Sometimes, there is both the dark and the light.
He sits in a plastic folding chair in front of me, smelling of unripened fruit and bitter alcohol. The flicker of a flame ignites the room; filling it with a warm glow for a brief moment. Then he closes the cap on his lighter, having lit his cigarette. He blows smoke in my face, removing his sunglasses to wipe his eyes. "Do you remember me, Veronica Mars? Cuz I remember you. I don't think much about those times, I was too high for anything to penetrate that fog in my brain. But I do remember you. Who could forget?" He laughs, his voice rough like sandpaper; and filled with nostalgia.
Honestly? I don't remember much of Donny, other than the ninja incident. Corny's just about the only major stoner I hung around with. Normally I'd come up with some quip, get on his nerves and most likely get a punch in the face. But I've got another life to think about now, so I sit quietly. He gets up and crouches beside Heidi, whispering menacingly and stroking her hair. She whimpers in response. "Sweet, sweet Heidi. Don't you worry. Soon, this will all be over." He tightens his grip on the gun tucked into his pants, taking it out and holding it gently; as he resists killing her there and then.
I try slipping my hands through the ropes, or getting my fingers to the knots, but it's no use. Despite my small size, I cannot slip through. I try with my feet but Donny, still on the floor, notices. He looks up, a bemused look on his face; and turns to me. "And what makes you think your getting out of these?" He questions, gesturing with his gun towards the ropes, before putting it back in his pants. His hand runs up my leg. "I heard all sorts of things about you in school, Veronica Mars. Things that a bored boy like myself would think about, all alone, in the middle of the night. Quite the reputation." Donny smirks, the spittle on his teeth gleaming in the dim light of the room. I try hard not to vomit.
A burst of light suddenly streams through the room, showing a small staircase I didn't notice before. So, underground. Basement, maybe? A woman's legs appear on the steps, and it's Evita, dressed all in black. Once the door is shut, darkness fills the room again, and Evita stands at the bottom of the stairs; looking at me. Make up no longer adorns her face, her hair has been cut shorter, a piercing in her eyebrow shines faintly. Despite this, she still looks remarkably like Heidi. Speaking of Heidi, she seems to be conscious enough that she knows another person has entered the room, as she turns her head slightly. A big purple bruise covers half her face, and my heart shatters. Evita glances her way for a second, before focusing on me. She gulps, nervous. Heidi whimpers, and Evita flinches.
She doesn't want to hurt her. She cares.
I try to imagine Evita's life, the lack of structure and love. Discovering that I have sister, a twin, someone who looks exactly like me. Then I'm told that she has a perfect life, a life I could have had, and so we must take it away. I can't even get to know her, to learn if she is a good person, if we will bond. Maybe she will be the best friend I never had. But I can't. My father tells me that we have to ruin her, so that we can be happy. I have no choice.
I don't think that Evita wanted to do this. Not all of it. Sure, pretending to be her sister, living the high life, and getting money. But hurting her? There is just something in her eyes, and suddenly, I can't help but feel a little sorry for her.
The sound of coughing distracts me from my thoughts, and I manage to turn my head slightly. Its Heidi. A pool of fresh blood surrounds her, and there is more on her lips. Tears run down her swollen eye, and more blood comes up. This darker, almost black in the vacant light of the room. Her body begins to convulse. "Help her! She needs help! She's going to die!" I yell, hoping they'll take notice. Evita turns, concern on her simple face, but steals herself and walks to the side, into the shadows. There are sounds, something is going to. Then she reappears, first aid kit in her hand, and throws it at Donny. "Help her." She says, in a stilted accent. The real Evita speaking. Then she grabs a knife from her back pocket and puts it to my face. "You leave me no choice, Veronica Mars. You should have just found the shoes. Dumb bitch, can't even find shoes." She spits at me, and for a moment all I want to do is head-butt her. But I have to think reasonably, so I just sit back and take it. There's no way she's getting the better of me.
"Errr, Evita? I think we have a problem." Donny whines, as he tilts Heidi's head back with one hand whilst rattling about in the sparse first aid kit. "I think we need to take her to a hospital."
"Don't be stupid! We can't take her there yet, we're not ready!"
"Well, we can't let her die! Whose going to take the fall for all of this?"
At this, Evita sums up the courage to look at her sister. I try to look myself but the aching of my head echoes around my skull, and I almost pass out trying to move my body. No one pays attention though. They are too busy looking at Heidi. Evita takes a phone out of pocket, and hands it to Donny, before taking his gun and aiming it at me. "Call pappa. He will know what to do." She tells him, pulling back the safety. I think of Logan.
The phone rings. A man answers. Lindqvist.
"We've got a problem here." Donny says. He runs his hands through his hair yet again, as he begins pacing the room. Evita is staring at me, gun pointed at my head. Heidi cries out, blood dripping everywhere. I can see Evita flinching, trying hard to ignore her. "She's not dead okay! What more can I tell you. I missed the shot, we took her to Heidi, we-" Donny is suddenly interrupted by a wave of profanity that even I can hear from the phone.
"Listen, Lindq-" Donny starts, before being interrupted again. His face heats up in anger. Eventually, sick and tired of the abuse, he screams. "That's not even the main problem man! Heidi's dying!"
There is silence.
I hear mumbling again, but cannot make anything out, as Donny looks at me, before walking slightly away. He whispers in cahoots, occasionally looking at me. They are planning something. I think of my Dad.
The phone snaps shut, and Donny walks back over. He whispers in Evita's ear. I think of Mac, Wallace and Weevil.
Finished in their discussion, Donny goes back to Heidi, and starts to lift her. Evita trains the gun on me. "We are going to kill you." She says. I think of my baby.
"Once you are dead, we will drop her off at a hospital, and then we will leave with the money. I would say that I am sorry to do this, but... I'm not." She looks at me with her deep brown eyes.
I never feared death. Not until Aaron Echolls tried to set me on fire. After that, well, I never felt like I was putting myself in that much danger. It was all for a greater cause, after all. But now I'm scared. I don't think that's its weak to start crying, and I do. My emotions burst forth like a broken damn, drowning my thoughts.
I don't want to die.
I really don't want to die.
"Will you stop with the blubbering, it gives me a headache." Evita yells.
"I can't!" I yell, and the crying continues. I know I should be strong, but I... I can't. I'm so afraid.
"Why? Why can't you stop?" Donny asks.
"Because I'm pregnant!" I say. And I cry again.
Evita's face falls, and her eyes become downcast. She looks up at me, with sadness and longing, then drops the gun to the floor. She begins untying the knots.
"Evita, what are you doing?" he questions angrily, dropping Heidi back on the floor and pulling her away. She hits him in return, then continues with the rope.
"I can't do it Donny. I ... I can't hurt a child." Evita looks away as she says this, eyes brimming with tears to match my own. I'm still crying, heavy wet tears that spring new pain in my head. But I attempt to help with the untying. I see now, that there is still some good left in her, despite her families corruption. "I am sorry Veronica." She tells me.
"You're ruining everything Evita! Don't make me do something I'll regret!" Donny demands, seething. His face is red, his eyes almost alien in their greenness. He grabs the gun from the floor. "Don't make me do this Evita!".
Evita stops, and turns around slowly, eyes filled with fear and bitter disappointment. "Donny, how could you even consider... I thought you loved me." He puts the gun down and rushes towards her, sobbing. "I'm sorry E. I didn't mean it, I swear. We need the money E. We can't let them go." His hands rest on her shoulders, but she tugs away again, and faces me.
"You don't really love me Donny. You love money. Not me. You should go, escape while you can." She yells, choking down tears. The ties on my left hand are off.
His face contorts with disgust and anger, as he picks up the gun again. Donny is filled with rage, I can see the sweat bead down his face as he yells. "Don't lie Evita! I love you! I always will. I always will!" Tears are streaming down his face, his hands are shaking, as he repeats that last sentence. Over and over again.
"I love you Evita, I always will!"
"I love you Evita, I always will!"
Then he pulls the trigger and kills her.
Sometimes, there is only dark.