YES, this is supposed to be the final chapter, BUT unfortunately, I've underestimated my use of words again...
So this is the second to last chapter, with the next one definitely being THE LAST!
Sorry peeps.
Anyway mini rant over, now it's story time as Chase would say!
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
A belief that over the years Chase came to abide by. And what he was about to do would confirm his loyalty towards his newly enlightened perspective.
"Just a few more steps Mere bear, then we get to play!" Chase giggled as he gleefully rubbed his hands together with enthusiasm. He then shot halfway up the steps that would lead him straight to Merritt's front door, before coming to a halt and dramatically slowing down his pace.
"Oopsy," Chase lightheartedly chuckled, straightening himself out as he continued to walk towards Merritts apartment with a stupid grin plastered on his face.
Once having found himself stood more or less face to face with the door that in a matter of seconds would open up and reveal his replica foe. Chase sniffed before taking out his 'pizza box' from behind his fake Pizza company delivery outfit.
At a glance of the cream-colored entrance, a certain evocation of the past ten years or so relapsed upon him, as he found himself dragged back to the very day he found out Merritt had made a comeback.
It had been just another average kind of day spent channel hopping on the TV, looking for something decent to watch that wasn't a talk show or a hideously acted out sitcom. After concluding that he wasn't going to have much luck Chase had sat back on his couch and let himself relax, he had almost been asleep when a flash of the news channel flickered from the TV, instantly jolting Chase from his almost accomplished slumber.
There had been only just enough time for him to unintentionally roll off the couch and kneel in front of the TV before the camera switched from the studio to where a female news presenter stood in the middle of a crowd of at least a thousand people, roaring out deafening cheers of joy as they were showered with money that came floating just inches above them.
"Breaking news just coming in! A group of four magicians who go by the name of The Horsemen were less than five minutes ago performing on this very MGM grand stage in Las Vegas, where they robbed a bank using a teleportation helmet that took Frenchman Etienne Forcier inside the bank Credit Republican De Paris, where a huge amount of money was found that somehow ended up on this very stage!"
Chase had been about to call it a night until the presenter continued to talk.
"The names of the four magicians who are responsible for this marvelously unique trick are the following, Daniel Atlas, Henley Reeves, Jack Wilder and Merritt McKinney!"
"Merritt?" Chase shakily questioned in disbelief as the presenter called out each of their names, Merritt's seeming louder than the rest. Then as if the news presenter could sense Chase's discomfort through the television screen, she revealed the very photo that confirmed all his nightmares rolled into one.
"Merritt!" Chase bellowed so loudly he swore he heard a faint muffled shut up from his next door neighbor. Then within seconds, Chase grabbed the nearest drink bottle he could find and hurled it at the TV screen, yelling as he did so without even as much as a little smidge of regret towards the now destroyed television by his eruption of rage.
"No, no, NO!" Chase screamed, breathing heavily out of pure anger as he punched the arm of the couch. Once his wrath of fury came to an end he let out a world heavy sigh, having no choice but to absorb the silence that lingered around the room like a bad smell.
Why? Was the question he kept repeating to himself over and over like a broken record, and no matter how many times he asked himself that very question whether it was aloud or in his head, no answer came. Grunting, Chase stood up and paced around the room, in hope that he could somehow regain part of his sanity.
How could Merritt, after all the shit he had willingly caused him show his face again in such a carefree manner? But before he could process this any further, a sudden surge of odium hit him as the picture of Merritt happily enjoying the heat of the moment the new presenter had displayed came to haunt him like a revenge-seeking ghost.
Ugh, that grin, that very menacing grin made Chase want to gag with such utter disgust. The way he stood joyfully gazing around himself as he embraced the wonders of misdeed without a care in the world, sent a disturbing chill down the younger McKinney brothers spine. Yep, that looked like the same, but just older twat of a brother to him. He would have thought that by now Merritt would at least show some decorum when throwing himself onto the public domain. Was he really that much of a stranger to repentance?
Oh, who was he kidding, Merritt had never been sorry for anything, those ten long lost years should have taught him that. He had then wasted a further twenty or so years waiting for the apology he was never to receive, so once the feebly thought out idea had officially been cast away as a pipe dream, he chose to become completely reliant on his own company.
And if he was truly honest with himself, he liked it that way.
Until now of course.
Pushing his cap down as he bowed his head, Chase got himself into position just before reaching out to knock on the door and ring the doorbell to make sure he was heard.
"Is this apartment D3375?" Chase asked in the dumbest voice he could master as soon as Merritt opened the door.
"Not even close," Merritt deadpanned, his tone of voice as dull as ever.
Then within the blink of an eye Chase span the pizza box at such a rapid speed, he could barely contain the urge to look up and watch his twin brother in the process of being drawn into the letters and numbers forming the word sleep.
"Sleep!" Chase commanded, mentally signing with joy to himself when his unsuspecting brother's limp body fell onto his shoulder.
"Relaxing, floating, drifting, dreaming… Falling." Chase said into Merritts' ear as he held the nape of his neck before letting him go, smiling at the thudding noise his body made as he dropped to the floor.
Stepping over Merritt as if he was a muddy puddle in the middle of the road, Chase grabbed him off from the floor and roughly pulled him up into a standing position so he could make full eye contact with him.
"Hello, wombmate! I've been looking forward to this cushty reunion for a while, and what better way to commemorate all those long lost years than for you to do me a little favor, in return for the things I did for you all many moons ago."
"So what we, or- sorry, slip of the tongue, you will do is go towards this handy computer device over here and download all the information about the Horsemen's next big show, where they plan to have their escape route based and any other technical tidbits of info you have." Chase continued as he leads Merritt to the computer where he instantly complied with his orders without hesitation.
Once Merritt had successfully completed his task, the younger McKinney twin took a moment to shoot him a triumphant smirk of accomplishment before claiming what was rightfully his.
"Thanks, broski, it's been a pleasant reunion has it not?" Chase asked in a sing-song voice as he skipped his way over to the front door, with the smirk still plastered on his face. He then went over to make Merritt sleep for the second time, pushing him to the floor as he chuckled at the soft snores escaping from his mouth.
"When you wake up a couple of hours from now, you won't remember any of our little catch-up session. Instead, you will believe that you directed the pizza boy to the correct apartment and then have no idea on how you came to end up asleep on the floor."
With that Chase was gone within the speed of light, sniggering as he flipped the memory stick his brother had downloaded all he needed within the palm of his hand, ready for the mission to take place.
Success!
His employers will be pleased.
Especially since he owed them his loyal services in return for all the countless necessities they had willingly provided him with. A spark of joy flew across his entire body as the vision of his employer's smiles of satisfaction filled his mind with the jubilant feeling of being wanted because they actually needed him, not just for convenience.
Once Chase had climbed into the private taxi waiting for him outside the block of apartments, he laid his head back on the head of the seat and closed his eyes as the taxi driver began to drive him to his destination, which soon sent the younger McKinney twin into another blast into his past.
Though this time, no negative vibes hung off it like a chain clamped around someone's ankle.
"Chase McKinney?" A voice from outside the hotel room he was staying in at the time asked after a firm knock, immediately creating a buzz of wariness within his stomach as the only other visitors he could recall were the hotel staff who had only addressed him as Mr. McKinney.
"Who wants to know?" Chase skeptically responded, slowly turning around from where he was stood, absorbing the views from the small window the hotel room provided.
"All will be explained once you let us in," the British accented voice replied in a calm but with a hint of urgency in his tone. Despite his suspicions along with his instincts telling him otherwise, after that statement Chase made his way to the door to let in whoever was so keen to see him.
The man behind the voice carefully stepped through the open door, accompanied by another older looking gentlemen following closely behind him. Chase kept his gaze firmly on the two gentlemen as one sat on the bed, while the other pulled up a chair placed under the desk opposite the bed.
"So Chase," the smaller man began as if they been familiar with each other for many years. "I am Walter Mabry, and I should think you would like to know the purpose of our visit?"
"Well yes," Chase muttered sarcastically to himself, he then directed a short nod towards Walter, who seemed happy enough to carry on from where he'd left off.
"Good. So before I go into any major details on anything, I just wanted to ask you if you are aware of the so-called 'champions of the truth' group of misfit magicians known as the Horsemen?"
Chase's heart sunk as he began to think the worst. What if this Walter guy was secretly a devoted fan to the Horsemen and had wanted to track down anyone who done wrong by any of the members, on a mission to publicly shame him in front of the entire world.
Or perhaps he was an undercover serial killer sent to dispose of the 'monster' he'd no doubt Merritt had labeled him as.
"Just as I thought," he continued after taking Chase's silence as an unfortunate yes.
"Well you'll be pleased to hear that I too share a passionate hatred for them, but for what may you ask? How about I let a worldwide familiar face that just so happens to be my father do the explaining for me!"
Diverting his gaze onto the older gentlemen, Chase could only watch with suspense as the man whose entire identity was covered by various layers of clothing slowly began to reveal himself. The moment his vision came into contact with the man's face, Chase felt his knees begin to buckle as the man's facial features immediately become recognizable.
"Arthur Tressler?!" Chase squeaked, gasping with maximum disbelief as his eyes widened to the size of saucers at the sight of the well-known benefactor. "I- I saw you on the TV, they publically humiliated you, and not to mention practically drained your entire bank account out of millions of dollars!"
Arthur frowned. "I see you I am a well know face to you Mr. McKinney."
"I am so glad that we seem to be seeing eye to eye," Walter continued. "So I have high hopes of you understanding the raw intensity of the horrid psychic pain I felt when they took pleasure in draining not just my father's fortune, but his dignity!"
Just like all those years ago when Merritt heedlessly kicked you to the curb, just so he could take all the glory for himself, leaving you with nothing to your name for the marvelous talent you both shared.
Oh shit, he really did understand where he came from.
"The point is Mr. McKinney, is that we all have suffered some sort of loss at their hands," Arthur filled in, his facial expression emotionless as he slowly paced from one side of the room to the other, deep in thought.
Chase sighed defeatedly. They had well and truly got him.
"Which is why we require your help."
Chase did a double take. "Y-you need my help?" He questioned, fully aware he was stuttering but due to the shock, unable to prevent it.
"That is correct," Walter confirmed.
"Now, we do have a plan, a very cunning plan in fact," Arthur added. "However, we do have one slight issue, which is where we require your assistance."
Chase nodded, earning a smile from Walter who took over from explaining their requirement of him.
"You see, we pretty much have each member of the horsemen sussed out. Thier weaknesses, their desires, their fears. But, despite our knowledge of Daniel Atlas's ego button, Dylan's weak state of mind, Jacks inexperience and youthful age, along with their newest member Lula who is practically untested when it comes to 'magic. Merritt, on the other hand, proves to be a slightly tougher nut to crack."
"We want you, Mr. McKinney, to help us crack the very core of Merritts mind."
"Provide us with your extraordinary mentalism skills that are needed in order for some aspects of our plan to work," Arthur added.
"Erm, I don't know," Chase nervously admitted, fumbling with his sleeves as he spoke.
Instantly picking up on Chases doubts, Walter took his opportunity to go in for the kill.
"Burrow deep into the darkest corner of your mind, and fish out your most torturous memories. Now picture yourself at those worst moments of your life, focus on how you felt hurt, betrayed, overwhelmed with anger and sorrow at Merritts heinous deed, those bitter concoction of hostile emotions trapped within the inner recesses of your heart, in which you brood on to this very day."
Chase's heartbeat began to increase as Walters facial expression suddenly darkened, while Arthur just watched in total silence.
"But what if the shoe was on the other foot? Then it would be Merritt who would endure the bitter wrath of suffering you were subjected too. Join us, and you'll be granted that opportunity to release those years of affliction and resentment in the sweet form of revenge, with plenty more besides. Merritt would be nothing more but a mere puppet in your hands, helpless within your total control, unable to escape the torture of being tossed and turned in all directions as he did to you, before finally disposing of him once and for all."
Just moments after Walter stopped talking, a wide grin spread itself across Chase's face. However, it was no friendly cheeky grin, this one had a sinister tone to it. His blue eyes shining maliciously as he hears Walter's soft voice carefully narrating his former words repeatedly within his mind, excitement rushing through his veins each time he emphasized on Merritt and revenge.
It was like music to his ears, a song he'd never heard of before that was impossible to stop listening too once played. The harmony of this particular song being the sounds of Merritt begging for mercy beneath his feet, the guilt radiating from his pleading eyes as Chase does what he should have done many years ago.
If this was what Walter's plan would consist of, then so be it!
"So Chase?" Walter said in a cheerful manner, interrupting him from his blissful train of thoughts. Not that he minded.
"Are you with us on our plan?"
Without as much as even having to look up between Walter and Arthur Tressler, Chase let slip a menacing smirk which in all three of the men's perspective did the talking for him.
"I'm in!"
"You have made a wise choice Mr. McKinney," Arthur stated as he slowly reached out to shake him by the hand.
"Thank you!" Walter exclaimed with a more jolly handshake, grinning like a Cheshire cat at the success of gaining a new team member.
"I promise you won't regret this!"
Chase didn't need a promise to know regret wouldn't even touch the sides of this well thought up plan.
He was going to enjoy this!
Perhaps revenge wasn't as naive as he believed it to be?
Now the moment that was to officially declare their flawless plan active had finally come.
It was a vital task that could easily go wrong if they got sloppy, so when Walter devoted that task specifically to Chase he couldn't have been more honored.
Unlike his brother, Walter was an easy going, friendly chap who actually treated him as a human being, not just some convenient tool, in fact, it was safe to say that he considered Walter to be his long-lost best friend.
He was always up for a chat, frequently involved him in team discussions, guaranteed to always have his back when things became tough. He even went as far as to encouraging Chase to speak of what had happened between himself and Merritt all those years back, yet he never pushed beyond what Chase was comfortable saying out loud, nor did he question any aspect of him as a person.
Words couldn't express the amount of gratitude he owed this remarkable man for selflessly going out of his way to helping him up from the curb he'd been kicked to, and held firmly down to stay there by the negative impacts of shitty emotions that came with it.
Although Arthur was more limited as to how he displayed his fondness for a person, Chase was pretty sure he was in his good books.
After having been given specific instructions from Walter along with an encouraging pat on the shoulder, Chase gleefully rubbed his hands together as he waited for his prey to turn up.
It wasn't too long before a commotion of people began shouting which lead to a group of four being shoved out from the kitchen doors, to realize the long-awaited Horsemen were here. He must admit their mini conversation about Chinese food just being referred as food was quite entertaining.
But now, it was show time!
"I believe in your particular parlance the word is, magic!"
Chase had to prevent a full-blown laugh from escaping as he turned around to reveal himself, his gaze, in particular, fixed on Merritt, who stood on the spot gawking with extreme shock at the very person he'd been certain he'd left behind back in his so-called glory days.
Oh doesn't karma work in mysterious ways?
"That guy looks exactly like you, are you seeing this right now?" Was the whispered observation from the ever so clever Lula May.
Though he didn't show it, that comment pissed him off big time.
Okay, he could sense she had a highly irritating aura about her, but how could anyone in their right mind think that he and Merritt were anything alike!
For starters, he had a magnificent head of hair made up of trendy curly hairpieces, while Merritt's seemed to have malfunctioned leaving him with his hair in his nose than on his head. Secondly, he possessed a fine set of pearly white teeth, all perfectly in line with no gaps, whereas Merritts were discolored, horribly wonky and generally quite revolting.
But that was just Merritt as a person, which was why when he began to tell his groupies how it had been Chase who'd apparently screwed him over instead of the actual truth, he couldn't have said he was overly surprised.
Well, at least Merritt was polite enough to introduce him to the rest of the group.
Though he'd regret it once Chase was able to tell the whole world a condescending arse Merritt truly is, and who better to start off with than his misfit magician friends.
Once he'd openly told them how they had brought themselves here, which left them with facial expressions desperate to work out what had gone wrong, Chase then lead them to the car off to meet with his boss.
"It's all about blind spots. You could be staring straight at something and not see it, why? Blind spots." Chase began, instantly picking up on the tension that lingered within the atmosphere of the car.
"Did he tell you we were partners once? Didn'tidnt think so, the mini McKinney's," Chase continued once he'd caught their full attention, not that they had much of a choice, but hey, that was what made the journey more fun!
That and singing.
"Chasey and a Mere bear, gonna make you scare bear. Ma, ma, magic McKinney's!" Chase as he promised himself sang to the group, making sure to do some cringey hand gestures for the sake of old times.
Moving on to story time Chase spent the next two or so minutes retelling one of his most vivid memories, consisting of the time he and Merritt at the age of twelve were just mere beginners to the experiences of fame. This of course ending with Chase being eliminated from the scene soon after the introduction.
Despite the hint of sadness that overtook him for a moment, the younger McKinney twin smirked with joy at how throughout the entire time of his storytelling, Merritt had kept his face hidden by his hands.
Finding the truth a little threatening are we Mere bear?
Then came the questions on the Horsemen's part, which he didn't hesitate to answer, especially when his response to their final question landed Merritt with death glares.
Each and every one of their anger oriented looks of dismay directed straight at his Buffon of a brother sending blissful vibes dancing around his very soul.
"Just follow the guards and they will take you to my boss," Chase informed the group once the car pulled up onto the circular driveway, where the guards stood ready to forcibly lead the Horsemen to their doomed destination.
Flashing a smile towards Merritt as he and the others were in the process of being dragged away, Chase winded down his window before happily exclaiming, "it was fun playing cat and mouse with you broski!" Giggling like a girl when catching sight of Merritts feeble attempt at retortion.
"Have fun at the sands!" Were Chase's last words as the car driver drove away from where they had dumped the Horsemen, shaking his head with amusement as he faintly hummed the Mini McKinney tune to himself.
If Merritt thought this was bad enough, just wait until he saw the photos!
"You know the most heartbreaking moment of my life was when I discovered you had stolen all my money and split."
That was the first thing that came out of Merritts' mouth once a few vodka shots had been done the following day.
What was he supposed to do, weep with intense regret at his lack of sympathy?
Perhaps he should have for his brother's severe lack of taste. The bar he'd insisted on going to was pretty shabby, and as for the vodka, that was just as lame as Merritt's insults.
Old man pubes? Was that seriously the best so-called insult his dunderhead of a brother could deliver? And for what? Just so he and his buddies could screw over his employer? Well, it wasn't going to work, he was too smart for that shit.
"You are such a buffoon Mere bear," Chase began, watching closely as to how Merritts facial expression immediately changed. "And this little ploy you have of stalling me while your friends screw over my employer not gonna work."
Standing up to leave, Chase suddenly found himself subjected to a pretty predictable 'surprise' appearance from Jack, whose strive at mentalism was more pathetic than his brothers see through as glass distraction.
Pretending to play along to Jacks addition to this already badly thought up attempt of a plan, Chase then flopped his head down to make it look as if Jack had successfully hypnotized him, listening carefully to Jacks command that he was to apologize to Merritt once it was clear his own surprise had worked.
Instantly after hearing the snap of Jacks fingers, the younger McKinney brother turned to face Merritt who he could have sworn was already fully aware that he wasn't going to get an apology.
"Merritt, I am so very, very sorry... About how pathetic your pupil is!"
Bursting into enjoyable fits of laughter as he grabbed Jack by the shoulders and spun him around next to Merritt, out of pure pity Chase then gave a brief explanation of how a surprise should be a surprise, just before leaving the pair of imbeciles to sink in their own defeat.
Shame he didn't mention anything about those photos.
"How do I look Chase?" Walter exclaimed, letting out a joyous laugh as he placed a blue hat on top of his head.
"Well, I must say, blue is definitely your color," Chase replied, grinning from ear to ear at the pure genius of Walter's ability to use science against his asshole of a brothers group.
"Now all we have to do is wait for them to confirm that they have the stick, then we shall pounce on them like a tiger and its prey, ending with us claiming the stick for ourselves!" Walter continued, his each and every word sending a rush of adrenaline dashing through the younger McKinney brothers veins.
Clapping like a madman as he watched Walter fling himself onto the leather sofa beside him, both men sharing a fit of laughter when imagining the peril the Horsemen were unknowingly leading themselves into.
In Chase's eyes, nothing could go wrong now. Merritt, as Walter promised, was just a puppet under his total and utter control, with absolutely no way of avoiding his grimly deserved fate just hours ahead of him.
No matter how hard the Horsemen would try to stay one step ahead, he and Walter would always be at least five steps further. Afterall, the mouse could only run so far before the swipe of the cat's claws put it through the wringer.
Okay pushing my previous author's note aside, I really am sorry as it must be frustrating as hell.
Again I sincerely apologize, (I hope you can forgive me.)
Though despite my troubles I do hope you enjoyed this chapter :D