by KT Webb
“Why? Why?” He demanded in angry desperation as he gripped the wire in his fist.
Before Aria could offer an answer, Erik burst onto the stage. He was panting with rage. He wore his mask, but from his stance, Aria knew he’d seen everything. The momentary relief she felt at his appearance disappeared quickly. Drew didn’t move. It was as though he’d expected nothing less. Aria stepped away from Drew, desperate to put as much space between them as possible. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. Drew draped an arm around her shoulders.
“Look, honey! We have a guest! Erik, I’d really hoped you would be able to make it,” Drew’s tone was laced with sarcasm.
Erik started to come toward them, but Aria stopped him with a pleading look. She couldn’t risk that Drew would do anything to hurt her or the baby. If he thought Erik was coming too close, he might do something drastic. Drew kept his arm firmly around her shoulders and his eyes on Erik as he lifted the police wire to show them both he had plans of his own.
“Detective Pahl, I’m sure you’re out there listening somewhere. Before you come charging in, I’d like to inform you that to do so would cause grave injury to your men. Each door is wired with explosives that I control. The only thing that can take the control from me is if someone tries to open any of those doors,” Drew smiled, “We have some things we need to discuss in private. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave us alone for now.”
With that, Drew dropped the microphone and wire to the floor. He stomped on it repeatedly. Aria looked at Erik. Everything they’d planned had gone down the toilet. It was something they should have expected, but neither could see past their own hopes for the future.
“Let her go! I’m the one you want, Drew. Don’t hurt her,” Erik begged.
“Do you really think I would hurt her? It’s not her fault you decided to poison her mind with your ridiculous romantic notions. She deserves to know who you really are. As if hiding behind that mask could spare her from the truth.”
Erik paused for a moment before reaching up to the mask. Aria already knew what was underneath, it was time to reveal himself to his brother. Aria watched him, knowing how difficult it was for him to show anyone the scars he bore. Once his face was exposed, Drew released a harsh laugh.
“Jesus, you are hideous, aren’t you?”
Erik glared at him, “Drew, this isn’t the way to do any of this. I’ve been to London. I know about everything.”
“Oh, isn’t that typical. Erik reads a book, and suddenly he knows everything,” Drew shouted, still gripping Aria.
“I don’t mean it that way. I know what you’ve done, but I don’t understand it. You’re my brother, Drew.”
Aria jerked away from Drew, stumbling as she did. Erik moved to help her when she fell, and his brother took the opportunity to tackle him. Aria scooted back to get out of their tangled limbs. Once she was back on her feet, Aria looked around for anything to help her stop Drew. The stage was empty.
Drew pulled back a fist and brought it down onto the ruined side of Erik’s face. The howl of pain tore through Aria; the burns may have healed long ago, but the scarred tissue was still sensitive. Erik tried to overcome his brother without success. In the end, Drew had Erik pinned to the floor face down. Drew took black zip ties from his pocket and secured his brother’s hands and feet. Erik fought against him every second until he was forced onto his knees.
“What are you doing?” Aria demanded.
“Finishing what I started,” Drew replied without feeling.
“No. You can’t.”
“Don’t be stupid. I can. I think I’ve proven that many times over now,” Drew said as he stared at Aria.
“You’ve killed everyone I love. Everyone. Please don’t do this,” Aria begged.
“They deserved what they got, Aria. You all did. My perfect brother was the worst of all. Our parents put him on a pedestal; he was untouchable. I was nothing compared to him. Your precious father only reinforced that behavior,” Drew spat.
“My father did not deserve to die. None of us did. How dare you? I was nine years old, you piece of shit!” Aria yelled.
“You hero-worshipped my perfect brother. I saw it in your face. Even now, as you look at him, I see that doe-eyed look in your eyes. How could you possibly choose that half-melted freak over me now?”
Aria blinked in disbelief, “Erik was my friend. You both were. I was so young, I wanted nothing more than to follow you both around and do whatever you did.”
“And now? I’m standing here, prepared to sacrifice everything for you. He doesn’t deserve you. He’s a sniveling pile of ruined flesh. How can you still think you’re in love with him?” Drew demanded.
Aria shook her head sadly as she looked down at Erik, “You don’t get it. My love for Erik began long ago as something innocent, then I met the man beneath the mask. Yes, I’m still in love with him.”
“Look at me!” Drew screamed.
Aria jumped and returned her gaze to Drew. He was beyond angry. The man she knew as Drew had been replaced by a blood-thirsty psychopath. He walked over to her, staring into her eyes. It was impossible to pin down the exact emotion reflected as he again put his hands on her.
“Let her go!” Erik growled.
“How does it feel? Knowing everything you want is right in front of you, but you’ll never touch it again?” Drew spat in Erik’s direction.
Drew stroked Aria’s face as she turned away. He pulled her toward him with an iron grip. She knew he was only toying with Erik, he just wanted to show his brother that he was utterly powerless. He pressed his lips against hers, shoving his tongue into her mouth while she desperately tried to push him away. Drew turned her in his arms until she was facing Erik. He slowly ran his hands along her body. Aria prayed Drew wouldn’t notice the small bump. If he knew she was carrying Erik’s child, there was no telling what he would do.
“Everything I’ve done has been for you, Aria. When you survived that fire, I thought it was a sign that we should be together. Anyone who would have kept us apart was supposed to be dead,” Drew continued to let his hands roam all over her. “When we were reunited, I knew I would finally have the chance to show you that you’re meant to be mine.”
“She was a child, Drew! Get your hands off her!” Erik yelled.
“Well, she sure as fuck isn’t a child anymore, is she? You just couldn’t let me have this one, could you?”
“I’m not a prize to be won. I choose who I love,” Aria said through her tears as she tried to draw his attention back to her.
Drew looked at her as though she’d given him the solution to all his problems. A slow smile spread across his features. Drew released Aria, then walked over to stand next to his brother. Erik was breathing heavily, staring at Aria as though he wanted to remember every detail of her face. Drew reached behind his back and pulled out a handgun, pointing it directly at Erik’s head. Aria screamed.
Aria cursed herself for not thinking he would have more tricks up his sleeve than the explosives he’d already told them about. Too many things were happening at once. Aria gripped her chest and screamed for Drew to stop.
“Please, Drew. This isn’t the answer. Please don’t hurt him,” Aria cried.
“I doubt very much that it will hurt. I can’t say I’ve ever had the joy of shooting someone. It would be a new experience for me,” Drew tilted the gun as he regarded his brother.
“Aria, everything will be okay. Thank you for seeing me when no one else could,” Erik whispered.
His voice sounded far away to Aria’s ears. He was telling her goodbye without actually saying the words. There was no way she would let that happen. The tears she’d shed out of fear quickly turned to tears of anguish and rage.
“Don’t kill him, Drew! You’re right. I don’t love him,” Aria said the only thing she thought would save him.
Erik’s face fell. He knew she was lying, but the sting was still there. “Drew, why make her lie to you in order to save my life?
Aria, when he pulls this trigger, please don’t look.”
“You know, Aria, I’ve been thinking, and I’ve decided you’re right. The choice should be yours. Here it is. Go to London with me, we can start a new life together. If you choose me, Erik goes free. If you choose him, he dies,” Drew looked at her like he was asking her to choose a pizza topping, “Tell me you love me, Aria.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Aria cried.
“Jesus, Drew! Don’t do it, Aria. I would rather be dead than hear you tell him you love him,” Erik insisted.
“This is it, Aria. It’s your choice,” Drew yelled, pressing the barrel of the gun against Erik’s head
Aria looked back and forth between the twin brothers. One the father of the baby she had to consider, the other the man who threatened to destroy yet another person she loved. If she refused Drew, she would have to watch Erik die. She would know without a doubt that they would never see each other again. If she chose to go with Drew, she would have to be positive he would spare Erik.
“Drew, you lied to me. How can I trust that you’ll keep your word and let Erik go if I choose you?”
“Aria, I tried so hard to free you from him. Don’t throw your life away, let me die,” Erik cried.
“You have my word. Erik will live if you choose to be with me,” Drew whispered as he maintained eye contact with Aria.
Aria looked at Erik. Her eyes begged for forgiveness in a way her voice never could. If he was alive, they could find each other again. They would have another chance to bring Drew down in the future. Beyond that, she had to think of their baby. How could she ever tell her child she chose to let his or her father die in order to spare herself from a life spent with Drew? No, the only option she had was to pick Drew so he would spare Erik.
Erik saw it in her eyes, and something inside him died. She was going to choose Drew. His life was over anyway, his brother may as well shoot him to keep him from going through the misery of losing Aria and their unborn baby. He knew she was doing it for him; for their child. But the idea that she would have to give herself to Drew to try to convince him that her baby was his made Erik want to puke. If Drew found out Aria was carrying the baby of the brother he hated enough to murder twice, he wouldn’t let the child live.
She walked up to him, glancing at the gun, “I love you, Andrew Overland.”
Aria kissed him deeply. She poured every ounce of hope she had into that kiss. He had to believe it if he was going to spare Erik. A metallic sound registered in her ears as Drew wrapped his arms around her and roughly pulled her against him. He lifted her off the floor as though he intended to carry her away. When Drew put her down, he looked at her as though everything he wanted had finally come true. Drew pulled the ring out of his pocket; he’d been carrying it with him since he ripped it off her neck. If it meant so much to her, she could wear it for him instead of Erik.
“Say you’ll leave this theater with me and only me. Tell me you want me,” Drew gripped Aria’s upper arms.
Aria noticed the flash of movement behind Drew. He wasn’t paying any attention to Erik anymore, and that left him vulnerable. He’d underestimated his brother once again. Erik took the opportunity to shift his weight onto his toes, using his hands to push up from behind. He was on his feet before Drew realized he didn't have the weapon anymore.
Erik lunged at Drew, knocking him down into the orchestra pit. Aria saw the gun lying where Drew dropped it. She kicked it as far as she could, sending it sliding toward the back of the stage. When Drew fell, his cell phone tumbled from his pocket. As he hit the floor, the zip tie that held Erik’s feet broke. Erik rolled away from his brother, screaming as he pulled at the zip tie around his wrists. Drew stood above Erik, preparing to end it all. Blood ran from Erik’s forearms and hands when he finally managed to break the binding. He got to his feet.
“Aria! The phone!” Erik shouted as he tackled Drew again.
The last thing she wanted was to climb down into the orchestra pit with the brothers. She hesitated for only a moment before lowering herself carefully down on one end of the opening while the brothers fought on the other end.
“Give it up, Erik. She already chose me. You heard her, she doesn’t love you,” Drew grabbed a folding chair and wielded it in the direction of his brother.
Aria looked around desperately for the cell phone in the blackness. She finally found the tiny electronic and scooped it up. Aria noticed the blinking green button on the screen and remembered what he had told the Detective about having control over when the explosives on the doors blew.
Erik took a chair to the head. His ears were ringing, his equilibrium was thrown off. Drew turned his attention back toward Aria. She had his phone in her hands. He couldn’t understand why she hadn’t grabbed the gun. Erik took him by surprise and tackled him again. He tried to hit his brother, but this time, Erik had the upper hand. The brothers continued to struggle on the floor. When Aria turned around, Erik was straddling his brother. He brought a fist down to punch him in the jaw.
With Drew momentarily disoriented, Erik ran to Aria. He took the phone from her hand and threw it back onto the stage. It wouldn’t take Drew long to find it, they didn’t have time to waste. He knew they wouldn’t have much time before Drew reached his phone and activated the explosives. Erik took Aria by the hand and ran to the door leading out of the orchestra pit.
He could hear Drew starting to get up from the floor and made a split decision. The gun was laying just feet from him and Aria. Erik grabbed it just as Drew climbed out of the orchestra pit. He leveled the gun at his brother’s chest before Aria noticed what he was planning. Drew made it to his knees before he saw the threat.
“Do not come any closer, Drew,” he held the gun firmly.
“Erik! What are you doing?” Aria gasped.
“This has to end Aria, if we don’t end it now, Drew will find us again.”
Drew laughed at his brother, “Don’t kid yourself, I won’t need to find you. You’re not getting out of this alive.”
Erik’s finger rested on the trigger. Aria knew he would pull it if she didn’t intervene. She may not love Andrew, but she couldn’t bear to see Erik become a killer just to stop the man who had already murdered so many.
“Erik, no. Not like this. Please don’t stoop to his level. I know you’re a better man than he is, prove it to him,” Aria pleaded.
Erik maintained eye contact with Drew. He wanted his brother to know their struggle was over. If Drew chose to follow them, Erik would have no choice but to kill him. There was no way he would leave the gun where Drew could get it. Erik kept it pointed at his twin until they reached the stage door. After bursting into the hallway, they ran until they entered the dressing room Aria had used during the production.
Drew found his way to his feet. Erik had taken the gun, but the phone was just feet away. Aria may have insisted that Erik spare his life, but Drew wasn’t going to spare either of them. No matter what she said, he knew she didn’t love him. She still chose Erik over him. That fucking bitch deserved to die. There was no way he was going to let the two of them escape and leave him the loser once again. Blood dripped from his mouth where Erik had hit him. He spat the blood and a few teeth onto the floor. The phone was in his hand. If he couldn’t have Aria, no one would have her.
Erik slid the mirror to the side. Aria tried not to think about the number of times she and other women had changed in that dressing room. It didn’t really matter anyway. They heard footsteps behind them. Drew was following their path. He wouldn’t let them go if there was even a chance he could catch them. Erik dragged her into the passageway and quickly slid the mirror closed behind them. Thankfully, the locking mechanism would keep him from following them through the double-sided mirror.
Just as the lock slid into place, Drew pounded into the room. He stared at the mirror as though he knew they had escaped through it. Erik held Aria’s hand in his as he looked at his identical twin through the two-way glass.
It had been years since he saw himself the way Drew appeared, but he had never witnessed his own features twisted in maniacal fury the way Drew’s were at that moment.
Drew banged a fist against the mirror, “I love her, Erik! Does that mean nothing to you?”
Erik was breathing in and out through his nose, Aria noticed he was shaking with rage. She couldn’t imagine how he was feeling. Drew may believe he loved her, but she knew that wasn’t true. He was obsessed with her; obsession and love were closely related but very different feelings. Drew hit the mirror again, then turned as though he was going to walk away. Instead, he doubled back and pounded both fists against the glass.
“No, damn it!” He screamed.