.

"So that day in school...when you drugged me..."

He looks at me but lowers his gaze again. "I just wanted to see your scars. I didn't realise that you were scared of me and didn't trust me. Why did you avoid me for a year anyway?"

"I just didn't like your personality. You were so cocky and obnoxious and you'd never shut up around me. I didn't want to have to deal with you."

He chuckles and I do too. But then another question pops into my mind.

"What did you do after I passed out?" I completely disregard the fact that he drugged me to make me pass out but I know he knows what I'm referring to.

"I swear I didn't do anything bad. I wouldn't do that stuff to my own sister, that's just messed up. I took pictures of your scars and bruises and then I left."

"You left me alone in a closet and I was shirtless."

He looks guilty for a second then he scratches the back of his head and shrugs with a sheepish smile. "I guess I didn't think it through, did I?"

"No, you didn't. What did you need pictures for?"

"Evidence."

"For?"

"To report Dad obviously. It's about time he gets what he deserves."