What Lies Beneath

The undiscovered truth of Nicholas Anderson

• Fiction

								
Introduction 

You have all heard, read, or watched a story about how a family tragically loses one of their children during an accident or even a kidnapping. But one day, they miraculously find the child, and they live happily ever after—of course, with some drama in between all that. We can't have a happy ending with no drama, right?

Unfortunately, that's not my story; it's my little sister's, and no, I'm not her handsome dad or one of her cool older brothers or even her twin brother. I'm going to give you a moment to guess. ........

If there's anyone out there who guessed "adoptive brother," then you're the winner. Before you jump to conclusions, my parents didn't kidnap her, and of course, my ever-so-loving parents didn't abuse her. She, unlike most tragic heroines, grew up in a loving environment.

Then how did she end up with my family of all places?

Well, it won't be any fun if I tell you everything now.

So why don't you join me and find out how this story unfolds? Because I promise you this, it will be anything but predictable. 

Chapter 1

POV Nicholas 

As we drove down the road, we passed by the cream-colored, matching two-story houses. The only differences between them were the decorations out front and the old-fashioned, large SUVs parked outside. As we drove farther in, the sound of children screaming as they chased each other could be heard.

Like I thought, our new house here in Phoenix, Arizona, was going to be in some peaceful little suburban area. Just the thought of it was dreadful.

"So, what do you think, sweetie?" The blonde woman with her hair tied back in a neat bun turned back to ask. Her sharp blue eyes now stared directly at the petite, 13-year-old girl next to me with hope and expectations.

"It's amazing," she answers, her head turned towards the open window. This causes her jet-black, shoulder-length hair to blow in the wind. She looks at the woman while tucking her hair behind her ears and adds, "Can't believe this is our new home." She gives the woman a big grin. "Can't wait to see the new house, Mom."

"And here you're mom was worried you wouldn't like it here."

"Why wouldn't I?" She says before locking eyes with the man driving through the rearview mirror. Her bright blue eyes clash with his brown ones as if to refute him. A few minutes in, she lets out a sigh, breaking eye contact. "Yes, I'm going to miss my friends back in Philadelphia, but I'm happy about the fresh start at a new school, so don't worry, Dad."

"You're mom was the worried one, not me," he says, quick to deny.

"Sure thing, Dad," she laughs it off.

"I'm just glad you like it here and are looking forward to the new school. After all, you're starting high school in a week."

"Mom, everything is going to be just fine. Plus, I have Nicholas with me," she says quickly, giving me a glance. "So yeah..."

"Of course, your big brother will take care of you," my mother said in response before giving me a look that sent chills down my spine. "Isn't that right, honey?" she says sweetly.

I slowly open my mouth and try to give a reply, "Ye -"

"He better take care of her," my father answers for me.

With that, no other questions were directed toward me again during the entire trip to our house. My father finally turned into a driveway before parking the car.

"The movers have already placed everything inside as best they could, so hopefully, it's good."

"Sounds good, Mom," Anne said, getting out of the car along with my mother.

Left in the car with my dad, I felt like the air from my lungs was being sucked out. "Get the bags," he said without even looking at me. With that, he got out.

For the first time in the past seven hours of this whole trip, I could finally breathe. I let my shoulders relax before breathing in.

After a few minutes, I get out of the car and head toward the back of the SUV where all our luggage is placed. It's a good thing everything was taken by the movers, and the only things we had were for the last few days before the trip here. There is only one large suitcase, two small ones, and my backpack.

I take out the large suitcase and one small one, knowing that's where all my parents' things are placed.

As I enter the house, I notice how it is a bit bigger than our old one and that we now seem to have a basement. Although the cream-colored walls are plain, it's not so bad due to the numerous pictures on the wall. It seems the movers did a good job.

As I go up the stairs with the suitcases, I can hear Anne screaming in joy. "Oh my God, I have my own bathroom and walk-in closet!" she exclaims. "Plus, did you get me new things and clothes?"

"Of course, you're starting a different school, in different areas, with different people, so why not different things!"

"Thank you! Thank you! Wait, is that a new laptop?" she says, looking at her desk before looking back at my parents.

"And a phone," my father says, pulling out a pink iPhone 15 Pro. Just like that, she throws herself into his arms.

"No fair. I wanted to give it to her," Mother says before she gets pulled into the hug.

Averting my gaze from the heartwarming scene within the spacious pink and purple room, I would have presumed it to be the master bedroom had I not been aware that this was a residence designed for a single-child family. While the master bedroom is indeed sizable, there exists an additional room of comparable dimensions—that being the child's bedroom.

Of course, there is one guest room, which is smaller compared to the other rooms and has no walk-in closet or bathroom. In other words, the person staying there needs to use the bathroom in the hallway. That person is me.

I placed my parents' suite outside their door before gently placing the smaller one near the room everyone was in. I quickly went to get my things from the car before heading to my plain white room and threw myself onto the queen-sized bed.

I let myself drift off to sleep as I hoped for a dreamless sleep.

Chapter 2

POV Nicholas 


It's already been a week since we moved into our house, and tomorrow will be the first day of school.

Unlike Anne, who is excited by the idea of moving to a new school and starting high school, I'm the opposite. It's not that there was anyone I particularly liked or felt attached to back in Philadelphia, but I just never liked change.

This past week has been all about what our little girl would want or need for high school. So it's pretty hard to be excited when you're completely invisible. Well, at least I got a new car with the condition of being my sister's driver. Guess I should be happy the brat can't drive yet.

It turned to the right to see my alarm clock read 12:01 a.m. Summer is truly over, I thought as I lifted myself up on the bed. My hand opened the drawer on my side table and felt around the inside before pulling out the two things.

I got out of bed and walked toward the window as I remembered the conversation with my parents.

								Rate this book:0.0 / 0 votes