{Echo}

If my life was a living nightmare back then, I have no idea what I would call it today.

Every last possible wish of going home disappeared when my brother said my name as if I was a traitor, which I was. I tried really hard not to cry, I really did, but there is still no proof that something like that happened.

No proof at all (I made sure of that).

I didn't want to think about it, but it was the only thing on my head.

I should have found another way to save my brother. I should have let Celine give it a shot.

Or maybe I should have told my brother what was going on from the beginning.

I didn't care if he didn't believe me at first; I didn't care that I tried and I clearly didn't care that he hated me, because whatever happened was my fault. Whatever happened, it took place because I wasn't good enough and I will never forgive myself for that.

Even now, whenever I think about that moment, my heart breaks all over again, like it is the first time.

Yeah, I know I am a drama-queen. And I just ruined my own drama-time.

Great.

Anyway, I would love to tell you that Oliver ran after me and we talked and worked everything out, but nothing I love happens. Ever.

It's as if the whole universe is conspiring against me, and no, it's not because I am a teenager. It is because I am Echo Waters and ever since I was born everyone decided against my happiness.

And here we go with the drama again...

So, no, Oliver didn't come over to tell me it's okay and that he forgives me. It's never that easy.

Ever.

I mean, let's be real. I betrayed him. He trusted me and I kept a huge secret from him. I couldn't even forgive myself, how was he supposed to forgive me?

«Hey...» Felix had snuck up behind me.

«What do you want? There is nothing any of you could tell me that I haven't already thought of.» I snapped.

«Woah, hold your horses! That's not why I'm here. I just thought you'd want to talk to someone.» he replied calmly.

«Oh...» I cringed. «Sorry...»

«It's okay; I get it.» he told me.

«Do you?» I asked exasperately.

«Actually, no, I don't. I am just here to offer emotional support.» he shrugged smirking. That smirk, dammit... It's a cute smirk.

«I don't think you'll want to be around if I tell you what I've done.» I shook my head.

«Try me.» he smirked again. I gritted my teeth from smiling to him. I was supposed to be angry and sad and drowning in my self pity. I couldn't smile.

I didn't deserve to smile.

I took a deep breath and sat on a log. Felix sat next to me.

«A few weeks ago, maybe a month or so, I don't know, I have lost track of time. Anyway, my parents had been arguing more than usual lately, because my mom insisted more and more on getting me locked up somewhere. That's not the point... I was upstairs with Oliver, at our room, and we could still listen to all the yelling.» I sighed. «I told my brother we should go to the kitchen, where the fight was taking place, as usual, and do something. I tried really hard to convince him. Unfortunately, I did it. We walked into the kitchen and tried to make our parents calm down, but things got worse. And then, as I tried to make everyone shut up, the frying pan that was still full of oil caught on fire and my dad's cigarette fell in. My brother and my mother and the firefighters said the cigarette was the cause of the fire, but there was already a fire when it fell... We barely got out alive. My dad died getting me out. I got my dad killed.»

I stood up and walked away without waiting for Felix's reaction. I didn't want him to see me cry. I don't like people staring at me, awkwardly trying to comfort me by making me feel even more awkward.

He grabbed my shoulder.

«I'm sorry you had to go through all that all alone.» he said.

«What? I- I don't get it. I--» I didn't finish my sentence. He pulled me into a hug.

The warmest and most comfortable hug in the world. Felix was just like a teddy-bear. It wasn't awkward, but it felt a bit scary. I was a killer, and not just my dad's. I had just killed around half a dozen people, even if I wasn't controlling my actions.

«Felix, wait... Why- why are you hugging me? I am a murderer.» I stuttered.

«No, you're not. It was self-defence. You only did what you had to in order to survive. You saved your brother! He may be mad right now, but he will soon get over it and realise what you did. You are no monster. If you want to talk about monsters, a fine example is Amon. You are nothing like him.» he reassured me, but I didn't really believe him.

«I am not so sure about that...» I whispered. «I would say my dad was a hero because he saved my life, but he really wasn't because he saved the life of a person that wasn't worth saving. I don't think I matter. All I can do is ruin other people's lives and destroy everytbing I touch.» I explained. I hadn't realised I was crying again. I never cried in front of people.

Felix pulled me back into the hug and rubbed my back soothingly.

«Everyone is worthy of living. Even the worst of people have the right to live. Don't ever think like that. You are stupid if you think that because of your mistakes you should die. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody's perfect. Every time things go wrong, take a deep breath and move on. Life is worth living. Never stop believing that.» he told me. And I never forgot about that, not ever. «Come on, stop crying...» he added after a while.

«I'm sorry... I don't know what got over me...» I apologised.

«You don't have to apologise, beautiful. It's just- It's a pity to see these eyes so sad.» he smiled.

That cheesy idiot.

«Shut up...» I blushed and punched him playfully on the shoulder.

«Ouch!» he laughed.

«Sorry!» I cringed.

«Relax, I was just kidding.» he chuckled.

«Yeah... Just kidding...» I muttered. He didn't hear me (thank God...).

I realised how heavy my backpack was getting. Yeah, I had that too. Did I not mention it?

No?

Sorry, I was too busy ranting, complaining and wallowing in my self pity and, generally, doing stuff that I am not supposed to be doing.

I sat on a rock. I like rocks. You can throw them at annoying people's heads.

I opened my backpack to get some water, and seeing what else was in my backpack I got an idea that could just maybe cheer me up a bit.

I took out the video camera I had bought a couple days ago.

«Look what I had absolutely forgotten about just like my brother had predicted!» I told Felix while I turned it on. I hadn't really forgotten about it. I mean, I had spent most of my money on that thing. I guess I just needed some proof for myself for when we went back home, if we made it there alive. I would hate it if my brother forgot all about it and I was stuck there, believed to be a crazy person.

«Are you seriously going to use that now?» Felix asked me.

«Why not?» I said and started recording.

I only have one thing to say; that video was precious. Seriously, me and Felix are not supposed to be left unsupervised.

We kept saying useless fun facts from our homes and jokes and did weird faces on the camera.

I was never going to let him forget it.

And I was right about that camera cheering me up a bit. I did feel a little better after that.

But still, I didn't really deserve that.

«You can't keep running, you know. You should start facing your problems, taking responsibility. You have to talk to your brother.» Felix told me after a while.

«I think I'm better off with running away. I don't like problems; especially when I am the one causing them. I'd rather lock them in boxes and throw away the keys.» I replied.

«Everyone feels like that, but when you confront your problems you grow stronger.»

«Well, then, maybe I am a weakling. I don't care.»

«Most people that claim they don't care, usually care the most.»

«You don't get it, do you? I have ran away from so many problems, that if I stop they will all catch up and drown me. Oliver has been trying to get this through my thick head for years now, but now that I actually get it, it's too late.»

«You've heard what they say, better late than never.»

«In my case it's the opposite...»

«You know that's not right, don't you?»

«I'm not sure what I know anymore.»

«Just talk to your brother, he will understand.»

«You don't know my brother like I do! You didn't see the look on his face! He hates me, he will never forgive me.»

«You're quite the drama-queen, aren't you?» he asked.

«One of my many talents.» I replied sarcastically.

«Just give it a try. I'll be there with you the whole time, if you want me to.» he offered.

«No, thanks. I'd rather do it alone, if I do so.» I told him and he raised his hands in defeat.

«Whatever suits you.» he said. «We should go find them again, because I am pretty sure they will leave us behind in an attempt to never see us again.» he added.

«Not helping, Felix!» I replied getting up.

«Sorry.» he said and did so too.

We ran back towards the direction we had come from.

Fortunately we found Oliver and Celine waiting for us. Unfortunately, they were arguing because Celine knew about my powers and hadn't told him.

«There you are! Explain to your brother that you made me not tell him!» Celine told me when she saw us.

«She is telling the truth. It's not her fault.» I told my brother.

«I don't care what you did. Why did you even come back? You think that you're just going to apologise like all the other times and I will forgive you just like that? You killed our dad and lied to me!» he yelled at me and he had every right to do so.

«I didn't lie, I withheld information until needed. Besides, I tried to tell you before we came here. I told you about it and I told mom about it and I told the shrink about it too, but nobody ever believes me. Don't try to put all the blame on me! Tell me about one time that I talked to you about something and you actually cared or listened!» I yelled back. I know I had no right to at the time, but I can't kill the rebel inside of me.

«Who's being unfair now? If I didn't care I would ignore you every time you woke me up before dawn because you were bored or because you had an idea. I wouldn't make a fuss about your throwing away your food. I would never support you when mom talked about locking you up, so for one time stop being so bloody selfish!» he yelled again. Celine and Felix had walked a bit further to look like they were not intruding.

«I'm the selfish one? You are going to go back home the moment we get the necklace back, you won't care if I will come or not. And based off what you just said, if I stayed behind you would probably feel like you just got rid of a huge burden. You would make mom proud.»

«What the hell are you talking about?»

«I just wish I had left that shifter kill me, at least I wouldn't be hated by the only person I have left to call family.»