Logan's eyes snapped open. He shifted his head left then right. Finally he let out a long sigh. Just a dream, he thought, as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. But as he looked down, however he realized he was wearing the same jeans and a green t-shirt.
"Green was always a good color on you, Logan. I remember this beautiful green blanket your grandmother gave you for your first birthday. You slept with it for three years afterward. I used to tuck it in next to you at night." a soft breathy voice came from over by the window.
Logan's head whipped around to see the ghostly sight of his mother. She looked beautiful in the white suit she had been wearing when she jumped off the Coronado Bridge. She was gazing at him with sad eyes and a watery smile. Logan was now sure this whole thing was no dream. Lynn floated towards the bed and held out her hand.
"Come on honey, we have to get going." Lynn clasped Logan's outstretched hand and the familiar fog coiled at their feet. He looked over at his mother and thought about the one question he wanted to ask her.
"Logan, I promise we will talk about that but you need to see something else first." Lynn sighed and put her arm around Logan,"I warn you this maybe hard but you need to see it."
They are standing by what looks like a car crashed into a tree. Logan immediately recognized it as Veronica's LeBaron. He glanced at his mother and moved quickly over to the car. He looked in to find it is empty. Logan turned back towards his mother.
"What happened?" he demanded. Lynn beckoned him to follow her. They approached a house and heard grunting around the back of the house. As they got to the backyard, Logan saw that the yard was littered with various objects. Logan noticed his father, Aaron Echolls, was sitting on a refrigerator, holding a walkie talkie.
"Veronica? You're an odd duck. Hey, how many teenage girls keep walkie-talkies in their car?" Aaron said into the speaker. "What have you done to me?" Veronica cried. Logan could feel the fear in her voice. He moved closer to hear the conversation.
"Veronica, dear. Where are my tapes? I'll let you out as soon as I have my tapes
back." Aaron said. Logan could only look on in confusion. Tapes, he thought, what tapes?
"No, thanks. Honestly, I feel safer in here." Logan heard Veronica say shakily
through the walkie talkie.
Aaron jumped off the fridge and begins to pace around. Logan moved towards
him as if to strike him. Lynn stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"They can't hear or see you." Lynn reminded him. Logan fell back and helplessly watched the scene play out in front of his eyes.
Aaron located a can of gasoline and had begun to pour it on the refrigerator and then made a path leading away. Aaron's face seemed to take on that same psychotic look he had the night he beat up Trina's scumbag boyfriend. Logan quickly figured out what Aaron was intending to do.
"You wanna know something about Joan of Arc, Veronica? Huh? God didn't really talk to her. Uh-uh. It's true, I saw it on TV. You know, it was one of those historical forensics programs. And they decided she had a brain tumor. Burned alive. What a waste. She thought her death meant something. But all it meant was she was crazy." Aaron squawked into the walkie talkie, his eyes glint with a repressed fire.
"Think about that. Veronica. Where are the tapes? Where are the tapes?" Aaron's voice had begun as a whisper but quickly escalated to mad screaming.
Logan remained rooted to the ground. He had never felt more powerless. But he wasn't sure why all of this is happening. Logan again looked over at his mother whose face was twisted as if in pain.
"Why is Dad doing this? Why does he keep asking about tapes?" Logan demanded.
"Just listen, I think we're about to find out." Lynn said, returning her attention to scene.
"Veronica, where are the tapes, Veronica. Where are the tapes? Where are the tapes? You know, Lilly never told me where the tapes were hidden either. I-I kinda think there's a cautionary tale in that, Veronica. Something like I'm not going to let a seventeen year-old piece of ass ruin my life!" Aaron was ranting and raving as he paced back and forth.
Logan began to put the pieces together. Lilly had something on his father. What wouldn't Aaron want the public to know about him and Lilly? Suddenly a thought clicked in his head. Aaron was sleeping with Lilly. Logan felt his stomach roll at the thought. And Veronica had found the tapes to prove it. A shiver of fear drew up Logan's spine. After living with Aaron for seventeen years, he knew the level of violence Aaron was capable of creating. He knew in his heart Aaron would never let Veronica out. He would kill her.
"They're on the roof, I put them on the roof. Please let me out of here." Logan
could hear Veronica plead with his father.
Aaron had managed to climb onto the roof and locate a tape. As his father's eyes continue to gleam with a mad satisfied glow, Logan heard a voice calling for Veronica. The voice got closer and Logan realized that it is Keith Mars. He had his gun drawn and was circling the house slowly. Logan ran to him and tried to tug at his jacket.
"She in the fridge and he's going to flambé her." Logan screamed and motioned for Keith. But Keith stared straight though him. Logan remembered what his mother had said and fell back, praying Keith would save Veronica.
Aaron had forgotten to turn off the walkie talkie and Veronica screamed for her father. Just then Aaron fell onto of Keith. They rolled back and forth, trading blows. Finally it seemed that Keith had the upper hand but Aaron pulled out a lighter and set the trail of gasoline ablaze. Logan gasped in horror as everything near the refrigerator lit up in fire and the flames licked at the side of it. He ran over and tried to lift the lid but his hands just slid ineffectively through the metal. Logan fell to his knees and felt tears welling up in his eyes. The tears began to stream down his face and he beat his fists against the lid. A hand fell on his shoulder and he looked up to see his mother.
"Time to go, honey. There's more we need to see." She lifted him into the air above the scene below and slid her hand into his while used her other hand to cradle his head against her shoulder.
Logan was too upset to protest. He wanted to scream in anger and frustration. He could only hope Keith would save Veronica. The fog began to fill his blurry vision and he closed his eyes.
As the fog cleared Logan opened his eyes and realized they were standing on the edge of the Coronado Bridge. Logan wiped his eyes and noticed the lone person standing on one foot teetering on the ledge. Whoever it was had poured something out and was watching as it fall to the water below. At first he thought the figure was his mother but as he drew closer he realized it wasn't. As the individual turned, Logan found himself looking at his own face. A phone rang, which briefly distracted him into noticing his SUV. Logan's twin on the bridge ignored the phone and continued to sway on the ledge. Logan turned back to his mother with a questioning look on his face.
"Logan, this is where you would be if we hadn't intervened. You would have never gone to sleep. You were supposed to drive out to the bridge. And you will be joined in a few minutes by others." Lynn spoke softly.
Even before she could finish speaking, Logan could hear the sound of revving engines, motorcycle engines. As the bikes pulled up and ringed the yellow SUV, Logan noticed his twin took another swig from the flask in his hand. Weevil had taken off his helmet and crossed his arms.
"Seriously, what do you-what do you think you can do to me, huh?" said the Logan teetering on the bridge. "
"I'll think of something." stated Weevil.
Logan watched himself twist his hand up and beckon Weevil. He felt a hand brush his shoulder and turned to see his mother's face. She smiled sadly and took his hand.
"No, we need to stay. I need to find out what happens." Logan blurted out.
"Honey, there are still some things we need to talk about and I don't have much time left." Lynn whispered. Even as she spoke the now familiar fog swirled and the bridge faded away and revealed Logan's bed room.
Logan moved back to his bed and sat down. He placed his head in his hands. He sensed rather than felt his mother's hand on his shoulder. She had sank down onto the bed and smiled sadly.
"Logan, I know right now you are feeling very confused. This whole night has been crazy. I hope I can answer some of your questions now." Lynn said in a soothing tone.
"Why, mom, why?" Logan looked at her pleadingly.
"You know your father. I stood by and let him beat you. I was wrong but I was even more wrong to kill myself. You see, Lilly and I aren't in the same place. She didn't leave by choice, but I did. For me, helping you now is the way I can find some sort of peace. I don't want you to make the mistake I did. Lilly didn't have to help. She's doing this out of guilt. She did love you, Logan, just like I love you. I know there's nothing I can say to make it better but I hope our visit will help you heal." Lynn brushed her hand through Logan's hair as she talks.
"I know Dad was an asshole but how could you leave me with him?" Logan said weakly, lying down on the bed, clutching a pillow.
"Honey, I wasn't strong enough. You are. But I promise you, he won't be with you much longer. Try to forgive us, Lilly, myself, and Veronica. Even though Lilly and I don't deserve it, Veronica does. She helped you when you needed it. At least consider that." Lynn stood, picked up the blanket and moved to cover him in much the same way Lilly had.
"What about Veronica? Is she ok… did Dad…." Logan faltered, fearful of the answer.
Lynn sighed. She tucked the covers over his shoulders and gave him a weak smile.
"I wish I could say but I don't know. Just remember Logan. I love you." Lynn bent over and kissed his forehead. She began to hum a lullaby Logan vaguely remembered and brushed her hand over his face. Logan's eyes became heavy and he slipped into a deep sleep.
