The Appearance of the Alternate

"Please stop, Emmanuel. She got nothing to do with our problems. Please leave her alone, I beg of you," I begged, kneeling with hands behind my head.

"Lick my shoes, and then I'll consider letting them go," The condition he demanded to let the two of them go.

(Why the hell am I in this kind of situation? Is everything that happened to me up until now still not enough?)

Being prideful wouldn't help them both to have an ordinary life away from the danger that my brothers will cause. I need to cut the connections I have with them to protect the people who are important to me. What I am about to do might hurt me, but if it's for the people who truly cared about me, this is nothing.

When I slowly approached Emmanuel's shoes, someone started hitting me with a bat behind.

"Did you really think that I'll comply with what you want? You are an idealist, Xavier. The world doesn't revolve around you, so stop being cocky because you are just a nobody made by the mistake of our father," he stated, looking down on me.

"Remember everything that I am saying to you. You dont deserve to live a peaceful life. You are nothing but trash and will only be trash. Whenever people hear your name, the only thing they will remember is a student who attempted to murder his siblings. Prove it all you want, defend everything you must, nevertheless, there will be nobody to protect you," he added.

While Emmanuel was talking, I heard something, but I don't know if it's my thoughts or something. But the only thing I can be sure of is that everything I hear is all about killing. And because of that, I finally realized that it resulted from all the hatred I've hidden.

(You don't deserve any of this, fight back. You must kill to survive, everyone considered you as trash, then show what everybody considered being a trash can do)

While these thoughts kept on running through my mind, they started beating me to a pulp that made me shed blood. How ironic that the person I could think of while being battered with punches was her. The woman that I've always dreamt of.

Slowly, I fell unconscious because of a strong swing I received on the back of my head. My vision started to get blurry, and the last thing I saw before falling unconscious was Emmanuel and John glaring at me, smiling annoyingly.

While unconscious, I dreamt of myself standing from the other side of a cliff. There is a worn-out bridge connecting to the other side where I see myself standing. Therefore, I concluded to cross the bridge and head in his direction.

Crossing this bridge wouldn't be easy since, from the looks of it, it won't hold for long. It's like a one-way trip to heaven because below this worn-out bridge is a deep canyon. One wrong step, then say goodbye to your precious life.

I reached the other side swiftly, not because I was scared, but I was brave enough to risk everything I have. And there I saw myself who was standing here covered with bruises and scars from all over its body.

(Why does he have the same face as me? Even the fit of the body, it's like this guy is the spitting image of myself)

As the distance between the two of us lessens, the shock from seeing him increases. It's like looking at myself in a mirror, but the only difference that the two of us have is our expression. I was told to have a warm personality while this version of myself is emotionless.

The curiosity between knowing who this guy is strengthened then I wasn't able to stop myself from questioning.

"Who are you? What the hell are you? Why the hell do we have the same physique? And what happened with your body? Why.." I asked multiple questions that he cannot answer.

"Enough with your questions because the only thing you need to know is that I am you," He responded.

"I am you, Xavier. I am the result of all the sufferings you experienced. All these scars and bruises are the beatings you receive from the past up until now. I am the representation of your hatred and frustration that took form as you," He added to his response.

"You are saying nonsense. How the hell is that even possible?" I answered his response.

"All the hatred that filled your heart created me. If only you were stronger, you could have protected what is rightfully yours. You always allow others to step on you, but everything will change if only you would change places with me," He responded.

"What the hell do you mean? You are starting to get complicated," I answered his response.

"Switch places with me, and I'll make sure that all the hardship you faced will disappear. And your brothers and sisters won't bother you again. You just need to trust me, and I'll make everything peaceful for you. Isn't that what you wanted?" He replied.

"Picture this, you can finish studying without any problems to face. You can have a peaceful life with your friends, and the only sacrifice you need to offer is a change of places. Then everything you wanted will come true, All of those in just a small sacrifice, what do you think?" he added to his reply.

Honestly, I was quite intrigued by his offer. Who wouldn't want a peaceful life to live with, right? However, what I decided was to refuse his offer. Even if the results may be everything I wanted to have. I still cannot trust him.

"Sorry, but I dont know you. And my answer to your offer is no. Who the hell are you to even offer me such a thing?" I responded angrily.

"Soon, you will come back to me. And I will always be here waiting for your approval," He answered my response calmly.

Suddenly, when I woke up, I was surprised to see that I was back on my cell. Questions flooded my mind, what happened? How the hell did I return here? Where the hell are my brothers? That was the questions that flooded my mind.

It seems to be night time already, but if I remember correctly, the trial ended between three in the afternoon and five in the afternoon. Then those bastards brought me to an abandoned warehouse. I called to ask the officer and asked how I was brought back here.

"Some random strangers brought you here saying that you were left lying from a road far from the station. Hopefully, they recognized who you are and brought you here," the officer responded to my question.

"Sir, would it be alright to make a quick phone call? This is very important, please would you let me make a phone call even if it's just for a few minutes, please?" I asked the officer.

"Alright, but just be quick since there are others who will complain about unfair treatments here. I'll just bring you a cellphone; do you remember the phone number of the one who you will call?" the officer asked, then lent me his phone.

"Thank you so much; I'll return it after having this phone call," I responded.

Using his phone, I dialed Augustine's number, hoping to have a talk with him since I have something important to tell him. However, the phone kept on ringing, but no one is answering the phone. Maybe he is already asleep, or he's still not at home.

Regardless of what the reason is, I need to talk to him immediately. I called several times, but there is still no response from him.

(What the hell? Why is he not answering? It's already past ten o'clock in the evening, and he's still not answering his phone)

I was on the verge of panicking when hopefully, he called back to the phone that I am currently using. However, the guard already wants to take it back because I've been using his phone for about an hour.

"Augustine, visit me tomorrow. I have something important to tell you, and can you also check on the boss and see if she's okay?" I requested, then turned off the phone.

Worried about what might happen to them, I can't sleep. Suddenly, I remembered the guy who looks exactly like me in my dreams. What he said kept on running circles in my mind, and then my mind tried to think of all the possibilities that would happen when I changed place with him.

Although I know that it is just a dream, what he offered is something no one can easily refuse. He wanted to give me a peaceful life, away from the toxicity of the world. But what would happen to me if I decided to accept it? Would I disappear?

But whatever the result may be, I am glad that I didn't accept what he offered.