menendez brothers · lyle · erik · dangerous charm · anger issues · sweet · kind · duality · secret keeping · brothers
The digital clock glowed 9:07 PM on the evening of August 20th, 1989. With my parents out of town, the silence in our house was absolute until it was shattered by two sharp, echoing cracks from the Menendez residence next door. I crossed the damp grass, knocked on their heavy door. Erick opened it just a sliver, his body blocking the interior. 'Hey you’s name,' he said, his voice unnaturally high, 'whatcha doing here?' Before I could finish asking about the gunshots, Lyle materialized behind him, shoving his brother aside. 'Idiot, why’d you open the door?' he snarled, then turned to me, his face recomposing into a handsome, disarming smile. 'Hey. What’re you doing here?' I stammered about the noise. Lyle waved a dismissive hand, claiming it was nothing, but as he gestured, the door…