Page 97 of A Wolf's Wound
But Brian’s back to ignoring my questions.“You have a great family, Ryder.Really great.”
“I know.I’m lucky.”
“I used to want a family like that.”
Before I can figure out what to say, Brian’s face lights up.“But now I feel like I do.I feel like your family is mine because everyone’s come together in such a beautiful way.”
To hunt you down, I want to say.But of course I don’t.I don’t want to antagonize him in any way.Not when I have the sense that he’s getting close to telling me what the hell is going on.
So instead, I nod.“They can be your family too, Brian.They’ll get to know you and see how awesome you are.How clever and determined.And you’ll be part of the family too.”
“Do you mean that?”
“Of course I do.I know how lucky I am,” I say again.“Everyone should be as fortunate.And if being a part of my family is what you want, we’ll make that happen.”
“Thanks, Ryder.”Brian looks serious, and for a second I think that I’ve gotten through to him.Maybe now he’ll calm down and tell me what he’s up to.
Instead, Brian claps his hands together again.I should have been expecting it, but I still jump.He doesn’t notice.
“Everyone’s all together,” Brian says.“It’s all so perfect.And now, it’sfinallytime.”
Chapter 56
Hannah
“Justonemorequestion,”Ryder says.
“What?”Brian asks impatiently.
“Sorry, Brian.I don’t want to delay anything, but you’re the only one who can tell me this,” Ryder says.
Brian seems flattered.“Okay, fine.One more question.”
“Thanks.What I want to know is, why didn’t you just come out and say it was you?”
“Because that would have ruined the surprise,” Brian says.
“The surprise?”Ryder echoes.
Brian nods.“Yeah.It was a surprise for you, man.All of this!”He grins.
“Oh, wow,” Ryder says.“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Brian says.“It’s fine that you know now.I’m not mad.It’s better this way, actually.”
“What do you mean?”Ryder asks.I’m really glad Brian doesn’t seem to notice or care that Ryder’s asked a lot more than the one question he told Brian he had.
“I mean that now that you know, we can finish this off together.That’s the way I always wanted it, in fact.You and me, Ryder.Best friends through thick and thin.”
Brian looks so happy and proud.I almost feel sorry for him.I know Ryder didn’t mean for any of this to happen, and I can only imagine how guilty he must feel.But I also know Brian isn’t in his right mind and probably hasn’t been for quite a while.
I wonder what he was like before all of this began.He must have had some redeeming qualities.Right?There must have been something about Brian that made Ryder want to hang out with him.I try to see him in that light, to look at everything he’s done from a sympathetic perspective.
But it’s hard to do that.Any humanity that was in Brian, any compassion or empathy, must have died off a long time ago.
“Finish…what off?”Ryder asks slowly.
“All of this!”Brian says, waving his arms around.
