In Between (Tale of 3 Hearts)

Chapter 10

"Now is not the time, just leave," he replied, taking few step to him.

"What did you do?!" He looked riled, probably for not getting a direct answer .

Ryan simply gave him a crooked smile and shoved his hands into his pockets, unaffected by his irking tone. "What if i don't tell you? Would you fight me?"

Already boiling with anger, Bryan stuck out his finger, pointing directly at Ryan. "If I ever find out you laid your hands on her, I am going to make sure you pay this time around." He threatened him.

"Like I touched Petra, huh? You are still holding that silly grudge against me? Never you forget, she liked it!" He spat out, closing in on him.

"Please stop. Stop it. Please!" Allison pleaded. The voices in her head was getting louder by the time and the argument wasn't helping.

"You alway destroy everything you lay hands on."

Ryan brought out his hands from his pocket and folded them. "Like you did to mom?"

Bryan and Ryan were playing in the garage despite being warned against it. Their parent's cars were parked there, in addition, metallic tools and gadgets which were piled up in the garage. Of course, children weren't suppose to play there in fear of tools being mishandled or tripped on.

But what would you expect from 6 year old toothless, stubborn twins who fail to abide by the rules.

That's faithful Saturday, their dad was repairing the car tires. He had to rush to the living room to pick his phone that has been ringing. Unknown to him, Ryan had chased Bryan into the garage and on the run, he climbed on top of the opened bonnet of their Mom's car.

"Ryan look what I can do. I'm a mechanic, just like daddy. See?" He said to his brother as he took a plier next to him to cut a wire. Little did he know what he did.

"Come down, let's go before daddy sees us."

"Yeah, good point." And they chuckled out of the garage.

By evening, Mrs Gabriella Anderson had entered her car to fetch somethings from the mall.  On the road, a truck stopped abruptly on the expressway and she applied the break to prevent hitting the truck. Unfortunately, it failed to work. Adrenaline charged, she propelled the wheel to the right and it drove straight into the bushes. The car knocked over a fallen tree, summersaulted and crashed. The impact was so strong Mrs Gabriella Anderson broke her neck and died. 

After investigations were made, the police disclosed the case as a likely accident to occur, but Bryan took the guilt of her demise. The burdens being too heavy to carry, he confided in his twin brother as how he was the primary cause of that tragic accident.

And ever since, hatred, despise and harbor has been Ryan's companion for his brother.

"You don't have to bring that up now, that was years back and I've atoned for my sins." Signs of remorse leaked from his voice."

You are far from atoning anything for murdering my mother."

"She was my mother too, damn it." Bryan exclaimed.

"I will love to be the pacifier of your enmity but I have bigger task at hand." A voice interjected.

"Grandma." Allison exclaimed, walking out from the counter to hug her and started sobbing.

"There, there. Let it all out dear child. I'm here now." She said soothingly, caressing Allison's strands of auburn curly hair. "

You men should be ashamed." She looked them eyeball to eyeball, giving them a furious scowl. "Let's go home child."

That winter evening, Allison had called Damien on the phone but it was always going to voicemails. And as much as she had her final exams to study by that night, Allison dressed up in a red cotton sleeve, matching it with a denim trousers and white snickers. As she exited her hostel, her auburn hair was splashed in her face due to the cold wind blowing. As soon as she packed her hair with a black rubber band she got from her wrist, Allison flagged down a cab and entered.

Once the cab reached her destination, Allison noticed that lights from Damien's apartment was on, which was oddly strange considering it's Wednesday and he only comes back on weekends.

After she paid the cab man and alighted, she walked slowly towards the front door, already thinking burglars might have broken in. Once she inserted her spare key and unlocked the door, she was greeted with quietness and what she perceived gave an opposite thought. She inhaled 2 familiar scents but it felt her nose was being deceitful. Then she saw Damien's luggage, beside it were familiar high heels. That belonged to Emerson, her roommate in the college.

"What's Emmy's heels doing here?" She thought in confusion. As a matter of fact, Allison has been looking for her for straight two days. Her phone wasn't going through, and neither was Damien's.

Looking around for a clue to nullify her curiosity, she found a trial of leathery red mini skirt, a strapless black top, a lingerie and a D cup bra. With every material she saw, her heart started pounding, each piece  of  cloth making her heart beat faster. Nevertheless, she followed the trail which led to the bedroom.

She forcefully opened the door but what she saw was emptiness. Devoid of her boyfriend and the woman, _whoever she may be_. She started skimming the house for answers. It was just then she heard voices from the bar. She quietened her steps as she drew closer to the bar, only to hear a woman's familiar voice, talking.

" I mean, you have me." She whined. "What do you still need that fool for?"

What a shocker when Allison realized it was Emerson's voice.  _It was her!_ She couldn't breathe for a moment as her heart stilled at the betrayal from her very best friend.

"Do I really have to remind you why? Every time?" Damien's voice came up. "Need I remind you, ever since I killed Wolf's brother, he has been keen on killing one of my own. I am using Allison as bait for the Crimson gang. I rather lose her than you and my gang."

"You do?" Allison didn't know when her voice slipped and voiced out her question. As soon as she spoke up, she clasped her hand on her mouth as hot tears cascaded down her cheeks.

All eyes landed on Allison who wasn't just dismayed by the betrayal of her friend and boyfriend.

Her whole body was quivering like she was being electrocuted. She knew she was suppose to shout in rage, rain abuse in agony, shatter every breakable thing or least try to fight Emerson. But Allison had no fight in her for it, she merely stared while beads of tears dripped down.

"That will be 20 dollars." The saleslady's voice revived Allison to her consciousness.

Startled, she jumped back at the sudden voice. "Ohh?" She shook her head while bringing out her debit card. "I'm sorry, I got lost for a moment there." She replied quietly to the lady who gave her a brief smile. Allison handled over her card and the lady swiped it through the payment terminal, handed Allison her card, a receipt, the packaged items she bought in the grocery and then bid her a nice day.

Walking out of the grocery, Allison felt like strolling a little bit. In addition she didn't want the pity looks from her grandma. So She wandered around in search of peace and quiet to calm her mind of the flashbacks resurfacing.
Eyes focused on the path she was and ears trained only to hear the whispers of the wind blowing softly, she didn't notice a voice calling out to her.

Suddenly, a strong hand held her shoulder and turned her swiftly.

"I beg your..." The words stuck in the throat once her eyes landed on the man before her.

"Oh."

Her eyes searched deeply into the man's eyes to gain clarity.

"Bryan? Is that you? She strained her eyes on him.