Coming clean

Archer remained silent for a few seconds, weighing the pros and cons of revealing the truth to Logan. He was cornered. Even if he lied, the man wouldn't believe him. So, he had no choice but to come clean before him.

"You may want to sit down," he suggested, disliking the way the conversation would proceed. He didn't intend to disclose the truth this way, not to Logan, at least. The man truly considered the host his friend. 

Even though it had been only a day, Archer had seen the man's concern and friendship. For a moment, he was even jealous of the host for having such a wonderful friend.

Once again, he remembered his dream and Archer clenched his fists, his eyes emitting fire in hatred.

Logan was startled to see the rage and resentment in the man's eyes. He wasn't Archie. He was certain now. Yet, he couldn't stop himself from fearing him for a moment, even though he was angry at him. 

"Are you alright?" The question left his mouth before he could stop himself. He bit his tongue when he realized what he had done.

Archer sighed heavily and shook his head as he ran a hand through his hair. Smiling in melancholy, he hid his fury and walked towards the terrace wall behind him. Leaning against it, he gave Logan a cryptic look.

"I'm not Archer Reid. I am not Archie." Although the weight in his heart reduced, Archer still felt depressed, especially for Logan, who didn't deserve to know the truth this way.

"Who are you?" Logan suppressed his anger and asked him again. Yet, his tone didn't hide his frustration and worry.

"I am Archer Brooks."

"Arch...Archer Broo..Broo...Brooks?" Logan's breath was stuck in his chest and it took him some time to stutter, too dumbfounded to speak coherently.

"Yes. I am Archer Brooks," Archer agreed and lowered his eyes.

"How did you...How..." Logan couldn't make out how Archer Brooks ended up as Archer Reid. The man before him was Archer Reid. He had Archie's face. How did he end up becoming Archer Brooks?

"I have no idea as well. Would you believe me if I told you I am equally baffled as you?" 

Logan shook his head. He didn't dare believe the man before. Heck, he didn't believe himself at that moment. Everything felt like a dream to him. So surreal and impossible.

"Please tell me everything from the beginning. Do not omit anything," Logan warned him low-key, and Archer nodded.

"As I said, I am Archer Brooks. I was supposed to receive the Best Actor of the Decade. But the night before the award ceremony, I was murdered at my house." 

To Archer, it was cathartic to even recall the dreadful incident. Every time he remembered it, he felt suffocated as if he was reliving that night all over again.

"Once I gained consciousness, I was in Archer Reid's body." Archer shrugged to indicate his helplessness.

"Did you say you were murdered?" To say Logan was shocked was an understatement. He was mortified and his face lost all its color instantly.

"Yes. I was. I was asleep when fumes erupted in the room. Someone had placed burning charcoal briquettes in the room," Archer revealed, hiding his pain behind his sad smile. "I couldn't escape. The room door was jammed and when I tried to open the windows, I was electrocuted."

"Oh my God!" Logan felt his blood run cold and his body froze in horror. He didn't want to believe the man. He didn't. Yet, his words sent a chill down his spine.

"I thought I would be dead for sure. But here I am as Archer Reid."

"Wait a minute." Logan stopped him, his eyes rounding instantly and Archer had an inkling as to what would be transpiring next.

"What happened to Archie?"

Archer remained silent, not knowing how to tell him the truth. He just shook his head and lowered his head, a droplet of tear rolling down his right cheek.

"Archie..." Logan's world spun and he dropped to his knees immediately. 

"Logan!" Archer rushed to him and squatted beside him. "I am sorry." That was the only thing he could say.

"Archie," Logan shouted with so much anguish and loss that Archer's eyes turned red. He had to look up to keep himself from breaking down completely.

"When did this... this happen?" Logan choked on his tears and raised his head to look at the man who had become Archer Reid.

"The day the safety wire broke and Archer lost his consciousness," Archer answered honestly and Logan lost all his strength. He sat back blankly.

Instantly, the incidents from the day started to roll in his mind and he remembered how Archie wasn't himself once he had gained consciousness. The man who had never been interested in Archer Brooks was oddly interested in him that day. Since then, he had kept a close tab on the news, following his case seriously.

The scene changed and he recalled when his 'friend' had lost his cool at the dining table. He had shouted adamantly that Archer Brooks wasn't in any debt. How did Archie know it if he wasn't Archer Brooks?

Logan had no choice but to believe him now. Archie was gone. Archer Brooks' soul had taken over his body. It wasn't a ploy.

"I am sorry, Logan. I am so sorry." Archer kept apologizing, not knowing what else to say.

Logan felt terrible for him. He had lost his friend, it was true. But the man before him hadn't had it good either. He had lost everything, including his life. How could he not feel bad for him?

"What do you intend to do now?" Logan calmed himself down, suppressing his sorrows for the time being. Otherwise, he'd crumble completely.

"Are you alright?" Archer didn't reply and instead looked at him in concern.

Logan shook his head and smiled in sorrow. "Archie was my first friend in the city. We started our journey together three years ago before Monica joined us a year later. How can I be alright?"

"I understand. I am so sorry."

"What do you intend to do now?" Logan brushed off his pain and looked at him curiously.

"I am going to find the murderer first." Archer's hatred returned and he glared hard into space. "And then, I am going to reclaim all that I lost, including the Best of the Decade award."

Though sad, Logan felt admiration bubbling in him and he stared at the man in respect. There was a strange kind of confidence in him that he had never seen in his friend or even himself. 

Narrowing his eyes for a moment, he made a decision. "I will help you."

"What?" Archer couldn't comprehend what Logan was saying and looked at him in confusion.

"I will help you achieve your goals. Take it as me helping my friend to rest in peace."