Page 229 of There's No Us Without You
“Both of you, just shut the fuck up.” I spit the words, warning in my tone.
They’ll both be punished for this little stunt when we get back inside.
Eden stiffens at Emerson’s side, then presses up behind me again, peaking her head around my arm as she grips onto it.
“Come,” Brady says, his hand still outstretched.
“Don’t you dare fucking move, Eden,” I say, my body tensing. “I mean it.”
“Tyler’s still there,” she whispers, nodding to my brother standing between the two groups.
Brady sighs and rubs his forehead, closing his eyes for a second. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but you’ve left me no choice.” He reaches under his shirt and yanks a gun out from the top of his jeans, then points it directly at me.
I fist my hands at my sides, while Eden gasps, and Emerson moves quickly to shove her behind him, his eyes never leaving Brady.
Tyler darts in front of me with his hands up, trying to redirect Brady’s focus. “Hold on a sec, Brady. There’s no need for that. Just let Will go inside with Emerson and Eden, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“Tyler.” My voice is demanding, letting him know he needs to shut his face.
“I’ve got this, bro.” He throws a tight smile over his shoulder, but I don’t miss the panic in his eyes before he turns once again to Brady. “Come on, man. You don’t want to do anything you’ll regret.”
Brady’s eyes dart between Tyler and me, a slight shake in his hand as he directs the gun at my chest. He’s not comfortable with what he’s doing, but that’s what scares me the most.
“Shut the fuck up, Tyler. I want to hear her say it.” Brady spits onto the grass, his nostrils flaring.
“She’s not a snitch,” Tyler says. “Trust me.”
“Trust you? Why would I do that?”
“Because we go way back. Come on, man. Let’s just go back to my place, and I’ll explain everything.”
Brady shakes his head. “Sorry, I can’t do that. I can’t let her go if she’s going to run straight to the cops again. She lied before, and she’ll lie again.”
With my hands in the air, I step towards Brady, who’s about three metres in front of me. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret, Brady. You don’t want me as your enemy.”
He swallows hard, his eyes ping-ponging between Tyler and me. “You won’t be a threat if you’re dead,” he says, his voice trembling.
Jayden walks up behind Brady. “Listen, Brady, it’s not what you think.”
“Shut the fuck up, Jayden.” Tyler takes a tentative step towards his friend.
“I can’t let anyone get hurt.” Jayden’s eyes glass over, his bottom lip trembling. “I’m sorry. Brady, it was me. I told the cops what happened, not Eden.”
Brady spins, the gun now directed at the boy now in front of him. “You little shit! What makes you think I won’t put a bullet in your head right now?”
Jayden holds his hands up and pauses as he glances at Tyler. “I’m sorry, Ty,” he says, before he, too, pulls a gun from the front pocket of his hoodie.
Then everything happens so fast: Tyler racing towards Jayden, the sound of Eden’s scream ringing in my ears, the deafening sound of a gun going off.
My heart is pounding. My hands are shaking and sweaty. I drop to the ground and crawl to where I last saw my brother—although a straight line is impossible with dizziness overtaking me as my hands and knees scrape along the ground.
I vaguely sense bodies in front of me—one escaping down the front yard before an engine roars to life, and the blur of a large vehicle flies down the street.
I scrub a hand over my face. “Tyler. TYLER!” My entire body is vibrating, and I can’t seem to take a deep breath.
When my vision finally focuses, all the blood drains from my face.
On the ground, about two metres in front of me, are Tyler and Jayden. Blood pours from my brother’s chest, soaking what was once a white T-shirt, as Jayden cradles his head in his lap.
