TWO WORLDS OF A MIND

12. REALISATION OF ACT

Hi!
For this and the next chapter the asterisk * is important. Read carefully to find out the truth!

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"Brett go behind that mirror." Eddy said.
"Why?" Brett asked.
"I don't want him to know that you're here."
"But Eddy, I don't want to put your life in danger."
"Brett nothing will happen to me. Now go hide!"
Brett went and hid behind the mirror as Eddy waited for him.

The footsteps grew louder.
He came in with a loud entrance of the door.
"Eddy, you liar!"
Eddy saw a man who wore a grey suit and a mask that covered his face.
"What?" Eddy asked.
"Brett wasn't there on the stage. Where is he? Did you plot against me?!"
"What? No?!"
Eddy noticed the red light on his torso.
"Dare to lie again. Brett,  I know you're here. Come out or I'll injure Eddy." He was serious.
Eddy could see Brett rising behind the mirror. He tried to nod to say no, but Brett didn't listen.

"Who are you?" Brett asked.
The man finally removed his mask.
Brett and Eddy froze to their core.

"Rubin?!" Eddy exclaimed.
"You're behind all of this?" Brett asked.
"Yes."
"But....but why? What did we do to you?"
"So many things. You scarred me for life. Let's rewind a bit.
In uni, I was senior, popular and had a bunch of good friends. Even after uni, when I had my debut performance, I was quite the spotlight. All of my years of hard work was paying off... until you both came and started this comedy show!"
"What?" Eddy and Brett exclaimed.
"You took the world of classical music to another dimension, which destroys its purpose and beauty. You took away my fame, my years of hard work and all the appreciation I received. How fair is it that I play a wrong note and the orchestra, audience and the conductor stare at me while you play and the audience loves it?!"
"No, Rubin. It's okay to make mistakes!" Brett exclaimed.
"Speaking of that, you had to add that line in yesterday's show to insult me, huh?"
"Which line?" Brett asked.
"You had to show off that playing a wrong note is fine?!"
"What? We never meant to do that, Rubin. We're sorry if we hurt you." Eddy said.
"Hurt me?" Rubin laughed sarcastically.
"We're humans, Rubin. We are bound to make mistakes!" Brett exclaimed.
"Are you sure? You don't seem to understand its seriousness!" Rubin stated.
"Seriousness?" Eddy asked.
"Classical music has to be played with absolute perfection, accuracy and precision. Your show just depicts the opposite! I spent so many years practicing to compete in the Menuhin Competition. And even since you showed up, I have been following you both."
"You've got to understand Rubin that doing something different can bring about a good change." Brett said.
"Rubin, you got to let it go. You'll just hurt yourself if you become so restricted." Eddy said.
"No! You both ruined me. You took away the meaning of purity of music and my dedication."

The red light was still pointed on Eddy.
"Now what would twoset be without Brett and Eddy? What if I finish it, once and for all?"
"We can fix it." Eddy said.
"Fix it? It's finished forever and look what you have done Brett? You're so careless that you'll let your friend die?" Rubin said looking at Brett.

*Eddy caught Rubin off guard by pushing him away. Brett caught him from Eddy's adjacent side. A pop sound was heard.
It was something the duo never expected.

Brett looked down towards his torso to see a crimson stain. He was horrified as his eyes looked at Eddy and fell on the couch.
Eddy froze.
"Brett? Brett!" Eddy exclaimed as he saw a falling Brett. He left Rubin and frantically rushed towards the older violinist. He sat at the edge, shifting Brett onto his lap, while keeping a hand on the wound.
"How foolish are you Eddy?" Rubin stated.
"You're happy now, right?! Go away!" Eddy was furious.

Paganini Violin Concerto was playing in Rubin's mind, he had succeeded.

"Brett, are you there?" Eddy panicked.
"I am right here, Eddy. I won't leave you so easily." He joked through the pain; Eddy smiled subtly.
"Brett, please don't go. It's my fault to bring you here, I am sorry." He was on the verge of crying.
"Don't blame yourself, Eddy. I know you were trying to protect me." Brett said in a low tone as he stared at Eddy.
"Brett, hold on.. Let me call for help."
"No, Eddy. I just want you to be here with me." Brett whispered as he held Eddy's other hand.
"I am not going anywhere, but I can't see you like this, Brett." He held a firm grip on Brett's hand.
"As long as we're together nothing will happen..... thank you for everything Eddy." Brett's eyes shined as he said and.... the handgrip loosened.
"Brett-" Eddy came to realisation. His words drifted off and cried. *

"I am not yet done." Rubin said.
Eddy remained silent.
"Time is running out, Eddy."
Still no voice emerged in Eddy. He took a long deep breath.
"What more do you want? I have had enough!" Eddy exclaimed in anger.
"Listen or you'll be next. Now go walk on the stage. I'll tell you what to speak."
"It's better you just....whatever." Eddy was too disturbed.

But there was something Rubin didn't notice.