I had to blink multiple times to make sure that I was actually seeing my brother after 4 months.
Everything and every piece of evidence makes me believe that he is no more but deep down a tiny spark of belief flickered-maybe, just maybe, he was still alive. My mother also thought that he was with u and that he was in very deep trouble, which I could clearly see in his situation.
He has become so thin that there is only skin and bone in him. It seems like he is barely had any meals in weeks. I can’t even recognize that he is the same man who used to have such a beastly body that he made by spending hours in the gym. His beard was wild and thick, almost masking his face, and his eyes his eyes were empty like all the life had been sucked out of them.
Every inch of him seemed to radiate helplessness, and the desperation in his eyes was heartbreaking. It was as if he was begging for something, anything-maybe even death- but the cruel figures around him showed no mercy.
My heart shrank when I saw my brother in such a situation and I broke completely. The energy from my body drained away and all I wanted was to go back to the time when everything was beautiful. But at that moment, all I could do was stand there, trapped in this nightmare with him.
“Nara!” he called out softly, there wasn’t so much strength in his voice as well.
All of Desy’s stories about him played on a loop in my mid, but even those couldn’t restrain me from dashing toward him. All I wanted was to hug him tightly and tell him that I was back and that I would save him, even if it cost me my life.
But I was about to reach halfway when I was suddenly lifted off he ground with two strong arms. I cried out in frustration as my feet searched for the ground, my limbs flapping desperately, my arms failing around, attempting to wrestle free and stretched to the fullest to reach out for my brother. But my strength was nothing in comparison to the beasts who were holding me up.
” DON’T TOUCH HER!”
The voice filled with possessiveness and authority boomed in the air and it belonged to none other than Ansell.
He hasn’t reacted anyway even after knowing that I have chased him but I am sure he would not be happy with this fact. He will surely punish me in a very cruel way but at the moment I was feeling so broke that I didn’t care about the consequences. All I wanted was to hug my brother.
As soon as I was released, I wasted no time rushing to his side. I was aching to envelop him in my arms. Tears welled up, blurring my vision and threatening to cascade down my cheeks.
He was just as eager as if he had been waiting for this moment too. As I leaned over him, my arms wrapped around him tightly, and the tears that had pooled in my eyes finally spilled over, tracing wet trails down my cheeks.
My son’s echoed in my ears, drowning out the silence that had fallen over everyone else in the room. I am sure that they must be enjoying our pain because they are all nothing but sadistic. I don’t believe in humanity anymore.
“How are you, Nara, and why did you come here? It is not safe for you” he said in between his cries, his voice breaking low but I could hear him clearly.
I have never heard such a broken voice from him. I am not sure what these devils must have done to him.
Pulling back, I wiped his tear from the pad of my palms, it felt all the oxygen had been sucked out of me.
“I am fine” looking at his condition, I am very much fine. “I came here for you”
My hands started searching for something so that I could free him but my heart shattered when I saw that the chains with which he was tied to the chair were locked with heavy locks. His hands had deep cuts which clearly show that he has fought against it.
“I know you are not fine” he cried, “he told me how he has kept you to himself and the fact that I can’t do anything to save my sister from going through hell is eating me even more”
I silently listened to him as my eyes moved around his face. There are very small cuts on his face, which shows that he has been beaten before. But now they are torturing him by keeping him hungry and thirsty. I am sure he hasn’t seen the sunlight in the last four months.
“Please, Nara, go back. Leave me here. It’s too dangerous for you” he pleased, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Why did you do that, brother? Why? My voice trembled as I asked him, sitting down on the floor in front of him, my hands resting on his knees along with my head.
“Do you also believe that I have done that?”
His question forced me to look up at him.
“Do you think that I could commit such a heinous crime when I had s sister whom I loved so much that I couldn’t tolerate any boy looking at her? Do you?”
His eyes held so much pain I still had a tiny hope that I would believe him.
. “But the evidence, ” I cried. “Desy… She said that… ” I couldn’t even form words because the emotion choked my throat.
“Thrust me, Nara, I haven’t done anything ” he paused for a second because the low energy and overwhelming emotions didn’t let him say anything. “You know that I used to love someone else. I love you. How could I do something so heinous to a girl, a sister of my own best friend? I don’t know in what words I make you understand this. I have been saying this from day one, but no one is willing to hear my side. They won’t even give me a chance to explain ”
I could feel the sincerity in his words _ a convivir that he wasn’t lying.
I know the evidence and the witnesses are all stacked against me. All I have are my words and my honesty, but I swear to my parents, to you, and to my love, I never even touch her” he confessed, laying bare his truth.
I couldn’t stop myself from crying. If what he is saying is true, then he is going through a lot, and that too when he is innocent. This is no right.
“Brother, no matter what the world says, I trust you. I trust the values our parents instilled in us. Despite everything, a part of me held onto the belief that you could never commit such a thing, “I managed to say through my sobs, offering him the reassurance that I was by his side.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed and I could her them approaching us. Soon I got to see their shoes of Ansell as he stood beside me and my brother’s eyes moved up to him.
“Done with your little crying and lying session?” Ansell’s voice dripped with scarcasm as he addressed us.
Before I could say anything, he leaned down, grabbed my arm, and harshly tugged it to make me stand and pull me back.
“Ansell, leave her please! She has nothing to do with all this. You have already captured me. Do whatever you want with me, but spare her” my brother pleased with him while twisting his wrist once again, making futile attempts to make himself free from those chains.
“So, now you are begging huh?” Ansell taunted, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Nice to see that. You can beg all you want, but I am going to listen? No” he laughed, a sound that seemed to echo with cruelty.
“And you!” Ansell shouted at me, “How dare you leave the house without my permission? Was the punishment of last, not enough?” He asked me but I ignored his words because I had something else to say.
“Please Ansell, free him, let me look into this case. Please. I am sure things are hidden from you as well, otherwise, you would have never done something like this to William, your own best friend” my eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t need to know or hear anything. I already know the truth and now that you are here and you have already seen your brother alive in front of your eyes, I think it is his time to say goodbye to this world”
His words hit me like tons of bricks. My breath caught in my throat as I heard his words and the meaning behind them registered in my mind.
“Please, don’t, Ansell” I tried to break free myself but his hold was so tight that all my attempts went in vain.
“Who would stop me? You?” He laughed as I cried.
“Ansell, I am begging you ” my words came out choked as my tears flowed without restraint.
“I think it is now time to end his torture once and for all. It is better if he dies and I chop off his body and feed to the dog just the way I explain to you” his words were like a dagger to my heart. “You wanted to know the truth so now face it’
I shuddered at my place as my legs gave up. Everything around me started spinning. I blinking multiple times and draw deep breaths. I can’t let panic attack me. I had to be strong for my brother but his neck words weakened my will.
“And we will do it together, Tereso”