Evan walked down a dark hallway, moving almost as if in slow motion. He passed a doorway, bright industrial neon light blinding him from what was inside. Turning away from the bright doorway, Evan looked down the dark hallway, seeing movement.
"You're so much fun to play with." Jonathan laughed from somewhere in the dark. Evan closed his eyes tightly, taking a slow step forward. It felt like he was walking through water. When he opened his eyes, Jonathan was standing in front of him, a gun in his hand. "I'm not going to kill you." Jonathan said; a smile on his face. Evan couldn't move. "Unless...You called Brian."
"I didn't!" Evan suddenly screamed. "I didn't do it! I didn't call!" Roses grew from the black cement floor, wrapping around Evan's legs. He staggered backwards, thorns digging into his skin. He cried out as he fell, reaching for Jonathan as if he would save him; as if he really did care about him. "I didn't do it!" He fell into the dark, red petals floating around him.
Evan woke up screaming. "I didn't do it! I didn't!" He was still half asleep, looking around the dark room wildly. "Mom! Mom! Mom!" He screamed like a child, tears and sweat streaming down his face. The door suddenly opened, the hall light flooding the room. Arms were around him, a chin pressed against the top of his head. "Mom! Mom!" Evan kept crying.
"Shh...It's okay. It's just a nightmare." Tyler said softly, gently rocking Evan back and forth. "Shh...Just breathe. Inhale and exhale...It's okay." Evan clung to his arm, closing his eyes tightly. "It's okay. I'm not going anywhere. It's okay, Ev." Evan's sobs were harsh, his shoulders shaking against Tyler. He clung harder to Tyler's arm, unable to stop crying. He cried because of Jonathan's betrayal; because he thought that Jonathan had genuinely cared. He cried for Tyler, who loved his family so much he believed Jonathan's lie. He cried for the others who didn't know what was happening. He cried for Smitty. He cried for his mom. He cried for the broken plastic flowers in a motel room in San Diego. That had only been less than a week ago and it already felt like it had been an eternity.
Eventually, his sobs turned to hiccups and wheezes, exhaustion making his tear stained eyelids feel heavy. He looked up at Tyler who gave him a reassuring smile. Evan took a deep breath, knowing that he had to tell Tyler that Jonathan was a liar.
"T-Tyler." Evan managed to say, his voice breaking.
"Yeah?"
"I have to t-tell you something…" Evan said, tightening his grip on Tyler's arm. He had to say it. Jonathan could get away with something horrible if he didn't. However, he couldn't fight off the nagging anxiety that Tyler wouldn't believe him. No one would believe him. Jonathan knew that. After what had happened because of Evan, no one was going to believe him. No one would pick him over family. "Thank you." Evan finally said, kicking himself for not being brave enough to say what he had to. "Thank you for being here for me."
"Of course." Tyler said. "I am sorry though, for the other day when I was angry. I shouldn't have gotten that angry. You were just as scared as I was if not more and I was just an asshole. I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Evan stammered. "I would angry too if I were you." He laughed weakly. Tyler smiled and nodded a little. Evan took another deep breath, telling himself that he had to tell Tyler the truth about Jonathan. He rehearsed the words over and over in his mind. He fell asleep before he could say them.
The city lights from the window dimly illuminated the room. In the distance, the skyscrapers of Los Angeles rose to the night sky. On the bedside table was a vase of gentle pink roses and yellow wildflowers.
Sitting at the kitchen table, Evan blew bubbles through a straw into the ice coffee that Brock had gotten him. When he had woken up that morning, he found that Tyler had fallen asleep beside him, not leaving his side in case he had another nightmare. Now, Evan listened to the others as they quietly talked about Jonathan's 'revelation'. He heard his name a few times and decided to ignore it. Of course, Jonathan would make them think it was him. He leaned back in his chair, watching the bubbles in the plastic cup pop. Jonathan was playing a game with him. He sighed, wanting to just yell the truth when he heard his name again. He couldn't though because it would just be wasted air. He needed proof for them to believe him. They wouldn't just turn on Jonathan over nothing but Evan's story.
"Hey, is it okay if I change your bandages?" Craig asked, startling Evan who looked up at him and nodded. He got up, following Craig across the apartment to the room where he had set up his things, the desk by the bed covered with everything from gauze to pain killers to scalpels. Evan sat down on the bed while Craig gathered up what he needed. He wondered if Craig would believe him. He had listened to him from the very beginning.
"Craig?" Evan looked over his shoulder at Craig as he brought a roll of gauze and a damp cloth over to him.
"Yeah?"
"What do you think about what Jonathan said yesterday? About there being someone who's betrayed us?" Evan asked, looking down at his hand. There were new dried spots of blood on his palm. Craig looked concerned when he saw it but didn't say anything about it.
"It scares me. I can't think of anyone among us who would want to lie, who would want to join Brian." Craig sighed, taking the clip off the gauze and began to unwrap it. The last bit of it clung to the mess of blood on Evan's palm. "Please be more careful. I don't want you to get this infected." Craig sighed. "And it won't heal if you keep making it bleed."
"Do you think I did it?" Evan asked, not acknowledging Craig's scolding about his hand.
"Of course not, Evan. You're a good kid." Craig smiled.
"Do you think it was Jonathan?" Craig's smile wavered and disappeared. He looked down at Evan's hand, busying himself with cleaning the blood off with the cloth.
"Why would you...Why would you ask that?" Craig stammered. Evan took a deep breath, not sure of how he should explain this to Craig.
"It was…" He trailed off, biting his tongue. "It's just...a feeling I have." Evan lied.
"But he's been the kindest I've ever seen him be to you!" Craig laughed. "Jonathan doesn't like just anyone, Evan. Besides, I've known him for a long time. He loves all of us. Jonathan would never betray us."
"I know...I just...I can't explain it." Evan stammered. He hated that he couldn't say it out loud.
"Tyler got arrested once." Craig said, glancing up at Evan whose brow furrowed. "He'd still be in prison if it weren't for Jonathan."
"What?" Evan curled his left hand into a fist. He was right; not even Craig would believe him.
"Yeah. It was about two years ago, I guess now. After he was arrested, Jonathan would stop at nothing till we got him out. He was the mastermind behind the whole plan." Craig laughed. "It seems all Jonathan does is plan. He is two steps ahead of everyone else."
The hot desert sun shone down on the blue prison bus as it made its way down the dusty road. Overhead, a helicopter followed the bus, its guns at the ready. Craig leaned against the empty seats as he made his way to Jonathan who sat near the front in an orange jumpsuit.
"You're sure about this?" Craig asked, pulling at the navy blue collar of his guard uniform. Jonathan nodded.
"What else are we gonna do? We need Tyler." Jonathan said calmly. "You know where you're going?"
"Yeah." Craig said, glancing up at Daithi who was driving, his nervous gaze locked on the road. "I hope he does too." Craig joked to lighten the mood. Jonathan didn't laugh. Craig took a deep breath, sitting down across from Jonathan. Tyler had been arrested a couple of weeks ago, sending them all into a panic. Jonathan quickly took the lead when he realized that no one else was going to and began planning how they were going to get Tyler out. Craig missed Tyler and feared for him which made him eager to get on with it. Craig checked his gun on his left hip then Tyler's handgun on his right, making sure it would be loose enough to grab when the time came.
The bus slowed, the cement walls of the prison rising out of the desert. Craig glanced at Jonathan before getting up, walking to the front of the bus. The gates opened.
"You're okay with going inside?" Daithi asked, looking up at Craig for a quick moment before looking back at the narrow road that lead into the large courtyard.
"Yeah." Craig nodded.
"I'm just askin cause you don't normally do this kinda stuff. You just do the aftermath, Craig. Tyler will understand if you don't want to go in." Daithi said, the bus slowly coming to a stop.
"I'm going in." He said firmly. "Open the doors." Jonathan got up, giving Craig a smile.
"Don't be afraid to be rough." Jonathan winked.
"Shut up." Craig gave Jonathan a shove down the bus' stairs, nearly sending him crashing to the dusty, gravel driveway. Jonathan managed to catch himself despite his hands being handcuffed. Craig and Daithi followed Jonathan across the courtyard to the side door where today's prisoner would have been brought in if they hadn't have intervened. They were stopped a few times by guards, checking records with Craig and Daithi before allowing them through.
Craig led the way up a set of stairs to the second level of cells, past prisoners who watched them pass with curious and smug expressions. Craig counted the cells, trying to do his best to keep his gaze straight ahead and not look desperately into each one for Tyler. He kept close to the bars glancing over his shoulder at Jonathan who nodded to him, encouraging him to keep walking.
Craig turned his head, looking into the next cell. There he was. Craig slowed, but couldn't stop. Realizing this, Tyler got up quickly, running to the bar and grabbed his gun off Craig's belt. The three kept walking, knowing that Tyler wouldn't be far behind. Four gunshots echoed through the large hall. The cell door swung open. Tyler stepped out onto the walkway as yelling erupted from the cells around him. He shot out the locks of a few other doors before he ran down the walkway, catching up to them as Daithi was unlocking Jonathan's handcuffs and giving him his gun.
"Go! Go!" Jonathan yelled, still taking the lead down the stairs. Craig smiled at Tyler but they had no time for a proper reunion. Running down the metal stairs, the loud metallic noise muffled by the yelling and the freed prisoners, they made their way for the closest exit. A guard yelled at them to stop only to be shot by Jonathan, blood splattering onto the cement wall behind the guard. Another guard stepped out from a room beside Craig, startling him. He turned suddenly, shooting the guard before he could react. Craig jumped at the recoil of the gun and the violent splatter of blood. He hated the way bodies moved when they were dead; it just looked wrong.
Jonathan kicked open the side door, running in the hot sunlight. Sweat dripping down his neck and face, Craig tightened his grip on the gun as he followed Jonathan, the sunlight almost blinding him for a moment. When he could focus, he opened fire on the guards that were coming towards them, the loud siren ringing in his ears. The others followed suit, the courtyard echoing with gunshots. Overhead, the helicopter flew low, the hot wind rushing around them. Marcel and Brock gave them cover as the helicopter came into land. As the others got into the helicopter, Craig fired at the guards who in turn shot back, sparks flying off the side of the helicopter.
A sudden hot pain exploded from Craig's side, the air knocked from him. He looked down, seeing blood seeping from a wound on the side of his torso. He gasped, pressing his left hand to the wound, raising his gun to shoot one last time in the direction of the guards before Tyler and Marcel pulled him into the helicopter.
"Lui! Go!" Jonathan yelled. The helicopter raised into the air, sparks flying around them.
"Fuck, Craig!" Tyler cried when he saw the blood.
"It's fine...It's fine. Help them give cover so we can get the hell out of here!" Craig cried, gritting his teeth at the pain as he sat back against the seat, his gun dropping to the floor of the helicopter. Figuring that he would be useless to anyone but Craig, Tyler ripped off a large piece of his orange jumpsuit, pressing it against Craig's wound. "I'll be okay." Craig managed to say, giving Tyler a weak smile. "I'm glad you're okay."
Evan could feel that hot sunlight. He could see himself in that group, the helicopter landing behind him. He could imagine the wind pulling his jacket and the heavy gun in his hands. He could imagine himself pulling the trigger, nothing but adrenaline running through him. But then, he imagined Jonathan and the smile on his face and the heroic image shattered.
"I was able to patch myself up with some help from Tyler but it was traumatic. It was the first time I had been shot!" Craig said, wrapping the fresh gauze around Evan's hand. "Thankfully, I haven't experienced a gunshot since but I would do it again if it meant saving Tyler." He added with a smile. "The point is, Jonathan brought us all together when we were terrified and unsure of what we were going to do and we brought Tyler back. Jonathan would do anything for Tyler. He'd do anything for you too. He's no liar and he's definitely no traitor." Craig held the gauze down while slid the clip in place, making sure the gauze was tight before letting go of Evan's hand. "There you go. You'll be good as new in no time." Evan nodded, looking down the white gauze. He wondered if he had made it all up. He wondered if the shock of everything had got to his head and he was imagining things. He thought about the day he had spent with Jonathan and the story he told him at the aquarium, the blue soft lighting comforting to Evan. Maybe he was wrong. Craig must be right, Jonathan wasn't a traitor. He couldn't be, could he? Brian had said he wouldn't even fully trust Jonathan, but that meant nothing because it was Brian, right?
"Thank you." Evan said quietly, not looking up at Craig.
"You're welcome." Craig gave him a hug before letting go to clean up. Evan got up, walking out in the hallway. Tyler was standing in the living room, talking with Marcel and Lui. Evan's chest tightened. He took a hesitant step towards them. Smitty was sitting on the couch, a nervous expression on his face. Tyler turned when the floorboard creaked under Evan's red shoe.
"Evan. Can you come here?" Tyler motioned for him to come over to them. Evan did as he was told. "Jonathan has informed me that he knows where the liar is...And that he wants me to go meet him. Can you come with me?" Tyler asked. "If not, that's okay."
"Why me? Why not Marcel or Smitty or Lui?" Evan asked.
"Because Jonathan asked for you to come too." Tyler sighed. "I can explain to him that you didn't want to come, he'll understand."
"We won't be far behind." Lui said. "We're going to get my helicopter first and we'll watch from above." Evan looked up at Tyler, fear and anger making it hard to breathe. He wanted to believe Craig, wanted desperately to believe that Jonathan wasn't a liar but he couldn't deny that Jonathan knew the code, that he manipulated him into trusting and caring for him so he would be stupid enough to write it down. Either way, he had to go to be there for Tyler.
"Okay...I'll go." Evan nodded. Tyler nodded, giving him a small smile before turning back to the others to finish their plan. Evan turned, seeing Smitty and Brock looking up at him with worried expressions. Smitty slowly shook his head. Evan curled his shaking hands into fists and hurried to the bedroom he had slept in the night before, finding his jacket. He pulled it on and reached inside for the blade. Though small, it was sharp.
"Evan? Are you ready?" Tyler called down the hallway.
"Yeah!" He called back, tucking the knife into his jacket and hurried back into the living room, catching up with Tyler as he headed for the door.
"Call me when you get to the helicopter." Tyler said to Lui before he headed out the door, Evan following close behind.
"You're sure it's not one of them?" Evan asked Tyler as they got into the elevator. Tyler sighed.
"I know it's one of them...I don't want to believe it but I have to. I trust Jonathan, I always have. I trust Lui and Marcel. I trust Smitty, Brock and Daithi. I trust Craig. I trust you. Which is why this is all so painful. You're all my family but one of you is a liar." Tyler spat out the last word as if it had a foul taste. Evan stared at him.
"I didn't do it." Evan whispered. Tyler turned his head, looking down at Evan. The elevator doors opened onto the parking garage and Tyler stepped out without saying a word.
The Corvette drove slowly down palm tree lined streets, the large mansions sprawling along the hillside. Evan looked out the window at the large homes, wondering if it really was Jonathan they were going to meet. The car turned up the hill, then onto a long driveway, coming to a stop by a flower dotted hedge. Through a half open gate was a swimming pool. The house was massive, bigger than any home Evan had seen in real life. Tyler took off his seat belt, turning the key.
"Stay here." Tyler said sharply.
"But-"
"Stay here." With that, Tyler got out of the car, closing the door behind him. Evan watched him walk towards the gate, looking around before opening it further and stepping into the floral backyard.
At first, all Tyler saw was flowers which surrounded the bright blue swimming pool. He continued towards the house, not seeing Jonathan anywhere. The house looked empty though, the rooms behind the tall windows dark. Tyler stopped at the edge of the pool, looking down at the bright blue water that reflected the brightly coloured flowers around it. His reflection was surrounded by flowers. A warm breeze rustled the flower bushes. Tyler glanced over his shoulder at the gate, seeing the black and white Corvette and Evan watching him. There were footsteps on the pool deck coming from the house. Tyler turned. His bright eyes, almost as blue as the pool water, widened.
"Hey, piggy." The gun was raised.
"What are you-"
The gunshot made Evan jump. He stared out the window, unable to see much of what was happening beyond the gate. He heard a splash. The pool water rippled. Evan couldn't breathe. Tyler had told him to stay in the car but he had to get out. He had to make sure that Tyler was okay. He pulled the blade from his jacket pocket and opened the car door. He nervously stepped out of the car, moving around it slowly towards the gate.
The red flowers looked bloody.
The gate swayed a little in the warm breeze. Evan swallowed, his grip tightening on the small knife. He pulled open the gate, stepping into the large backyard of the expensive mansion. The blade dropped from Evan's gauze wrapped hand. Tears spilt from his eyes.
"No!" Evan ran to the edge of the pool, dropping hard to his knees. Tyler floated in the water, blood turning the water red around his head. "No! Tyler!" Evan screamed, reaching for his body. He splashed at the water, trying to create a current to get him closer. "No! No! No!" His jacket and shirt were soaked, the gauze sticking to his wounded hand which stung painfully from the chlorine. "Tyler!" Evan wailed. A hand grabbed the back of his collar, throwing him harshly down onto the pool deck. Evan sobbed wildly, hitting at Jonathan as he tried to pin him down.
"Evan, come on now. I don't want you to go for a swim too." Jonathan said, a smile on his face.
"Don't!" Evan screamed. "Don't touch me!" A strong kick to Jonathan's chest sent him stumbling back. Evan rolled onto his stomach, crawling towards his fallen knife. A boot came down on Evan's right hand, crushing it. He screamed in pain, looking up at Luke, his face a silhouette in the blinding sunlight.
"What are you going to do, huh?" Luke asked mockingly. Evan screamed again, his shoulders shaking violently with sobs. "What are you going to do now that Tyler is dead?"
"No...No, please...Please!" Evan screamed. Blood soaked through the wet gauze, dripping onto the pool deck. "Please!"
"Oh give him a chance, Luke." Evan turned his head. Brian stood on the patio, his smile as sharp as his suit. "This kid could raise hell for all you know." He laughed. Luke glanced at Jonathan who nodded. Luke stepped off Evan's hand. He let out a choking cry of agony, crawling weakly towards the knife. His bloody hand curled around it as he rolled in time to swing it at Jonathan's face as he descended on him again. Jonathan snarled, smacking the knife from Evan's hand as a red line formed across his cheek. He pinned Evan down, ignoring his screams and violent kicks.
"You know I know the code." Jonathan whispered. "But you're gonna tell it to Brian."
"No!" Evan wailed, reaching towards the fallen blade.
"You don't want me to break your hand like Tyler got his hand broken now, do you? Though, last I checked, you seemed to be obsessed with him. Obsessed with being him." Jonathan laughed. "I saw what you were doing with your right hand." Evan looked up at him, struggling to breathe. He had never been so terrified in his life before.
"Stop! Please!" Evan cried, his face wet with tears and pool water.
"I don't want to kill you Evan….I like you." Jonathan ran a hand through Evan's hair gently, making him cringe. He turned his head, stretching his arm further towards the blade. His fingers brushed against the wet metal. "Look at me." He pulled Evan's hair harshly, forcing him to look at him. "Tell me the code. I want to make sure I got it right."
"No." Evan spat in Jonathan's face. "I made a promise."
"You're so fucking stubborn." Jonathan snarled. "Don't make me throw you in that pool too." Evan looked past Jonathan to Tyler's body, sobs ripping themselves from his throat. It was his fault. He couldn't tell Tyler what he knew and now he was dead. It was his fault. "Tell us the code!" Jonathan yelled. Evan shook his head. Jonathan grit his teeth letting go of his hair to grab his collar, choking him as he pulled him to his feet, swinging him around to the edge of the pool. "Tell me." Again, Evan shook his head. Jonathan looked up at Brian. Evan lifted his right hand, the gauze loose and bloody, the blade glinting in the sunlight. Evan stabbed Jonathan's shoulder, blood oozing around the blade as Jonathan screamed in pain and anger. He shoved Evan into the pool, sending him falling into the bloody water.
Disoriented, Evan couldn't tell which way was up and which was down. He heard a muffled gunshot, a bullet flying past him in the water. His eyes widened, stinging with chlorine. He swam frantically to the other side of the pool, under Tyler's body. He pulled himself out of the water, his clothes feeling heavy and stuck to him. There was no way out but the gate behind Luke.
Evan took a deep breath, sprinting as fast as he could around the pool. Jonathan fired at him again, a pot full of flowers beside him exploding into tiny pieces. He kept running, sliding past Luke before he could grab him. Evan ran out the gate and past the black and white Corvette, past the red flowers, nearly stumbling down the hill as he ran, his lungs burning. Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face, sobs racking his shoulders every time he tried to breathe.
"Run!" Jonathan yelled after him. "Run little piggy, run!"