Friends List Read online

  “Hold on a sec.” Lexa stepped into the bedroom and over to the desk. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw a picture of Kimber’s severed head held over a pot of boiling oil displayed on the computer’s monitor. The picture dissolved to Paige lying unconscious atop the Queensbay Bridge, and then to Palmer ablaze in the Jacuzzi. Finally Palmer’s picture changed to one of Cassie’s dismembered torso.

  While Lexa had been standing in front of the computer monitor, a dark silhouette slowly approached her from behind. Just as the images on the monitor were about to send her over the edge, she felt the sensation of warm breath against her neck. “What are you doing?” CK whispered into her ear.

  Lexa spun around and stumbled backward yelling, “It was you! You killed them!”

  CK moved toward Lexa. “What are you talking about?” Then the gruesome display on the monitor caught his eye. “What the hell…?” After viewing a complete rotation of pictures, he turned toward Lexa with a face swathed with genuine confusion.

  “Stay away from me,” she warned, trying to increase the distance between them.

  “Lexa, please, I swear I don’t know how those got on there.”

  Lexa remembered then she was holding her phone. She put it up to her ear and cried, “Alex, help me! I’m trapped!”

  “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on, but we’re friends, right?” CK moved slowly toward Lexa. “I’d never do anything to hurt you.”

  Lexa backed away and shrank down into a corner as CK drew ever closer.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” CK held out his hand toward Lexa. “Trust me.”

  Lexa held her hand out toward CK’s, then kicked him square in the groin. When he doubled over in pain, she delivered an uppercut that sent him to the floor.

  Lexa jumped to her feet, leapt over CK, and raced for the front door.

  She burst through the door and ran screaming from the apartment. CK stumbled out the door and chased after her, screaming, “Lexa! Lexa, wait!”

  Lexa ran out to the street. With her flight mode now in overdrive, she turned her head and saw CK following close behind.

  CK screamed, “Lexa, look out!”

  Lexa whipped around and collapsed as a campus patrol car screeched to a halt mere inches in front of her.

  Two security officers leaped out and hurried toward Lexa.

  “Help me, please!” She pointed at CK. “He killed my friends and now he’s trying to kill me!”

  One officer covered Lexa while the other drew his weapon and pointed it at CK. “You!” he shouted. “Don’t move!”

  CK put up his hands. “Wait a minute!”

  “He has pictures of our dead friends on his computer,” Lexa sobbed.

  The officer tried to steady his shaky aim on CK and ordered, “On the ground—now!” CK acted like he was complying, then took off running. The officer fired several shots, all of which missed their target. He holstered his weapon and chased after CK, only to lose him shortly afterward in the dark.

  While the other officer got on the radio, Lexa cowered in front of the patrol car and wept.

  Is Alex right? Am I really the cause of all of this? Am I the reason my friends are dead?

  ***

  Amanda, Claude, and Alex stood worriedly on the porch as a police car pulled in front of the house. Lexa jumped out of the car and ran into the arms of her family.

  “We almost lost you tonight,” Amanda sobbed.

  Lexa nodded tearfully. “You would have if it wasn’t for Alex.”

  Claude walked over to talk to the police officer.

  A car screeched to a halt behind the patrol car. Bastian hopped out of the car, running up to embrace Lexa. “Alex called me. What the hell happened?”

  Claude rejoined the others and the police car drove away.

  Lexa took Bastian’s arm. “Could we please go somewhere?”

  Bastian’s eyes silently sought permission from Claude, who motioned his approval with a prolonged wink. “Sure. I know somewhere quiet and safe we can go.”

  Amanda stepped toward her niece. “Lexa, I don’t think you should—”

  “Let her go,” Claude said, taking his wife by the arm and pulling her back. “She’ll be all right.” He set his eyes upon Bastian and, by facial expression alone, bade him, “You better watch over my niece.” After giving Claude a nod of assurance, Bastian walked Lexa to his car, got her inside, and drove away.

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-FOUR

  UNDER THE BRIDGE

  Lexa and Bastian were sitting on a bench underneath the St. Vincent Thomas Bridge.

  “It doesn’t make any fuckin’ sense.” Bastian handed Lexa his flask.

  “I know, it doesn’t.” She took a sip from the flask, handing it back to Bastian.

  “You know, it’s kinda funny.”

  “What is?”

  “The lengths we sometimes have to go through to learn something. Ever read Catch-22?”

  Lexa nodded. “Yeah.”

  I’ve done more than read it. I live it.

  “Well I didn’t, I saw the movie. Never really understood the idea of a no-win situation until now. If CK isn’t the killer, then I’m fucked cause the real killer’s still out there and I’m next on the list.” Bastian took a healthy swig from his flask. “And if CK is the killer, then I’m fucked ’cause he’s on the loose and I’m next on the list. So either way, I’m fucked. Catch-22.” Bastian emptied his flask down his throat. “After I take you home, I’m gonna dig a deep hole to hide in.”

  “Can you dig one that fits both of us?”

  Bastian snickered and put his arm around Lexa. After a quiet minute or so, he mustered enough drunken courage to put forth a question he’d been hesitant to ask. “Not meaning to pile more shit on you tonight, but how come we never got together?”

  Under dried tears, Lexa smiled bashfully. “I dunno.”

  “What, I wasn’t your type?”

  Lexa giggled. “No. It’s just that you’re…”

  “An asshole?”

  “At times. Yeah, kinda.”

  Bastian nodded. “I can see that.” They both grinned. “At least you’re honest.”

  “I try to be.”

  That is, with everyone but myself.

  Bastian pocketed the empty flask, pulled out a full one, twisted off the cap, and took a drink.

  “I know I talk a lotta shit,” Bastian continued. “I do…but I do it because if I don’t, I’m scared no one would hear me. Sounds stupid, huh?”

  Bastian’s words gave Lexa newfound vision that, for the first time since meeting, allowed her to see through her friend’s coat of armor—an armor forged from a mixture of cynicism and derision.

  “No, it doesn’t.” She gave him a friendly peck on the cheek. Feeling a sudden wave of anxiety, Lexa reached into her purse and took out a couple of pills from one of her medicine bottles. She pointed to Bastian’s flask. “Mind if I see that for a minute?”

  Bastian handed it to her. “Sure it’s okay to drink that with those pills?”

  “Do you really think it makes any difference? After all that’s happened and all that’s still to come?”

  “Guess I see your point.”

  “Damn straight.” She popped the pills into her mouth and downed them with a mouthful of scotch. Grimacing, she handed the flask back to Bastian. “You know, no matter who you are, no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, or how much you love, life still gives us pain. An abundance of it.”

  “True, life can suck, and often times it does, but in the end, it’s all we’ve got.” Bastian shook his flask. “Sorry, I tend to get philosophical when I’m drunk. Think you’re special? That you were given more to suffer than anyone else?” Bastian shook his head. “Life’s a deck of cards and we’re all dealt a shitty hand in some form or another. But like my dad used to say, a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, and when he doesn’t, a woman does it’.”

  Lexa laughed. “Your dad sounds like a
funny guy.”

  “Yeah, he was. He died when I was little.”

  The image of her parents’ burning cabin flashed in Lexa’s head and two tears run down her cheek. “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Yeah, me too.” Bastian took another swig.

  A few pain-filled moments passed.

  No more island. Share your pain with him.

  “When I was eight, I lost both my mom and my dad.”

  “Wow, sorry.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Lexa shut her eyes and desperately tried to stop the spiral her mind was being drawn toward. After an exhausting effort, the spiral stopped. Lexa opened her eyes. “So what is it that we gotta do?”

  “The only thing we can do—play the hand we’re dealt. As simple and corny as it sounds, it’s true. It’s all we can do.” A flippant grin stretched over his face. “Unless you’re rich enough to stack the deck like Palm—” He turned his head to hide the rush of tears, unscrewed the lid of his flask, and took an entire mouthful of scotch. Lexa scooted closer and rested her head on his shoulder. Bastian tightened the flask’s lid and put his arm around her.

  With only hopeless despair to use for their blanket, they sat with each other in the dark moonlight. Drinking in the shrouding darkness, Lexa said softly, “C’mon, let’s go.”

  Bastian wrinkled his brow. “Go where?”

  “To dig that hole of yours.”

  ***

  While Lexa and Bastian shared an uneasy laugh, nearby a mind was seething with murderous designs; the mind of the hooded figure who was watching them from atop the illuminated bridge.

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-FIVE

  ON OUR OWN

  Several hours after leaving with Bastian, Lexa finally arrived home to find Alex anxiously awaiting her near the fireplace while Aunt Amanda and Uncle Claude held vigil on the couch. After wiping her shoes on the doormat, she stepped into the entryway and closed the door.

  “Where have you been?” Amanda asked shakily. “You were gone for so long I thought…”

  Lexa ignored her aunt and made a beeline toward her twin brother. They embraced for the longest time, then sat in front of the roaring fireplace whispering to each other.

  Hurt by, but understanding of, their niece’s snub, Aunt Amanda and Uncle Claude decided to give them their privacy.

  With flames as their backdrop, Lexa and Alex communicated in a way that was beyond the understanding of their aunt and uncle. It was as if they were preborn babes clasped together in their mother’s womb, sharing feelings and thoughts by means known only to twins. When the enigmatic conversation concluded, they took their places at the chessboard. Time seemed to move in slow motion as the twins stared down in silence at the playing field in front of them, both deeply and totally immersed in strategic thought. Sitting unobtrusively on the couch, Claude read his newspaper while Amanda crocheted next to him. Every once in a while they snuck a peek over toward the chess game taking place next to the fireplace.

  Lexa moved a chess piece.

  Lexa: You saved my life.

  Alex moved a chess piece. I love you more than you’ll ever know. You are my life.

  Lexa moved another piece. How could I ever leave you?

  Lexa: You’ve always been there for me.

  Alex: And I always will be.

  Alex moved a chess piece and grinned. Check, and mate.

  Lexa examined the chessboard, grinning back at Alex.

  Lexa: You win.

  Alex: Was there ever any doubt? You gonna pay up and make the call?

  Lexa nodded.

  Alex motioned toward the stairs. Shall we?

  Claude and Amanda watched worriedly as the game finally ended. Amanda started to speak, but her husband cut her off with a gentle tug on her arm. Lexa and Alex got up from the chess table and headed up the staircase, hand in hand.

  ***

  Lying on Lexa’s bed beside her, Alex eagerly watches her pick up the phone and dial.

  Dr. Cross’s voice answers through the earpiece, “Hello?”

  “Dr. Cross?”

  “Lexa, is that you?”

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  “Well hi. What can I do for you?”

  Lexa looks at Alex and hesitates. Can I do this?

  Sensing that something was wrong, Dr. Cross asks, “Lexa, what is going on with you tonight?”

  “To be honest, I’ve talked it over with Alex and he agrees. Your therapy isn’t working and your prescriptions aren’t helping, so…”

  “Go on, finish it!” Alex hisses.

  Lexa takes a deep breath. I can do this. “…so we decided I won’t be using your services any longer.”

  “Lexa, I think we should discuss—”

  “Goodbye, Dr. Cross, and don’t worry, Alex is going to help me find another form of treatment.” Lexa hangs up the phone and smiles at Alex.

  Alex smiles back. “It’s like I told you, sis, we are indivisible, and that indivisibility makes us invincible.”

  ***

  The telephone rang. Claude ruffled his newspaper while Amanda set aside her crochet hooks and answered the phone. “Hello?”

  “Mrs. Rhodes, this is Dr. Cross. Please forgive the lateness of the hour, but this can’t wait.”

  Amanda held the phone away from her ear and caught Claude’s attention. “What is it, doctor?” Claude moved close to his wife and listened to the receiver.

  “There’s something we have to discuss about Lexa. And Alex.”

  ***

  While Alex and Lexa sat talking on the bed, a knock came at the door.

  “Come on in,” Lexa called.

  “Yeah, don’t worry, we’re both decent,” Alex added.

  Ripe with trepidation, Claude and Amanda stepped into Lexa’s room and stood with their deep-seated concerns spilling forth from beneath their cheerful facades.

  Gripping the doorknob for support, Amanda said, “Um, there’s something we need to talk about.” She pushed the door closed.

  How are we going to handle this, dear Lord? How are we going to do this without Dr. Cross?

  She turned to Claude with the desperation of an injured tag-team wrestler waiting to tap-out to his partner.

  Catching his wife’s silent plea, Claude took over. “We just got a phone call from Dr. Cross.”

  “That figures,” Alex whispered.

  “He told us…” Claude swallowed. “He told us, Lexa, that you have decided not to see him anymore. Is that true?”

  “Yes, it’s true,” Lexa confirmed.

  Amanda jumped in and asked, “Why on earth would you want to go and do that? Especially now, after all that’s happened?”

  “You know the sense of loss people feel when they lose a loved one?” Lexa pointed to the pit of her stomach. “The desolate void that empties the space inside where your soul should be? That’s how I feel all the time.”

  Amanda’s welling tears started to trickle down her face.

  “Every single day, for as far back as I can remember, I’ve lived with that hollow, pain-ridden feeling,” Lexa told them. “An agony of emptiness that feels like your insides have been cored out of you.”

  “I understand, sweetie,” Claude said. “You’ve suffered so much at such a young age. You were so young when your parents we’re killed in that fire.”

  Lexa shook her head. “No, Uncle Claude, you don’t understand. It’s not the loss of my parents that haunts me, it’s the loss of myself I’ve had to endure.”

  Claude and Amanda exchanged looks of confusion. Sensing she may be sharing too much too soon, Lexa changed gears. “I want to apologize to you both for how I’ve been acting lately.”

  Claude smiled empathetically at his niece. “Your behavior was understandable, sweetheart. You’ve been through hell these past couple of weeks.”

  “Even so, there’s no excuse for the way I’ve been treating you and Aunt Amanda.” Lexa got up to hug them both. “I’m sorry, Aunt Amanda.”

  “I’m sorry too
, my angel,” Amanda blubbered from underneath a truckload of cakey foundation.

  Lexa hugged her uncle next. “I’m sorry, Uncle Claude.”

  “I’m sorry too, sweetheart.”

  “Well you both should be glad to know that, with the help of a certain twin brother of mine, I’ve managed to piece my life together and recognize things for what they really are.”

  Claude and Amanda exchanged wary glances, steadying themselves for what was next to come out of the mouth of their niece.

  “I finally realize that I wasn’t upset with the two of you. You both were only doing what you were told would help me. The person I was really mad at was myself. I kept blaming myself for not getting better. But what I’ve come to learn is that my condition isn’t my fault, not in any way, shape, or form.” Lexa turned toward her brother. “It was Alex that finally got me to realize that.”

  Claude and Amanda exchanged a glance, then shot their eyes back to Lexa.

  “The problem that was haunting my soul was that I couldn’t stand the thought of staying here anymore and Alex couldn’t stand the thought of me ever leaving. The situation was like a Gordian knot and our hands were raw from years of struggling in vain to untie it. And then the answer came to us. Well actually, it came to Alex.” Her twin waggled his eyebrows several times in quick succession. “The answer was so simple. It was right there in front of us all this time. I guess it was too close for us to see.”

  “So what is this answer you’re talking about?” Claude asked, about to lose what was left of his patience.

  Lexa donned an air of triumph. “The answer is this: Alex will come with me when I leave.”

  “You mean you’re just going to run off somewhere with Alex?” Amanda asked.

  “What about your prescriptions?” asked Claude. “You’ve been on them for most of your life. What do you think will happen if you stop taking them cold turkey?”