Chapter 1

Alexis and Conner stood outside the police department.

"Okay," Conner said. "I just need to get my flash drive and then we'll go to dinner."

"I like that plan," Alexis said, smiling at her boyfriend.

Tyler quickly ran out the doors, hyperventilating. Conner and Alexis walked over to him.

"Tyler?" Alexis asked.

"What's wrong, buddy?" Conner asked.

"I have to get out of here!" Tyler shouted. "I want to go home!"

Tyler ran to his car, hopped in, and drove off. Angela then walked out of the station.

"Angela?" Alexis asked. "What's up with your brother?"

"There's something I need to tell you," Angela said.

Ten minutes later, Conner arrived at Tyler's house. He then walked to the front door and knocked.

"Tyler?" Conner asked. "Are you home?"

There was no reply.

"Tyler," Conner said. "I know you're home."

There was still no reply.

"Okay," Conner said. "I'm coming inside."

Conner opened the door and entered the house. He then walked upstairs to Tyler's bedroom, where Tyler laid face down, sobbing into his pillow.

"Hey," Conner said softly. "Angela told me."

Tyler got up and began to walk towards the door.

"Oh my God," Tyler cried. "I left her at the station. I have to go get her."

"Hey," Conner said softly, putting his hand on Tyler's shoulder. "It's okay. She staying the night with Alexis."

"Alexis doesn't have to…" Tyler started to say.

"She wants to," Conner said softly.

Conner gave Tyler a hug. They then sat on Tyler's bed.

"So you had a brother," Conner said.

"Yeah," Tyler cried. "Kyle."

"Angela told Alexis and me that he was killed," Conner said.

"It's my fault he's dead," Tyler cried

"Why do you think it's your fault?" Conner asked.

"I was supposed to be watching him," Tyler cried. "It was 2002. I was 11-years-old. Kyle wasn't even 6 yet, and Angela wasn't even a year."

Conner placed his hand on Tyler's shoulder.

"My parents went to the grocery store and asked me to watch my siblings," Tyler cried. "Angela was running a fever, so I was taking care of her giving all of my attention to her. Kyle asked if we could go to the park and I said no. He started whining and I yelled at him. I said, 'If you want to go to the park, walk there yourself!'"

Tyler stood up.

"I can't," Tyler cried. "It's too painful!"

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Conner said softly. "It's okay."

"No, it's not!" Tyler screamed. "I stupidly told my little brother to go to the park by himself, and he did! Because of what I said, he was abducted and murdered! His body was found two days later on the beach, and he had multiple stab wounds to the chest! I'm the reason he's dead! I killed my brother!"

Conner stood up and embraced Tyler tightly.

"You didn't kill your brother," Conner said softly. "It's not your fault."

"It's all my fault," Tyler sobbed.

"It's not your fault," Conner said softly.

Conner continued to embrace Tyler tightly as he cried.

"It's okay," Conner said softly. "It's okay."