Attention: In my authors note in chapter 16 I totally forgot to put Delilah in the RW suspect cross-off list. I have just fixed that problem. I didn't want anyone to suspect Delilah just because I forgot to put her on the list.

Chapter 18: Caution tape around my heart

Emery's POV

I lied.

I loved the kiss. I just didn't love it coming from my brother's killer.

So 2 hours later I'm still down here after Raiden left when Pierce finally unlocked the door because he dropped his keys while trying to get Raiden's phone.

I don't know why Raiden kissed me, I mean he has a girlfriend but I guess he doesn't care about that. I admit, I do feel attraction towards Raiden but it can never happen. I've done the pros and cons list in my head and right now the cons list is overpowering the pros list.

I think anyone can guess what's first on the cons list. I just wish to leave this place without anything or anyone tying me down. The only thing tying me down from escaping right now is the knot in my back.

I'm surprised I'm not paralyzed...yet.

Casey's physical therapy has actually been working for me. I slowly push myself off the couch as I walk towards the small bedroom. My back doesn't even hurt anymore, it just aches. If I get out of here I need one hell of a back massage.

But back to Raiden, I feel like I'd be betraying my brother if I were to ever...

Like him.

I just can't imagine doing that to him even though he's not here, I'm honoring him.

Before I can lay back on the lumpy bed, the door slams open, literally knocking it off its hinges. I poke my head out of the room and see its Raiden with Kade following behind him. They both have blank expressions on their faces so I can't tell if this is bad or good news for me.

Once they successfully stand in front of me, Raiden speaks up first.

"Emery...We just watched the tape from cell 23 and now I know...."

Raiden's POV

"Can't it reboot faster!" I complained as I sat in my office chair, waiting for the computer to load the recording. Kade turns my laptop around so it faces him and presses a few keys before turning it back over to me.

Finally, the recording of cell 23 appears. Ever since I kissed Emery, I wanted this recording to prove her innocence, even though she pushed me away and yelled at me. I watch carefully as the deleted 10 minutes of the tape plays.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I see Emery sleeping in the bottom bunk, hugging her pillow tightly. My breathe of air soon hitches once I see a figure unlocking the cell door as it walks in. Now thinking its a guard I look closely and realize this figure isn't very well built.

And all my men are very well built.

Once the figure kneels down in front of the wardrobe I automatically realize it's a women. The way she bended down to open the wardrobe was so.... Girl-ish.

Once I saw her put a large duffle bag at the bottom of the wardrobe I started rethinking everything about RW. This whole time I was thinking of a guy. Now RW is possibly a girl?

But what if it's not RW?

I went back to my old theory about two people doing this? So, is RW two people? Or is this RW's secret minion.

I look back at the video and see the figure exiting without showing its face. I look back at Kade and see he's surprised too since this is his first time seeing the tape.

And because he now knows someone in this mansion framed Emery.

"Kade, I need you to pull up every security tape around this time on every girls whereabouts. I also need you to check off every girl that shows up on a security camera and has an alibi," I explained to him as I walk out of my office and towards the garden.

He follows me with a tablet in hand as he scrolls through the security tapes. I reach the sword of the statue and pull roughly. Once it's done moving I climb down first as Kade keeps his tablet in one hand while climbing down.

I dig deep down in my pockets as I take the key out and unlock the door. I walk in and notice she's not on the couch, I walk towards the bedroom as I see her standing there looking shocked by my presence.

"Emery....We just watched the tape from cell 23 and now I know....RW had framed you," I breathed out the words she probably already knew. "I know that already, I told you that," she stated calmly. I instantly put my hand over my heart when I feel a weird pang exploding through my veins.

It couldn't be guilt, right?

I look over to her as she stretches her back like she's preparing for something. Once she's done she walks past me and towards the door. This time I don't stop her as I see her struggling to climb the ladder. I run and jump on the ladder as I catch up with her. Once I'm there I cover her hands in mine as I guide her to go up, my chest being a support to her back. Somehow, it feels...great to be this close to her. I love the sparks I get when I touch her hands. I felt the same sparks when I kissed her, the only difference here is that she's not pushing me away as we reach the top.

I stand up as I grab the sword once again to close it back up but a hand shoots up from the hole and makes a stop motion.

I forgot about Kade.

"I could've been crushed!" He shouts as he hands his tablet over the Emery. "What's this?" She asks as she looks at the tape that proved her innocence.

Kade finally makes it out as he dusts himself off. "It's proof that someone tried to framed you," he explains still not knowing about the RW situation.

"Oh," was all she said while watching the video. She hands the tablet back to Kade as she walks towards the gazebo in the garden. I watch her leave as I make my way towards her.

"Raiden, I think I found something," Kade speaks up which makes me stop in my tracks. "Already?" I questioned.

"Yep," he states as he hands me the tablet with different files on all the women that live here.

"All the women have alibi's except one," he concludes as he waits for me to say something.

"Out with it, Oakley," I said referring to his last name. By the way he looks at me I know I'm not gonna like his answer.

"Mackenzie hasn't shown up on any security tapes."

~*~**~*~**~*~

Emery's POV

I stay seated on the bench inside the gazebo when I realize the stereo installed on one of the posts. I walk over to the stereo as I turn it up. I was about to change the channel until I heard a familiar song ringing in my ears.

I hate you, I love you,
I hate that I love you
Don't want to but I can't put nobody else above you
I hate you, I love you,
I hate that I want you
You want her, you need her,
And I'll never be her.

I walk back over to the bench as I sit down carefully and listen to the next part that's sung by a man.

I miss you when I can't sleep
Or right after coffee
Or right when I can't eat
I miss you in my front seat
Still got sand in my sweaters
From nights we don't remember

Do you miss me like I miss you?
F***ed around and got attached to you
Friends can break your heart too
And I'm always tired but never of you

If I pulled a you on you, you wouldn't like that sh*t
I put this reel out, but you wouldn't bite that sh*t
I type a text but then I never mind that sh*t
I got these feelings but you never mind that sh*t

Oh oh, keep it on low
You're still in love with me but your friends don't know
If you wanted me you would just say so
And if I were you, I would never let me go

I don't mean no harm
I just miss you on my arm
Wedding bells were just alarms
Caution tape around my heart
You ever wonder what we could have been?
You said you wouldn't and you f***ing did
Lie to me, lie with me, get your f***ing fix
Now all my drinks and all my feelings are all f***ing mixed

Always missing people that I shouldn't be missing
Sometimes you gotta burn some bridges just to create some distance
I know that I can control my thoughts and I should stop reminiscing
But I learned from my dad that it's good to have feelings

When love and trust are gone
I guess this is moving on
Everyone I do right does me wrong
So every lonely night I sing this song

I hate you, I love you
I hate that I love you
Don't want to but I can't put nobody else above you
I hate you, I love you
I hate that I want you
You want her, you need her
And I'll never be her

I tune out the rest of the song as I replay the man's words in my mind.

Caution tape around my heart

This song weirdly relates to my situation.

Sometimes you gotta burn some bridges just to create some distance.

I felt like the song was talking to me, just me. I walk back over to the radio and shut it off once skinny love by Birdy comes on.

I stay seated as I sing the song I had just heard, well at least the parts I knew. I look up once I hear footsteps coming my way.

River

"You're back!" I exclaimed as I jump up and squeeze into a bear hug. "And as I can see, so are you," he laughs as he leads me to the bench while sitting next to me.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" I said as I remember my dream about the car crash when he saved me. How did he know my name when he pulled me out from the crash? I've been meaning ask him but then I got locked in a closet, got in a car crash, and was trapped underground.

So as you can see, I've never really gotten around to it.

"You just did," he chuckled, but stops once he sees my serious face. "Okay, shoot," he allows.

"Remember the day you saved my life?" I question, beating around the bush. He simply nods as he raises his eyebrow. "How come you knew my name when I never gave it to you?" I finished. He opens his mouth to speak when I interrupt him for I remembered something else. "And Jonah's," I quickly added.

"Emery...I..I don't know how to say this," he shakes his head as he looks down. I stay quiet as I give him time to think about his next choice of words.

"I knew your name because I was following you," he blurts out but cringes once he heard his sentence out loud. "N...Not like a stalker or anything...but um I found out about something and it was about you and Jonah."

"There's something I need to tell you, I was gonna tell you the day of the crash, you and Jonah. But then...your parents died and I couldn't pile this secret on you two. Then I heard you moved so I tracked you down here. I finally had the courage to tell you guys but then...Jonah...um left," he rambled, but I caught onto every word.

"The whole reason I'm in this gang is to tell you this but I was a coward and I couldn't tell you," he added.

"Tell me what? Just don't stall any longer. I can take it," I said very unsure how I'm gonna handle the bomb he's gonna drop.

"Did you know I was born at the same hospital and on the same day as Jonah?" He questions. I let out a deep breathe, very confused. I was prepared for something bigger, not a question that doesn't even relate to the topic.

But I go along with it anyway. "Um.. No, I barely know you. But how does this even matter?" I asked.

"It matters more than you even know. Do you know my name is River Deaton?" He asks another question.

"Again, how does this even-" I started but was interrupted.

"Just listen. Your last name and my last name are very similar, that's why there was an accident at the hospital," he catches my attention as I raise my eyebrow.

"What kind of accident?" I question, truly scared of his answer.

"The nurse that was caring for me and your brother made a mistake," he started.

"Emery, Jonah and I were switched at birth," he drops the biggest bombshell I've ever received in my entire life.

"I'm your real brother Emery."

~*~**~*~**~*~
Phew! I've been waiting to reveal that secret ever since I came up with it. I was actually supposed to reveal it in the last chapter but I got carried away with RW framing Emery.

My only regret here is that I wish I put River in the story more. He was always away and I wish that I could've made Emery feel more connected to him.

But anyway, I know that reading song lyrics is kind of boring in this chapter. But I felt like the song really connected with Emery and I wanted you guys to feel that connection with Emery.

That song is called, I hate you I love you by: Gnash! It's on the side if you guys wanna listen while reading the lyrics.

What else am I forgetting.....oh!

Do you guys think Mackenzie is actually RW's little helper? 

Or can she actually be RW?

Or maybe you have someone else in mind?

Anywho, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

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💕Izzy💕