.o Control o.

Cammie POV

The theater was old, but it wasn't in that bad of shape. The windows were musty and a few were boarded up. There were cracks in the brick, and ivy was growing up the east wall. From my position, I could make out seven exits, including the windows low enough for jumping. I knew Macey was to my right, and Bex was in front of us. We were simply waiting for our command.

"Chameleon in position," I said into my comm. No one had said anything about my run-in with the past, and I didn't really want them to. We had bigger things to focus on. Though, I figured my friends would want to analyze the situation when our mission was complete.

"Execute phase one." Zach's voice was even, but I wondered if he was nervous. This was the first attack we were initiating on his sister. It had to be nerve-wracking.

Macey, Bex, and I walked into the open, approaching every door of the building. Maybe it was my imagination, but the old parking lot seemed unnaturally quiet. I could hear the blood rushing through my ears. Anticipation and adrenaline flowed through my veins, causing my hands to shake slightly.

The front doors were unlocked, which confirmed that we were expected more than anything else. Zach had told us that Alyson would want as much control of the situation as possible. She would manipulate anything she could to turn the tables on us.

Entering the theater, I was surprised at the condition it was in. Liz had informed us that it had been abandoned for over ten years, due to a new theater opening in the town hall, yet it looked like it'd been alone maybe a year or two. The wood was in good condition, though it creaked in most places, the built-in seats needed little more than sanding, and despite the cracks in the walls, it wasn't drafty. Overhead, there were second story seats overlooking the stage.

Everything was layered with dust, except the obvious footprints and what seemed to be evidence of someone being dragged across the floor. There wasn't any sign of ACE, but I still found myself inspecting every creak of the floorboards.

"Keep your eyes open, girls," Joe's voice rang in my ears. It took me a moment to realize he had spoken through our comm. If I paid attention, I could hear the guys' quiet dialogue as they made their way to us. Tuning out the voices in my ears, I turned my attention to the main hall as I entered.

The seats created an aisle to the stage. The curtain was down. To my left, I could see Macey making her way towards the wall of red. I couldn't see her, but I knew that Bex was making her way towards us from the fire exit. The guys were coming from above and below us, and there was nothing else to do but move ahead.

Bex joined us as we were making our way to the stage. When Macey and I were ten feet away, the curtain parted. I felt my body tense with anticipation.

Sitting in the middle of the dust-covered surface was a girl, hands and feet tied, and mouth gagged. Her hair was matted, and there were bruises covering her skin. There also seemed to be dried blood on her head and shoulder. But she was alive; they hadn't killed her, just like Grant had said.

I glanced at Macey, but she was already running towards the stage.

A knife landed a foot in front of Bianca. Macey froze. Bex hissed, eyes roaming the top of the stage where the knife had come from.

"Another step and the next one lands in her leg," a voice called from the balconies above. Alyson appeared in our field of vision, on the right-hand balcony, closest to the stage. She leaned over the edge, frowning. "Where's my brother, Cameron?"

In the corner of my eye, I could see Bex looking for Evelyn in the controls above the stage. Behind me, I guessed Clara was closing in on us, though I couldn't hear her. I looked up at Zach's sister. "Zach will be here soon. He wants to see you."

Alyson laughed. "Oh, I'm sure he does." She tilted her head to the side, a wall of red covering one eye. "You see, Cameron, the only way I can get his attention since you showed up is like this." She thrust her hand out, pointing to the stage. "First I took you in Rome-" I bristled. "-Then I attacked this little girl," she let out a cackle. Part of me wondered if she was putting on an act, or if she was really this psychotic. "And that still wasn't enough! I had to hijack a zoo, then actually kidnap the girl to get him to come on his own." She sighed, drooping forward over the side of the balcony slightly. "Even now, he sends you girls in first." Suddenly, the broken look was gone and she was gripping the balcony's guard and leaning over as far as possible. "Why did you take my brother from me, Cameron?"

I didn't have an answer. I was almost certain in her last sentence that this was the real Alyson. She wasn't bored, or insane; she was sad- she was livid. She was a sister who felt abandoned. She was the one to capture me in Rome. She was a girl who felt like she had lost her brother and didn't know how to deal with it. She was someone who was seeking revenge because she didn't know any other way.

Behind me, I heard a yelp and a crash. Turning, I saw Bex running to the stage where a part of the catwalk was falling, and Evelyn with it. Macey rushed forward, tending to Bianca while Bex sprinted after Evelyn who was already jumping off the stage, Grant on her heals.

I let out a breath. Alyson had been distracted enough to get the guys here. The hard part was over.

Above me, Alyson growled before whipping around. I could hear her surprised voice through the comm I'd been ignoring. "Zachy!"

...

Alyson POV

Stupid.

Stupid for being distracted. Stupid Evelyn for messing up my plans and making us stay here. Stupid Zach for knowing how to get past my defenses. Stupid Cameron for causing all of this.

My stomach did a small jump as Zach took a step forward. His held his hands out, palms up, which I found irrational considering we both knew how this was going to end. I felt the plastic smile I'd used with Cameron slide into place as the chant I'd made started in my head. This is what I'd wanted. It was only a different setting. I would still win. I was still in control. My fingers twitched.

Zach staring at me, his gaze a strange mixture of anger and something I couldn't name. "Alyson, stop this."

I wanted to giggle. I wanted to scream. Which would help me most? This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Yelling at Cameron was one thing, but Zach wasn't supposed to find me first. He never had. That was my job. Below me, I could hear Evelyn yelling at someone. I didn't know where Clara was. My voice died in my throat. I was still in control.

"Alyson, I won't let you continue this." Zach took another step forward.

My eyes snapped to his. Everyone told us we had identical eyes when we were young, but I could see the difference. His were observant; mine were analytical. His were compassionate; mine were manipulative. His were warm; mine were cold. His never shed a tear; mine knew moisture more than I was willing to admit.

But at that moment, I wasn't sure what Zach's eyes were.

"Why?" I asked, the deadpan tone of my own voice taking me by surprise. Zach raised an eyebrow, taking another step forward. A smirk found its way across my lips. He was scared. My hand found its way to the knife at my hip. It was a familiar feeling, unsheathing it. I was powerful. I was in control. "Because I'm dangerous? Because I'm hurting people you actually care about?"

"Alyson-"

"No," I snapped, remembering why I started this whole thing. This was my mission. My goal and I would remain in control of it. "You don't get to talk anymore! All you ever did was talk and explain," I pointed the tip of the blade at him, my voice lowering to a hiss. "Now it's my turn."

Zach didn't blink as the knife was pointed at his face. He seemed to understand that I was getting my turn whether he wanted me to or not.

"You left. Do you have any idea what you put us through?" There was a yelp beneath us, reminding me we weren't alone. I needed to find Clara. Someone had to make sure Evelyn didn't kill anyone.

Wasn't killing someone the point? A metallic flavor flooded my mouth. My cheek tingled where I'd been biting down. It was a pleasant contrast to the numbness that the rest of my body was under.

Zach eyed the knife as he took another step forward. He was only three feet away now. "I was stupid; I know. I didn't think you needed me-"

"I don't need you!" I growled through my teeth.

He blinked, his head tilting ever so slightly. "I'm sorry, Alyson." He reached out a hand slowly. Zach was still scared of me, still scared of the Black Widow. "Come with me. Stop this."

My heart was a constant pounding in my head. Zach was sorry. Zach left. He was sorry. I stared at the hand like it was a foreign object, and in a way it was. He's stopped reaching out long before he left, but here he was. I'd wanted this since I was fifteen, yet my own limbs felt heavy, frozen. It would be simple to take his hand, to stop fighting, stop running, and stop hiding.

There was a quiet click. My head jerked up to see another man with a gun aimed at my head. In front of me, Zach glanced between me and the man quickly. "Townsend, wait." The man didn't react at all. But my moment of doubt was over. The gun aimed at my head only reminded me of my brother's true alliance.

I could take my brother's hand. And he would lock me up. Just like Mom, just like Clara and Evelyn. He would leave me in a cell.

The knife was suddenly light as a feather, and it only took me a second to close the distance between me and the traitor in front of me.

"Zach!"

There was a scream, and then my shoulder was aching. My head spun, colors blurring my vision. There was black and red, and the muffled sound of people dragging their feet on wood. I heard the clatter of the knife. Something was stinging my knees, and my arm was bent at a dangerous angle behind my back. Needles were attacking my hands, the leather only irritating them further.

Rapid breathing filled the air. As my vision focused, I noticed Zach crouched in the corner of my range of sight, but he wasn't looking at me. He was staring at the girl holding my arm while she shoved me forward. "Clara..." Zach's voice was cautious. Almost as if she were worried that I would be hurt. The wood below me creaked under my knees as she tightened her hold on me.

When she spoke, her voice trembled. "She was going to-"

"Clara, look at me." Zach stood up on one knee, hands raised. He kept his eyes trained on her. "I'm fine, Clara."

The hands on my arm shifted, and I quickly twisted out of my cousin's grip. She was staring, wide-eyed at Zach, her hands trembling slightly. "Don't leave," she whispered.

Zach's voice was steady. Determined. "I won't."

There was a gunshot below us. The hairs on my neck stood up as I flew to the edge of the balcony. I could hear Zach and Clara doing the same behind me.

From my height, I could make out two Gallagher Girls running after Evelyn towards the stage. Grant was waiting for her at the stage. I glanced back at Clara, but she was already climbing into the barrier. She didn't look at me as I grabbed her hand. "Get, Eva out of there." I released her, and she lowered herself before jumping.

I didn't get to watch her land. A hand gripped my arms, but I was already twisting, my fist sinking into my attacker's gut. To my surprise, it wasn't Zach I'd punched. The other man was trying to regain his grip on me, his gun forgotten apparently, but I was faster, ducking under him and coming up in front of Zach.

He didn't try to grab me, instead held out his hand again, his eyes pleading. "Ally, please."

I bared my teeth, trying to push past him. "No."

This time he did grab my arm, twisting my arm. His eyes hardened, reminding me of our old fights. "Fine."

Scowling, I sent my foot into his side. His grip slacked as he stumbled, but he was coming at me again in less than a second. I smirked slightly at the familiarity of his strikes. We'd grown up sparing for fun; it would be interesting to see who would win this.

As another kick flew inches from my head, I bared my teeth, suppressing the memories that threatened to surface. This wasn't a sparring match, and if I lost, there would be more to pay than

"I'm not going to let you run again!" Zach snapped after I blocked another punch. My head was throbbing from a strike he'd managed to get through. His lip was bleeding.

I snorted, failing to put him in an arm lock, and dodging his kick. "You're not letting me run? Maybe now you know what I felt for years!" I snapped, letting the anger flow into my strikes. In the corner of my eye, I saw the other man watching us carefully. I caught one of Zach's hands and bent his wrist back. "How do you think it felt realizing your brother wasn't going to come back for you, Zach? That you'd chosen that girl over your blood? After everything I did for you, you chose her!" My voice cracked, throat raw, but I couldn't hold back my screams. "You let Mom die for her! Clara needed you, Zach!" My voice died in my throat, coming out in a whisper. "I needed you."

Zach didn't get to react, because the man grabbed my arms, ripping me off my brother. I hissed, twisting in his grip, but he was too strong. In my moment of weakness, all control I'd had of the situation evaporated. The man shoved me onto my knees, holding me down. "Your sister?" He sounded angry.

"Townsend, I-"

My heart skipped a beat. The man's grip faltered ever so slightly. "Catherine's?" he snapped. I shoved my elbow into his side, but my trick wasn't going to work a second time.

In front of me, Zach was staring at the man like a child caught with a hand in the cookie jar. What was so important about my relationship to Catherine? "Get your hands off me." I hated how weak my voice sounded. "This is a family matter."

Zach glanced down at me before looking my captor in the eye. "She's my twin sister," he waited a second before adding in a pointed tone, "Dad."

Taking the second of stillness for my advantage, I shoved my leg out, off balancing the man Zach had just called his father. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears, the needles pulsing beneath my gloves with every beat. Shoving myself forward, it took only two steps to reach the edge of the balcony. I needed to get away, to regain some form of control of my head. Zach tried to stop me, but his fingers slipped over my wrist. Pain shot through my shoulder as my arms stalled, but it wasn't enough to stop me from jumping.

My left hand felt ice cold without my glove.