Sidekick Returns (34 page)

I nodded tightly. ‘What choice do I have? This is my mess. Maybe Ryder and my father were destined to be enemies, but I brought them to this point, and she's counting on me.' I put my hand on my chest. ‘Nobody ever counts on me. That means something.'

‘Bremy—

‘And it's not only that,' I said, turning to watch the sharks. ‘Pierce, you have to know at some level my father is never going to let me go.'

He nodded and looked at the floor. ‘And what about you?' he asked, eyes flashing up to mine.

‘What?'

‘Can you let
him
go?'

I could have pretended I didn't know what he was talking about, but I knew exactly what he meant. I wasn't sure how to answer him at first, then I remembered something I heard on my neighbour Mrs Reese's TV, my TV apparently. ‘Do you know how alligators do that death roll thing?'

‘What?'

‘Alligators. They kill animals by dragging them underwater and rolling around until they drown.'

Pierce furrowed his brow.

‘Sometimes I think my father and I are caught in that death roll.'

Pierce waited.

‘It's not right. It's not healthy. But it is what it is.' I drew my lip slowly out from between my teeth. ‘Except there's one thing he doesn't get.' I paused again. My thoughts were running hard now. ‘Maybe something that nobody gets.'

‘What?'

‘I'm an alligator too,' I said as seriously as he ever could have wanted. ‘And I'm not letting go.'

Pierce's face dropped.

I gave myself a shake. ‘Metaphorically speaking.'

‘Bremy! What the—' Pierce sputtered. ‘Do you hear yourself? This is nuts! I don't want you to drown! Metaphorically or otherwise!'

‘Well, good. That makes two of us. Now stop it! You're freaking me out.' I fiddled with the collar of my cape and yanked it open. It was suddenly really hot in here. ‘I can't do what I need to do if you're going to have me thinking about what a bad idea it is. Jeez.'

‘Bremy—'

‘And don't think that will stop me from doing it anyway.' Did that make sense? Didn't matter. ‘Now off you go, handsome. I've got a job to do.'

He studied me a moment longer before his shoulders slumped. He leaned towards me and gently brushed my lips with his own. ‘For luck.'

My fingertips reached to touch the spot where I could still feel his kiss. I watched him walk back towards the group. All I could think was,
He thinks I'm going to die!
That kiss wasn't for luck! It was a kiss goodbye! What an awful thing to do to a girl headed into battle. It was going to take forever for us to get back together at this rate.

I walked back towards my group and the fidgeting man with the mic strapped to his head. Choden stepped out and quickly whispered, ‘We have chosen stations around the aquarium. We will stay in communication through the ear buds.'

I nodded.

‘Remember,' Choden said, squeezing my hand, ‘whatever your father says, you are not alone.'

‘Thank you,' I replied, really meaning it. ‘But it doesn't matter what he says as long as he lets Ryder go. You don't have to worry about me.'

Suddenly Choden was hugging me. ‘I consider it an honour to have the privilege of worrying about you.'

‘Aww.' I inhaled sharply. ‘Now stop it. You're making my eyes sting, and Kevin went a little heavy on the black eye make-up. Let's go.'

I followed the visibly relieved fashion show minion down an aisle of seats towards the runway. Figures that my father would get the front row all to himself. My eyes searched the room for my friends, but the blue glow of the aquariums illuminated very little, and the glare of the white catwalk made it difficult to focus on anything else. Ooh, I did not like this. It was sad. Fashion shows were my happy place. Was I destined to die in my happy place? I gave myself a shake. I wasn't going to die. That was just stupid. Sidekicks didn't die, did they? Maybe I should have read more of the comics in Bart's shop. No. No. That was crazy talk. Besides, my father wasn't going to kill me in front of all these people. He might find a way to stop me from leaving, but even that was risky. If there was one thing I had proven over and over again as of late, it was that I had no problem making a scene. And if there was one thing my father hated, it was me making a scene. Then again, could I count on anything I knew about my father anymore? My eyes darted to the cool silhouette seated front row centre. He had been making a few scenes of his own.

The fashion show coordinator led me to the front aisle, and gestured for me to go on without him. I paused for a moment then carried on.

‘Brianna,' my father said quietly, without turning to watch me lower into my seat.

‘Father.'

‘So glad you could make it,' he continued, ‘as is your sister.'

I tracked his gaze. Directly across the catwalk sat my twin, a vision in white, all suited up. No mask tonight. I guess The Angel of St. James didn't have paltry concerns like secret identities. Did she have divided loyalties though? That was the question. If Ryder was here, and my sister was on my side, we had a good chance of saving her. If she wasn't on our side … I didn't want to follow that trail to the end. Suddenly, my father's hand was in front of me, palm up.

I sighed and took the bud out of my ear, dropping it into his hand. He placed it on the floor and ground it to bits with his heel. ‘Have you given any more thought to my offer?'

‘Not sure. I'll let you know after the show,' I said, adjusting my skirt. ‘We'll see if evil is in this fall.'

I caught the corner of his mouth tilt upwards, almost like he was smiling. ‘Oh no,' I snapped. ‘Don't you dare do that.'

‘Is it so hard for you to believe that, in many ways, I admire you?' He turned to face me.

‘Yes.'

He looked back at the stage. ‘That is my fault, I suppose.'

‘You tried to kill me.' My voice sounded quiet. Far away.

‘But that is precisely my point. I have always prided myself on my discipline and self-control. I couldn't have achieved the success I have without it. Yet you,' he said, cocking his head, ‘you and your mother were always able to shake that hard-won resolve.'

‘So,' I said, tightly, ‘if I'm following you correctly here, you're saying that your trying to kill me is testament to how much you,' I paused for a moment, willing my gorge to settle, ‘you love me?'

He cocked his head as though considering the idea. ‘I've always found love to be such a diluted word for what it is that I … feel.'

I pressed my fingers into my temples. Again, this was insane. He was insane. I glanced around at all the faces lining the catwalk. Normal faces … on normal people … thinking normal thoughts. They were all expecting a predictable sequence of events. I couldn't help but wonder what they would do if I started screaming.

I flung my fingertips away from the sides of my head and shook them out. I couldn't let him get to me. I was here for two reasons and only two reasons. Ryder and Jenny. None of this was about me.

‘Tonight is a new beginning for us, Brianna,' my father said. ‘For you, me, and your sister. I let your mother go too easily. I won't make the same mistake with you.'

Painful cold raced up my spine.

Suddenly the lights dimmed.

‘Quiet now. The show's about to begin.'

Chapter 51

I barely registered the first swell of music or the legs scissoring past my field of view. Reality expanded and contracted around me. Then my chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. My hand moved to my neck. My heart … my heart was beating too fast.

God, not again. Not now.

I tugged at the fabric of my dress. I couldn't do this. I couldn't sit here. I couldn't be still and wait. If I did … it was all catching up to me. Everyone was right. I was so stupid! And they followed me here. Everyone had followed me here! ‘What are we doing?' I suddenly whispered. ‘Where's Ryder?'

‘She will be here, shortly,' my father said without looking at me. ‘You will understand everything soon.'

‘I—I don't want to understand.'

‘You helped me see that our family was always meant for more. That chip I used on the inmates … it was wrong. A step backwards. The human race was meant to evolve.' He actually reached over and grabbed my hand. My stomach lurched at his touch, but I couldn't seem to move. ‘That step begins with us.'

‘I don't want to be any part of your plans.'

‘I know,' he said, nodding. ‘You still believe you can make a difference—achieve greatness—through Dark Ryder. But you'll soon see the futility of that dream.' He flicked his wrist over and glanced at his watch. ‘In mere minutes, you will see.'

‘What have you done?'

‘It's not what I have done, but what I will do. What you will witness.'

‘Where is she?' I asked again.

My father regarded me coolly, but said nothing.

‘Where's Ryder!'

‘Quiet.' He squeezed my hand, crushing the bones together. ‘It isn't time.'

I pulled my fingers from his grasp. ‘Tell me what's going on.'

He sighed, once again collecting himself. ‘Haven't you figured it out, Brianna?'

‘Figured what out?'

‘We're at a fashion show.' He spread his hands out wide in front of him.

I said nothing.

‘There always has to be a show stopper.'

Then somebody screamed.

Chapter 52

I couldn't figure out what was happening at first. The lights of the runway went out, setting off more screams—but a strange whirring noise coming from the top of the aquarium cut through the clamour.

My eyes flashed across to Jenny. I wanted desperately to see surprise in her face, but there was none.

I stood up and scanned the panicked crowed.

‘Brianna, sit down,' my father ordered. ‘You need to focus. This is important.'

‘Where are my friends?'

He gave me a disappointed look.

‘Tell me you didn't hurt them.'

My father held my gaze tightly with his own. ‘Not yet.'

Suddenly a giant spotlight clicked on overhead, illuminating one of the tanks … but the light wasn't focused on the sharks. It was on Ryder … bound and suspended from the ceiling, hanging above the water.

While the spectators all around me had jumped to their feet to make a run for the exits, my legs collapsed underneath me. I sank back into my chair. More people screamed as they realised the doors had all been locked. My father wanted an audience. He wanted the world to see this. Part of me couldn't believe the risk he was taking. It could only mean he now felt powerful enough that he simply didn't care anymore what the rest of the world thought.

‘You can't,' I whispered. ‘You won't.'

‘Loyalty, Brianna.' My father's eyes, normally steely, glinted with something very hot. ‘Loyalty.'

‘No,' I whispered, once again rising to my feet. ‘You can't do this. I won't let you.'

He stood to face me. ‘Did you really think you could get away with blatantly disrespecting me?' He made a
tsk tsk
sound. ‘You of all people should know I would never allow that to happen. But I will give you everything I promised. You can be a hero … after.'

That snapped me out of my stupor. ‘After? After what? After I learn my lesson? After I take my punishment?' I glanced up again to Ryder, her limp form spinning in the air. ‘She's real, Dad! She's a person! You are murdering a person to make a point!' I couldn't tell if I were asking a question or trying to explain to him how crazy this all was.

‘It was you who did this, Brianna. You.'

Another spotlight clicked on.

‘Good evening, everyone.' My eyes searched for the voice. Ricky. He stood atop the aquarium on a platform suspended above the water. He didn't look like himself. The party boy was gone, replaced with someone sedate, maybe even fearful. ‘
Tonight the party is coming to an end
,' he said, strain evident in his voice. ‘
The party always has to come to an end … but who's going to pick up the cheque?
'

Silence fell over the auditorium.

‘
Who will pay to save the life of Dark Ryder? The one who has saved you all so many times.'
A murmur ran through the crowd. Ricky stooped to pick up a bucket. ‘
Take your time
,' he said, walking over to the edge of the platform. ‘
I'll give you a moment to think about it.
' He dumped the contents into the tank. A dark cloud billowed in the water. Chum.

Suddenly Jenny rose to her feet. ‘
Uh uh uh
!' Ricky's voice echoed. A security team moved to surround Jenny—a team which now included Doppelganger Ryder. Looking at her and seeing Ryder's face, it was almost more than I could bear. Her eyes were blank. My father must have chipped her, despite what he had said about the technology being a step backwards, and now she, whoever she was, or had been, was just his tool. We were all just things to him.

‘Does she know?' I asked my father. ‘Does Jenny know what you have planned?'

‘I've been wondering that myself,' he answered. ‘She was told that she would save Ryder in this demonstration, but, of course, it won't play out that way. I didn't feel I could tell her the entire truth. She has always been more conflicted than you. But then again, she has more to gain, and more to lose, doesn't she?' My father pulled something out of his pocket. The device that controlled my sister. ‘Now,
sit
down.'

I dropped back into the chair.

‘Her motivations are so complex,' my father said, feigning thoughtfulness. ‘She's always known you were my favourite. The one who was more like me. Part of her, I think, has revelled in having my
love
, to use your term. What do you think? Did she know all that I had planned? Did she choose not to warn you?'