"Hayden told me that you’re…" I began saying softly.


    "Dead?" Harvey finished my sentence for me smoothly.


    He grinned at me before returning his attention to the dog on hisp as if what I wanted to discuss was something insignificant and unimportant.


    "…Yes," I replied.


    "I keep telling Hayden to introduce me to his girlfriend, but he always refused. It’s such a shame really…" Harvey said, sounding regretful while dodging my previous question entirely.


    I was still quite scared of Harvey; however, his presence didn’t seem to intimidate me as much as Hayden did. Regardless of my own fears, I wasn’t willing to just let this slide. If I asked Hayden about this, he might not tell me anything again. Therefore, my best bet right now is to try to get some answers out of Harvey.


    "Harvey, why does everyone think that you’re dead?" I asked again.


    I made sure to speak out much louder thanst time. He must have heard me and the seriousness in my voice. Harvey’s eyes widened at little at me as if he was surprised then he smiled an icy smile that made my skin crawl.


    "Because it would have been better for everyone if I died…" Harvey replied casually.


    "What?" I said cluelessly.


    What is he talking about?


    "Well, for a while at least…" he said before shrugging like it was nothing concerning.


    "You faked your death?" I asked, trying not to sound using.


    "I did…oh…but it wasn’t my idea," Harvey said.


    That doesn’t make it any less your fault. I didn’t have to guess whose brilliant idea it was to fake Harvey’s death. Harvey mentioned that he spoke to Hayden, so his younger brother knew for sure that he is alive. Guess I already knew who I should credit the idea to.


    "Why? Why would Hayden suggest such a crazy thing?" I asked as my temples started to throb.


    "He wanted to help me. He really is such a good brother," Harvey said with a warm smile as if he was thinking of his dear younger brother.


    "Help you…with what?" I asked, in pure confusion.


    It was like these two brothers loved to talk in riddles and I had a hard time understanding them both. Why can’t they just talk directly like normal people and just tell me what is going on?


    Instead of replying to my question, Harvey gently lifted Little Hayden off hisp before cing him down carefully on the floor next to his feet. The poor dog looked up with pleading eyes as if saddened that he had been let down. Harvey patted the dog’s head and said some tender words offort. Harvey then stood up from his seat before turning to face me directly.


    Instinctively, I took a step back away from him. His blue eyes were suddenly very cold and emotionless as they stared at my face. I felt the blood drain from my face as I felt the temperature in the air around me drop by several degrees. Something changed about Harvey, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it.


    He took a step forward towards me and I took another step back. His cold blue eyes watched me; however, he didn’t say anything. With each step that I took backwards, I realized that I got more and more scared of him and what he might do. Although the brothers looked very simr to each other, I knew and trusted Hayden, but I didn’t know anything about Harvey. I couldn’t trust him.


    I cursed myself and my own foolishness silently. Why didn’t I turn to run? I should have just run away from this ce. Now it was toote, and I waspletely cornered. The hardness of the wall hit my back and I was trapped between it and the man in front of me.


    His hand slowly reached out towards my face, and it took everything inside me to stop myself from screaming out loud for help. His hand wasrge and very pale. His fingers were beautiful long, and they were slowlying closer towards my face.


    "You have beautiful hair…" he whispered tenderly as his fingers held a lock of my hair.


    His eyes drifted to admire the lock of hair that he held, and my eyes automatically followed. Harvey began twirling the lock of hair yfully as he smiled. My body froze in fear and his closeness made me felt extremely ufortable.


    Hayden…when are you going to get home?


    If you can’t find me in the mansion, will you know that I’m in here?


    In my time of desperation, my mind drifted to Hayden. I didn’t like being so helpless but in this exact situation, who else can save me from Harvey if it wasn’t his brother?


    "Your neck is so slim…" Harvey whispered sweetly as his hand released my hair.


    In the next moment, his fingers began tracing along my neck. I shrank back from his touch before his soft touch found the sensitive skin of my neck. I bit my lip and winced as I prayed harder for Hayden toe help me.


    "Stop it…" I said through clenched teeth.


    "You don’t look too bad now that I can see you up close…" Harvey said as his eyes seemed to appraise me.


    His fingers slid up my neck and my body stiffened even further. I wanted to scream but I doubt that anyone would be able to hear me. What do I do now?


    "Please stop…" I said softly.


    "Stop?" Hayden said with a genuinely confused look on his face.


    It was like he had no idea what I was referring to. At that moment, I wasn’t sure what was worst between knowingly acting evil or innocently acting evil.


    He began caresses my cheek with the back of his fingers. His touch was light and slow; however, I didn’t think of it as feeling pleasant at all.


    His eyes left my face as it traveled down my body, and I cringed internally. Hayden looked at me like that before around when we first meant. I was so scared back then, but it was nothingpared to now.


    --To be continued…