Winter 1991

When Audrey answered the knock coming from the front door of her apartment, she instantly sighed when she saw her mother Silvia standing there, bundled up in her fur coat, the mink collar tuned upward as she stood there holding a large Horne Department store bag, as well as her designer purse. Rolling her eyes, Audrey went to close the door on her. It seemed as if all they were doing was arguing, and it had been months since she had actually talked to either of her parents. Her mother meanwhile had continued showing up to the apartment Audrey was currently renting in town, hounding her to forget all these nonsense and to come move in with her and Johnny. The divorce between her and her father had been final, and she knew World War Three was currently happening between the two of them. Audrey meanwhile couldn't care less. She had taken her savings, got this small apartment, and was planning on returning to school after the baby was born. She had been carefully looking up which steps to take next. She figured night school would be the best option, then maybe she would continue with her interest in business. She swore she would have nothing to do with her father's hotel, but that didn't mean she had to turn her back on the fact that she had a good head for running something. Unlike her father, whatever she panned on doing would be honest, and earned completely by herself. Her father had kept trying to contact her, but after he sold Ghostwood, as well as the whole mess with the Haywards, she was finished wasting her time. She didn't care about all the drama, money, or secrets. No, when she tried standing by her father it had gotten her hurt, almost killed in fact. This was her chance to finally break free and make something of her own. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but from the moment she learned she was pregnant, she knew her main reason in surviving that terrible explosion was to give birth to this baby, and be everything to it. Her mother had begged her to abort it, claiming that she shouldn't throw her life away just because of one mistake.

Since Audrey had moved on, her mother had tried the whole giving it up for abortion after she saw that her daughter was refusing to listen to her about ending the pregnancy. She kept telling her that being a mother at this age could be a burden, that she would only later grow to regret this child as it weighed her down. Hearing her, Audrey knew exactly what her mother meant. Johnny and her had been her burden. The result of a loveless marriage. Refusing to hear another word, Audrey told her if she continued on like this she didn't want to see her again. She hadn't spoken to her father in months, and honestly at this point she truly didn't care if she did the same with her. Since then her mother kept trying to make attempts in talking to her, showing up to the apartment, only to end up starting an argument with her and being forced to leave within the first ten minutes.

"What mother?"

Audrey snapped. She was just a week away from her due date, and she hated to admit it, but she was getting scared. She had kept mostly to herself over the last few months. Isolating herself, and mostly just staying in her apartment, venturing down to the market once a week, or going to her appointments. So far the baby was developing nicely, and the doctor claimed her injuries from recovering from the explosion wouldn't have any affect on him. She had been reading up as many books as she could, renting them from the library, and wanted to be fully prepared as the days counted down. She had gotten a nice wicker bassinet which now laid in her bedroom. She had gotten as many things as she could, keeping to her modest budget since she knew it would be awhile before she could either start taking classes, or get a part-time job to support the two of them. She knew child care would be pricy, and she would die before going to either of her parents for a hand out. No, she would just simply have to stick to her budget. Instead she had gotten as many things as she could at the local GoodWill, hating that less than a year ago she would have turned her nose up to even walking past such a store. No, the old spoiled Audrey Horne was long gone now. She was going to be a mother, and had to start using her brain. She had made her tiny apartment cozy, and awaited the birth of her child, looking forward finally meeting her son.

She had decided she would give birth at the local hospital, and had set up a whole plan. She was watching her body closely, but felt that at any second she might burst. Her stomach stuck out largely like a big beach ball from her tiny frame. The weight of the baby made her waddle, and get tired whenever she walked too far. In fact, the kind middle aged Italian couple who lived below her had helped her carry up her bags from the market the last couple of weeks since the stairs got harder and harder to climb the further she went along. The last few nights her back had been aching, and she spent most of her time resting her sore feet up on her tiny little sofa, rubbing her swollen stomach, and feeling the tiny little kicks from within from her baby. She had been softly singing to him before she heard the knock on the door. Silvia pushed her way past, and looked around, scanning the small room and little kitchen area. As always Silvia didn't have to say a word before showing her distaste. Turning, she set the bag down on the coffee table.

"Marge is watching Johnny so I decided to swing by and check on you. Dr. Weaver said you're six days away from your due date?"

Audrey put her hands on her hips feeling frustrated.

"Not that it's any of your business...but yeah it's coming up. What are you doing talking to my doctor?"

"Oh please, I ran into her at the country club when I was having lunch with the girls. I really think you outta stay with me at least until you give birth. You don't want your water to break and something to happen. I'll have the guest room all made up."

"Thanks, but no thanks mother."

"Audrey. I don't understand why your being so stubborn. I'm trying to help. You don't know how hard this is going to be. You're going to be exhausted. I can help!"

"You mean Marge, or whatever other help you'll hire. Just like what you did with Johnny and me. Sorry mom but I don't need any help."

"That's what you think, but wait until you're on zero sleep, breast feeding, and completely alone as the baby is screaming it's head off. You're going to need money and better yet help. Let me please."

"You've done enough thank you...but I'm fine."

Silvia sighed shaking her head.

"I know you heard about John getting married. If you just let your father contact him, he could take some responsibility."

"I told you, the baby isn't John's."

"You two seemed awfully close before your accident. I don't see what the big secret is."

"Mother just leave me be. I'm tired."

Silvia stared at her before looking down at her stomach.

"Something happened...didn't it?"

Audrey stared at her.

"What?"

Silvia suddenly got a strange look across her face. She stared at Audrey's stomach as if it was a ticking time bomb.

"That agent Cooper...did...he do something? I know you two were close, and he left town quickly after what happened. I know you're father was suspicious about him. Are you hiding something?"

Audrey stared, having absolutely no idea how she knew. Instead she just stared, unable to speak. The two stared at each other before suddenly Audrey motioned to the bag frustrated as well as embarrassed.

"What the Hell is that?!"

Silvia continued staring at her daughter for a moment longer before breaking out of her gaze and looking over at the bag. Turning, she seemed to have broken out of whatever spell she was under for those few seconds and reached down into the bag, lifting up several pieces of blue clothing.

"I know you told me to stop buying stuff but I just couldn't resist."

Audrey rolled her eyes.

"Mother..."

"You won't let me buy him a crib or anything he'll need. He at least deserves nice new clean clothes."

"I have clothes and I told you to stop. Besides you didn't even want me to keep him. Why are you suddenly all interested?"

Silvia sighed putting the clothing back before turning towards her.

"Because, after everything that's happened with your father, I respect the fact you're not forgiving him. This isn't anything personal. It has nothing to do with me. I just...really respect you holding your ground. I just wish so badly you would let me help. If you're set on having this baby, you need to know you'll need help."

Audrey glared at her mother before Silvia smiled and motioned to her stomach.

"I just want...to make up for all our lost time. I want to help Audrey and I wish you would let me. Come on, I don't even know what you're planning on naming him."

"Richard."

Audrey said softly.

Silvia's eyes opened as she smiled and took a step forward.

"What?!"

"Richard." Audrey snapped annoyed. Instantly Silvia's face lit up.

"Oh that's wonderful darling!"

Audrey went to open her mouth when suddenly a horrible cramp raced through her. Freezing, she snapped her eyes shut as her hand went up to her stomach. The pain felt like a knife twisting deep inside of her before being violently yanked out. Audrey froze in pain, before lightly crying out.

"Argh!"

Instantly Silvia held her hand out to her, trying to steady her daughter's body.

"What is it honey?"

That's when a strange sensation overcame her as Audrey felt water gush from between her two legs. Stopping, she stared down before seeing a small puddle forming from beneath her on the hardwood floor. Staring, she blinked feeling the crotch of her slacks now damp.

"What is that?!"

She asked with an edge to her voice. Instantly her mother squeezed her arm.

"It's okay honey, your water just broke...let me phone the hospital."

As if she was floating, Audrey allowed herself to carefully be sat down on her sofa by her mother before she turned and hurried into her tiny kitchen area to use the phone. Audrey sat there, taking deep breaths as again pain started to overcome her. Looking up, her blue eyes frantic, she closed them tuning out the sounds of her mother from across the way. Searching like a madwoman's he tried so hard to conjure up the image of Cooper. Instead, all she found was darkness.

October 2014

"This it?"

Richard asked as he stood next to his father. The only light came from the truck below, the headlights cutting through the darkness as crickets chipped faintly in the darkness. Richard stared at the large boulder, feeling a terrible fluttering deep in his chest and stomach. He hadn't felt this sensation in years. In fact, the last time he even remotely felt it was when he lost Linda. Now it felt as if something had awakened inside of him. Something that wasn't natural. Cooper stared ahead, his eyes dark and empty. This was the man who had raped and gotten his mother pregnant. He didn't look very much like the photo his mother had kept. But nevertheless, he knew this was him. Standing there, too scared to do anything, he simply stared forward with him.

"I bet it's right up there on that rock."

Cooper turned and handed Richard a small device that looked like a flip phone.

"I'm twenty-five years your senior. Take this and get on up there. It will beep when your close and make a continuous tone when you're on it. Let me know what you find."

A tiny voice screamed at Richard to just go, to run. Instead almost in a trace he took the device and stared forward before his feet began to move, slowly walking up the steep incline of the field towards the boulder. His thoughts drifted back to the ride in the truck. It only lasted a brief period of time, but he had learned that the man who had sent him up here was in fact his father.

Agent Cooper. He had raped his mother, and was confirming he had been Linda's father as well. This was the man who had caused his mother to lose her mind. The man who started all this misery, and was responsible for this starting. He remembered all those years of wondering, seeing that photograph, and looking at the hopeless lost look in his mother's eyes whenever she looked at it. Now any plans he had made on getting revenge vanished the second he was beaten down to the ground. He couldn't believe he was walking up there. Following orders like a good little boy. No, that wasn't Richard Horne. He was the bastard child of crazy Audrey Horne. The boy without a father. The disappointment. The spoiled brat, the crazy kid. The one who let Linda die, the one who's mother took off without so much as a word. The evil lurking problem that never went away. Yet somehow here he was, slowly climbing onto the rock, listening to the faint beeping of the device, and wondering if this man was actually felling the truth. What if he really could make it possible for him to see Linda again? He didn't believe in anything, and knew it was most likely horseshit, but still, if there was even the slightest possible chance he was going to take it.

Maybe that would finally out a stop to this horrible dark abyss he was slipping into. In the last four days, it seemed as if he had dropped off to the point of no return. He slowly walked, boots going over the rough surface of the rock. The beeping got louder, and louder, and finally...it turned into a steady hum. Richard stared down at the device as the humming became steady and louder in his hand.

Shouting, he called out...

"I'M THERE!"

Before... Linda's sparking golden shoes still stayed on her feet as her two widely spread legs hung lifelessly on each side of Richard as he bucked his hips downward, his bare ass pumping into a steady rhythm into her. The two were having sex, both crammed into the backseat of his junker of a car. Richard had talked Linda into doing a few lines with him, even though she usually never used drugs besides a few puffs of pot. Once they were nice and stoned, the two decided to celebrate this chilly Thanksgiving morning by parking up near the woods, hidden away just a few mere miles away from Owl Caves, as they passed back and forth cans of a cheap beer Richard had picked up the night before in a 30-rack that he was keeping in his trunk. Richard knew he wasn't welcomed at his grandmother's after the last argument they had earlier this summer when he got arrested yet again. His grandfather had invited him to the morning breakfast that was being held in the Timber Room at the hotel. He knew his grandfather was putting on a whole spread for some guests of his who were old clients. The holiday would usually end with everyone celebrating in the lobby drinking whiskey and smoking cigars. Richard knew he wouldn't be caught dead hanging with a bunch of rich snobs, so he opted to do what he originally intended to do. Spend it with his Linda. When they first started "dating" she had desperately tried to get him to celebrate with her family, which really was just her Aunt Norma, and her friends which were at waitress Shelly that had been married to Deputy Briggs, her daughter Becky who was a good friend of hers, and other people who really didn't have anywhere to go. Norma kept the restaurant open on these holidays for strays to come in for a nice hot mean and company.

The place was never really crowded, but Richard didn't really like them despite how much Linda tried to get him to come along. He knew her aunt had never liked him, and glared at him from afar with untrusting eyes. He always saw Norma as a roadblock between the two of them, and had been constantly trying to talk Linda into moving out and going with him. That way, she would be all his. Today Linda had helped her aunt deliver some meals for the elderly as well as bake some pies, before telling her she might swing by later, but wanted to spend the day with Richard. He knew she was keeping something from him, most likely her aunt's end who disapproved. Still, he didn't care. He had Linda all to himself. They had celebrated holidays together before, and this one was extra special since she had just come back from her trip, and he finally realized how missed her so much it couldn't stand it. He planned this Christmas to propose, and finally make sure the only person he could truly stand in this world would be all his. Both had driven up here just an hour or so ago, leaving the heat going as they crawled into the backseat for some serious heavy petting.

Richard's hand snaked up her blouse, cupping her breast and roughly mashing it as his fingers went over her nipples and squeezed the soft flesh. He felt his erection pulling, and kept devouring her mouth with his. He lightly nipped at her lips, moaning, as her own hands went down to the crotch of his black jeans and franticly rubbed him in ways that drove him crazy. Sucking on her neck, down to the collarbone, he reached forward grabbing the little baggy and convinced her that it would just be a little bit to keep them nice and warm. He believed nothing honestly was better than screwing on coke. Carefully sprinkling it on the back of his hand, he held it up to her nose and instructed her on how to snort it, even though she had done blow once or twice a few years back with him. The two nice and buzzed shared a few beers before undressing from the waist down. Now for the last half an hour, Richard found himself unable to climax as he roughly thrusted down into his girlfriend. His hands were up her shirt, having pulled down the cups of her bra. His jeans and boxer briefs were down around his ankles, as he crammed half kneeling down into her. There was silence besides the steady creak as he found a rhythm as looked down at her. When they had just started he had gone down on her making her squirm and cry out, absolutely loving the control and power he felt whenever he made her come.

Breathing heavy, fogging up all the windows, he pressed his forehead against the side of her face as she stared out into space, stoned as his penis drew in and out of her at a frantic rhythm. His floppy hair hung down, as he stared down, loving how stoned she was, and feeling a faint tingling meaning he was finally getting close. Pressing himself down against her, listening to the wet slapping sound, and creaking, he gasped loudly, grabbing into her hand and squeezing before he pumped down once, twice, and finally cried out as he climaxed. Feeling himself empty inside of her, he felt his vision blur for a second, before he completely collapsed on top of her, panting. Within seconds, he felt the hot warmth of himself drip down beside them. Laying there he took a second, before laughing faintly against her cheek. Kissing her, he lifted his head feeling absolutely drained. Turning, Linda stared up at him, dazed, and still floating in the warmth of the high they were currently feeling. Giving him a lazy smile, she reached up, gently sweeping the backs of her fingers against the side of his cheek. The two gazed down at each other with so much love it honestly seemed dangerous. Staring down, Richard laughed gently before seeing a strange glimmer in her eyes that was neither from the blow, or the sex. It was a sad flicker that Richard had only honestly seen in his girlfriend's eyes once or twice, mostly whenever she spoke about her mother. Today he stared down, and cocked his head to the side.

"Hey, where did you go?"

Linda smiled staring up.

"That's my line."

Richard leaned down, covering her mouth with his, before laying down against her, still inside of her. Listening to her breathing, he wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his face against her. Less than a half an hour later, both climbed out of the car. Richard pulled his jeans up and peed by a tree, while Linda squatted behind a bush. Once they were finished, they smoothed out their clothes before Richard fished out an extra hoodie out of his trunk and handed it to Linda. Together, both climbed up on the hood, laying side by side looking out at the breathtaking view of the rivers below. The sun shinned down on them before Richard kissed her shoulder.

"Want me to drop you off at the restaurant?"

Linda smiled, leaning her head against his.

"Naw, I'm good. I'm happy right here."

Smiling, Richard wrapped his arms tightly around her, staring out. He knew if she ever tried to leave him again he would lose it. At this exact moment, this was the happiest he had been in years. Sitting there, with the love of his life, he had absolutely no idea that Linda had less than a month to live.

October 2014 Charlotte woke from her haze half dressed behind the roadhouse. She was bleeding badly between the legs, and felt sore all over. She came around just in time to see several men laughing and passing beers back and forth. She could still hear music faintly from inside. Lifting her head, she wiped the back of her mouth as little flashes came back to her. She remembered that guy from the bar on top of her, laughing. She saw different men, bikers, all older and horrible looking taking turns with her. She remembered how humiliating it was. Feeling awful, she shook all over wanting so badly to go back inside and see if her friends were there. She needed the police. Stumbling, she felt her keys in her pocket and braced herself against cars before finding hers. The doors were unlocked, and she fell into her seat, nearly passing out. Her vision blurring, she started the engine, before backing out, praying she could find the police station.

Her phone was laying on the passenger seat of her car, but she was in too much shock to even think of that. Taking the back road, she started to speed up before her entire face crumpled. She couldn't quite remember what happened, only tiny flashes of all those men. Sobbing, she tried to speed up when suddenly her vision blurred again and she felt the car starting to skid. In seconds she lost control, as the car went speeding eighty miles per hour right into a tree. Charlotte was dead on impact. The following morning, everyone would say she had been drinking and must have lost control. All of her fiends felt terrible, and mentioned a guy harassing her, but none of them had a name to go with him. Charlotte's car burned up pretty bad, and it was simply dismissed as an accident. For Richard Horne, he saw it as a lucky break, nothing more...nothing less. He was currently crashing at a small bungalow that belonged to his grandfather right off the lake. The same bungalow he had plans of moving into with Linda before the accident. Laying in bed, nursing a pretty awful drunk, he laid shirtless in the darkness of the small bedroom. Clad only in his jeans, he laid there with his arm draped over his eyes. Usually he had to get pretty wasted to even get a few hours of sleep now.

Laying there, he faintly could hear the wind outside. Chad had called earlier talking about the car wreck. Tossing his phone down, he stumbled into bed after polishing off a bottle of whiskey. Tomorrow he was meeting with a new connection from town. Laying there, he closed his eyes thinking of Linda...and of the baby. He just couldn't understand why any of this had happened. It was going on nearly two years now...and somehow it still hadn't gotten any better.

Closing his eyes, he turned over as a single tear rolled down his cheek. Sniffling, he never felt so alone before in his entire life.