Chapter 14- Endgame

Dwayne opened the door and entered the Pyrodome alone. He had just gotten back from trying to warn Christy about the murderer when he himself was arrested! He rubbed his head softly as he walked further into their hiding place at the Pyrodome. His head hurt from the beating the officer had given him, and he was confused thinking about Tanaya’s ambiguity. Were his attempts in vain? Were his feelings unrequited? It seemed so. He took a few steps in when he heard a voice.

“Dwayne! Oh my god, what happened?” Ali shouted. Dwayne looked up to see Ali Crichton run toward him from the other side of the Pyrodome. She stopped in front of him as he stood still, his head still a little woozy from the loss of blood. Dwayne zoned out as he felt Ali’s fingertips trail across his face. Her skin was smooth and comforting, just the touch the doctor ordered.

“Oh my . . . “ She muttered slowly, concern crossing her face sourly and worry spreading evidently. Her eyes watered a little before a passion struck up in her eyes. Dwayne nearly jumped, but he was too worn to do so, he just needed some rest. He looked up at Ali, who’s face was contorted in anger now. Dwayne couldn’t possibly imagine what he had done wrong, was it his quiet?

“Dwayne, who did this to you. I swear I’ll make them pay. Dwayne, tell me who did this?” Ali said in a fiery tone. Dwayne’s head swayed from his lack of balance, he could feel everything leaving him. He didn’t have much energy left.

“Cops.” Dwayne didn’t get anything more out because he collapsed on the spot.

Dwayne opened his eyes to find himself lying on a blanket on the floor near the bar in the Pyrodome. He looked over to his side to see a cup lying empty on it’s side; it must’ve been full of water.

“Feeling better sleepyhead?” A voice called out. Dwayne could’ve sworn it was the voice of an Angel. Had he died? He didn’t think he had died, did people normally know when they died?

He looked the other direction and saw the familiar face of Alison Crichton, who was of course an Angel in her own right. ‘Just like Tanaya’ he thought.

“Hmm, sorry. What happened?” He asked groggily. Incidentally enough, he was feeling much better.

“You passed out. You keep losing blood, so you have to stay here, otherwise you’ll end up . . . well, I don’t want to say it.” Ali said. Dwayne nodded and looked up; where was Tanaya? Shouldn’t she have been here by now, when was now anyway?

“You really worry about me don’t you?” Dwayne asked, no one had really showed that much concern for his well being before. Ali didn’t answer though, she just looked down.

Dwayne felt a little foggy as he shook his head trying to straighten out his vision. Ali kneeled down in front of him, looking into his eyes.

“Yes. I do care Dwayne. You mean a lot to me. I’ve never met anyone like you, and when I see you, when I am around you, you make me want to be a better person.” Ali said. She leaned forward and Dwayne wasn’t sure what he expected anymore.

Ali crawled on top of him, staring into his eyes the entire time without breaking contact. What was she playing at? Was she really about to do what he thought she was about to do? She was wasn’t she? Dwayne didn’t want her too, he didn’t want Ali, he wanted something else. Someone else.

Ali leaned in and pressed her lips against Dwayne’s and he could of sworn he heard a door open. It was his door of opportunity, his door of pleasure. It was a metaphor for him finally being able to have someone. Dwayne and Ali; together, that didn’t sound too bad. What would Tanaya say?

Tanaya.

Oh shit.

Just as he heard one door open, he heard another close. Hard.

Tanaya.

“Tanaya, are you okay? What happened, what took you so long?” Dwayne said into his Walkie talkie. It’d been a while and Tanaya still wasn’t back. Maybe something happened, Dwayne hated the thought of it.

“I’m fine, I just went straight home, that’s all. The Pyrodome opens tomorrow evening, so you guys can’t stay there indefinitely anyways, plus Stephanie opens up really early in the morning when she works, and I’m pretty sure she’s scheduled tomorrow. Talk to you tomorrow.” Tanaya’s voice curtly shot through the silence in the Pyrodome. Dwayne hit the talk button to listen for a signal but there wasn’t one.

She turned it off! What was going on? Why was Tanaya ignoring him, what happened? Was she turned off by his ‘I miss you’. It didn’t make sense.

“Tanaya. Tanaya. Tanaya.” Dwayne hissed into the already dead Walkie Talkie. Why wouldn’t she answer?

“You’re little girlfriend not answering?” Ali’s voice cut into the air. Dwayne looked up from his sitting position by the bar. Ali was a little irritated at him because of the exchange they had just had.

When she kissed him, Dwayne pushed her off of him, and Dwayne, not being an idiot knew that she wouldn’t be happy about it. He couldn’t help it though, he couldn’t go through with it. It felt wrong to be with Ali while Tanaya was still there. Even if Tanaya didn’t have feelings for him, he was sure he could do something to make her see him as more than just a friend. He was sure he could do something to make them more than just neighbors. He didn’t have a lot of experience with girls, but he couldn’t be stuck in the friend zone forever could he?

“No, she’s not. Ali, listen I-“

‘I don’t want to hear it Dwayne. You want her over me, it’s that simple. And it doesn’t make any sense. What does dork girl have that I don’t? I have a better body, more friends, more money, more experience. Why the hell would you want her over me?”

“Look Ali, I’m not saying that Tanaya is better than you-“

“Yes you are Dwayne!” She yelled suddenly. Dwayne jumped a little, the unexpected outburst startling him. He put his hand on the counter and pulled himself up slowly so that he was standing in front of Ali, face to face with her,

“No I’m not.” He said strongly. His words were deep and slow purposely. He continued, “All I’m saying is that I feel like I have something with Tanaya. I have feelings for her, and I’m sorry, I really am Ali, but what can I do in this situation? Can I really help who I love?”

“Love? You love her now? I didn’t peg you as one of those guys who wears his heart on his sleeve Dwayne.” Ali snarled in disgust.

Dwayne cringed inwardly, she was right. Love was too strong a word, he just assumed Ali would take it better. He didn’t love Tanaya, he barely knew her. Love at first sight was merely a myth; it couldn’t happen for real.

“Okay, you’re right Ali, I don’t love her, but I have feelings for her.”

“And none for me?” She asked, her tone softening. Dwayne paused, he didn’t want to hurt Ali, but it wasn’t really a contest was it? How could Ali compare to Tanaya. Tanaya was amazing, she was . . . Tanaya. Was he making the right choice? How could he explain it to Ali without losing a friend?

“No, it’s not that I have no feelings for you, it’s that I-“ Dwayne stopped short. He couldn’t keep doing this. This wasn’t the same, it wasn’t about him and Ali; it was about him and Tanaya.

He wanted Tanaya. He wanted her to be with him right now. He needed her presence, he needed her propinquity. He needed her voice, her smell, her touch, her . . . her everything.

“Dwayne.” Ali said, snapping him out of his reverie once again. Dwayne raised his head slowly, only to see Ali’s blue eyes staring in his face. She was close to him, just like when she kissed him. Was she going to do it again? He hoped not, he didn’t want to have to push her away again.

She continued, “What do you see in her?” she asked still amazingly close to him. Dwayne didn’t know the answer. He didn’t know what the reasons for liking Tanaya were; he just knew they were right.

“I see . . . I see-“

“What?” Ali cut in, her words harsh but her tone mellow and calming. She was still right in Dwayne’s face and he was beginning to think it was a standoff. Dwayne wasn’t about to lose his cool though, “A naïve nerdy girl? She doesn’t know anything Dwayne, you saw that yourself. What about me?”

“Ali, that naivety shows me there’s still good in this world, that there’s still a chance people can be nice, right, moral citizens. She shows me that she’s someone who I can put my trust and love into because I’ll get it back. She shows me-“

Dwayne didn’t finish because Ali slapped him across the face. He closed his eyes and held his face as he slowly moved his head back to it’s original direction.

“That hurt.” He said calmly. He didn’t know what else to do, he was positive he’d never been in this situation. He opened his eyes to see Ali’s face in a mix of horror and dignity. She looked like she was appalled at what she had done, but all the while too prideful to admit it.

“I’m sorry Dwayne.?” She said softly and turned and ran. She ran out the main doors on the far side of the building, leaving Dwayne standing alone. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t care about being spotted, she just ran, leaving Dwayne at a loss for words.

He didn’t know what to do now; maybe he should just saunter home like the rest of them.

Dwayne walked up the front walk to his house, casting sidelong glances at Tanaya’s window every half a second. He wanted to see her, but it didn’t feel good right now, nothing did. Everything had slowly went downhill, and the girl he was trying to protect just ran out into a public that wants her dead.

He turned the knob slowly on his front door, hoping not to wake Katherine, but as he entered the house he found that was really an effort in futility.

“DWAYNE SAMMUEL KENNI!”

“Hey.” He said weakly, wincing at what he knew was coming. He hadn’t been screamed at like this for years, and now he was going to get it.

“RUNNING OUT ON YOUR MOTHER AFTER YOU’VE BEEN ARRESTED. NOT TELLING ME WHERE YOU WERE! I SWEAR TO GOD YOU’D THINK YOU HAD THE INTELLIGENCE OF A TOASTER! DO YOU KNOW I’VE BEEN WORRIED SICK!”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I know nothing is important enough to do that, but at the moment I felt like I needed to get away. That mob was angry and I panicked. I was scared and I didn’t want to bring violence to our house.” Yeah it was a lie; so? He just wanted to get to bed, or at least to his bedroom.

At least before Tanaya fell asleep.

Dwayne opened his eyes and cranked his neck around to see his surroundings.

He was in his room, and sun was shining brightly through his wide open window. He blinked twice before continuing his optical scan of the area. He looked down at himself; his clothes were still on, his bed was still made, and there was a chair by his window. ‘I was waiting up fro Tanaya to wake’ he thought. That explained it!

Dwayne stood up, cracking his neck as he stretched his stiff muscles. What time was it? He looked over at the clock, assuming Tanaya had gotten up already. She mentioned yesterday that she wanted to get up early to see Stephanie when she opened the Pyrodome.

He turned on his television, hoping that he’d be able to waste some time before Tanaya got back, he needed to talk to her.

“Hehe.” He laughed softly to himself. The great detective Dwayne Kenni couldn’t figure out what to say to a girl. Somehow, all his training and experience did nothing for him in this situation, all that was left was wondering.

Merely walking up and saying ‘I like you’ seemed like too little. Not enough effort, not enough meaning and in general just not enough. He didn’t want to do something overt though, maybe a caring gesture that was small, like buy her a CD she’s been wanting and attach a card. Was that kosher?

Maybe Stephanie would know what to get her! That was exactly it, call a girl’s friends to do a little research, wouldn’t girls like the effort? Or would they think it was creepy and stalker-like?

Dwayne closed his eyes, trying to remember Stephanie’s number from the piece of paper she gave Tanaya, but it was hard to concentrate with the News blaring. Something about a dancing squirrel, and breaking news and to-

“Breaking News.” Dwayne mumbled to himself, remembering the last time he’d heard that phrase. It was after they had found out about the first murder, after Stephanie had told them. How would she know, why would she know?

Now Dwayne had to remember that number! What was it, five-five-five-thre-. It was written on parchment like paper. It was written on a sheet about those nails. It was Stephanie.

“It was really about some stupid nails.” He muttered, dropping to his bed. Dwayne was in shock; did he actually just solve another murder? Was it Stephanie Peterson? Was it Tanaya’s best friend? The one he had just met? The one Tanaya was alone in a semi-abandoned club with right now?

Dwayne stood up and grabbed the phone.

Dwayne walked to the front entrance of the Pyrodome. He found out from Tanaya’s mother, (After a short lecture on her daughter’s new seven o’clock curfew.) that she had left to the Pyrodome, so here he was.

Dwayne walked to the door and pulled it gently, letting it slowly open for him. In all his experience Dwayne had never seen a door that opened so readily a good sign.

Dwayne stepped slowly into the Pyrodome, looking around the darkness. It didn’t seem like anyone was even there yet, however there had to be someone to open the door. He walked further in, leaving the safety of exit and entered the middle of the floor. Kenni looked around the place, every corner pitch black as night.

“Tanaya! Tanaya!” He called out, hoping she was in the back or working on something. As long as Stephanie didn’t feel threatened, he could probably get Tanaya out safely.

“Dwayne!” He heard his name. Dwayne spun around, looking for the origin of the voice. It was definitely Tanaya’s, but the question was where was she? Dwayne walked toward the bar, listening closely for more yelling.

“Dwayne, it’s me!”

“I hear you Tanaya!” He called out, her voice sounded worried and panicked to him. Did something happen already? No, he doubted it.

“Get out, it’s Stephanie, she’s the killer.” He stopped doubting.

Dwayne froze, if Tanaya knew then something must’ve gone down. Where was she, where was Stephanie?

“Dwayne.” Another voice came into play. Dwayne looked straight ahead at the bar and saw the vague outline of Stephanie Peterson behind the counter, “I see the little bitch explained everything to you, at least the part about me killing five people.”

“You only got three people.?” He said. The girl smiled in a weird cocky manner,

“Well, it’ll be five after I finish with you two. I thought I’d have to worry about you figuring it out Dwayne, new guy from Kansas who Tanaya just loves!” She put an over exaggerated exclaim on the work ‘love’, “I’m glad you’re not as bright as Tanaya thought you were.”

“If you’re so bright Stephanie, then tell me what you’re doing? How can you get away with this one, people know who’s here, and are already suspicious.” He said calmly. Stephanie moved her hands below the counter and clicked something before raising them up quickly.

Dwayne caught a glimpse of a gun as she aimed at him, and reflex taught him how toe move. He dived leftward.

“Don’t know.” She said and she fired! The bullet caught a wall and splintered, and Dwayne ran as he heard metal slamming against metal all around him.

“What’s that?” He asked himself, running behind a set of couches. His goal at the moment was to find Tanaya and get her out safely.

Stephanie’s voice rang out, “C’mon Dwayne, don’t run. You knew this was coming right Mr. Detective. You didn’t see it? Well you see the Tornado lockdown procedure right? Now you can’t get out of the building even if you wanted to Dwayne.” Stephanie called out.

Suddenly a bullet hit the couch right above Dwayne and he flinched. Quickly and rolled out from the couch and dart toward a corner by the dance floor.

“Tanaya!”

“Dwayne, just leave! Go!”

“Tanaya, where are you?”

“Dwayne, just go!” Her voice kept calling back, he had it pinpointed almost, if she said one more thing he could figure out where she was; he was sure of it.

“What’s your favorite CD?” He yelled out.

“What?” Tanaya questioned; and that was it! He knew where she was.

A bullet hit the wall next to him and Dwayne ducked quickly. Two more bullets sprayed the areas as he crouched and sprinted across the room toward the door that lead up the stairs to the DJ booth.

Dwayne crawled up the stairs on all fours to lower visibility and volume, but when he got to the door he stood up. Dwayne knew this was where he heard Tanaya’s voice coming from.

He opened the door and walked in, catching the sight of Tanaya tied up with Duct Tape in one corner. Dwayne moved toward her quickly, pushing stereo equipment and other things out of the way.

“Are you okay?” He said, bending over her and ripping the tape away from her.

“Dwayne, I’m sorry.” Tanaya said, immediately collapsing on his shoulder. He didn’t want to be a jerk, but they really needed to get out of there! “I knew it was Stephanie and I didn’t tell you because I wanted to catch her myself, to prove to you!”

“What?” Dwayne was confused, and if he heard right Tanaya was involved!

“Last night. Last night I figured it was Stephanie, and I wanted to confront her myself and she did this.”

“Why’d you want to confront her yourself?” Dwayne asked, ripping the last pieces of tape off of her. He held her in his arm as he turned toward the door,

“I wanted you to like me like I like you. She said, looking up at him with watery eyes. Dwayne stopped, and opened his mouth, but before he could reply another voice cut in.

“How sweet?” Stephanie crooned. Dwayne looked at the only viable doorway and it was blocked by the barrel of a gun.

“Stephanie, don’t do thi-“ Tanaya started, but Stephanie jerked the handle of the gun and flinched it at the two who back ed up immediately.

“Don’t tell me what to do! I’m sick of it! I’m sick of all of it. I can’t keep being second place Tanaya!”

“What are you talking about Stephanie, you’re not second place! We all like you!” Tanaya tried her softest voice. Stephanie flinched the gun at them again.

“No! None of that bull Tanaya! I am second place. Samantha got killed because of it. After she and Ali got into a fight who came to comfort her? Me! It was me, she called me! Then Ali takes priority anyway! I’m sick of it, so she had to die. Just like you Tanaya.”

“Wait, you killed Sam?” Tanaya asked, trying anything to buy time. Dwayne was scouting out ways to escape; so far he found one. Death.

“Yeah, I did kill her. I killed Sara too. I confided in Sara, and she was going to tell. You can’t expect me to let her tell right? So I did the best thing I could to make her keep a secret.”

“I get it Steph.” Tanaya said softly, trying to coax Stephanie. Stephanie flinched the gun again, by now tears pouring down her eyes.

There they stood, Dwayne and Tanaya next to each other and Stephanie a the door with a gun shaking in her hands and all the while pointing it at the two.

“And you Tanaya. I was always your sidekick, always your little puppy. You take over and do everything. You meet the new guy, you solve mysteries, you GET THE CUTE GUY! You get it all, I can’t be second anymore!” Stephanie yelled and the gun went off.

Without thinking Dwayne dived in front of Tanaya.

The bullet went through his shoulder, searing white hot pain through his arm as he was forced backward.

Dwayne hit Tanaya and the two caught all the cords in the booth. Everything tumbled and shook, pending certain death.

“Ahh.” Stephanie screamed right before the booth fell. Dwayne moaned on the ground as the whole structure collapsed, falling down and sending his stomach into his throat.

CRASH! With debris and metal jagged edges everywhere the booth came crashing down. Suddenly sirens blared everywhere and light illuminated the darkness.

Dwayne looked up and saw several police cars sitting outside a forced open door with officers running in with force. He smiled, looking over at the girl in his arms.

“Tanaya, I mean to tell you something.” He said, bloodied, shot, wounded, dirty, dusted and broken, “ I really like you.” He said, and she squeezed him closer to her before rolling out of his arms. Tanaya stood up as the paramedics grabbed Dwayne and lifted him up on a stretcher.

“Is he going to be okay?” A girl’s voice said. Dwayne looked up and saw Ali walk over to the two.

“Ali? What are you do-“ Tanaya started, but Ali answered early,

“I called the cops, I figured something was going down here. I didn’t want you two to get hurt.” She bent down over Dwayne’s stretcher and whispered in his ear, ‘And stay safe.” Before walking away slowly. As she left his field of vision he saw he pause,

“Oh, and Tanaya. This doesn’t mean we’re lovey-dovey friends now.” She called out before she just left. Dwayne watched her part from his vision.

He didn’t know what was next, but with Stephanie on a stretcher a few feet away from him, and Tanaya standing above him. A stabbing wound and gunshot didn’t look so bad.

Not as long as he had Tanaya.

The End.