Serendipity

Chapter 11

As they neared the house, Xander slowed his car and scanned the area. He didn't saw Dylan's car or any car parked in the yard. He pulled his car alongside the road.

"He's not yet here." He said.

"Yeah. It's too early."

He turned to her. "Listen, I'll be the one to get the letter. Just stay here, okay? Lock the doors. I'll leave the key and my phone. As soon as I found the letter, I'll get back here right away."

Steff nodded. "Be careful."

Xander got out and walked towards the porch. He opened the front door and head to Steff's room upstairs. He went to the desk beside the bed and found the letter tucked beneath a book.

Steff felt uneasy sitting inside the car. She didn't know why, but she somehow felt nervous, like something bad is going to happen. She stared at the road in front of her. It is deserted. There were no cars passing by. Dylan's not yet here, she thought. But as soon as she looked past the line of trees on the opposite side of the road, she knew she was wrong. A car was parked behind a tree and she recognized it immediately. The same car that was used to pick her up at work or when she has a date. Dylan was already here.

"I thought you're going somewhere?" said a voice from behind.

Xander frozed. He recognized the voice. Dylan. He knew he had to act naturally so he grabbed the letter with speed, making sure that Dylan won't notice and pushed it into his pocket as he turned around. "Oh hey. I left my wallet so I came back to get it." He cleared his throat. "I thought you're not yet here. I didn't saw your car."

Dylan smiled. "I parked my car behind the trees."

"Ohhh.." He nodded slowy. "So, I think I should go. I'm a bit in a hurry."

"Sure. Take care."

Xander made his way past Dylan then down the stairs and finally, to the front door. He sighed deeply as soon as he stepped out of the porch. Luckily, Dylan didn't got suspicious. Atleast. Not until he was two steps away from his car.

"Hey Xander! I forgot something!"

Dylan jogged behind him. Xander stopped and turned. "What?"

Steff's chest pounded when she saw Dylan came out of the front door and jogged toward Xander. She crouched in her seat, making sure that Dylan won't see her. He's here. What if he'd been waiting for us? For me?

When he was just a few steps away, Dylan came into a halt and reached into his jacket pocket. Xander's eyes widened when he saw him pulled a gun and pointed it at him. No. It wasn't pointing at him. Dylan was pointing it at the front seat of the car.

"What are you doing?" Xander asked, trying to sound calm. "Why are you pointing your gun in my car?"

Dylan turned, aiming the gun at him. "You know, you're smart, Xander. We both know that. But sometimes, you're careless."

He shook his head. "I don't understand."  He took a step forward and held out his hand. "Look, Dylan, I really need to go. I don't have time to play games right now."

Dylan knitted his brows. "And you think I'm playing around here?" He shook his head. "You know what's the most essential element of a friendship?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Trust!" He yelled. "And I trusted you! You know that? I gave my trust to you but you betrayed me!"

"Wait-"

"You're with her! You're keeping her here in your house!"

"Who told you that? You must've been mistaken."

"I'm not a fool Xander!" He shouted. His face turning red in rage. "You're careless. You forgot about the cameras in your house."

Xander flinched. He had installed cameras about a year ago since no one's staying there, to keep an eye on the house. He forgot about it. He forgot to delete the videos. Dylan must've checked the computer, which means that he saw everything.

Dylan continued. "Because all you care to do is to hang around with Steffanie and make her fall inlove with you! She's mine, you understand?"

"She's not yours." Xander said, his tone serious.

Dylan pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Who are you calling?"

He turned the phone in Xander's direction so he can see it. "You."

Xander's phone rang. Dylan's calling. Steff debated whether to answer it or not. He was aiming his gun at Xander. She knew he wanted her to answer it if she want to save Xander.

"Hello, my dear Steffanie." Dylan said in a playful tone.

"What do you want?"

"Oh. Don't be so serious sweety. Don't you miss me?"

"What do you want?" she repeated.

"You." he said. "Get out of the car."

She could hear Xander shouting from the background. "No. Don't listen to him Steff! Stay there!"

"Shut up!" Dylan yelled at Xander. "Steff, if you don't want me to fire this gun, you know what you need to do. Even though it hurts for me to think that you'll do that not to save me, but to save someone else."

Steff didn't have a choice. She needs to save Xander. She opened the door and got off the car. She circled the car and stopped beside the hood of the car. "Put that gun down. I'm already here."

Dylan shook his head. "I'm sorry but I can't. Not until you come with me."

"What?!"

He took a step toward Xander, aiming the gun on his head and glanced at Steff. "You want me to kill him?"

With that, using his quick hands, Xander slapped the gun away from him, sending it into the ground a few feet away from them.

"Damn!" Dylan yelled as he threw a punch into Xander's face. Xander almost lose his balance but he recovered easily. He lunged, making Dylan stumble to the ground with him at the top.

"Go away now!" Xander shouted at Steff. "Take my car and go away!"

"Wha-what about you?" Steff shouted back, her voice panicked.

"I got this. I'll be alright."

"But-"

"We don't have enough time!" he cutted her off. "Go!"

Steff got inside the car and pulled into the driveway. Xander was staring at the car making sure that she got away safely that he didn't notice Dylan reaching into his jacket and pulling out a small knife. He yelled in pain as Dylan stabbed the knife in his left shoulder. Dylan pushed him and he stumbled to the ground. As he got to his feet, Dylan stabbed him again, this time in his lower back. He yelled again, feeling his body starting to weaken. He tried to stand, but he ended up stumbling back to the ground.

"I never wanted to hurt you. But I have to." Dylan said. He picked up his gun and placed it back inside his jacket. "Where did she go?"

"I don't know." Xander said in a low voice.

Dylan stared at him. "You shouldn't have betrayed me. You should've chose me over her."

Xander struggled to keep his voice steady. "You can't hide what you did forever, Dylan. I regret promising you that I won't tell it to anyone, because I'm wrong. I should've told the police about it. You should suffer the consequences of what you did."

He shook his head. "You won't do that."

Dylan started for his car and pulled into the driveway. He glanced at the rearview mirror, watching Xander struggling and lying on the ground until his image slowly fade away.