Justice

The Final Showdown

"Don't be shocked my dear. It is true that I was the mastermind behind the attack on you and my dumb sister."

I was astounded. He was standing in front of me, with his head held high, no remorse in his eyes for killing his sister. I couldn't come to terms with the fact that, Jack, the same Jack whose life revolved around Jessica and me, had actually planned this.

The three of us were childhood friends, and our friendship was appreciated by everyone. We were the "Three Musketeers," closely knit, unbreakable. I was closer to Jessica, but I also considered Jack as one of my best friends. As we grew up, he had started to drift away. He still hung out with us sometimes, but most of the time he locked himself up in his room and was busy in his own world. We had again come close when Jessica had gone "missing," that is what I had thought.

I stared at him, dumbstruck.

"Don't look at me like that; I had my reasons." He shrugged.

This brought me out of my shock.

"You had your reasons! Really? Tell me then! I can see that you don't regret the fact that your sister is dead. All along you knew that she was no more and you just behaved normally, showing your concern about your "missing" sister. Why Jack? Why did you want to kill me?" I asked angrily.

"You are asking me why? I had started hating you. I didn't want to kill my sister. How could I? She was my sister after all, and I respected our relationship. I am not responsible for her death. You are! Now I am going to slaughter you. But of course, only after answering your questions. If you want to know though, you will have to plead. You have to request me to tell you the reason."

I was broken. I wanted to know the reason. If I didn't ask him, I wouldn't have been at peace.

"Please tell me why." I requested in a low voice, my head lowered, tears flowing.

"That's like a good girl! Here we go. You remember I had started to ignore you both, and I would rarely hang out with you? Ever wondered why? It is because both of you had started to irritate me. Since childhood, my parents loved you and my sister more than me. Their love for my sister was something that I understood, but their love for you was beyond my understanding. I didn't mind initially because even I adored you. As we started to grow up, I started to develop feelings for you. I thought even you felt the same way. I came and expressed my feelings, and what did you do? You laughed it off! You told me that you didn't feel the same way and that we should just be friends. 'YOU ARE NOT MY TYPE,' you said! You insulted me, you insolent girl." he shouted.

This was the reason! I was exasperated. Was this reason good enough?

"After that day, whenever my parents or anybody else appreciated you, my anger grew. I started growing apart from my parents as well. Disturbed by my behavior, they gave me your example to explain. They asked me to spend more time with you. According to them, you could be anybody's role model. The ever so perfect SARA! My sister stopped paying attention to me, and whenever she returned home, she would just talk about you. Whenever I didn't score well, the teachers would ask me to take help from you. I was fed up! I had to erase you from my life forever. I had to ensure that you didn't return. You had turned my life upside down." He spat out.

"How did these two morons come into the picture?" I asked in a low voice and didn't dare to look up because if I did, I would have broken down.

My brother had become a silent spectator. He was as flabbergasted as I was.

"Morons! The correct term for them. They had one job, and they just could not do it. They ended up killing my sister instead of you, and instead of going after you later, what did Ben do? He went underground! These oafs are nothing but cowards!" He said looking at them with disgust in his eyes.

I looked at the other two, and found them looking at the ground. They were ashamed that they could not finish "such an easy task."

He then turned to me and said "Their hunger for money and revenge made them help me. Ben was an employee of your father's. He had been ousted from the company after being blamed for a theft that he had not committed. Without seeking an explanation, he had just been thrown out. He wanted to exact retribution for the humiliation and was in need of money. And well, Jason is his brother, and this one relation is enough to explain his involvement. I didn't know Jason was his brother though. I got to know when Ben came to our university and showed his "handsome" face to me after two years. When they failed to kill you, I tried to hire other people, but I just could not find the correct people for the job. Got your answers? So that's that! Enough of the talking now. I have fulfilled your last wish, and now it's time for you to bid goodbye to the world." He spun at his place, with his arm spread out, and grinned looking at the sealing. He was mentally unstable, and I had failed to notice that.

This last sentence brought my brother out of his daze. He was about to hit Jack with the metal rod he held in his hand when Jack plunged at me with a knife in his hand. He held me from behind, keeping the knife at my neck; freed his accompanists; and warned my brother to step back. The other two started fighting with my brother after they were freed.

"Do you want your brother to die with you? If you don't, then ask him to stop. This knife isn't the only weapon I have. I have a gun, and I won't even think twice before pulling the trigger. He might be an excellent fighter, but my aim isn't bad either." He whispered in my ears.

"Sam, please go from here. Don't fight with them. Please run and leave. He will kill you. I can't lose you too." I shouted in a pleading, trembling voice.

His attention was diverted, and the other two overpowered him. They hit him hard, and he fell unconscious.

How stupid of me? Fear had sealed my mind, and I didn't think before acting. I cursed myself. My brother would have easily won against them and even rescued me if I had not distracted him.

The three villains were laughing. I felt Jack's grip loosen, and I wriggled out of his clutches. I was climbing up the steps, and they were coming behind me. I was a good runner; however, they were quick too. Jason got hold of my hair and pulled me; I fell from the stairs. I felt an excruciating pain in my head as soon as I hit the floor. I don't know why, but I didn't lose my consciousness. I was feeling dizzy, but I guess my willpower let me stay conscious. Ben manhandled me, his hand touching my wound, and I shrieked.

"How dare you run away? Did you actually think that you could escape? I thought you had more brains than this."

Without wasting any time, he stabbed me, but before he could stab me the second time to ascertain that I didn't live at any cost, some people entered the room.

I couldn't make out who they were as my vision was blurred. Ben left me. Someone lifted me up and took me out of the house.

"Evidence...flower pot..." these were the only words that I could utter before losing my consciousness.

My entire life replayed in my mind. I was ready to sleep peacefully in the arms of death.