Chapter 1

1

My adoptive parents' golden boy, Scott, took a bunch of underage kids up a mountain without permission and three of them ended up dead. And guess who they decided to throw under the bus? Me.

Dad forced me to kneel in front of the victims' families, using a hiking pole to smash my leg, inch by inch.

"He's the one who used these legs to drag your kids up there! I'll make sure he never hikes again!" he screamed.

Mom didn't even flinch as she ripped my name off the family insurance policy.

"Scott's going to break records, he can't be associated with a loser like you! He's sacrificed so much because of you, it's time you paid up."

Even my girlfriend, Mandy, looked me in the eye and promised me the world.

"Scott has nothing, he'd fall apart if he had to take the blame. But you have me, Chad. No matter what happens, I'll be here waiting for you."

"These people just want someone to blame, they won't put you in jail. Just let them get it out of their system and you'll be home soon."

To protect her darling Scott's precious reputation, she turned around and cooked up fake evidence with my parents, sending me straight to prison.

They lied through their teeth, saying it was to keep me safe, to protect me from revenge.

They didn't know I'd already given up on them.

...

The harsh lights in my face. Looking at the empty gate. I walked, calm, back towards the place that wasn't my home anymore.

A giant screen in the mall showed Scott's victory video, breaking some hiking record. My parents and Mandy, beaming, cheering him on from the sidelines.

Like they'd forgotten today was the day I got out.

It took me three hours, but Mandy finally showed up, looking rushed and guilty.

She saw me limping and ran over, grabbing my arm. "Chad, what happened to your leg? Did someone hurt you in there?"

Her concerned eyes? A joke.

"Wasn't it you and Mom and Dad who decided to send me to prison before my leg was even healed? So it wouldn't hurt Scott's image?"

Because of the injury, I'll never be able to hike again.

Mandy's eyes darted away, not meeting mine. She stammered, trying to explain.

"We were worried the families would come after you, that's all! And even if your leg's messed up, I won't care. I'll take care of you now."

I didn't want to argue. I opened the car door, but Scott was sitting inside.

"What's he doing here?"

Mandy slammed the door shut. "His friends know about his award, they're throwing him a party. It might not be the best place for you right now."

"Not the best place? A killer can go, but I can't? The guy who got framed?"

She glanced nervously at Scott in the car, relieved he didn't seem to hear.

She turned to me, frowning. "Scott's still traumatized, Chad! Do you have to say things like that? Are you trying to drive him over the edge?"

"Just grab a ride home, okay? I wasted too much time looking for you, I have to get Scott to his party."

She left me standing there, knowing full well I didn't have a cent.