I'm so stupid...how could I have left her alone at night? It's my fault...again. I scorned myself while speeding down the highway toward the river. My body had become clamy and cold just thinking of Lynn being held captive with more Maidens than the eye could count. But it wasn't her they were after- it was me. They already got my brother and now they were coming for me. I parked behind the pier's warehouse. All was dark and quiet. Stepping out of the car, I took a long look around at my whereabouts. Not one other car or person in sight. I cautiously made my way around the side of the warehouse and to the loading dock. Through the dim lighting I could make out Tony's shadow leaning against the port's surrounding fence, facing the water. I felt a swell of relief, knowing I was no longer alone. "Hey, Tony, where is she? What's going on?" I approached him, wanting to know. I heard the cock of his gun, Tony spinning around and aiming it at me, a dark look on his face. "Woah, man. What are you doing?" I held up my hands in surprise. "Shut the fuck up, Hanson," he took a few a menacing steps towards me and grabbed the gun I had. Now pointing two guns at my face, Tony continued backing me towards the warehouse. "What the hell are you doing?" I demanded to know. He snickered at my question, tucking my gun into his pants and proceeding to roll up the sleeve of his shirt. Inch by inch, his hidden identity was unveiled. A rod with a dragon wrapped around it inked on his arm- the Maiden symbol. Tony smirked. "Congratulations, Sherlock. It only took you five fuckin' months to figure it out." "You bastard! I trusted you!" I burst with rage and lunged at him. I tackled him to the pavement and caught him by the throat.

"Zac!" a voice cried from behind. Keeping my grip on Tony, I turned and saw Lynn being held by two other gang members. She was barefoot, her hair was a tangled mess hanging in her face, and her shirt hung listlessly off of one shoulder. She had been raped. Tony cackled underneath me, "What are you waiting for, Hanson? Go save your girl." I slammed his head against the cement to silence him and then glanced back at Lynn. "Don't do it! They're setting you up!" she managed to yell to me before she was gagged. I returned my focus back to Tony just as his fist came plumitting into my face. I tumbled back, blood dripping from my nose, and watched as he raised his gun in Lynn's direction. Everything around me seemed to slow down as I helplessly witnessed a bullet launch from Tony's gun and spiral into the chest of my beloved. "No!" I screamed. The two men who had been by Lynn's side had vanished, one leaving their gun behind. She collapsed backward on the ground in pain, making Tony laugh. I stumbled to her, falling beside her in the pool of blood that had began to form. She slowly shifted onto her side to face me. Her breathing was short and choppy, and her eyes were filling with tears, but still, she smiled. "Have any messages for Tay?" she managed to choke out with a forced laugh. I shook my head furiously, holding her closer and rocking back and forth, "No, don't. Please, God, don't." I felt her body go limp against mine.

Every aspect of my surroundings froze. I looked down at her, not seeming to understand what had just happened. A sick feeling grew in the pit of my stomach, my heart regaining the heavy sense of dispare. I delicately laid Lynn's lifeless body on the ground, roughly wiping the tears from my eyes. The gun lying beside me caught my attention. I picked it up, stroking its silver barrel for a moment before I took to my feet again. Tony still stood behind me, watching my every move. In an episode of blind fury, I raised the gun at him and shot repeatedly. When it was over, he lay dead as well. It was all over.

****

...we the jury find Zachary Walker Hanson guilty of two counts of murder in the first degree.

.the.end.