“Markus... that idiot,” John muttered, turning away from the body in grief. A wave of emotions pounded at his chest. Confusion, horror, and, most of all, anger. He let out a scream, piercing the forest air. His voice hitched, and he started to sob.

Eva peered up at her brother, grief stricken and shaking like a small animal. She shuddered at the sight of Markus, alive and joyful only an hour before. The color in his cheeks had drained and the glow of his golden curls had become dull.

She replayed the events in her head, how John had been standing in the street, mocking Markus for not being able to keep up with him. A flash of headlights heading toward John. The blaring horn of a semi-truck. Eva screaming, having the sudden, horrible realization that the truck wasn’t going to stop. And then a streak of blond hair, Markus shoving John out of the way, and the horrid sound of the crunching of bones.

The driver had immediately stopped and leaped out of the truck, joining the two kids at staring in horror at the dead boy in the middle of the street. And then, after a few minutes, the driver had slowly gotten back into his truck and driven away. Eva had sat still, watching John leap up and sprint after the truck, screaming “Bastard” and many other ugly words.

“He sacrificed his life to save mine...” John now whispered, his voice hoarse from yelling. “After all I did...”

Eva couldn’t meet his eyes. She didn’t know who she was more angry at. The pathetic driver for leaving them alone, her brother for being such an ass to Markus, or at herself for not doing anything about it.

“I just don’t get it... I was so mean to him,” John’s voice trembled. “I hated him, and he knew it. And yet, he still followed us around like a damn obedient, dumb dog—” He started sobbing again.

“Why did he save me?”

Eva snapped out of her daze, realizing that John was talking to her. “I—I don’t know,” she mumbled. “I’m sorry, John but— we have to go. It’s already dark and we can’t stay in the forest at night.”

John looked up at her with a gaunt expression on his face. “You’re not saying we’re going to leave him here—“

“What else are we supposed to do?!” Eva yelled, tears streaking down her face. “You shouldn’t have brought us to the forest, especially at dusk. Do you know how dangerous that is?” She shoved her brother to the ground, shaking in anger.

“Eva... am I a bad person?” John whispered, still on the ground.

Eva turned away. “No, just a stupid one.”