Where Silence Gathers by Kelsey Sutton

don’t know why Will had that or what’s on it,” he says. “But I can find out.” He holds out his free hand. His eyes are almost manic in their desperation.
    Lies , a voice in my head whispers. Faltering, I take a step back. There’s a sour taste in my mouth. This is Andrew , another voice protests. Your dad loved him. Your dad trusted him . It’s true. This is my godfather. This is the man who helped me with my math last year when I was flunking the class. Not that grades matter now.
    Yet my instincts are telling me that something isn’t right here. “I should get back,” I hear myself say.
    â€œAlex—”
    Suddenly it clicks. I see it. And I wonder how I ever missed it. “It was you,” I whisper. Time stops.
    Andrew is still holding his hand out, but now it seems less for the flash drive and more to stop me from going. “What?” he asks. Confusion links her arm through his and shares his puzzled look.
    The shard of glass is still there, wedged into the flesh of my heart. This truth drives it in deeper. I look my father’s best friend in the eye and say, my voice hard, “You were watching me last night. On the playground.”
    Surprise pops into the room, joining the others. Andrew continues to stare at me. Five seconds tick by. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. After a pause that feels like years, Andrew lowers his hand to his side. He must have gotten a manicure recently, because they’re perfectly trimmed and filed. Andrew has a touch of OCD when it comes to his appearance. And his things. Somehow, remembering these tiny details makes the moment hurt even more.
    I keep waiting for him to answer. When he does, the words are weak. “I … I’m trying to protect you.”
    A few more second pass while I absorb this. He’s not even going to deny it. I’m used to lying to people … but I’m not used to them lying to me. I feel what they must feel, a feeble hope for more, of a reasonable explanation for this betrayal.
    â€œProtect me from what?” I ask, striving to keep the question even. When he doesn’t respond, my nostrils flare and I lose the last of my control. “ From what? ” Still he remains silent. “Does this have something to do with my dad?” I ask next, hoping to get something out of him. Anything.
    At the mention of Dad, Andrew’s entire body tenses. He clutches the doorknob so tightly it seems like it should shatter. “Please. I’m begging you. Leave this alone.”
    Leave this alone? I’m not capable of that. And I especially hate the feeling that I didn’t even know my own father. “You might as well tell me what’s on the flash drive, Andrew. I’m going to find out eventually, with or without your help.” I shrug, as if it’s so simple.
    He lunges for me.
    I’m so shocked that I react too late, and my back slams into his bookshelves. He’s crushing my hand, grappling with my fingers and trying to pry them apart. There’s a frantic gleam in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. Calm, logical Andrew is gone, leaving this stranger in his place. I try to shove him away, screaming, and when he only presses closer I kick his shin as hard as I can. Andrew cries out and jumps back, holding his leg. I start to run past him, but he recovers and yanks me back. I swing around and punch him in the face. Something crunches . Now Andrew is the one screaming, recoiling and cupping his face.
    I rush for the doorway. A woman nearly collides with me, and her eyes widen when she sees Andrew. “What on earth—”
    Blood runs down his mouth and chin and he stretches his hand in my direction again. Gasping for breath, I jerk into motion again and dart around the woman. “Alex! Alex, wait! Please !” Andrew keeps shouting my name, but I’m already gone. His cries are so loud that they echo down the hallway, ricocheting off the