The Favor

“I lost count of the promises I’ve broken for you.” Kaden stared at me, his electric blue eyes holding more self-righteous storm in them than usual. I scowled in response.

“Don’t act like you didn’t benefit from those. I just need this one favor, okay? Besides if we get caught, just do what you normally do, blame the problem child.” I crossed my arms, feeling my auburn ponytail swing and brush my shoulder. We were in the garden, where we normally fought, the place where Mom and Dad never went. As far as I can remember, our parents hadn’t come out here since we were little, as if they suddenly remembered the beautiful rosebushes and daffodils grew out of dirt, worms, and sweat.

Kaden shook his head again and ran a hand through his blond spikes. “Tatum, what I’ve done for you before is nothing like this.” I chewed on my lip, tasting the strawberry lip balm I rubbed on an hour ago. He was right. He’s lied to our parents and covered for me, despite his promise to keep an eye on me. He’s broken up with his girlfriend for my defense, though he promised he’d love her forever. But this was completely different. He swore to do no harm and here I was, barely keeping from shaking, pleading to help me with murder.

“He deserves it.” I countered, feeling bile in my throat at the thought. “Who knows how many lives he’s taken and gotten away with? And what he did to Meadow…”

Even Kaden, the aspiring lawyer, didn’t have a reply for that. Meadow, our cousin and best friend who made up the year between Kaden and I, suffered under the monster’s hands. He took away her maidenhood and now she may never marry. It was the town’s laws and though I was never one for matrimony, I knew it was Meadow’s dream to have a family someday.

Kaden squared his jaw and I saw the muscles tighten around his cheeks. This was a good sign. I held my breath, waiting. He was going to say yes. When it came to his little sister, he always gave in.

“It’s about to rain,” he finally said. I exhaled and looked at the clouds. They were clustering above, ready for a storm. When I lowered my gaze, Kaden was already heading back inside. My shoulders sunk. I guess I had finally found his limits. After a moment, I followed him. After all, it was going to rain.

Mom jostled me awake violently the next morning. I jumped in bed to her clammy hands, hitting my head on the wall in the process. “Ow.” I rubbed the back of my head, feeling the matt of knots the night’s sleep had formed. When my eyes finally adjusted, I saw both of my parents at my feet, they’re eyes in the fieriest rage I had ever seen them. And for the first time, I didn’t know what I had done to make them so angry.

“What’s going on?” My words stumbled over each other.

“Where’s your brother?” Mom demanded.

“Kaden? I don’t…”

“He’s missing,” her voice cracked. “And he wouldn’t do this on his own.”

“What?” Dad was placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, rubbing back and forth. I was instantly on my feet, coming towards them, but they wouldn’t let me engage in a hug. Dad gave me a glace that told me to stay back. I felt my hands shaking by my side.

“What’s going on?” I asked again, barely able to form a word.

Dad held up a wrinkled newspaper clipping, obviously having been crumpled in his hand. ‘Local Boy Killed’ the headline read and I recognized the picture of the cocky college freshman that had plagued our town and raped my cousin.

There was a knot in my stomach, twisting and twisting upon itself. My mouth went dry. I knew. “You think it was…Kaden?”

Mom burst in to tears. Dad shrugged. “Normally, no. But he went missing as soon as the paper came out.”

My eyes darted to the window but any tracks he would have left had been washed away by the rain. Mom and Dad were right but I would never admit it. Especially knowing it was my fault. How he saved me from getting involved. I crossed my arms over my chest. It seems I had a brother who was limitless, who would do anything for blood.