The Relict (Book 1): Drawing Blood by Richard Finney, Franklin Guerrero Page A

the disappearance of the other faces on the same milk cartons?”
    Matt stepped away from his brother. His mind was racing. A decade ago, when he thought Ian had died at the hands of some killer, he thought obsessively about all the things he wished he had told his brother. Now he couldn’t remember one word.
    “I knew you would show up at Beth’s house, if you were still alive,” said Ian. “After I was assigned to this facility I planted video cameras there.”
    “Then you would know if…
    Matt could not finish his sentence; Ian’s hand was once again over his mouth. In his anxiousness, Matt was practically yelling out his question.
    “Last time, Matty…”
    He nodded.
    When Ian released him, Matt whispered his question. “Is Beth alive?”
    “I was not assigned to the facility until months after the takeover. By that time Beth was already gone… or killed. Her name has not turned up on any of the donation center rosters on the eastern corridor. That’s all I know.”
    His next question was louder than a whisper. In his anger it was the best he could do.
    “So you killed Jay?”
    “I tried to allow for every possible contingency, but I failed. I assure you, your friend’s death was in no way part of my plan. I hope you believe me.”
    Matt turned toward the voice, and was startled to discover his brother was standing right beside him. And somehow he was holding Jay’s dog tags, which had just been around his neck.
    “I saw the other chains around your neck. It made sense to add your friend’s chain as well. If I made the wrong choice… forgive me.”
    Matt closed his eyes, trying to control his temper.
    He opened them when he felt Jay’s chain drop back around his neck. But Ian was no longer standing near him.
    “Your well-being continues to be a primary importance in my life. Don’t think I haven’t watched over you all these years. Checked to see how my little brother was progressing.”
    Once again, Ian’s voice seemed to be disembodied words floating through the night air.
    “That’s beautiful,” said Matt. “My own guardian angel.”
    Suddenly, Ian was right next to him again.
    “Perhaps if you knew how true those words were you would choose a more appreciative way to express them.”
    He was processing what Ian was saying, and not able to immediately respond.
    “Matty, we have been hiding amongst you for thousands and thousands of years. Certainly when I was turned, I did so for a reason. All these years I have spent a considerable amount of time existing… just a shadow away from you.”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Matt.
    “Sure you do. Come on, my brother, what did you think? All this time, you’ve managed to stay alive because you’ve been… ‘lucky’?”
    He had heard enough. Matt turned and started to move away, but cold fingers grabbed his shoulder and turned him back around.
    “This is not how I wanted our reunion to go.”
    Matt looked shell-shocked as he stared at Ian. Everything about the last ten years, his memories, core beliefs, all of it was now up for grabs.
    “Don’t hide from this. Go over everything in your mind, Matty. When you do, I know you’ll see the truth. I have no regrets. You, on the other hand should be questioning some of the choices you’ve made. Don’t add to your mistakes…”
    He had nothing to say and tried to move away again. But when Matt threw open the roof’s exit door, Ian was standing on the other side.
    Matt tried to move past him. Ian was disappointed by his brother’s action.
    “Do what you will, Matty, but no one can know about our connection…”
    The rooftop door slammed behind Ian, and that’s how Matt knew they were moving backwards with his brother’s hand wrapped around his throat.
    “Obviously you don’t appreciate what I tried to do for you, but there are those amongst my kind who will still use my effort against me…”
    Matt tried to swing at his brother, but Ian’s bony fingers dug