Sibling Secrets
by
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-Bump- "Ow…” I looked up and read the door that said “Erik’s room.” I was at the end of the hall, which was apparently the entrance to Erik’s room. I knocked on the door, wondering if he was inside. I didn’t get an answer, so I put my ear to the door. I heard noises coming from behind it, so I knocked again. "Hello, Erik? Are you in there?” Still no answer. I turned the knob and the door opened. I didn’t think he would mind if I just took a look around for my camera. He would probably be back soon anyway, then he could help me look for it. I stepped inside, and walked through, leaving the door cracked open. I looked around the empty space, then turned my head in the direction of the noise that I was hearing. I walked up to a door, opening it. Inside was a room of computers and printers. The noise was the printer. Papers were being printed onto the floor. On one of the desks, was my camera. "There you are”, I said to myself as I walked over to it. I picked it up and saw that it was connected to a wire, hooked up to the computer. I unplugged it, and the computer beeped, as if to argue with me. The printing stopped and I looked over to the printer to see the last paper fall. I kneeled down, going to pick them up for Erik when I noticed something. There was a picture of a mirror, showing me. The picture I took with Isaac that day…I moved the papers around and saw more pictures. Pictures of Isaac. Everywhere. My eyes widened as the realization set in. We had been caught. Busted. I jumped hearing paper crunching behind me, and turned around. Erik was standing in the door way, a knowing look on his face. "Hello, Caroline.” "……………Erik.” "You’ll be happy to know I found your camera and even took the time to print out your pictures…” "………” "I was surprised at what I found, Caroline. I never thought that the person you liked would be……” "It’s not. You’re wrong.” I immediately took a defensive tone, giving me away. "Oh? These pictures say I’m right”, he said bending down and picking one up. “…And you said he likes you as well? So there was more going one the other day, besides medicine.” He looked at me. Fear was stamped across my face, as he stepped closer to me and knelt in front of me. He was going to blackmail me. He would get what he wanted. What Grandma wanted. I looked down at the pictures on the floor. All of Isaac smiling back at me. It hurt thinking it might be the last time. I heard Erik chuckle and looked up, tears welling in my eyes. I knew it would happen. That we would get caught. I knew it wasn’’t meant to be. And yet- "…Relax, Caroline. Your secret is safe with me.” My eyes widened, causing a tear to fall, which he wiped away as he cradled the side of my face. I swallowed hard, getting the lump out of my throat. "…What?” I choked, my thoughts being erased, as more tears fell. "…I’m not going to tell anyone. But…I worry if someone else finds out. What will you do?”, he said, wiping my eyes. "……………” I looked back down at the pictures. What would I do? What if someone else found out? What would I do? What would we do? What if our parents found out? What would they do? What if they separated us? What if we caused our parents’ breakup? All these questions raced through my head, making it hurt. I held my hands to my head and leaned over my legs, trying to stop my head from hurting. "Caroline?”” What if no one understood? What if they couldn’t see what Isaac saw? What if they didn’t care if we were in love, if we were? What would we do? How would we handle it? Would we be able to make it? Would the relationship survive? I cringed, at the pain and began trying to crush my skull together. "No…” "Caroline……?” What if Isaac started to fear the risk of being caught? What if he decided to end it today? Tomorrow? What would I do? That’s what I wanted, right? For him to fear being caught and judged by others? What if that’s not what I wanted? Not anymore? A sharp pain came to the middle of my head and I jerked back. "Ah!”, I yelped, more tears falling. "Caroline?!”” I shook my head, closing my eyes tight before opening them again, then closing. I leaned back over my legs, covering my head. What would happen to us? Would our parents forgive us? Would Dad forgive me? Would Mom? Another sharp bolt of pain. Mom. What would she do about this? What would she say to me? I missed her so much. Would she still love me, if she knew? If she knew my feelings for Isaac, would she still love me? The sound of ambulance sirens ran through my head and I screamed, hating the sound. "STOP!”” I wailed, gripping onto Erik. "Caroline! What’s wrong?!” I saw them taking her away on the stretcher. Taking her away from me. I had to know. I needed to know that she would forgive me for my feelings. I had to. "Bring her back!! Give her back to me! I have to know! Tell me you forgive me, Mom! Tell me! Bring her back to me!!” I screamed, my eyes blurring from the tears. I shook Erik. I shook him like I did the soldier that came to our house. I wanted her back. I wanted to know that she would forgive me. "…C-Caroline?? Someone get in here!! Butlers! Get the doctor!” I glared and pushed him away. "NO! Don’’t bring that devil in here! He let my mother die! He gave me poison! Don’t let that bastard in here!!” I screamed getting up and going past him. He grabbed my leg, stood up and held onto me. "Caroline, calm down! Butlers!!” I thrashed myself against him. "NOOO!! DADDYYY!!!” I screamed, like I was eleven. The age I was when I lost her. The butlers and my Dad came running in. "What’s wrong?! Why is she yelling like that?!” My Dad yelled at Erik, obviously upset. I kicked Erik and ran to my Dad. "Bring her back Daddy…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Just bring her back. Give her back to me. They took her… They took her away from me.”” I cried hanging onto him. He looked down at me, holding me up by my arms. His eyes saddened, hearing my words. He didn’t answer me as I talked. "Why wouldn’’t she come back…? She’s still on the bridge, Dad…Tell them to give her back.” I felt a pinch in my arm and spun around. One of the zombies stepped back, holding a needle. I went to hit him, but I missed, everything getting blurry. I stepped forward, wobbling. "…I have…to know.” I said. And the ground came up to meet me. What would I do? How would I do it? Who else would find out? Would we be forgiven?
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About the Book
Caroline and her father Robert are looking to move on from her mother's death five years earlier. Her father has found a girlfriend, while she still suffers from mental breakdowns and episodes where she visually relives witnessing her mother's death. As it turns out, Caroline's father's new girlfriend has a son, Isaac, who takes a liking to her. Too much of a liking. The two realize they have a connection and Caroline is fearful of what will become of the relationship. She tries to resist him, but he convinces her that nothing will happen between their parents, and that it is a fling. So they keep their relationship a secret from their friends and family, waiting for their parents' fling to end. But will it? Will Caroline and Isaac be able to keep their relationship a secret? Will Caroline ever get over her mother's death? Find out about all the drama that unfolds in an unexpected teenage romance.
About the Author
Jaz Johnson was born in 1993 and was 15 when she had the idea to write this fiction story. She always loved telling stories, whether it be in a notebook and sharing with her friends, or writing with the intention of having the world see. She loves to draw, read, and play strategy games.