“Thwee…… fouuuur….. fiiiiveee…..”

Adrían’s voice seeped into the room in a sing song as Will squeezed himself inside Avery’s closet as if one of her clothing items. The hangers softly clanged over head as he sat, occasionally slapping fabric in his face.

There was just enough room for two of them, given Avery’s wardrobe was rumored to have pocket knives around here somewhere. Or at least, that’s what Alex told him.

A grin cracked across his face, barely remembering the last time he had played this game with a kid. He never had any siblings. In moments like these, he couldn’t help but get jealous of his cousin. Avery, though adopted, rather had a blessing than a boon.

The scent of fabric softener mixed with the stale cardboard filled the air.

Avery shuffled beside him, squeezing between the boxes and a pile of sweaters, facing him directly. Light filtered through the shutters of her closet sketching stark features on her face.

“_What_?” He whispered at Avery. Why did she always have to wear the frown like an armor? Couldn’t she just take it off for once?

“Ten! Ready or not! Here I come!” Adrían yelled as his small footsteps retreated downstairs, fading into the distance.

“When are we planning on telling Alex?” Avery said in a low voice, shattering the playful quietness.

The word fell between them like a grenade in the cramped space. The words FREDERICK CHASE on the list immediately burned in his memory.

“We’ll tell him when we’re ready…” he muttered in a low voice.

The name which once brought joy and warmth, now haunted his memories. The shirts brushing over his head suddenly felt uncomfortable.

“That’s not good enough.” Avery crossed here arms, leaning her back against the closet wall. “We need to tell him now”

Her words felt heavier in the confirmed space . He couldn’t decide whether it was because of the gravity of the situation or the game. Any playful silence of the game had pretty much evaporated in an instant.

Will tried to focus outside through the slated view, anything to avoid her gaze. A neatly arranged bed with soft pillows lazily thrown. Colorful Lego blocks knocked off from its box and spread across the floor.

Somewhere below them, Adrían squealed, “I found you!”

“Oh no!” Alex’s hearty laugh reverberated through the house, accepting his defeat.

“That man, Frederick has killed Alexs' entire family! What makes you think he shouldn’t know the truth?” Avery’s hushed voice pierced through Will’s ears.

“C’mon Aves… we don’t know for sure…”

The hesitation in Will’s voice betrayed him. He cursed himself for blurting out those words to Avery.

“Think about it,” Will curled himself, his knees hitting the boxes. “How do you think he’s going to take it? Frederick’s the only family he has!”

“That’s no excuse, Will!”

He stared at his bare feet on the cold floor for a long time, not daring to meet Avery’s gaze.

“Come out, come out, wherever you areeee!” Adrían singed. His footsteps danced around the corridors, casually interrupted by Alex’s murmurings.

“…I’m not ready for it.” Will admitted.

His mind flashed through his memories of Frederick, morphing from him laughing as he plopped over the sofa —loud and infectious— to the time he taught him and Alex to ride a cycle to him and Alex struggling to bake their first cake.

A sibling wasn’t the only absent figure in his life. The thought of his friend’s Uncle — a person embodying laughter and joy — was capable of hiding a dark secret under his shadow.

His heart sank, anchoring him way below the boxes. He took a deep breath, uncomfortably louder in the confined space.

“He is a murderer!“

“HE IS NOT!” Will snapped, and so did an avalanche of scarves, sweaters, shirts and boxes.

The bedroom door burst open with Adrían hopping around triumphantly, chanting, “CAUGHT! CAUGHT! CAUGHT!”

The closet door opened and light poured onto them, blinding Will.

Outside, Alex leaned against the door frame, a grin tugging across his carefree face.

“You two couldn’t even keep it low for ten minutes.” He laughed.

Will’s heart sank, his chest tightening as he wondered if the smile would remain if he ever was to know the truth.