Chapter 23: More King 

Emery's POV

Hurt can't even begin to describe my feeling when I see Keith's face. All this time, he's lied, cheated, and manipulated me. Realizing this, I don't even know why I wanted him to come back! 'Leave,' that's what my mind wants me to do. Every time my mind speaks that one word the only thing I can come up with is, 'I can't.' Yeah, I've finally gone insane. 

Do you want to know what the sorry ass excuse Keith gave me for shooting River?

My mind told me to do it. 

Are our minds finally controlling us now? 

Does listening to our minds make us go insane?

Life is a game. 

Our mind plays tricks on us. The tricks we listen to, the tricks we can't live without. 

And that's when your mouth listens to your mind. 

"I've gone insane." But those words haven't left my mouth...yet. 

Keith said that to himself before he turned to leave. 

Where? Well I'm not sure. 

Nor do I care. 

I don't know why I'm acting so calm with Keith. Him and Raiden have both shot my brothers. 

Brothers.

It's much easier to say than biological brother and non-biological brother. 

"Why did you're mind tell you to do it?" I questioned. 

"I..It's a stupid reason! You'll hate me now because of how it looks, but your brother will thank me for what I did later." 

"Jesus Keith! Do you know how much I've been through, what we've been through. Nothing can surprise me anymore. I'll probably backhand you if it does." I admitted. 

Does Keith envy River? Does he hate River? But then why would River thank Keith later? 

"River and Casey are meant to be together." 

My hand shot up as I was prepared to slap him. Keith flinched back as his arms formed as an X in front of him. 

But I never hit him. 

"Raiden had sent Keith on many missions alone which ended in him being injured every time. Casey helped him every time. I visioned him being shot. Then as we were climbing up that tree, I visioned him dying in Casey's arm." 

"But he didn't die," I pointed out, very confused. 

"Because I stopped it. Someone else was gonna shoot him that night. I caused less damage than what his 'murderer' would've done." I'm getting very important information, but I can't help but look down at my watch to see I don't have much time. 

"What does this have to do with him and Casey?" 

"I don't think anyone has realized how close they actually are. That night  we were supposed to escape was the same night he asked Casey to join us." He informed making me more confused than before. 

"Did she agree?" I queried. 

"Yes, but I stopped her." 

"Why?" 

"Because she would've died the same night River was supposed to if I hadn't done anything." He mumbled. Another questioned popped in my mind. 

"Who was the shooter?" 

"The same person that never appears," he knew what I was thinking. 

R.W.

My anger has lessen, especially if Keith supposedly saved River and Casey. But my anger still lingers because of one person. 

"I want you to do something for me Keith." I whispered. 

"Anything." He responded. 

"I want you to think real hard. Cause I know you know who R.W. is." 

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

I  stay seated on the chair tucked into the island as I shuffle my deck of cards. 

"Where have you been?" Raiden rounded the corner looking as pissed as ever. 

"I gave you 5 minutes!" He added. 

"Shh, sit."He gave me a wary look as he sat across from me as I place the cards down for the game I had in mind. 

He looked at me as I passed the cards. By the way the cards were placed on the table, he knew what we were playing. 

"Casino? Really?" He raised his eyebrow. 

"What? You scared of a simple adding game?" I questioned, raising my own brow. 

"Just the opposite, actually." With such a nonchalant position, he grabbed his cards as he started looking through them. 

He put the 6 of clubs and the 7 of spades together as he said, "King." (Thirteen.)

I had a king in my cards but I knew he would try to form more thirteen. 

Tricking him, I put my four down so he can add it with the 9 placed on the table. 

I hope he thinks I'm stupid enough to put that card down. 

He added the 4 and 9 as he put it on top of his already formed thirteen. Knowing he has to put a card down, he put his king down but didn't take the pile. 

He smirked, "More king." 

Since I didn't take his pile last time, he thinks I don't have a king. 

Proving him wrong, I slap the king down onto the pile as I take it. 

He laughs as he places a Jack onto the lonely two of spades. 

"Do you think I'm stupid?" 

I shrugged my shoulders as we continued playing. 

"What did Keith say?" 

"I know you heard what he said with your damn surveillance cameras." 

"So are we gonna keep him hidden?" I asked. 

"Of course, I believe he's very valuable to R.W." 

I shrug as I take my pile of aces. 

Hearing pots and pans clinking together I look to my right to see Harley coming in with huge pots and pans. 

She looks up and gives us a puzzled look. 

"Raiden and Emery playing a peaceful game of cards? I don't believe my eyes," she laughed as she placed the dishes on the counter. 

Pierce comes behind Harley as he hugs her from behind. 

"Thank you grandma for making my special soup, I owe you." Pierce thanked in a childish voice. 

"I'm not your grandmother, boy." Harley slapped his arms as she heated the stove. At the mention of soup everyone came rushing in one by one. 

"Did someone say special soup."

"Gosh dang it, I thought they said special brownies!" 

"Harley's soup is better than special brownies, Derek!" 

"Only cause you're allergic to it, Dumb-ass!" 

"Something came in the mail for you," a voice said close to me as an orange envelope was tossed in front of me. 

I looked back to see Duncan. "I didn't know I received mail," I wondered. 

"It doesn't have an address or stamp on there so I don't know why it's in the mailbox." He informed. 

"I looked at the back to reveal the name 'Emery Denton' was printed on it. 

I opened it to see an old-fashioned tape in it. 

With the name Farah Kennedy written on the tape. 

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

What up, what up my little THTH readers. It's been awhile. 

From now on I'm going to write my chapter very short so I can update quicker. Because we all know this book is ending very soon. 

I have a week off of thanksgiving break but I'm going on vacation so I'll have to check if I'll have internet. 

And of course I'll update a couple chapters on winter break, so hopefully this book will end before the new year starts! 

Remember: Short chapters, more updates. 

All the love,

~Izzy