.•IT CAN'T BE REAL•.

Chapter Ten: .•for bryson•.

   The sound of the phone ringing woke Lee up. "Dad! Mom!" Lee called. There was no reply. She stood up, getting dressed. As soon as she got ready, she rushed downstairs, opening the door. "Hi!" a tall German Shepherd spoke. "Uh, hi... May I ask, who are you?" Lee asked. "Oh, my name's Rory King. I'm your brother's friend." Rory told her. Lee wrinkled her snout slightly. "I want to help you find him." Rory said. "Fine." Lee mumbled. Why does everybody want to help find him? Rory turned to the forest. Ansley ran up to them. "Who are you?" she asked Rory. "I'm helping Lee find Logan. Now we need to get going." Rory said, heading off towards the forest. Lee watched him, and followed him, Ansley behind her.

She stared at the train tracks. Poor Bryson. Didn't he die here a couple of days ago? Rory dropped his backpack on the dirt covered ground. "Look. Right there." Rory pointed to a tree. "I'm climbing up it." Ansley told her friends. "What? Why?" Rory asked. "Well, why walk when you can climb?" Ansley shrugged, running of into the cluster of trees. She climbed up the tall tree Rory had been pointing to. There was a long, deep ident into the tree. As if something scratched it. It was almost a perfect line. Her camera flashed, shoving the photo in her pocket. A cold breeze passed Ansley as she climbed down. "We need Jason here." Ansley told them. Lee tilted her head. "He knows more about science and science fiction than you and I- and Rory... would ever know." Ansley stated, "His house isn't too far from here. I'll get him!"

Jason and Ansley walked back together. They were exchanging the photos. As they got closer, Lee could make out a few words. "Odd... strange... confused... thing..." Jason's words were still hard to understand. Jason stopped speaking, shooting a glare at Lee. "Oh what do you want..." Jason snarled. Ansley elbowed Jason. Lee was silent. Jason turned around. "No!" Ansley shouted, yanking him back. Jason rolled his eyes. "Tell Lee what you told me." Ansley demanded. Jason yelled. Everyone went quiet. I thought Dobermans didn't curse. Whatever. Lee thought to herself. "Jason, just tell her." Ansley told him. "You expect me to tell that dirty brother killer what I told you?" Jason growled, facing Ansley. "Hold on, I didn't shove your brother on the train tracks. He walked on top of them!" Lee retorted. "Watch your mouth, mutt. Or you're going to be the next piece of roadkill!" Jason barked. "Shut up, fur ball." Lee glared at Jason. "I HATE YOU!" Jason yelled, lunging for Lee. Ansley held him back. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Jason swatted at the air, managing to claw Lee's arm and drawing blood. Lee backed away. Ansley pushes Jason back, him stumbling to the ground. "Don't talk to me ever again, Ansley. Never." Jason got up, running back to his house. Ansley turned to Rory, who was using his jacket as a bandage for Lee's arm. "Lee, I'm sorry. Jason still isn't used to other people." Ansley apologized. "Apparently he doesn't care for you either." Lee muttered. "He was just mad, okay?" Ansley's voice went harsh. "Ansley, do you mind telling us what the Doberman said?" Rory asked. The walked off, talking about what Jason said.

   Jason dried his paws off on the towel, staring in the mirror. "Yikes.." Jason mumbled. It was now that Jason realized that his fur was tangled and matted, it was starting to look like Peter's. Jason shrugged, walking out of the washroom. He opened the door to Bryson's bedroom, sitting down on the bed. Clothes were scattered everywhere, his brother's suitcase in the corner of the room. The telescope looked dusty and cloudy, the window locked shut. The chair that Bryson always used to sit in was sat at the foot of the bed, the bandages for his paw were resting beside it. Jason looked around the room. Bryson gave me everything, but what did I do for him? Jason thought. His eyes caught the mirror with photos taped onto it. Jason looked at the photos. There were photos of just Bryson, some photos of April and Bryson, more of Bryson and Josh, and one of him and Bryson. Jason carefully grabbed the photo. Jason's fur was out of his eyes at the time the photo was taken. Bryson had his paw wrapped around Jason, smiling proudly at the camera. Jason sighed, sadness overwhelming him. Jason looked into the mirror. He reached into one of the boxes, picking up scissors. Jason glanced into the mirror one more time, grabbing the scissors tightly in his paw.

"For Bryson."