Brother

                                                  By:Deven Carter

Tuscarora High School 11th Grade Short Story Winner

Not knowing what was happening, three-year-old Cameo traveled with his older brother who seemed to be running away from a siren with the young child crying in his arms. Through every alley, in every shadow of the city buildings, Cameo’s older brother would keep running away from the siren with no signs of stopping. Eventually Cameo’s older brother climbed up a fire escaped and stopped, the young Cameo was still crying he did not know where he was, the only thing he could see was the millions of shining stars in the sky and a small fire his brother has made with the only sounds being from the strange siren that is coming closer to the two. The sound of the siren passed them soon to be far and inaudible; Cameo was still crying and scared for his life so to calm him down Cameo’s brother sang to him.

“ My brother, my keeper, my best friend in the whole wide world there’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you,” repeatedly until the young boy stopped crying.

Years passed after the terrific night, with Cameo and his brother being on the run from someone that Cameo didn’t even know. Eventually Nine year old Cameo and his brother found shelter in a old house in the woods which no one occupied, there Cameo would be taught and cared for by his brother.

Even with the new easy lifestyle of Cameo, he still had questions of what happened all those years, but when he would bring it in a conversation Cameo’s brother would change the subject and when he asked about their parents he would always replied.

“I am your brother, your keeper and your best friend in the whole wide world there’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you.”

Years passed, Cameo was now twelve years old curled in a sweater next to a barely lifeless chimney. Looking out the window he saw the wilderness covered in a blanket of snow that was pierced with leafless trees; Cameo’s brother was out collecting firewood leaving Cameo alone. Cameo had nothing to do, he read all his books, played all the games he could do alone and already ate all of his lunch; the only thing left to do was think. Their Cameo thought about many things, he thought of  how many years their are in eight hundred and forty days, he thought of how many animals there are in the woods and he thought about the type of people in the world. Although he tried not to, he thought about about his past, about his history of why he and his brother were here in the first place.

“My brother my keeper,” Cameo said to himself, “ My best friend in the world, I know you would do anything for me, but why keep secrets and secrete me the truth?”

Cameo then looked at his brothers closed door, he was really tempted to search for any clues for his past, but he knew that it was not worth betraying his brother. The temptation Cameo had converted him to spiral; eventually he had gave in and quickly ran into his brother’s room.  Cameo threw his brother’s items everywhere shirts, pants and socks all over the floor, but as Cameo threw his brothers right shoe a wrinkled piece of paper fell out. Cameo flattened and looked at the paper, there he saw an address that he was not familiar with. Unexpectedly as Cameo looked at the piece of paper his brother was right behind him.

“ Cameo,” Cameo’s brother said, “What are you doing in my room and what is with the mess?”

Cameo Jumped and quickly put the paper in his pocket before his brother could see it.

“I was looking for my favorite book,” Cameo said, “ I guess i got carried away, I am really sorry.”

“ Dont worry,” Cameo’s brother said “ Just help me clean this mess up and then we can start that fire.”

Later that night Cameo was laying in his bed thinking about that address. He really wanted to go to it and find out a clue about his inexplicable past and he knew that if he told his brother then he would not go for it and rip the dress up.

The curiosity consumed Cameo so he sneaked out of the house while his brother was asleep and found his way going toward the address.

It took many hours, but when he followed Cameo ended up in a dark alley of the city. Cameo looked over the paper again and there was nothing there but the address but as he flipped the paper over he saw a little writing with the little light of the alley and on the back of the paper it had three words.

IN THE CAN

Cameo looked around and could barely see anything but in the distance he saw one trash can; Cameo then opened the lid and looked inside only to find a button. Cameo pressed the button and nothing happened, Cameo now depressed started to walk home but before he had a chance to leave the alley he was jumped and forced in a sack by two men.

Cameo struggled, he did not know his location, the only thing he could decipher is that he enter a building and he was dragged downstairs only hearing the sounds of machinery. The men stopped, Cameo was released from the bag, and he could not believe his eyes; children, teens and adults, chained up, all forced against their will to make illegal weapons. Cameo tried to run but guards were everywhere and was caught effortlessly; Cameo was then dragged into a small room with only one vent and one door, the guards left with the door locked, Cameo was scared for his life not knowing what will happen to him. The door started to turn, Cameo hoped that it would be his brother, but it is only a man wearing all black who had sense of bitterness surrounding him.

“Hello F801,” the man said, “ it still surprises me that D261 was able to escape with you.

“what is this place!?!?” Cameo demanded.

“ Oh right,” the man said “ You were young; well F801 this facility is where you will be forced to work for the rest of your days making weapons so I can get money. It’s a shame you know, I wish D261 was here this time, I would’ve finished him off for good, just like the rest of his family… your family I presume.”

“What did you do with them?!?!” Cameo shouting at the man.

“They didn’t want to give you up so easily, not like the others,” the man said “ So I had to give them something else to hang on. Consider yourself lucky, the cops busted us before we could finish you off, and in the whole mess it still surprises me that D261 was able to escape with you in his arms. ”

Cameo was broken, tears fled from his eyes each one being worse than the last.

“ Dont worry,” the man said, “ None of it will matter soon F801”

“My Name is Cameo!!!” Cameo shouted angrily.

The man left the room, Cameo was completely broken and the only thing he could think about is his brother.
“My brother, my keeper,” Cameo started to sing in a whisper to himself, “ My best friend in the whole wide world… i’m sorry I failed you.”

Cameo sang the song repeatedly as he waits for his fate until he was interrupted by a sound from the vent. Cameo looked at the vent and out of nowhere his brother popped out of their coming to save Cameo.

Cameo and his brother manage to escape the building and ran until they got out of harm’s way without looking back.

“ I know why you never told.” Cameo said, “ I really messed up and I am really sorry, I hope you can forgive me.”

“ “I am your brother, your keeper and your best friend in the whole wide world there’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you… so i forgive you.”