Chapter 17

If memory serves Halloween hardly ever goes right for my family. I was at the school in charge of the punch bowl. The music was loud and a sea of costumes danced on the gym floor.

"You should have brought the kids Harmione!" Mrs. Watson exclaimed. "They would have loved this."

"I'm sure they would...but for the past six years I've brought them here...they really wanted to go trick-or-treating this year."

"Hey I understand that...my oldest is taking my youngest around town right now...you leave them with Charlie?"

"No, Char's out of town. He won't be back until Sunday."

"Aww...that's a shame...well hey I have to get back to pumpkin corner we're gonna judge pumpkin pies here in a little bit, if you need me just yell."

"I will."

I smiled. I knew my babies were out having tons of fun with Justice. That was until my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey sis..."

"Hey Justice, how's the trick-or-treating going? You and the kids having a lot of fun? I can't thank you enough for...what?"

"Yeah...we're fine, but it was just a freak accident."

"I see...you still got the key to my house?"

"Yeah."

"Okay...take the kids home...I'll meet you there in 10 minutes."

There had been a terrible accident involving a hay ride that ended up killing our dear Patrick. I knew Jesse must have been so upset. I rushed home immediately. When I got there both of my parent's cars were there, as well as Justice's truck. I pulled in the driveway behind it. Inside Justice was sitting on the couch with the kids. Juju ran up to me barking.

"Juju, it's me! Down boy down!"

"Mommy!" Anna screamed.

"Anna, your chin! Let me see that!"

The girls met me half way. They crowded around me. I held Anna's head and looked at her chin wound. Mira's elbow looked about the same.

"Oh my God! Bryan!" Where's Bryan?"

"In his room..." Justice replied softly.

"Harmione...listen what happened tonight was an accident." My mother began.

"An accident?! What were they doing on a hay ride Justice Kirby Tennyson!" I yelled.

"Harmione, it wasn't Justice's fault...besides the driver of the ride said that the actor missed their cue...it was a mistake." Dad intervened.

"Daddy...mistake or not...Justice you were responsible for taking them out for candy and bringing them home! That's it! That was the deal! They got hurt on that ride and what's even worse they had to watch Patrick die, thanks to you!"

"I didn't mean for all this to happen Harmione!" He stood and towered over me. "It just did...okay?!"

"I...I still think you owe me an apology Justice."

"Alright I'm sorry I took the kids out there, I'm sorry we got on that dumb hay ride and I'm sorry I got the kids hurt and Patrick killed. It's all my fault!"

"Justice..."

Mom rubbed his arm.

"Why don't you go outside...take a breath for a minute...your father and I will talk to Harmione and take care of the kids."

"I can't go outside...Jesse's out there."

"All the more reason to go, son." Dad told him. As soon as he left I sighed to myself. As if I was holding my own breath.

"Harmione...Justice has punished himself enough..."

"Enough?! Daddy...Patrick is dead! Look at Anna's chin!"

"Sweetheart...we know you're upset but...Bryan saw this in a vision before it happened...he...he hasn't said a word to anyone since he got back home. I looked toward the hall into the kids room. My hair swished with my head turn. I then turned back to Dad.

"And Jesse?"

"He's been silent too..."

"I...I'll check on Bryan." I uttered.

I went out back onto the patio as my parents suggested. Jesse was sitting in a patio chair. I pulled up another one beside him.

"Jess..."

He glanced me.

"Are you okay?"

"I...I don't know Justice I..."

He reached into his pocket. He took out Patrick's class ring.

"He gave this to me...he told me to keep it until after graduation...when he could get a job and get an engagement ring... I... Justice!"

He dropped the ring and covered his face sobbing into it. I quickly ceased the ring from the ground and wrapped him in a hug.

"I...I'm not gonna go on living without him Justice! I can't do it!"

"Jesse..."

"I can't do it Justice I can't do it!"

A few days later we had Patrick's funeral. His parents were suing the Haunted Hollows attraction owner, the actor, the driver of the hay ride, and the city of Bellwood itself for the death of their son. At the funeral they had fixed up Patrick in a suit and tie. By looking at him you never would have known he had once been impaled or the fact he was deceased. He looked just as he did the moments before we saw him on that hay ride.

"Patrick was a fine young man...he was trustworthy...honest...He believed in a kind of love people don't believe in anymore. By honoring and respecting his mother and his father." The preacher began. We heard Patrick's mother cry loudly. She tried to hide her face under a tissue.

"Patrick's life was cut short...a mere young man of 18. He had plans for college. Plans for a family. A future." The pastor contiued.

Jesse fisted his hand. I reached for it and held his hand.

"But it does us no good to all who knew Patrick well...to dwell and be run down in his loss...no Patrick would want each and everyone of us to be thankful for our health...live our life to the very fullest and strive where he could not... I take this moment now to allow a small prayer of silence in his memory. "

The room was anything but silent. Tears filled the hall. The organ began to play and we were all lead one by one to see Patrick. One last time. His mother broke down and had to be escorted out she couldn't take it. When it got to my family, my concern grew for Jesse. As we got to the coffin Jesse had Patrick's school ring in his hand. He began to cry softly.

"I...I can't keep this anymore Patrick...I...I want you to have it back." He whispered.

I sighed and held him from behind.

"Come on Jess...let's go."

Abruptly Jesse stopped and fell to his knees by the coffin. Everyone gasped. Mom ran over to us. She and Dad were in the back of the line as they were in the pew behind us. Jesse just sobbed hysterically. Patrick may have died, but his death was going to kill my brother.

"Jesse...sweetheart...let's go baby." Mom nudged him.

"No!"

"Jesse..."

Dad came over to us then, he and I tried to pry Jesse away.

"I want to go with him!"

Dad and I pulled Jesse outside into the parking lot.

"Let go of me! Let go!"

"Jesse stop it!" Our Dad yelled.

"I want to go with him! Patrick!"

"Justice, I'm getting your mom, hold your brother."

"Okay."

I adjusted my grip on Jesse and just pulled him into a hug.

"Let me go!"

"Ssh...all quiet now bro...just be quiet..."

"Justice! Let me be with him!"

He grabbed my dress shirt tightly and it began to wrinkle.

"Pat!" My brother's voice squeaked.

His tears turned to anger.

"Get off me!"

He pushed me as our family ran out to greet us.

"Why is it always me?!"

"It's not always you Jess..." I tried to explain. "Harmione had her share of problems...and Mom and our great Uncle Hex."

"But they've never lost anything! Look at me!"

He sniffled and pulled his tie. He then unbuttoned his dress shirt revealing the scars underneath.

"I've lost my blood! For a time I lost my brother! I've even lost myself!"

"Jesse take it easy..." Dad replied.

"Easy?! I've lost the only man I've ever loved...he was gonna propose to me... And you're right we've all been through something. We'll always go through something! Dad you preach about being normal, but this is not normal!"

"Jesse..." Harmione uttered. She started to touch his shoulder.

"No don't touch me! After everything we've been through you people couldn't possibly be numb to all of it and think this counts as normal! This is not normal Dad!"

"Son...listen..."

"No! I'm done listening! I forgave Justice for all he did to me and Harmione for lying to me and Mom for erasing my memories...but I only did it to feel normal and move on...but I can't move on when I'm constantly being smacked around like this, when did it get this way and how can I fix it!"

"Jesse!" I shouted.

I...I can't handle this...I can't do this anymore... I...I have to do something!"

This was a side to Jesse none of us had ever seen. He was normally so reserved. It was then he took out a pistol from his pocket. We all gasped.

"I was gonna do this later, but anytime is as good as any."

"Jesse no!" Mom cried out. "

"Jesse...stop this isn't you." I told him. He pointed the gun at me.

"And you...you said you'd always be there for me...you said you'd do whatever you could to protect me and make me happy...why did we have to go on that ride?! Why'd you have to stop me from saving Patrick...why did you allow this to happen to me!"

He pulled his shirt back. The long scar on his stomach was there.

"Jesse..."

Out of nowhere he shot me in the shoulder. I heard everyone else scream.

"I...I have to be with Patrick!"

I watched as Jesse put the gun to his head. Bryan screamed.

"No Uncle Jesse! I'm sorry! You're scaring me stop!"

"Get used to it kid...if you live in this family...this is all you're gonna get...You'll be alone! No one is ever gonna be there for you!"

"Uncle Jesse no!"

As my Uncle Jesse pulled the trigger blood clouded my vision. There was a blinding flash and it was night time. I was with Justice, Jesse, my sisters and to my surprise Tabby and Patrick. I looked down to see my zombie costume. I had tears in my eyes. They were laughing and talking. I reached behind me and felt hay. I gasped.

"We have to get off..." I mumbled.

"You say something Bry?" My uncle Jesse asked.

"We have to get...off! Let me off! Get off!" I sobbed. I kicked and screamed on the cart. I threw such a fit the driver of the hay ride made us get off. He then retired the horse for the night.

"Great! Now what do we do for fun?" Patrick asked.

"Take it easy Pat...Bry's really freaked out." Jesse told him.

"Yeah...sorry little guy."

"It's getting late...why don't I take the kids home." Justice replied. "Take you home Tab?"

"Sure." She blushed.

"Okay, I'll be home later Jus." Jesse shouted.

"Okay!"

I ran away from my sisters, Justice and Tabby. Patrick and Jesse were holding hands walking toward the maze.

"Uncle Jesse! Uncle Jesse!"

He got on his knees. I hugged him tightly.

"What is it Bry, what's wrong?"

"I love you please don't forget."

"I know you do...I love you too."

"Yeah little guy..."

Patrick got on his knees near us.

"Jess and I hope to adopt one just like you...or several."

Jesse looked at him.

"Seriously?"

"Well yeah...if you really wanted too...and hey that way if any one of us dies of old age or disease or something; that we'll have a few kids to keep us company."

Jesse smiled and blushed.

"Uncle Jesse?"

"Yeah?"

"Even if something does happen to Patrick...and you don't have kids...I'll still be there for you."

"Where's that coming from? Of course you will...I know my family well Bry...you'll all be there for me...I'll find comfort in that...but if something happens to me you got to promise to be there for Patrick too."

"I promise."

Jesse smiled and hugged me. Patrick then hugged me.

"Better catch up with your Uncle Justice and the others." Patrick exclaimed.

They got to their feet. I started to run off, but turned slightly. They didn't notice me watching.

"You want to marry me and have kids too, Pat?"

"There is no one else around here I'd rather do that with Jess."

Patrick took Jesse's face in his hands. Jesse had to tip toe as Patrick was slightly taller. They kissed in front of the haunted maze. I smiled and left knowing things were gonna be alright now. My visions always felt real, but I think I was finally getting the hang of them.