MELINA
I hadn't slept at all. This sinking feeling in my stomach wouldn't let me. Plus, every time I started to fall asleep, someone would come in to question me, or draw blood, or some other sort of test. What were they doing? I kept expecting to be strapped down to the table again, like I had when I'd first come. Was my uncle protecting me for some reason?
The cell door opened, and Uncle Anders entered. He was reading something on a clipboard, squinting at it intensely.
"Good...good....excellent." He smiled and looked at me. "Well, my dear, may I say you have helped me immensely."
"I have? I didn't...."
"Oh, I know you didn't do anything. But the information we've gathered through you will be a great help."
"I'm sorry that anything I've done has helped you."
Anders chuckled. "You sounded very much like your brother there."
"Good."
"You won't look up to him nearly so much when I'm done."
More torture. I knew it....
"In fact, in a few days, you won't know who Keefer even is."
I stared at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Simple, dear Melina. You will forget Keefer is your brother. You will remember him only as your father's killer."
"Why would I ever think that?"
"Because it's true. The last part, anyway. And the first part will be for your own good."
"Keefer didn't kill dad."
"Oh? What makes you so sure?"
"Because he...he was...he wouldn't...." My mind was racing. He didn't do it. He didn't. But the more I thought about it, the more evidence I saw in Anders' favor. And he knew it.
"Yes, my dear. Your precious brother killed your father and made it look like suicide. Put the gun in your father's hand when he was done and crept back up to your room."
"He....he was protecting me...."
"So he forced you to live with strangers?"
"That wasn't his fault!"
"No need to shout...perhaps he didn't mean to. But it happened. And he's lied to you all these years. Why? To protect you? You've been abused, bullied, treated like a dog. Why didn't he rescue?"
"Stop...please...." No. I wasn't letting tears slip. No in front of him.
"Because he doesn't care as much as you think, Melina. The brother you love so much sees you as something that reminds him of his crime. And he hates you for it."
I hadn't even seen the needle, hadn't realized anything had been injected into me until he pulled the syringe away. I felt numb all over, but not because of the drug. My uncle's words had hit me like a fist, dug into me like a knife. It all made sense, all fit....he was right....
"He's dead, Mel...I...it's my fault..."
Keefer whispered it over and over, holding me close as tears rolled down my cheeks.
"I've messed everything up...do you hate me?"
I shook my head and hugged him tighter. "I wuv you, bruvver. Forevers and all the time."
"I love you too."
"Forevers and all the times?"
Keefer smiled a little. "Forevers and all the times."
"LIAR!" My angry shout started my uncle. "Keefer is the ONLY person who has ever cared about me. EVER! Where were YOU when they split us up to send to different homes? You were the only family we had left!" I couldn't remember ever being this angry, and it had obviously thrown my uncle off. He took a step back, like he was afraid I was going to do something to him. And I took a step toward him.
"Where is my brother?"
"He's a murderer, Melina. A monster."
"Where. Is. He?!" I grabbed the front of his lab coat roughly, and he started falling backward. No...I was....Suddenly I was on my back, and Anders startling laughing.
"Enjoy the good memories while you can, Melina." He motioned toward a young lab assistant. "Continue administering the drugs. Every six hours."
"Yes sir."
No....I won't foget you, Keefer, I won't!
I woke up in a strange place. White walls...a hospital bed....people in black lab coats....
"Good morning, dear."
"Uncle Anders?"
"How do you feel?"
"Fine....where am I?"
"You had an accident dear, but you're safe."
"Oh....I don't remember anything...."
"That's alright, dear. I'll help you remember."
