TWO WORLDS OF A MIND

9. VOICE COMMAND

Eddy and Brett came in to see Sid frantically collecting his things.
"Woah, Sid, everything alright?"Brett asked.
"Hey! I can't find my flight tickets. I had left them here before I went to set the table."
"Calm down, Sid. Here have a bubble tea and we'll look for it. Ok?" Eddy asked.
"Ok! Anything for bubble tea!" Sid exclaimed.

Brett indirectly asked Sid,
"Hey, do you still prank your friends?"
"Yes, I still do!"
Brett and Eddy looked at each other.
"By the way this bubble tea is awesome!" Sid exclaimed.
"I know right?" Eddy said.
"So Sid by any chance did you-" Brett got interrupted by Sid's phone.
"Hey, all ok?" Brett asked.
"Um... my flight got preponed. It's in an hour." Sid said.
"Oh ok. We'll leave you to the hotel?" Eddy asked.
"No, no it's fine. Your show starts in 15 minutes. Thank you for letting me part of the show!"
"We would love you to be always a part of the show." Brett said.
The three went on to the front gate of the hall and Sid exited from the hall.
"All the best Sid!" Eddy and Brett exclaimed.
"Thank you and you too!" Sid replied and smiled.
"Thank you!" The two replied back.

After Sid left, they walked back to the dressing room and saw the prop table. It was set in perfection from the microphone headset to the red cape and scarves.
"That's kept quite precisely." Brett said.
"Indeed. Too accurate for Sid." Eddy said.
"Yeah, maybe he has changed."
"Could be. But do you think we'll still get these messages? Now that we know that he still pranks people." Brett asked.
Yeah, maybe the messages will stop."

Ping.
A text on Brett and Eddy's phone. Brett and Eddy looked at each other.
"Wrong guy." It read.

Eddy didn't think twice and called this number and kept it on speaker.
"Who are you?!" Brett exclaimed.
"Well, I told you." This person said.
"What do you need?!" Eddy argued.
"Can't you wait? And by the way, you got the wrong guy. And anyway, whatever I need is already planned. "
"What do you mean?"
"I need you both to learn a lesson."
"What lesson?" Brett questioned.
"I won't tell you. You'll perform it."
"What?!" Eddy exclaimed.
"And I guess you both have seen that photo. You both are such an iconic duo for your audience. No one doubts your duality, but I do."
"What does that imply with your condition?" Brett asked
"Just a reminder that if you don't follow my rules, then...."
"What?" Eddy and Brett asked furiously.
"There is an envelope placed in the dressing table. Read the consequences. It's not much." He stated and cut the call.
"Hello? Hello!" Brett exclaimed.
The two violinists briskly walked all the way to the dressing room. Eddy opened the door and Brett rushed in.
Indeed, as said there was an envelope, sealed flawlessly.
Brett opened the envelope and was written in a dainty font.

"I think it should be oneset, not twoset.....lah."
It was a dialogue from the Singapore concert.
But underneath that was something neither Brett nor Eddy's eyes could miss reading it.
"Well, you only said it. Agree to my terms or else I'll make sure it will be oneset not twoset."
Brett and Eddy stood in shock.
They both realised what it meant.
"No..no....I hope that's not what he means." Eddy said.
"I...guess he does..." Brett replied.
"Then what should we do? Brett, I don't want to perform where our lives is at stake."
"Even I don't wanna that to happen, Eddy......don't worry, we'll ace this." Brett said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am."

Day 2, show 2: starts in 5 minutes.
Brett and Eddy were in the wings waiting for the audience to settle.
"We'll fight this together." Eddy said.
"Of course, Eddy." Brett replied.
The two gave a high five. And entered the hall.

The two picked up the microphone headset and placed it in their ears.
Someone's voice was static on the microphone. More like white noise.
The two violinists adjusted their microphones.
"Hi Brett and Eddy." The voice spoke on the microphone.
The duo were ready to face the night.