-12-
FACING OLD GHOSTS
Tommy had to resist the urge to slam the accelerator to the floor, as they pursued the other van. Easy, big boy, he cautioned himself. Don't get crazy. But how could he not? Things just kept going from bad to worse, and he wasn't sure how much more his sanity could take.
His mind continued to creep back to the previous five minutes, when Kara had managed to rouse Stephen during the pursuit of the other van. Stephen had awaken, wide-eyed, and dropped the latest bomb of the day, bringing to light, their greatest fear. The cult had Danny. Stephen was, frantic, and began to plead to go back to save him. His mother wasn't far behind in that regard.
"Jesus, Tommy! TURN AROUND! We've got to go back! We can't leave him! Did you hear me? I said turn THE FUCK AROUND!!!!"
"WE CAN'T!!" Tommy screamed back at her, unusually cross. "Look at me Kara! I'm a fucking mess! And even if I was a hundred percent, they're on to us! Going back without him would be SUICIDE. He's the only one that can do it. Besides, he just saved Stephen, and we can't let them do to him whatever they have planned."
Kara's eyebrows furrowed angrily, and she was about to speak. She reconsidered for a moment, and closed her eyes in frustration. Tommy felt like a first-class shit. He hadn't wanted to sound like he was indifferent to Danny's safety, for in truth, he was worried sick. But there was nothing to do but keep moving on, and try to stop Laurie from killing Michael. After that they could figure out what to do. Yeah, whatever, he thought. This whole deal is madness, pure and simple.
"Maybe they'll just turn him over to the cops," Kara offered, in vain. Tommy flashed her a look, and thought to himself that things were just about as bad as they could get.
He would have to think again.
Suddenly, with a loud pop, the front tire of the van blew out, and Tommy found himself struggling to maintain control of the vehicle. It veered, and it took every bit of self- control left for Tommy to muster to keep them from rolling into the ditch.
"DAMN IT!" Tommy yelled in exasperation as he brought the van to a halt and briskly climbed out to ascertain the damage. He then looked ahead, and grimly watched the other van trail off. Suddenly, it made a right down Vermilyea Road, and, a glimmer of hope flashed before him.
Vermilyea Road. A dead end, and the only thing down that long stretch was the Tower Farm. He knew where they were heading.
"Kara, Stephen, come on, we've got to move."
"But Tommy, the van…"
"Leave it. I've got a feeling that we haven't got a minute to spare…"
Lee pulled the van into the driveway at the Tower Farm. Laurie got out and swung open the van's back doors, and the two strapped Michael to a dolly and wheeled him, still unconscious, inside. In the center of the main lobby was an industrial size meat grinder, with a makeshift platform and a hydraulic winch. They attached Michael's harness to the winch, and hoisted him up.
Lee walked over to the cupboard at the room's far end, and retrieved a bottle of scotch and two shot glasses. Chivas Regal: nothing but the finest scotch for such an important occasion. He poured the shots, and walked back over to Laurie. She smiled.
"We got him, Laurie," Brackett smiled back, as he handed the shot glass to Laurie.
"You're god-damn right we did," she laughed as she took the glass. They toasted, and dropped the shot.
Laurie closed her eyes and wiped her lip, as she took in the scotch's burning warmth. "And now for the main attraction!" She said, as she danced up the stairs to the platform, until she was practically eye level with Michael's limp carcass.
"It's your show kid," Lee chuckled as he scratched his pepper-grey head and pulled up a chair, using an old pail for a footrest. "And me without my popcorn," he laughed again, and poured himself another shot.
Laurie flicked the switch and roared the meat grinder to life. Its blades began to swirl rapidly, and they let out a piercing screech. "Rise and shine, sunshine."
Michael raised his head, as he awakened at the sound of the meat grinder's deafening throttle. He glanced down briefly at his feet, to see that they were mere inches away from being hacked to bits by its blades. He then looked up, and through the mask, met Laurie's gaze.
"My, oh, my, those blades look sharp, don't you think?" Laurie flashed Michael a malicious smirk. Why don't we see if appearances are deceiving?" She then reached down into a cooler on the platform and produced a large slab of beef, and tossed it into the grinder. Michael watched as the blades devoured it, and spat it out through a tube at the bottom, in little swirly streaks of mashed debris.
"Hmmmmm…I think that'll do the trick, don't you?" Laurie smiled again, and Brackett let out a gut- busting chuckle.
Michael was silent.
"Well, this is it. Any last words? Come on, Michael. Perhaps a last request? A pathetic plea for mercy? What do you say? But wait…I want to do this right. I want to see your face when the blades begin to chew up your feet." She then reached over and pulled off his mask, and let it drop into the grinder, which made quick and short work of it.
She then turned the grinder off, and faced Michael, only to be taken aback by his face. It was hideously burned, and his once blond hair dangled in dark knotted tufts around his forehead, giving him the passing resemblance of a corpse. But that wasn't what was bothering her…there was something more…his eyes. She saw something in them; something sad. An odd silence fell upon the room, and Laurie suddenly found herself uncomfortable under Michael's glance.
She shook the feeling away, and asserted her condescending, patronizing tone, with yet another taunt. "Well, how about it Michael? Do you have anything to say before you make the trip to hamburger-land? I assure you that the trip is going to be a painful one, but feel free to beg for mercy a little. It would really make my day." She laughed, and not expecting an answer, she motioned for the power switch.
She turned to face him one final time, when to her shock, he spoke.
"I'm guilty of everything you think I am," He said quietly, his haunting glance penetrating. "Nothing I say or do is going to change your mind of that."
Laurie lurched back, as if slapped, and suddenly, a pang of uncertainty flooded into her brain. Something was wrong; something didn't feel right, and for a moment she hesitated, and was unsure if she could actually pull the trigger. She glanced over to Brackett, who had an equally surprised and dumbfounded look on his face.
He's trying to trick you, her inner-voice asserted. You didn't expect him to respond, and that's why he did. He wants to throw you off by speaking to him so you'll identify with him as a person and not as the monster that he is, in order to make you feel guilty about killing another human being. The devil has many charms in his lies, Laurie, don't be taken by his.
"Go to hell," Laurie growled, her resolve reaffirmed, and she hit the power switch. The blades hissed into action, and Laurie began to drop the chain, when the grinder came to a screeching halt. The generator wound down, and the machine was suddenly quiet.
"What the fuck…" Laurie spouted with exasperation as he looked down the platform to see that a person had just pulled the meat grinder's plug. Immediately, upon the arrival of their unexpected guest both Laurie and Brackett pulled heat.
"Stay where you are," Laurie said coolly, as she walked down the stairs, her pistol drawn.
"Whoa – hold it, Laurie, it's me. Tommy. Tommy Doyle." Tommy made out with some desperation, as he held his free hand up in surrender.
"What? Tommy? Tommy Doyle? What the hell are you doing here?" Laurie gasped, trying to take it all in. "And what the hell happened to your face?"
"You know this kid, Laurie?" Brackett called across the room, his rifle still drawn.
"Back off Lee," Laurie waved him off. "I'll handle this." Brackett dropped his rifle, and resumed his seat in the chair. He poured another drink.
"Tommy, listen to me…I don't know how you found me, and I know this looks really bad, but it's Him, Tommy, it's him – the bogyman. We've finally got him, and we…."
"I know, Laurie," Tommy cut her off, in mid-speech. "But you can't do this. I know this is going to seem a little bit confusing and hard to take, but things aren't what they seem."
Laurie gave him a blank stare. Frustrated, Tommy pressed on.
"Look at me," he gestured to his injured face. Michael saved me from what did this, and we need his help to…"
"Bullshit."
"Laurie, wait, you need to…"
"Bullshit! Shut up Tommy, just shut up. I think whatever smashed your face must have jarred your brain. You're talking crazy, and I'm going to finish that prick off. Give me the plug."
"No."
Laurie paused for a minute, and sized Tommy up like a cat eyeing its prey. Then the look of menace was gone, and Laurie smiled at him warmly, and said, "Look Tommy, I've known you all your life. You're a good kid. I know you're a little confused right now, and you look like you could use some medical attention, but I'm only going to say it one more time…give me that damned plug. Then I'm going to stop asking nicely."
"Laurie, I can't. We need his help."
"Wrong answer." With lightning-fast speed, Laurie placed an arm-lock on Tommy and pulled the pressure tight. Tommy winced in pain; he was amazed at how strong she was. He wasn't sure if was largely due to his own weakened state, but in all his life he had never encountered a woman so strong. He guessed she was as strong as him, if not stronger. Still, he held a death grip on the plug and wouldn't let it go.
"You little shit!" she screamed, "Let it go, don't make me break your arm!"
Outside the main lobby, Kara heard Tommy cry out.
"Stephen, I want you to go into that room and lock the door until I come back for you. If anyone, and I mean anyone comes near it or the window, scream for us. I'll be back in a second."
"But Mom…"
"Just do it, okay? And hide under that bed while you're at it…"
With an eerie feeling of deja -vu, Kara left Stephen's side for the first time since his rescue, to once again run to Tommy's aid. When she swung the lobby door open, she saw that Laurie was on top of Tommy, with his arm bent back.
"Give it to me or I swear to GOD I'll break it off!"
Kara could see an older man chuckling on the other side of the room, while drinking whiskey, and she also took in Michael with the meat grinder. Her rage boiled.
"Take you hands off of him!" She screamed, calling herself to Laurie's attention.
Laurie looked up in surprise, and immediately recognized her. "Kara? You too? What the hell is going on here?"
"What's going on is that we're trying to save my son's life, and you're in the way."
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"My son. In danger. We need him to help." Kara pointed at Michael, while still engulfed in her rage, and before she even knew what she was saying, she said, " Some of us actually care about our children, Laurie."
"What?" Laurie's eyes narrowed to two dark slits as she took in Kara's words. "Just what in the hell do you mean by that?"
"Where the hell were you all these years when your daughter was being stalked by a maniac? You might as well have painted a 'kill me' sign on her head, the way you abandoned her to die."
Kara choked out the last word, and fell silent, unable to believe that she had just said what she did. A deafening silence filled the room, and Laurie dropped her eyes for a moment. She looked to Kara as if she were ready to cry, then Laurie's fist fired out and sent Kara sailing across the floor.
"You self-righteous bitch!" Laurie screamed, as she grit her teeth and attacked Kara in a mad frenzy. She began to slap Kara's face over and over. "How dare you! HOW FUCKING DARE YOU!!"
Tommy went to pull Laurie off, when he heard the loud click of a revolver's chamber cocking near his ear. He turned to look down the barrel of Brackett's gun.
"What's the rush, sport? Don't do anything stupid."
From above, Michael took in the situation with a bird's eye view. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He then began to flex his arms, pressing them against the tension of the chains. The chains began to dig into his skin, bruising it under their pressure. Trickles of sweat ran down his forehead, as he pressed his muscles to the limit. The chains tightened one last time and then broke with a loud snap, sending him plummeting into the grinder.
Everyone turned at the sound of the noise.
"Fuck," Laurie spouted and turned back to Tommy, more aggressive than ever. "Give me that fucking plug."
Lee, turning his attention away from the others, walked up the stairs to the mouth of the grinder. He peered slowly over the edge, and didn't see a thing. He leaned over a little further, when Michael sprang up from the darkness and closed his hand around his throat. Lee got off a shot, blowing a hole just below Michael's right shoulder, before Michael batted the gun away.
Down below, both Tommy and Kara were struggling with Laurie over the plug. Laurie had Tommy pinned, and was pressing her knee deeply into his back while trying to pry the plug from his hands. Kara lunged on Laurie's back and tried to pull her off. Her nails dug into Laurie's right cheek, and Laurie brought her elbow into Kara's stomach.
Michael, while still maintaining his hold on Brackett, used his other arm to lift himself out of the grinder and up onto the platform. Once up, he dropped Lee into the chair at the platform's corner, and bent down to look at him, face to face.
"Stay."
Lee Brackett's bladder let go to signify that he understood.
Michael then turned and proceeded lightly down the platform's stairs. Kara was bent over holding her stomach in pain from Laurie's blow, and Laurie was struggling relentlessly with Tommy over the plug, oblivious of Michael standing right behind her.
Michael reached out and grabbed Laurie tight by the shoulders, and ripped her away from Tommy. Laurie turned, and her eyes went wide with sudden shock when she realized that it was Michael that now held her. She began to thrash and swing madly in Michael's grip, to no avail.
Go ahead you son of a bitch! Go ahead and get it over with! She pounded and swung at his face, ferociously, while baring her teeth. Michael backed her against the wall, and held her tight. "Well what are you waiting for, cocksucker? Here I am. Go ahead and do it but don't expect me to scream and don't expect me to fear you. You've destroyed everything I ever had. Rot in hell." Laurie spat spitefully one last time into his face, then closed her eyes, and waited for the end.
Once she was still, Michael eased his grip, and backed away.
Breathing in hard pants, Laurie opened her eyes, confused and unsure. She gave Michael a puzzled look, and looked to the others then back to him. Her breathing grew heavier, and built to the point of anxiety.
Everyone in the room was silent, while they waited for the other shoe to drop. Laurie's face contorted in anguish, and she burst into tears.
"No!" She screamed and began to pound on Michael's chest once again. Michael made no effort to stop her, nor did he move away. "Don't you dare, you son of a bitch! Don't you dare take away my hate! It's all I have left!"
Laurie's pounding gradually slowed down, and she collapsed to her knees, sobbing in sorrow.
Tommy went to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Laurie, please. There's so much you don't know. Just hear us out."
"And what?" Lee said, finally screwing up the nerve to venture down from the platform. "We're supposed to forgive and forget? Just like that? I don't think so kid," Lee began to walk towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Kara called out.
"To the police."
"If you tell them about us, we'll tell them about you and what you tried to do," Tommy made out with a weak threat.
"Kid, I used to be a cop. I know half of those guys on the force, and trust me, when they find out who you've shacked up with, they'll probably offer to give me a hand. Stick around. I won't be long…and I'll be sure to bring some friends." Lee then turned to walk out of the room, and ran straight into Michael.
"Oh, great," Lee muttered, and scratched his head with a sigh. "Just bloody priceless."
"Lee, wait," Laurie spoke up. Her voice was grainy and worn, but surprisingly calm. "He had us dead to rights, Lee – both of us. And he didn't kill us. Something's up…maybe we should listen to what they've got to say."
Lee groaned, and flashed Michael a contemptuous glance. "Fine. It's not exactly like we have a choice anyway, now is it?"
Kara, went to the other room, and called for Stephen to open the door.
"Mom, is everything all right?"
"Yes, dear, everything's fine. Come with me. There's someone I want you to meet."
The two walked back into the lobby, and over to Laurie, who was still on her knees on the floor, with her head down. Tommy had fetched her a blanket, and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Laurie," Kara began.
Laurie looked up at the sound of her voice. She had gone very pale, and her eyes were blood-shot from crying. "Hmmmm?"
"I'd like you to meet Jamie's son, Stephen."
Laurie's jaw dropped, and suddenly, with a surge of energy, she stood upright. "Wh-what? You mean…oh my God!" She exclaimed and hugged the boy tight.
Stephen gave Tommy a weirded-out glance, and Tommy laughed. "Kiddo, I'd like you to meet your Grandma Laurie."
"Oh," Stephen said, surprisingly calm, in light of the present situation. "Hello," he said, and smiled at Laurie.
"Hi, yourself, Laurie smiled back, still crying, and hugged the boy again. This time the boy made a comedic choking face, and even Brackett couldn't resist a chuckle.
"I just can't believe it," Laurie said, as Stephen went back over to his mother. "I had no idea. Who's the father? Does he know about him? Have you contacted him?"
Tommy groaned, and put his hand to his head. It was going to be another long night.
FACING OLD GHOSTS
Tommy had to resist the urge to slam the accelerator to the floor, as they pursued the other van. Easy, big boy, he cautioned himself. Don't get crazy. But how could he not? Things just kept going from bad to worse, and he wasn't sure how much more his sanity could take.
His mind continued to creep back to the previous five minutes, when Kara had managed to rouse Stephen during the pursuit of the other van. Stephen had awaken, wide-eyed, and dropped the latest bomb of the day, bringing to light, their greatest fear. The cult had Danny. Stephen was, frantic, and began to plead to go back to save him. His mother wasn't far behind in that regard.
"Jesus, Tommy! TURN AROUND! We've got to go back! We can't leave him! Did you hear me? I said turn THE FUCK AROUND!!!!"
"WE CAN'T!!" Tommy screamed back at her, unusually cross. "Look at me Kara! I'm a fucking mess! And even if I was a hundred percent, they're on to us! Going back without him would be SUICIDE. He's the only one that can do it. Besides, he just saved Stephen, and we can't let them do to him whatever they have planned."
Kara's eyebrows furrowed angrily, and she was about to speak. She reconsidered for a moment, and closed her eyes in frustration. Tommy felt like a first-class shit. He hadn't wanted to sound like he was indifferent to Danny's safety, for in truth, he was worried sick. But there was nothing to do but keep moving on, and try to stop Laurie from killing Michael. After that they could figure out what to do. Yeah, whatever, he thought. This whole deal is madness, pure and simple.
"Maybe they'll just turn him over to the cops," Kara offered, in vain. Tommy flashed her a look, and thought to himself that things were just about as bad as they could get.
He would have to think again.
Suddenly, with a loud pop, the front tire of the van blew out, and Tommy found himself struggling to maintain control of the vehicle. It veered, and it took every bit of self- control left for Tommy to muster to keep them from rolling into the ditch.
"DAMN IT!" Tommy yelled in exasperation as he brought the van to a halt and briskly climbed out to ascertain the damage. He then looked ahead, and grimly watched the other van trail off. Suddenly, it made a right down Vermilyea Road, and, a glimmer of hope flashed before him.
Vermilyea Road. A dead end, and the only thing down that long stretch was the Tower Farm. He knew where they were heading.
"Kara, Stephen, come on, we've got to move."
"But Tommy, the van…"
"Leave it. I've got a feeling that we haven't got a minute to spare…"
Lee pulled the van into the driveway at the Tower Farm. Laurie got out and swung open the van's back doors, and the two strapped Michael to a dolly and wheeled him, still unconscious, inside. In the center of the main lobby was an industrial size meat grinder, with a makeshift platform and a hydraulic winch. They attached Michael's harness to the winch, and hoisted him up.
Lee walked over to the cupboard at the room's far end, and retrieved a bottle of scotch and two shot glasses. Chivas Regal: nothing but the finest scotch for such an important occasion. He poured the shots, and walked back over to Laurie. She smiled.
"We got him, Laurie," Brackett smiled back, as he handed the shot glass to Laurie.
"You're god-damn right we did," she laughed as she took the glass. They toasted, and dropped the shot.
Laurie closed her eyes and wiped her lip, as she took in the scotch's burning warmth. "And now for the main attraction!" She said, as she danced up the stairs to the platform, until she was practically eye level with Michael's limp carcass.
"It's your show kid," Lee chuckled as he scratched his pepper-grey head and pulled up a chair, using an old pail for a footrest. "And me without my popcorn," he laughed again, and poured himself another shot.
Laurie flicked the switch and roared the meat grinder to life. Its blades began to swirl rapidly, and they let out a piercing screech. "Rise and shine, sunshine."
Michael raised his head, as he awakened at the sound of the meat grinder's deafening throttle. He glanced down briefly at his feet, to see that they were mere inches away from being hacked to bits by its blades. He then looked up, and through the mask, met Laurie's gaze.
"My, oh, my, those blades look sharp, don't you think?" Laurie flashed Michael a malicious smirk. Why don't we see if appearances are deceiving?" She then reached down into a cooler on the platform and produced a large slab of beef, and tossed it into the grinder. Michael watched as the blades devoured it, and spat it out through a tube at the bottom, in little swirly streaks of mashed debris.
"Hmmmmm…I think that'll do the trick, don't you?" Laurie smiled again, and Brackett let out a gut- busting chuckle.
Michael was silent.
"Well, this is it. Any last words? Come on, Michael. Perhaps a last request? A pathetic plea for mercy? What do you say? But wait…I want to do this right. I want to see your face when the blades begin to chew up your feet." She then reached over and pulled off his mask, and let it drop into the grinder, which made quick and short work of it.
She then turned the grinder off, and faced Michael, only to be taken aback by his face. It was hideously burned, and his once blond hair dangled in dark knotted tufts around his forehead, giving him the passing resemblance of a corpse. But that wasn't what was bothering her…there was something more…his eyes. She saw something in them; something sad. An odd silence fell upon the room, and Laurie suddenly found herself uncomfortable under Michael's glance.
She shook the feeling away, and asserted her condescending, patronizing tone, with yet another taunt. "Well, how about it Michael? Do you have anything to say before you make the trip to hamburger-land? I assure you that the trip is going to be a painful one, but feel free to beg for mercy a little. It would really make my day." She laughed, and not expecting an answer, she motioned for the power switch.
She turned to face him one final time, when to her shock, he spoke.
"I'm guilty of everything you think I am," He said quietly, his haunting glance penetrating. "Nothing I say or do is going to change your mind of that."
Laurie lurched back, as if slapped, and suddenly, a pang of uncertainty flooded into her brain. Something was wrong; something didn't feel right, and for a moment she hesitated, and was unsure if she could actually pull the trigger. She glanced over to Brackett, who had an equally surprised and dumbfounded look on his face.
He's trying to trick you, her inner-voice asserted. You didn't expect him to respond, and that's why he did. He wants to throw you off by speaking to him so you'll identify with him as a person and not as the monster that he is, in order to make you feel guilty about killing another human being. The devil has many charms in his lies, Laurie, don't be taken by his.
"Go to hell," Laurie growled, her resolve reaffirmed, and she hit the power switch. The blades hissed into action, and Laurie began to drop the chain, when the grinder came to a screeching halt. The generator wound down, and the machine was suddenly quiet.
"What the fuck…" Laurie spouted with exasperation as he looked down the platform to see that a person had just pulled the meat grinder's plug. Immediately, upon the arrival of their unexpected guest both Laurie and Brackett pulled heat.
"Stay where you are," Laurie said coolly, as she walked down the stairs, her pistol drawn.
"Whoa – hold it, Laurie, it's me. Tommy. Tommy Doyle." Tommy made out with some desperation, as he held his free hand up in surrender.
"What? Tommy? Tommy Doyle? What the hell are you doing here?" Laurie gasped, trying to take it all in. "And what the hell happened to your face?"
"You know this kid, Laurie?" Brackett called across the room, his rifle still drawn.
"Back off Lee," Laurie waved him off. "I'll handle this." Brackett dropped his rifle, and resumed his seat in the chair. He poured another drink.
"Tommy, listen to me…I don't know how you found me, and I know this looks really bad, but it's Him, Tommy, it's him – the bogyman. We've finally got him, and we…."
"I know, Laurie," Tommy cut her off, in mid-speech. "But you can't do this. I know this is going to seem a little bit confusing and hard to take, but things aren't what they seem."
Laurie gave him a blank stare. Frustrated, Tommy pressed on.
"Look at me," he gestured to his injured face. Michael saved me from what did this, and we need his help to…"
"Bullshit."
"Laurie, wait, you need to…"
"Bullshit! Shut up Tommy, just shut up. I think whatever smashed your face must have jarred your brain. You're talking crazy, and I'm going to finish that prick off. Give me the plug."
"No."
Laurie paused for a minute, and sized Tommy up like a cat eyeing its prey. Then the look of menace was gone, and Laurie smiled at him warmly, and said, "Look Tommy, I've known you all your life. You're a good kid. I know you're a little confused right now, and you look like you could use some medical attention, but I'm only going to say it one more time…give me that damned plug. Then I'm going to stop asking nicely."
"Laurie, I can't. We need his help."
"Wrong answer." With lightning-fast speed, Laurie placed an arm-lock on Tommy and pulled the pressure tight. Tommy winced in pain; he was amazed at how strong she was. He wasn't sure if was largely due to his own weakened state, but in all his life he had never encountered a woman so strong. He guessed she was as strong as him, if not stronger. Still, he held a death grip on the plug and wouldn't let it go.
"You little shit!" she screamed, "Let it go, don't make me break your arm!"
Outside the main lobby, Kara heard Tommy cry out.
"Stephen, I want you to go into that room and lock the door until I come back for you. If anyone, and I mean anyone comes near it or the window, scream for us. I'll be back in a second."
"But Mom…"
"Just do it, okay? And hide under that bed while you're at it…"
With an eerie feeling of deja -vu, Kara left Stephen's side for the first time since his rescue, to once again run to Tommy's aid. When she swung the lobby door open, she saw that Laurie was on top of Tommy, with his arm bent back.
"Give it to me or I swear to GOD I'll break it off!"
Kara could see an older man chuckling on the other side of the room, while drinking whiskey, and she also took in Michael with the meat grinder. Her rage boiled.
"Take you hands off of him!" She screamed, calling herself to Laurie's attention.
Laurie looked up in surprise, and immediately recognized her. "Kara? You too? What the hell is going on here?"
"What's going on is that we're trying to save my son's life, and you're in the way."
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"My son. In danger. We need him to help." Kara pointed at Michael, while still engulfed in her rage, and before she even knew what she was saying, she said, " Some of us actually care about our children, Laurie."
"What?" Laurie's eyes narrowed to two dark slits as she took in Kara's words. "Just what in the hell do you mean by that?"
"Where the hell were you all these years when your daughter was being stalked by a maniac? You might as well have painted a 'kill me' sign on her head, the way you abandoned her to die."
Kara choked out the last word, and fell silent, unable to believe that she had just said what she did. A deafening silence filled the room, and Laurie dropped her eyes for a moment. She looked to Kara as if she were ready to cry, then Laurie's fist fired out and sent Kara sailing across the floor.
"You self-righteous bitch!" Laurie screamed, as she grit her teeth and attacked Kara in a mad frenzy. She began to slap Kara's face over and over. "How dare you! HOW FUCKING DARE YOU!!"
Tommy went to pull Laurie off, when he heard the loud click of a revolver's chamber cocking near his ear. He turned to look down the barrel of Brackett's gun.
"What's the rush, sport? Don't do anything stupid."
From above, Michael took in the situation with a bird's eye view. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He then began to flex his arms, pressing them against the tension of the chains. The chains began to dig into his skin, bruising it under their pressure. Trickles of sweat ran down his forehead, as he pressed his muscles to the limit. The chains tightened one last time and then broke with a loud snap, sending him plummeting into the grinder.
Everyone turned at the sound of the noise.
"Fuck," Laurie spouted and turned back to Tommy, more aggressive than ever. "Give me that fucking plug."
Lee, turning his attention away from the others, walked up the stairs to the mouth of the grinder. He peered slowly over the edge, and didn't see a thing. He leaned over a little further, when Michael sprang up from the darkness and closed his hand around his throat. Lee got off a shot, blowing a hole just below Michael's right shoulder, before Michael batted the gun away.
Down below, both Tommy and Kara were struggling with Laurie over the plug. Laurie had Tommy pinned, and was pressing her knee deeply into his back while trying to pry the plug from his hands. Kara lunged on Laurie's back and tried to pull her off. Her nails dug into Laurie's right cheek, and Laurie brought her elbow into Kara's stomach.
Michael, while still maintaining his hold on Brackett, used his other arm to lift himself out of the grinder and up onto the platform. Once up, he dropped Lee into the chair at the platform's corner, and bent down to look at him, face to face.
"Stay."
Lee Brackett's bladder let go to signify that he understood.
Michael then turned and proceeded lightly down the platform's stairs. Kara was bent over holding her stomach in pain from Laurie's blow, and Laurie was struggling relentlessly with Tommy over the plug, oblivious of Michael standing right behind her.
Michael reached out and grabbed Laurie tight by the shoulders, and ripped her away from Tommy. Laurie turned, and her eyes went wide with sudden shock when she realized that it was Michael that now held her. She began to thrash and swing madly in Michael's grip, to no avail.
Go ahead you son of a bitch! Go ahead and get it over with! She pounded and swung at his face, ferociously, while baring her teeth. Michael backed her against the wall, and held her tight. "Well what are you waiting for, cocksucker? Here I am. Go ahead and do it but don't expect me to scream and don't expect me to fear you. You've destroyed everything I ever had. Rot in hell." Laurie spat spitefully one last time into his face, then closed her eyes, and waited for the end.
Once she was still, Michael eased his grip, and backed away.
Breathing in hard pants, Laurie opened her eyes, confused and unsure. She gave Michael a puzzled look, and looked to the others then back to him. Her breathing grew heavier, and built to the point of anxiety.
Everyone in the room was silent, while they waited for the other shoe to drop. Laurie's face contorted in anguish, and she burst into tears.
"No!" She screamed and began to pound on Michael's chest once again. Michael made no effort to stop her, nor did he move away. "Don't you dare, you son of a bitch! Don't you dare take away my hate! It's all I have left!"
Laurie's pounding gradually slowed down, and she collapsed to her knees, sobbing in sorrow.
Tommy went to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Laurie, please. There's so much you don't know. Just hear us out."
"And what?" Lee said, finally screwing up the nerve to venture down from the platform. "We're supposed to forgive and forget? Just like that? I don't think so kid," Lee began to walk towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Kara called out.
"To the police."
"If you tell them about us, we'll tell them about you and what you tried to do," Tommy made out with a weak threat.
"Kid, I used to be a cop. I know half of those guys on the force, and trust me, when they find out who you've shacked up with, they'll probably offer to give me a hand. Stick around. I won't be long…and I'll be sure to bring some friends." Lee then turned to walk out of the room, and ran straight into Michael.
"Oh, great," Lee muttered, and scratched his head with a sigh. "Just bloody priceless."
"Lee, wait," Laurie spoke up. Her voice was grainy and worn, but surprisingly calm. "He had us dead to rights, Lee – both of us. And he didn't kill us. Something's up…maybe we should listen to what they've got to say."
Lee groaned, and flashed Michael a contemptuous glance. "Fine. It's not exactly like we have a choice anyway, now is it?"
Kara, went to the other room, and called for Stephen to open the door.
"Mom, is everything all right?"
"Yes, dear, everything's fine. Come with me. There's someone I want you to meet."
The two walked back into the lobby, and over to Laurie, who was still on her knees on the floor, with her head down. Tommy had fetched her a blanket, and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Laurie," Kara began.
Laurie looked up at the sound of her voice. She had gone very pale, and her eyes were blood-shot from crying. "Hmmmm?"
"I'd like you to meet Jamie's son, Stephen."
Laurie's jaw dropped, and suddenly, with a surge of energy, she stood upright. "Wh-what? You mean…oh my God!" She exclaimed and hugged the boy tight.
Stephen gave Tommy a weirded-out glance, and Tommy laughed. "Kiddo, I'd like you to meet your Grandma Laurie."
"Oh," Stephen said, surprisingly calm, in light of the present situation. "Hello," he said, and smiled at Laurie.
"Hi, yourself, Laurie smiled back, still crying, and hugged the boy again. This time the boy made a comedic choking face, and even Brackett couldn't resist a chuckle.
"I just can't believe it," Laurie said, as Stephen went back over to his mother. "I had no idea. Who's the father? Does he know about him? Have you contacted him?"
Tommy groaned, and put his hand to his head. It was going to be another long night.