Mask of the Blue Snitch

Julian couldn't believe it, yet, the evidence was right before his eyes. The surveillance photos, the newspaper articles that were strewn across the walls of the small secluded room were all proof of Walter's obsession and true identity.

Julian couldn't bear the sight of it anymore. Sick to his stomach, he climbed the ladder. He emerged into the shed feeling even worse than he did before descend into the dark lair that was hidden beneath the structure.

The trapdoor creaked as he tried closed it, forcing Julian to freeze. He urgently strained his ears to hear if his little brother was somehow watching from the shadows, just as he watched those people in the photos. A few moments went by without another sound. Content, Julian locked the trapdoor with the blue key he had found, moved the rug back, and placed the chest back on top.

The blue key was the last item to return. Julian eventually decided to pocket it until he could hide it back in the car when his parents returned from the cocktail party tonight. He had found it there when he and Walter drove to school that the morning. Julian had asked both of his parents whether they recognized the strange key but they didn't. It wasn't until Julian tried to clean spilled soda off the floor in the shed he had been working in that he found the trapdoor, along with Walter's very dark secret.

"Did that really just happen?" Julian kept asking himself. He had just learned that Walter, his little brother, was the Blue Snitch - the sick cyber bully that had struck terror in the hearts of Kiddleton students, single-handedly driving twelve kids to suicide over the past three years. Now, the same monster that was his brother had a new batch of kids to poke at mercilessly, and from what Julian saw in the covert lair, Walter had a lot of dirt on them. He was going to bury them alive, slowly and mercilessly until they cracked from the pressure. The question that remained was what Julian going to do with this alarming discovery. After pacing the shed, Julian went to the house to find Walter. He had to see his brother for himself. Walter deserved that much.

Walter was in the kitchen with their mother. Julian was not surprised to see her in the new red dress she had bought recently which cost an arm and leg. Being the most prominent figure of any social occasion was always her ambition. The event she and their father would be attending would be no exception. She sat on breakfast stool reapplying her makeup taking extra care that everything was perfect. She did not even so much as glance at Julian when he walked into the kitchen. For the second time, Julian wasn't surprised.

His brother was still dressed in his soccer uniform. He was busy making himself a sandwich at the kitchen counter like any hungry teenage boy. As Julian observed Walter eating, he still couldn't bring himself to believe that Walter was actually a psychotic cyber bully. He was captain of the soccer team, top of his graduating class, and social elite of Kiddleton High School, everything Julian wasn't. Normally, Julian should be the sociopath. He had no friends besides Melissa and was the one who tended to get into trouble. Julian was thus the black sheep of the family whereas Walter was astounding in everything he did. How could someone so perfect, be so messed up at the same time? Maybe that was it: Walter was too perfect. He was wearing a mask of perfection this whole time to fool everyone. No one would have imagined that he was the Blue Snitch.

His mother finally placed her make- up kit into her clutch and carefully smoothed out the creases of her dress. "You father and I will be back before midnight." She stood to her feet, continuing to smooth her dress. "I didn't have time to make something so Julian, make dinner, won't you?"

Julian nodded vaguely at the request, never taking his eyes off Walter. "Sure, Mom."

"Okay, then. Be good you two."

"Yes, Mom." They both said. Walter finished his deluxe sandwich and sat at the kitchen table.

His father came into the room, just as dressed-up and concerned about his image as Mom was. He was combing his hair to the side, even though it was perfectly fine. The room filled with the scent of expensive cologne. His eyes immediately fell on Julian and hardened like rocks. "No fooling around tonight, Julian. You are still grounded." He ordered.

Julian brushed off the severity. "Okay, Dad. I have something important... schoolwork to take care of anyway." He suddenly decided that there was no point of addressing the issue with his parents. They both were currently in their own little worlds where their appearance was their top priority. Besides, they would never believe Julian, even if he were to show them the lair. He could already their accusations of forgery ringing in his ears. Walter was their beloved son who was their only source of hope and pride. If Julian was still having a hard time believing what he saw, they would too. No, talking to Walter would be the best way to going about... whatever this is.

"Good to hear." His father said. "You ready, Rachel?"

She nodded. "Bye boys. Call only in emergencies."

"Have fun." Walter said, eyes never leaving his phone screen.

Rachel walked over and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Bye, honey." She then walked past Julian, out the kitchen, and into the garage, following her husband. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving Walter to his phone and Julian to his thoughts.

         Maybe he was wrong. Maybe Walter was being framed by someone else. Still, it would be better to play it safe than to be stuck in an interrogation room answering questions to cops. Julian knew from experience. However, Walter got up from the table before Julian mustered the courage to say anything.

"Call me when dinner is done." His little brother said, about to walk out the door.

         "Walter!"

His little brother paused and turned around. "What?"

"What do you want for dinner, kid?"

         Walter shrugged. "Don't care. I'll be practicing outside. Don't disturb me." Walter usually said that when he was doing something extremely important whether it had to do with soccer or something else. Julian had interrupted him once. It did not end well.

         Julian nodded. "Wouldn't dream of it."

         His brother went out through the backdoor a few moments later, wearing workout clothes. However, his took a backpack and soccer duffel with him. Julian watched him go towards the field from a window as he pretended to wash the dishes. The shed was the perfect spot to do his dirty work. It was out of the house's line of sight. Julian realized that all the times when had Walter said he was going "to practice outside" and "not to disturb him," he was actually sneaking off to the basement of the shed, spying and bullying people to their deaths.

         Julian went up to his room to figure out a way to confront his brother. Do they have a heart-to-heart conversation or does he demand that Walter stop...? He paused. Walter's room was right next to his. Maybe he could creep inside to find more evidence before he started accusing his brother of cyber terrorism.

         The side door downstairs burst open. Someone was inside the house. Soon, they were marching up the stairs, towards the bedrooms. Julian dashed down the hall right as Walter came around the corner and made a beeline straight into his own room.
         
         Walter's room was abnormally messy and loud when Julian stepped in a moment later. Walter was throwing objects around in an erratic frenzy. However, it was the expression on his face that concerned Julian. The easy-going smile Walter usually wore was gone, replaced with a nasty, sinister face. The mask was finally off and this what was underneath. It was a face of a demon.

         "What's wrong, bro?" Julian asked Walter.

         He was barely listening. "Nothing."

         "It doesn't look like nothing." said Julian, watching as Walter ripped a drawer out dumped the contents onto the floor. "Can't help you-?"

         "Just stay out of the way!" Walter roughly shoved his way past Julian and pounded down the stairs again. "And don't touch anything!" he snarled behind him.

         There was nothing for Julian to touch. All of Walter possessions was on the floor, exposed, but nothing incriminating.

         Noises from Walter's continuation of his frantic search resonated throughout the house. This was a side of Walter Julian had never encountered before. Julian had heard that everyone had a side to them that they hold back but this was a redefined version of the word "different." Julian was going to have rethink his way of dealing with this other Walter.

         The sounds from the floor below stopped, followed by the footsteps running up the stairs. Julian moved out into the hallway just before Walter flew into his room and banged the door shut. A second later, objects hit the walls with a frightening force. Walter didn't find what he was searching for and now he was livid. This mess was now becoming something out of a horror movie.

         Ten minutes later, the tantrum stopped. The silence afterward was as eerie as the moments before a shark attack. Julian paused at Walter's door, hesitating whether to go inside or not. Was it even a good idea? Yes. He had to find the truth and fix it, even if Walter was truly the Blue Snitch. There was no avoiding the impending conversation. But he needed leverage-

         An idea came to mind. Julian went to his room to get a piece of paper and began to recite coded instructions to a friend.


         
Walter was sitting on his bed, with his head in his hands, fingers nervously running through his dirty blonde hair. "It's gone. Everything is ruined." he was muttering to himself in frustration. Walter was having a mental breakdown.
         
         "You didn't find it did you?" Julian asked his brother.

         Walter didn't answer.

         "Why don't you tell me what you are looking for? Maybe I've seen it around."

         Walter shook his head slowly. "You've never seen it."

         "Try me."

         "You haven't seen it."

         "Trust me."

         Walter gazed up at him for a moment, deciding whether to trust really him.

         "Fine. It's a blue key." He said as casually as he could. "It's extremely important so don't even think about stealing it."

         "Why is it so important?"

         "It's a key to open my soccer locker at school. I can't play without it." Walter was lying right to his face. All doubt was erased from Julian's mind. His brother was really the Blue Snitch.

         "You sure? You're not lying, right?"

         "Why does it matter? I just need the key!" Walter shouted. Pause. "Wait." Walter looked at Julian suspiciously as it dawned on him that his older brother had been playing him the entire time. "You know where it is, don't you?" Julian did not answer, confirming Walter's guess.

"Give it to me!" Walter yelled. He wildly lunged at Julian, who quickly moved out of the way.

         "Or what?" Julian retorted.

         Walter stopped. He took a moment to straighten himself and give a smug look. "I'll tell Mom and Dad about you and your gang vandalizing the houses at the construction site. Didn't the police say that this was your last chance?"

         "Wow." Julian chuckled. "You would blackmail your own brother, even if it means he would go to Juvi. I guess you are the Blue Snitch, after all."

         Walter froze completely at the name. His face turned pale. "What did you say?"
         
         "You heard me."

         "Did you just call me the Blue Snitch?" Walter was trying to deny his way out of the situation, but Julian wasn't going to fall for it.

         "Don't play stupid with me!"Julian exclaimed. "I know about the secret room under the shed. You sick little games end here, Walter."

         Walter sat on the bed, in defiance. He knew he was caught. "What games? I reveal the truth!"

         "You are not the paparazzi, Walter. What you are is worse than that. People have killed themselves because of you-"
         
         "They chose to die."

         "You led them to the God damn cliff! You are just as guilty. Your hands are just dripping with their blood!"

         "So what are you going to do, tell Mom and Dad? Would they really believe that their beloved little son is a cyber bully? We both know that they would say that you're just framing me. Plus if you tell the cops, I'll tell them about the vandalizing and the store robbery last month. You'll surely go to jail, then."

          Julian was astonished by this point. Walter was deadly serious about blackmailing him. "You know, at first, I wondered how it was possible that you were the Blue Snitch. Everyone has a monster inside that they try to conceal. Yours happens to be this. You aren't the only one evidence. This ends now before I tell Mom and Dad and the cops!"

"You don't understand." Walter insisted desperately. His hands began to shake again. He was trapped and didn't know what to do. "I can't go to jail."

         Julian paused for a moment. Walter was breaking to pieces right in front of him. He felt a tugging sensation at his chest. Julian was still his older brother, even if it meant he was stuck picking up the pieces.

He sat down next to Walter. "Look, I'm still your bro no matter what you do. I'm not going to turn you in unless-" he paused to follow Walter's gaze out the door. "What are you staring at?" He never got an answer. Something hit his head hard and everything suddenly went black.
         
         The last thing he heard was Walter whispering in his ear. "I told you I can't go to jail, bro. Not yet, at least."

Julian awoke on the floor, bloody, dazed, and bound by duct tape. Walter was gone but Julian knew exactly where he was. Walter said that he couldn't go to jail yet. Meaning, he still had a trick up his sleeve. There was no way that could be good. Walter made sure that Julian wasn't going to interfere.

         "Julian?" A voice called out from downstairs.

         "Melissa!" he shouted in relief. "I'm upstairs. Hurry!"

         Melissa ran up the stairs and into the bedroom. "What happened to you?" she gasped.

         "My little brother isn't as cool as I thought he was. Untie me!"

         Melissa grabbed a pair of scissors that was lying on a desk and sawed at the tape. "Did Walter do this to you?"

         "Walter is planning something big now that he knows that I know. He isn't going down without a last stand. I have to stop him before he does more damage. Did you take pictures of the room?"

         Melissa nodded as she finally cut one of the layers. "I found the note and key you texted you would leave for me in your safe in the shed. That room was disturbing! I didn't know Walter was such a creep!"

         "I almost didn't believe it myself. Where is he?"

         "In the shed. I got out just in time. He went straight for the safe, just like you said."

         "He is the Blue Snitch after all. He lives to learn and expose all secrets."
         
         Melissa got the last of the tape off of Julian's wrists and ankles. "Now what?" she asked.

         "Go home and develop the pictures. Don't do anything with them unless I tell you I'd need them."

         "What are you going to do?"

         Julian thought for a moment before running downstairs into the kitchen. He pulled a steak knife and a bunch of matches from the drawer. "I'm going to cut the source. With no power, Walter is a sitting duck." He attached both onto his jeans.

         "Promise me you'll be careful." Melissa pleaded Julian as he raced outside. Julian knew he couldn't keep that promise. One of them was going to get hurt. How hurt was the issue.

         Julian scanned the shed for possible electricity lines. The room had a PC in it, meaning Walter was getting power from somewhere. The power box was hanging on the wall behind the shed. Without thinking, Julian began to cut each and every wire. Mid-way, a shiny object caught his eye. Julian turned to see a security camera hanging from the ceiling. His parents would never be so cautious of him to go so far as to place cameras around the house so-

         "Crap!" Julian was being filmed. Walter had defiantly saw him coming. Plan B: smoke him out. Julian placed the knife on his belt and stepped away from the box. He didn't get far. He was hit in the back by a heavy force. Julian crashed to the ground. His stomach did flips seeing Walter was standing over him, tightly gripping a shovel with a menacing look on his face.

         Walter quickly spotted the matches lying in the grass and picked them up. "Hey! This is exactly what I need. Thanks, bro."

         Julian struggled to get up but he was winded. The world turned fuzzy watching Walter enter inside, striking matches. He was burning the shed, along with all the evidence that could link him to being the Blue Snitch. Walter eventually emerged from inside, stuffing a backpack full of photos and a flash drive. By then, flames were engulfing the entire shed.

         "I know you were just trying to help." Walter said to Julian, setting the belongings on the ground. "To you, what I do is wrong. To me, it is uncovering the truth. I might be a monster, but I'm the monster that shows everyone the ones lurking inside themselves. We're all evil, bro, its just about how well we hide it."

         Julian writhed on the ground, trying to move but fear took a hold of his body. Walter picked up the shovel. "My job doesn't allow me to have loose ends." He said with no emotion. "Sorry, Julian."

         Julian looked into Walter's eyes, only to find that his little brother would truly kill him without hesitation. "Please." He pleaded. "Don't do this. We can fix this-"

         "The only thing that needs to be fixed is you. Don't worry. I'll make sure you're dead before the flames get to you." Walter raised the shovel to for the kill. Julian closed his eyes. There was no escaping his brother now or the flames or the burning building. He wondered how much it would hurt. Would he feel it at all?

         He never got to answer his question. Julian heard a thud as Walter and Melissa fell in a heap on the ground.

         "Julian! Let's get out of here." Melissa ran to help him. She didn't see Walter get up and swing the shovel at her.

         "Get down!" Julian pushed her aside, the shovel barely missing her. He then wrestled Walter back to the ground with new found strength. "Melissa! Get out of here and call 911."

         "Wait! I wouldn't do that if I were you." Walter reached into a pocket and pulled his phone, a thumb poised over the green button. "One more move and I send pictures of everyone's secrets to everyone else in the school. Think of the damage. Do you really want to be the cause of more suicides, Julian?"

         "When will this blackmailing stop?" Julian yelled at Walter.
         
"When evil stops." He replied.

         Julian let go. The damage was too great to risk. Walter slowly stood back to his feet. A smile stretched across his wicked face. "But evil never stops, does it?" he snickered.

         Time slowed to a snail's pace. While Walter's finger went downward to press "send," Julian's hand moved to his belt and pulled out an object. He never understood what brought him to stab his brother in the stomach with the steak knife but either way, Walter fell his arms, dying, blood seeping down his body. For a moment, the same old light returned to Walter's eyes. He wasn't the Blue Snitch anymore but the brother Julian grew up with. "I just wanted to show people the truth." Walter whispered his last words. "The truth hurts sometimes." Then he was gone. Julian's little brother was gone along with the Blue Snitch.

         Fire engines and police sirens sounded in the distance. The shed was now a fireball. They would be here any minute.

Julian laid his brother on the grass, closing his eyelids. "Melissa. Leave your camera memory card here. You have to do before the authorities get here!" At first, Melissa was confused but it vanished when their eyes met. She nodded, dropped her card, and ran towards the house.

         Julian threw everything into the growing fire. Walter was right about one thing; the truth does hurt. The truth about Walter was going to be unbearable if his parents and others found out. Their world of perfection would shatter, never to come back again. Maybe they would finally see that looks and success weren't all that important anyway.

The firemen came first to put out the fire. A few cops followed close behind. They immediately stopped at the sight of Walter's body and the steak knife now in his hand. Julian turned around, watching their eyes fall onto his bloody shirt. He added a smile for an effect.

"Drop the knife, kid!" One said, aiming his gun straight at Julian's chest. Kid. That was what Julian had called Walter earlier.

The officer repeated his order once more, this time with more force. Julian obeyed and waited for the cold metal of the handcuffs to be locked around his wrists. He was stood upright and made to walk through the backyard and into a cop car that was waiting in front of his house.

All the neighbors were outside wondering what had happened. Their suspicions were concluded at the sight of Julian handcuffed. Julian could already predict theories. He had gotten upset with Walter about something and killed him. The fire just was a way to get rid of the body. No one would have guessed the truth.

Covering this up was not going to be easy but somehow Julian knew he had to try. He had felt obligated as the older brother to save Walter from the Blue Snitch but he had failed. Posing as a brother's murder might be the only way to save the memory of the boy that was his brother - the boy who once only loved soccer and boloney sandwiches afterward. Maybe it was Julian's mistakes that drove his brother to want to liberate people from their secrets. No more questions, one thing was certain, Julian would have to wear the mask a murder for now on.