Chapter 188: Because You Are My Brother

Chapter 188: Because You Are My Brother
Eva woke up in a dark, cold room. Her head throbbed, and her mouth felt dry. When she tried to move, she realized her hands and feet were tied with rough rope. A thick towel was stuffed into her mouth, preventing her from making any sound but a soft whimper.

Fear gripped her. She looked around the abandoned warehouse, tears blurring her vision. Then, she saw a shadow in the doorway. Theodore walked in.

Eva’s eyes lit up. She made muffled noises through the cloth, thinking he had come to save her. Theodore walked over and ripped the towel out of her mouth. He began untying her hands, but his face was a mask of cold fury.

"Brother, where are we?" Eva asked, her voice trembling. "Why did that man take me? We have to go home. Mama will be so scared."

"Shut up!" Theodore screamed. The sound echoed off the metal walls. "Don't you dare say her name! You’re a thief! You stole my mother, you stole my life, and you took everything that was supposed to be mine!"

Eva stared at him, confused. "I didn't steal anything. She’s your mama too. We can share. We’re siblings..."

"I don't want to be your brother!" Theodore’s voice broke. He lunged forward and grabbed Eva by the throat. He didn't use all his strength, but his hands were tight enough to make her choke. "If you didn't exist, she would have come back for me. You need to go away. You need to die!"

Eva’s face turned red. She gasped for air, her tiny hands clawing at his wrists. "Brother... please... Mama said... you’d love me. She said... you were good..."

Theodore froze. Her words were like a bucket of ice water. He looked at her struggling face, and suddenly, he wasn't seeing Eva. He was seeing Ivy.

He remembered Ivy. He had hated her too. He had been jealous of how Eleanor smiled at her. When Ivy died, a part of him had been happy. He thought he had finally won. But then he saw what Ivy’s death did to Eleanor. He saw his mother fall apart. He saw the light leave her eyes for years.

If Eva died, Eleanor wouldn't come back to him. She would hate the world. She would hate him. If she found out he was the one who did it, she would never look at him again. The thought of Eleanor looking at him with pure hatred was more terrifying than anything else.

He let go of Eva’s neck and scrambled backward, falling onto the dusty floor.

"No... no, I don't want her to hate me," he whispered, his body shaking. "I can't let her hate me."

Eva slumped to the floor, coughing violently. She took deep, shuddering breaths as the color returned to her face. She looked at Theodore, but she didn't look angry. She looked sad.

"Brother, why did you do that?" she asked, her voice raspy. "Did I make you mad?"

Theodore looked at her in disbelief. "I just tried to kill you. Why aren't you screaming? Why aren't you running away?"

"Because you're my brother," Eva said simply.

Theodore felt like he had been punched. He remembered Ivy saying the exact same thing years ago. He had ruined her dresses and torn her drawings, and she had always forgiven him. He had been a monster then, and he was being a monster now.

Eva reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled strawberry candy. She held it out to him. "Mama says that when you’re sad, you should eat something sweet. It makes the bad feelings go away. Don't be sad, Brother."

Theodore stared at the candy. His chest felt tight. He wanted to push her away, but his hand reached out and took the sweet. He realized then that he couldn't do it. He couldn't be the reason Eleanor cried again.

"Stay here," Theodore said, standing up. "I’m going to get my dad to take you back. But you can't tell anyone about this, okay? If you tell, I’ll... I’ll never talk to you again!"

Eva nodded quickly. "I promise!"

Theodore stepped out of the warehouse. Sebastian was waiting by the car, checking a small handgun he had tucked into his waistband.

"Is it done?" Sebastian asked, his voice eager.

"Dad, let’s just take her back," Theodore said, his voice pleading. "She promised she won't tell. We can just leave. Maybe Mom will give us more money if we bring her back safe."

Sebastian’s face twisted. He grabbed Theodore by the collar and slapped him hard across the face. "You coward! Do you think I care about the money? Look at me! I’m a cripple! I’m a dishwasher! All because of that woman! She destroyed my life, so I’m going to destroy hers."

Theodore touched his stinging cheek. "So you don't care about me getting back to Mom? You just want to hurt her?"

"Of course I want to hurt her!" Sebastian shouted. "And the best part is, she’s going to know her own son did the deed. It’ll kill her slowly. Now, go back in there and finish it, or I’ll do it myself."

Theodore looked at the gun on Sebastian’s hip. He realized his father was insane. Sebastian didn't love him. He was just using him as a weapon.

"Fine," Theodore said, his voice flat. "I’ll do it. You’re right. It’s her fault."

Sebastian smiled and patted his shoulder. "That’s my boy."

Theodore walked back into the warehouse. As soon as the door closed, his face changed. He ran to Eva. "We have to go. My dad has a gun. He’s going to kill us both if we don't move."

"What?" Eva’s eyes went wide.

"Be quiet!" Theodore whispered. He looked around and spotted a high, broken window. "I can't reach it, but I can lift you. You have to climb out and run to the main road. Find a car and tell them you’re a Prescott. Do you understand?"

"What about you?"

"I’ll be fine. Just go!" Theodore grabbed a crate and pushed it under the window. He lifted Eva onto his shoulders. It was hard work, and his hands were cut by the jagged glass on the sill. Blood dripped down his arms, but he didn't stop.

"Go! Run!" he hissed as he pushed her through the opening.

He watched her small feet disappear. He let out a breath and tried to climb up himself, but he heard the warehouse door creak open.

"Theodore? Why is it so quiet in here?" Sebastian’s voice echoed through the dark.

Theodore turned around, his heart pounding against his ribs. He had to buy her time.