Chapter 8
"Wait! It’s not what you think!" he said in a low urgent voice. It sounded as if he didn’t want someone else to hear. "Please, I need your help. If you would just--" I cut him off.
"Mr. Mclean, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Mr. Mclean, I suggest that you don’t resist. You’re not in a very favorable position."
"No, you don’t understand! It’s not me you want! He’s in there with--" I was about to cut him off again when I was interrupted by someone shouting. I looked at the young man before me. His eyes were wide with fright and anxiety. "Now, will you just shut the hell up and follow me?!" I nodded and signaled my team. We quietly followed Mclean down a short corridor to a closed door. Mclean nodded to us and threw open the door. What we saw was unexpected, and at the same time expected.
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"Damnit! You’re back?! One bullet in your damn arm wasn’t enough?!" Brian turned to the door. The blood-dressed man had a furious, frenzied expression…and a gun pointed at Kevin’s head. His captive sobbed frightfully as cold metal was pressed harder into his tempo.
"Brian, dude, don’t do anything stupid," I said, sounding a lot calmer than I felt.
"I thought you were gone!!! What’s you fucking problem!! JUST LEAVE!" His eyes were cold and wild; something I had never seen in Brian. This wasn’t the Brian I knew, the Brian that I’ve known for 8 freakin years! He was possessed. Damn it! The Devil finally got to him! What am I saying? Now is no time to be joking around. He finally noticed the police team with their guns pointed at him.
"Drop the gun, Mr. Littrell," the cop who was yelling at me before said. Brian glared at him defiantly and tightened his hold around Kevin’s neck.
"C’mon Rok. Listen to the guy. You don’t want to do that." My voice started to weaver at the sight of my friends before me.
"No Bone. He knows the secret, now he has to die." Brian cocked the gun. Kevin squeezed his eyes shut even tighter. The helpless sobs had turned into pitiable tears. It was strange seeing Kevin scared. Kev was never scared. Then again, Brian was never a killer.
"Brian, he’s your cousin. I’m your friend--you know that. We won’t let anything happen to you," I tried. Please God, where are you when I need you. I thought you loved Brian. Be there for him now. Save us all…please.
"Yea, like you wouldn’t let anything happen to Nick right? Now look at where he is! Six feet under the damn ground!" He was trembling now, teary-eyed. Shit, he was at the breaking point. He was gonna snap. It was just a matter of time.
"You don’t have to do this. What good would it do? Man, give me the gun." I stretched my hand out to him. My own voice sounded sadly pathetic.
"AJ, don’t move." Brian glanced over at the cops again. He looked torn between guarding his cousin or shooting me.
"Brian, please," Kevin managed to get out in a choked whisper. I watched in suspense. This wasn’t happening.
"You should have minded your own business Kev—just like Nick. If you had, none of us would be in this position. If Nick had, he wouldn’t be dead." The shiny gun shook within its owner’s grasp. The police stood on guard, helpless.
"Brian don’t make things worse for yourself," the cop next to me said. He laughed, an insane sounding laugh.
"Worse…how can anything be worse? I killed him. I killed Nick."
"Brian." My voice was strangely quiet. His blue eyes met mine. The blue pools seemed calmer; he was coming back. I heard running footsteps coming up the stairs and down the corridor. Everyone turned to see a panting Howie. His jaw dropped in disbelieve when he saw Brian.
"Oh my God…Brian what are you doing?" The shock was slowly sinking in. Brian stared at Howie for the longest time. The tension made the air thick and hard to breathe.
"I’m so sorry. But it has to be done."
"Brian, don’t!!!" I screamed. There was one huge rush of movement in the room before the bang of the gun filled the room. Then, there was silence.