Chapter 5

Mom glared at me, her voice cracking. "Where is Aaron? Has he turned into a lost cause just like you? Take whatever you need and leave. But remember, if you don't straighten yourselves out, don't ever come back again!"

Hearing her mention Aaron made the numbness in my chest give way to a wave of agonizing grief.

"Aaron is dead," I said quietly. "Even if you wanted him back, he can't come back."

He could have been saved. But they had personally destroyed every chance he had.

Mom's eyes widened in shock. Her lips trembled as she said, "You're cursing your own brother just to get yourself off the hook? I'm so disappointed in you, Nathan. You're beyond saving."

With my cheek still burning from her slap, I stared at her blankly. "So are you."

Mom stared at me in disbelief. She turned away and went back to her room in tears.

Steve smirked, dropping his innocent act. "Too bad. Looks like you just pushed away the only person who still held out hope for you. Guess you won't be moving back anytime soon."

I ignored him and walked straight into Aaron's bedroom.

The room had been turned into a storage space for Steve's extra stuff. In the corner, I found what little was left of Aaron's belongings.

Most of his things had been thrown away, leaving hardly enough to fill a single backpack. I quietly packed everything up.

When I came down, Steve was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

I tried to walk past him toward the front door, but he suddenly snatched the bag right out of my hand.

"Give that back!" I yelled. My eyes were red with fury as I lunged toward him.

He darted over to the fireplace with a smug grin, holding the bag dangerously close to the flames. "Stay back, or I swear I'll throw it right in."

Rage exploded in my head, my pulse hammering in my ears. "What the hell is wrong with you? Mom and Dad are both home. If you burn this, they'll see right through you!"

Steve burst out laughing. "Mom literally told me to keep an eye on you since you're a liar and a thief. Look at you, Nathan. Even your own mother doesn't trust you anymore."

I glared at him, every muscle in my body tense. "Give me Aaron's things."

Those were the last things I had left of my little brother. I wasn't going to let him destroy them.

Steve smiled, clearly enjoying every second of my desperate reaction. Then, without hesitation, he tossed the backpack straight into the fireplace.

The few clothes inside caught fire instantly. I dove forward, trying to yank the bag out, but it was too late. Blisters formed on my skin from the heat, and I couldn't save a single thing.

A mixture of fury and raw despair tore through my chest, burning hotter than the fire itself. I tackled Steve to the floor, pinned him beneath me, and started slamming my fists into his face.

"Aaron is dead because of you! He's dead, and you still had to destroy the last things he owned! Who gave you the right? How could you do this to him?"

I lost control, clamping one hand over his mouth to silence him while my other fist kept pounding his face. My fingernails raked bloody scratches across his skin.

Hearing the commotion, my parents came rushing into the living room.

"Nathan, are you crazy?!" they screamed in horror.

Someone grabbed me and yanked me away. My lower back slammed hard against the sharp edge of the coffee table, sending a jolt of pain so intense that my vision went black for a second.

Steve burst into tears. "Mom, my face! Look at my face! Is it ruined?"

He threw himself into her arms. "I was only trying to calm Nathan down. I told him he could have all my allowance if he stopped. But he snapped and attacked me! He said if he killed me, he and Aaron could come back and get all your money and property!"