Brotherhood

The city was under a spell that night. The snow seemed to suffocate the world with its blissful innocence. There were no sounds, perhaps the snow absorbed the sounds the city usually makes. The strange thing was there wasn’t much snow to go by at all. The sidewalks and streets of the city were clear, but shining with slick wetness the snow may have caused before melting away. The city killed everything. It was nightfall and the coldest time at that. That might’ve been seen as ironic, how things worked out that way.1

Far away, the city looked more innocent that it would ever actually be. The silence seemed deafening out there, looking at the bright nightlife of the city. Even the darkest areas looked peaceful in winter. It may have seemed that way, but if a person were to slip into the cracks the peaceful snow covered, they would find that the city was as it always was. The sound of running footsteps could be heard. Breathing and gasping for breath in alleyways. In that darkness, would be me. Stephen Vikail, or as the Brothers and Big Brothers called me: Little Brother.2

It was an honor, really; to be running alongside Big Brother. We were searching for our brother: Brother Zayne. Brother Zane had run off, and we knew nothing of it. It was late that night, and Brother Zayne disappeared from the quarters. I, in spirit, was stalking the hallways, though my body was at peace in the room with the other Little Brothers. I was walking in and out of the rooms of the Brothers. They had better rooms than the Little Brothers. Better beds, we just had cots, a kitchenette, we ate in a cafeteria, and better clothes…we had to wear uniforms, so anyone would be able to tell why I loved sneaking into their rooms at night, but only in spirit. If I were ever caught in those rooms…Father would have my head.3

I was able to see Brother Zayne get up, and sneak out of his window. It was strange that the window wasn’t barred anymore. He must’ve filed through the bars and slowly broke them off each year. Now, he was finally free. I had not known why anyone would want to escape the care of Father. He treated his sons like gods. We always had the best food and blankets. Anyone would DIE to be where we were. That explains why I’m here today. I wanted so much to be one of them: to be flawless, endless, and beautiful. I am now. I was already attractive, but now everything about me was BEAUTIFUL. I have a shining smile, beautiful crimson eyes, and my hair now reaches to the small of my back, black and bone straight.4

That same night Big Brother lined us all up, and I returned to my body as soon as I could, which happened to be just in time. We all stood in the basement, tense with excitement, but not fear. Big Brother would never hurt us unless we deserved it. There were no deaths in the Brotherhood. “Where is he?” he asked everyone, pacing to the end of every line, first the Brother line and then the Little brother line. Big Brothers lived someplace else. His crimson hair that he left in his face fell over piercing blue eyes and porcelain cheeks, where as the rest of that blood red beauty was placed in a ponytail behind him. His arms were behind his back as he continued to pace. I was so excited that I knew where Brother Zayne had went, my voice refused to speak. It wanted me to bask in my moment of glory longer.5

Big Brother stopped in front of me and smirked. “Little Brother,” he said, placing a hand on my cheek, “Did you happen hear what I said?”6

“Yes, Big Brother,” I said, captivated. Big Brother could control people when he looked into their eyes and I, had become a victim, captivated by those piercing blue eyes.7

“And you know where he is?” Big Brother said, removing his freezing pale hand from my cheek.8

“Yes Big Brother.”9

“Come with me.”10

“Yes Big Brother.”11

Now here we are, outside running in the darkness where only our breaths and footsteps could be heard. Big Brother froze for a moment and looked around. "I've lost his fear," He says, as though loosing Brother Zayne's scent was the least of our problems. I lost his scent as well.12

He turns and looks at me, his eyes catching mine in a random gaze. "Leave your body, Little Brother," He says, voice entrancing me in a world of warmth, "Find your Brother Zayne."13

I do as Big Brother ordered. My body collapses on the floor, but I am standing outside my body. I lift my arms and let my body float above the city. My eyes are closed and I only look down when my concentration is not as important anymore. There! There he is. He's running down 5th Avenue, not too far where my body lay and Big brother holds it. My spirit falls and lands hard back into my body. I wake with a large headache and it seems as though seeing Brother Zayne speeding down 5th Avenue were only a dream of many. Big Brother helps me up and I hold my temple with my hand. I point in the direction of 5th Avenue. "There, Big Brother, he's running down 5th Avenue," I groan.14

Big Brother smirks, bearing a small white fang from underneath his pale lips. "Thank you Little Brother," He says, giving me his appreciation.15

Off he goes again, the speed of a demon and the grace of an angel. I wonder if I move like that now that I'm a part of the Brotherhood. I hope so. I shun my moment of thought and run after him, still wondering in the back of my mind how I look. After long moments of running, I stop behind Big Brother. My breath is gone, but brother stands there. He looks at me, eyes narrow and it sends a chill up my spine. Suddenly, I’m cold. His stare was like ice. He then turned back around and I got a look of what, I mean, who he was standing in front of.16

“Please Big Brother,” Brother Zayne says, on his knees with his hands in the air, “Please…I just want to be free.”17

“I can let you be free,” Big Brother says, “But the pain of loosing a brother would be just…unbearable. There was something about Big Brother’s tone that makes me tremble on the inside.18

I am confused as to why Brother Zayne would want to leave Father’s care, but I do not ask. I know when I need to talk and I know when I need to be quiet. Brother Zayne’s strawberry blonde hair fell over crimson eyes as he lowered his head to the ground. “I know Big Brother,” Brother Zayne says, voice trembling. Why is he so scared? We found him, now he can live with the Brotherhood again.19

I step up and stand next to Big Brother. “Don’t be so scared, Brother Zayne, Big Brother’s only doing all this because he loves you,” I say, trying to soothe Brother Zayne.20

Big Brother smirks and lifts his shirt slightly, revealing a gun. He slips the gun from the front of his pants and points it at Brother Zayne. “Only because I love you,” Big Brother says.21

My blood goes colder than normal and I want to reach a trembling hand to stop Big Brother. What is he doing? No one dies in the Brotherhood. No one. Why…is…? Big Brother lowers the gun and relief fills me like warmth in this cold body. Like I said…no one- Big Brother hands the gun to me. “You do it,” he says and my heart drops, and he smirks. “Brother Vikail.”22