Chapter 1 - Strangers

Months had past since my brother, James had died. I still have the memories of him from that very night. I wonder why James had this book that I carry. Where did he find such a book and why would he wish for freedom? Regardless, he is dead now. With all these thoughts swirling inside my head, I torment myself with all questions. I can never seem to find any answers to what I believe matters. I will not give up though. I need to understand why he did this. I need to find out how and why he died. There are just so many unanswered questions and maybe I’ll find them with this book. Thinking to myself now I see how things have gotten worse. My father was killed in the line of duty serving for the police. My mother worked all the time and when she was home she would always seem to cry herself to sleep. With the recent lost of James, things just got worse for her. I am powerless and helpless but she can’t move on with her life because she is stuck supporting me. The streets haven’t changed either. Instead of fighting with everyone that attacked James and me, I have to now run away. I am no match to stay on these streets alone. Everyone treated us as different. They outcast and tormented us. Why would James leave me alone in this world? Why did you do it James? Well I’m on my way to school now. It is Friday with all the normal bullies along the way. The school really doesn’t offer any protection so this is going to be fun like always. I started to walk out of my house with just very little money and a small pastry. The food hasn’t been the best, but we have to eat what we can to survive. The winds were cold and strong pushing against me in this cold winter weather. There was a lot of snow on the ground as I treed through the snow one step at a time. Then I stopped for a little bit because something wasn’t right. I could feel something bad is going to happen. I just know it. Later I heard voices creep behind me. They were all mumbling and I stared back. They were part of a group that hated my brother and me. Looking my way they walked slowly towards me, staring with their cold eyes full of hatred. Some where as black as coal and the sinister grins on their lips grew with each passing second. The tension in my body was tightening. It looks like it is going to be another fight but this time I’m going to be all alone. The world hates outcasts and rejects like me. The world hates those who are different from them. Sometimes people just don’t understand what people have to go through. I hate them. I hate everyone and I hate myself most of all. “Well, well. Look what we have here boys. Just a stray dog that should be put out of his misery. Why don’t we teach Will here a lesson?” Angel snarled towards me with resentment when he said my name. Closer and closer Angel and his gang drew near me. I could feel the tension rising within while I tried my very best to keep calm. Angel then was right in front of me. “So Will, will you give us your money the easy way or the hard way?” Angel asked as he took his hands slowly and started to crack his knuckles. The tension was then building inside of me. I could feel it burning like an animal caged. “Shut the hell up. You’re not worth my time!” I protested as I dropped towards the ground and did a running tackle into his stomach. I could feel the impact on my shoulder as I rammed into him as hard as I could. Then I moved into a motion to punch Angel in chest with my right fist. As I was making my attack on Angel his goons started to join in the fight. I was really out numbered since I was alone fighting verse all 9 of them at once. I felt a knee impact against my stomach and then a fist connecting to my jaw. With the cold and bitter wind blowing in my face made the pain all the more worse. I’ll refuse to show them I’m in any pain and I refuse to give up this fight. I will never back down and let the world walk on me. I would rather die than run away. “Will you ever give this up?” Gerald asked. “You are weak. You are a poor excuse for a human ever.” While I lay on the floor his foot came in contact with my left leg and then he stepped on it. The pain kept getting harder and harder to bear. The world is a stupid place. So many people can get away with so many things. It really is the survival of the fittest where the strong will live and the weak will die. I don’t want to die. I’m not ready to die. I will continue on. This Gerald will pay for stepping on my leg like he did.

Preface - Brother

“Uh, what happened? Where am I?” I started to stir around lying in pain on the ground. I felt like I haven’t moved in ages. My body just hurts. I can see a light. What is this light? “Brother, wait for me. Don’t leave me!” Shouting voices scream in my aching head. Whose voice is that? Who is that speaking? Why am I here? “Don’t come any closer. Leave me alone. I don’t want you here at all. You are useless and in the way!” Another voice shouted. A familiar voice is echoing throughout my mind. “Brother! I won’t leave you. I want to be by your side to the end. I remember now. Where are you?” I got up with my right arm in pain. I stumbled on my feet searching for something to pick me up and carry me. My will and determination is started to shatter under my feelings of helpless. “Yes that is right. He is in danger and needs my help. I’m coming, wait for me brother.” I made my way slowly on my feet feeling my legs sting with each and every step I took. “Go away, I don’t need you here.” No I won’t leave you brother, I won’t. Tears flooded my face with me feeling so weak and useless. I won’t let you fight alone. The pain in my legs was so great that I couldn’t stand and collapsed. Damn it, move. Move damn it. Why can’t I move? Instead of walking I started to crawl my way away from this giant rock I’ve been next to. I don’t honestly remember how I got here but I do remember my brother was in trouble and needed my help. I will find you. I struggle for what seemed like hours in the dark crawling with my need to find him. I need to find my brother no matter what. He is all that I have left in this world. Everyone else just treated me like I was nothing. I am an outcast with no friends. This is why I must make sure he is alright. This is my drive now I just need to move. Something in my mind is holding me back. I feel ridden with doubt and fear. I think the worst is yet to come. Rain started to fall gently on the ground turning it into mud. “Great, I can hardly move now. Regardless nothing will hold me back. I will find you. I will save you James, my brother.” Struggling through this new challenge I will push myself harder. I won’t give up. Lots of time had past and I felt I was getting closer to James’ position so I started to slow my speed in this heavy downpour. Staring down at the ground as I crawled I moved on. Then I saw it. I saw blood and looked up to see James was lying in front of me. My heart then started to pound harder than ever. My eyes widened in fear as my heart was turning into stone. So heavy it felt as I rushed to his side. “James. James, please wake up and open your eyes. Can you hear me?” I closed my eyes and then felt a solitary tear roll ever so slowly as time felt like it froze with seeing James like this. “Hey there little guy. Why are you crying?” James spoke quietly as I opened my eyes and met his. He just smiled at me and laughed a little. “I’m sorry Will. Sorry that you have to see me in this sort of condition.” “It is… everything is my fault.” I tried to not cry but it wasn’t really of any use. I’m weak to my own emotion. I wish it was me instead of my brother. “Don’t say that. This was my choice. You will understand what I said in time. So I should be the only one sorry here.” Slowly he lifted up his hand and touched my face. “You shouldn’t be crying. I’m not worth your tears.” His arm grasps my shoulder as he pulled me down. “Hey, what are you doing?” I tried to protest slightly because I was confused all of the sudden. “There are some things I can’t speak of out loud. I need you to take the book that is in my jacket. It is yours now.” He let go and his arm fell slowly to the ground. He then looked up at the sky. “You must live on for me. You will be the person who keeps me alive. I am finally free like I wished but I wished now that I wasn’t. I didn’t think being free would cost me so much. This is my last wish to you. I wish you to live on and continue your live and to always be…” He then fell silent. “James, James wake up. Don’t leave me! James? JAMES!!!” The air around me blew like an ice cold chill as the world turned to dark then black all over. I slowly picked up the book from his jacket and then tried to read it but I felt dizzy as I held it in my arms close to my chest. I then felt my body fall as I crashed into James’ body and closed my eyes. I opened my eyes to see James’ face all covered in blood dripping down onto me. I pushed his body off mine slowly. “James are you alright? Wake up will you?” There was no response. We both were covering in blood and I notice something fall from my left arm as I rose from the floor. It was a book covered in blood. The book was the same book from the one in my dream. Well it looks the same but what is the meaning of this? I slowly opened and started to read. The wishes written in this book shall be granted. The price of the wish is life itself so be careful in what you wish for. Once the wish is written it can’t be changed. You then will have your wish come true like a dream. My wish is to be free from this pain I feel in the world and to give my brother Will happiness. I would die for Will so please help him. I see what you wanted James. I myself want to make a wish and I know the price. I then write in the book. My wish is to change for the better before I die so I can make James proud of me.