The Following:
Peace, Love, and Happiness
Episode 11 - WAR!
Annabelle knew she wasn't drunk, but she sure was feeling a bit tipsy. After her father told her about the attack on the FBI building, he took out a bottle of whiskey and started drinking with her out of celebration. He told her that things were going to change. That no longer would they stay quiet. The attack on the building was just the first step.
She always looked up to him as more than just a fatherly figure. He was her idol. It didn't matter how far he fell or how low he was feeling. He always had the strength to rise up stronger than before. His strength was enormous and unlike she had ever seen before. She tried to model her life after his.
"You are crazy," Annabelle said giggling. "I think you need some medical help dad."
Amable laughed with her as he poured the both another shot. "That is what they tell me," He said handing her the shot.
"All in a good days work I guess," Annabelle said as she clumsily took the glass. She eyed the golden liquid for a few moments before looking at her dad. "What are you going to do next?"
Amable downed the alcohol and then set his glass on the bar table. "If there was a way to contact Molly," He said shrugging his shoulders, "I would love to do it. But I couldn't." He eyed his broken computer that was on his bookshelf. "There is a new sheriff in town and it isn't Ryan."
Annabelle saw him looking at his broken computer. "Why don't you throw it out?" She asked confused why he still kept it. "You have a new one and wiped the old one clean."
"Monumental reasons," He said with a shrug.
"If you say so," Annabelle shrugged.
Amable turned away from his computer and approached her. "Let me ask you something," He looked at her emotionally. "Am I a good father?"
Annabelle looked at him confused. She was shocked that he would ask her such a question. It wasn't like him. Yet hehad been drinking, even if he didn't look drunk, she felt he was more incapacitated than he realize.
"Of course you are," She answered with feeling. She set the glass beside his on the bar. "Why would you ask such a question?"
"I was wondering," He said with a boyishly embarrassed smile. "I am not like the other dads out there." He paused for a few moments and chuckled nervously. "I don't take you guys out on summer vacations. To the movies. To the beach." He chuckled again feeling uncomfortable. "Imagine us. Going to Disney World." He laughed bitterly.
"Yeah it doesn't sound like us," She said with a thin smile. "But if you ever doubt yourself in being a good father," She continued, "You shouldn't." She took a step toward him. "You have given everything to us. You are always there to make sure we are comfortable." She blinked away tears. "You are more than just my dad. You are my idol."
Amable felt a wave of love and warmth from her comment. He gave her a tight hug and kissed her on the top of the head.
"Am I really your idol?" He asked with a surprised smile.
"Of course you are," She said looking at him lovingly. "You took me into your house, when I had nobody to turn to." Tears began to fall freely. "When I went from foster home to foster homer just looking for someone to take care of me, all I found were people who wanted to abuse me." She paused struggling to find the right words. "Then when things seemed their worst and I was ready to give up, you came along. You saved my life."
"The moment I saw you," Amable said with a loving smile. "I knew you were the one. I knew you'd be destined for greatness."
"Oh you are so full of it dad," She said shaking her head. "But thank you."
At that moment there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Amable said turning away from Annabelle.
Charlene stepped in with an anxious look on her face. "Michael is back," She said quickly.
Amable and Annabelle glanced at each other briefly before hurrying out of the library. They made their way to the front door, to see Michael approaching with a grim look on his face as he held Cruz in his arms.
"I'm so sorry," He said eyeing his father who rushed out of the house.
Amable was speechless as he eyed the gruesome mess that was left of Cruz. He tried to swallow his over flowing emotions, but it didn't work. His eyes welled up and he began to cry. He reached out with a trembling hand and caressed Cruz's cheek. "What happened?" He asked in a shaky tone.
Michael eyed his family crowding behind Amable. He glanced at Cruz and then at his father. His lip trembled. "It was Ryan," He said sadly.
Amable cursed under his breath. He lowered his hand and took a few steps away from Michael. "He did this to him?" He asked pointing to him with a trembling finger.
"Yes," Michael said blinking away tears.
Amable made a fist and closed his eyes. He tightened his fist as hard as he could until it turned white. He tried to control his emotions as he counted to ten. When he reached ten, he began to relax. He opened his eyes and took a step toward Michael. He reached out and caressed Cruz's cheek again.
"That bastard," He cursed debating what he should do next.
Ryan heard someone call out to him. He opened his eyes and groaned as he slowly sat up. He saw Max and Mike standing a few feet away looking concerned. He reached up and touched his sore cheek. Michael was not only strong, but surprisingly fast.
He stood up on slightly shaky legs. He approached William who was dead on the floor with blood still dripping out of his slit throat. There was a large puddle in front of him as well as stains on the bed.
"When you suddenly left headquarters without telling us, Mike and I followed you here. Max said stepping up to him. She looked Williamwide-eyed. "What happened here?" She asked.
Ryan glanced at the spot that Cruz's body once laid. He sighed and then turned to Max. "I guess it is time to tell you about this," He said stepping away from William's body. "I have been working closely with William on the kidnapping of his daughter Tanya," He touched his throbbing sore cheek again. He would have to ice it later. "We had a lead for a while." He looked at the bloodstained spot Cruz once handcuffed to. "His name was Cruz. But that went south when William killed him for whatever reasons. Michael then came in and attacked us both. He killed William and for some reason kept me alive. He did take Cruz's body, though."
"Why would you keep his from us?" Mike asked looking at him with the same look he saw many times before when he withheld information about Joe.
"William wanted me to keep it between us only," Ryan said glancing at his bloody body again. "I know it was wrong and stupid." He looked at Mike. "I regret it."
"I bet you do," Mike said narrowing his eyes at him slightly.
Max heard Mike's tone. "What are we going to do now?" She asked stepping in before anything got out of hand.
"This whole thing was out of my hands from the way beginning," Ryan sighed, "I made a mistake by not letting you guys in on it and look what happened." He shook his head in dismay. "I am at a lost though."
"I think we should just leave everything the way it is," Mike suggested. "Make it look like William was alone with Cruz when he killed him, which we know happened. Except for one thing." He paused and pointed to William's corpse. "You never left the headquarters. Michael came in to see William kill Cruz and killed him out of revenge. He then took Cruz's body with him." He looked at Max who seemed to agree with him.
Ryan sighed and scratched his small goatee. "That does make sense," He said with a small shrug. He glanced at William's body for one last time. "I guess it is time to report a murder."
Amable had Annabelle grab a large sheet which was promptly wrapped around Cruz. Michael then followed Amable to the large backyard to bury him there beside the bed of roses that Charlene took care of. Everyone took turns digging a hole large and deep enough for his body. When theywere finished, they set him inside and covered up the hole.
Next everyone, one by one, said a small prayer and then their uttered their goodbyes, before returning into the house. Amable was the last one there, wanting to be alone to say his last words. When everyone was gone, he stood there staring at the freshly matted mound that was covered with an assortment of monumental items from the family.
"I don't know what to say," He sadly said. "For the first time in a long time I am utterly speechless." He paused again for a few moments. "I could say that you had a good life. That it is not fair that you did. That you didn't deserve to die. That you are in a better place now." He paused again. "That you had a better life than most."
Amable blinked away tears. He cleared his throat loudly. "But what would that do? It won't bring you back. What happened, happened and the best thing to do is to move on and stay positive." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Inside was a pocket-size picture of him and Cruz when he got accepted into the Police Academy. "From the moment you came into the states, I was a part of your life. I remember this day as if it were yesterday." He placed the photo on top of the dirt. "I will make you a promise." He paused when he saw Michael approaching. "I will get revenge on your death as well as Tim's. I will kill Ryan, in the same way that I have killed so many others."
"Dad," Michael said eyeing him as he placed the photo on the grave.
"What is it?" Amable asked turning toward him.
"I have something that will make you feel a lot better," He said with a sad, yet excited glint in his eyes.
"Really?" He asked unsure that Michael had anything to make him feel better.
"Yeah I do," Michael said with a smile growing on his face. "Follow me."
Amable didn't say anything, but followed Michael to his car. He saw Michael open his trunk and then step aside. He motioned toward it excited. Amable sighed and then looked inside. To his surprise, he saw Claire laying in there. She had tape over her mouth and her hands and legs were bound with rope.
"Well this definitely changes things," He said with a big smile. He looked at Michael. "Good job. How did you manage this?"
"I was filling up at a gas station when I saw her step out of the bathroom," Michael proudly said. "I couldn't believe it."
"It is hardly believable, but we finally have her," He said hugging his son tightly. He turned to Claire who was looking at him wide eyed in fright. "Hello Claire. It has been far too long." He reached out and ran a finger through her hair. "Come Michael, let's take her downstairs."
Amable and Michael both carried Claire downstairs into the basement. They removed the rope and then bound her to the table. She tried to squirm and kick, but was unable to break free. She continued to eye Amable with such terror, more than she ever felt in her life. Even more than she ever felt with Joe.
"Okay Michael," Amable said keeping his eyes on Claire. "You have been an amazing help so far, but daddyhas got to catch up with an old friend."
"If you need anything," Michael said stepping out of the room.
Amable closed the door and then turned to Claire with a creepy smile on his face. He removed the tape quickly causing her to cry out in pain. "It is so good to see you again," He repeated himself. "I have to say, this color hair looks so much prettier on you than before." He took a few steps toward the bed. "Although you were always pretty."
"What do you want?" Claire asked ignoring her throbbing lips.
Amable reached out and squeezed her shoulder affectionately. "There is such sweetness in you that I have always been attracted to," He said beginning to pace around the table. "You are kind, caring, funny, and stunningly gorgeous. But it is your attitude that is the Achilles heel in you." "He stopped and looked her in the eyes. "That is why I introduced you to Joe. I knew you guys would be a perfect match. At least for a while it was, then he had to get arrested."
"He killed fourteen women," Claire said toughly trying to hide her fear. "He deserved it."
"He got arrested because he grew careless," Amable said bitterly. "Just like your bitchy attitude, his Achilles heel was the spotlight. He always needed to be seen and approved of, even in school. That is why he was caught."
"And you weren't," Claire said aloud without thinking.
"Exactly," Amable said stepping up to the wall. He pulled out a small switchblade. "I have killed so many more than him, yet he is now in prison rotting away, while I am out here a free man."
Claire eyed the knife in his hand with worry. She knew he would use it. "Yet, you publicly threatened Ryan which now brought you in the spotlight," She said swallowing nervously.
"It is time to stop hiding," Amable said with a playful wink. He flicked open the knife and then closed it. "You see, I want to kill Ryan and not only kill him, but torture him until he screams for death."
"You are sick," Claire muttered.
Amable flicked open the blade and cute her on the cheek drawing a small amount of blood. "Yeah that is a given," He said giving her a dumbfounded look. "I enjoy killing people. Of course that makes me a sick person." He leaned close to her. "But I love it. I live for it. I yearn for it." He traced the dull part of the blade around the cut on her cheek causing her to whimper. "Joes holds nothing to me." His eyes twinkled dangerously. "Joe may be an animal, but I am the devil."
"You will get caught," Claire said watching him intently.
"Maybe I will," He said with a small shrug, "Maybe I won't. But when that time comes I can promise you one thing. Both you and Ryan will have been tortured to death."
Molly opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water. She opened it and took a drink, enjoying its cold and refreshing taste. She left the kitchen and made her way to the living room where everyone was waiting for her. She smiled at them and took another sip, before placing the water on the glass table beside the couch.
The living room had three large leather couches along the wall opposite of a fifty inch LED screen. Two lamps were at opposite ends of the room, with a small table next to each one. On each table was a pile of different magazines and a vase filled with flowers. In front of the middle couch was a large glass table and on it was a bowl filled with mixed candies.
"I know you guys are aware of what happened at the FBI building," Molly began, "I mean it is on every news channel." She began to slowly pace in front of them. "I want to tell you that this was not my doing."
"We know that already," Amy said watching her with uncertainty.
"I know you do," Molly said with a chuckle. "I was stating the obvious. I just wanted to let you know that I recently was able to get a hold of Amable."
"You did?" Tanya asked surprised.
"Yeah I did," Molly proudly responded. "It took a lot of time, but I finally was able to triangulate his signal. We had a brief, yet informative conversation." She smiled dangerously. "I can proudly say that I was in control the whole time. He is scared of us."
"Well that is good," Tanya said without thinking.
"That isn't just good," Molly interjected. "That is essential to the plan."
"Speaking of which," Tyler said crossing his arms over his chest. "What is the plan here?"
Molly gave him a stern look for a few moments which he promptly ignored. She stopped pacing and grabbed her bottle of water. She took a sip and then set it on the table again.
"From my inside sources, I found out that Lily is alive and well, yet in protective custody. In the beginning I wanted to go and rescue Lily from the hospital, but after a while, I soon realized that it would take too much time and resources to do so."
Molly stopped and thought back to the earlier years when she had first met Joe. He was teaching at the University and she was there as a Pre-Med student. She was roaming around lost, when she bumped into Joe who kindly showed her around the campus. In the beginning he was attracted to her and knew she would be fun prize to kill. But after talking with her, he saw raw determination similar to his own. In the end he couldn't do it. He and she went their separate ways untillater when they met up again. That was when he was first in prison and grouping together his followers.
Molly met Lily a few weeks after that at a book fair. Surprisingly they both were purchasing copies of the Lighthouse. Molly bought it for her secret group of followers that she was putting together. Lily for reasons she didn't know at the time.
When the both of them found out that they were both interested in the same book, they grabbed coffee and chatted about Joe. Molly told her how she met him and how she was infatuated by him. She hid her true motives from her. She didn't trust her. Lily told her that she had heard of this book through her boyfriend and decided to buy it.
Their visits became a regular thing over time and they found themselves growing closer. Eventually, Lily had to go back to Paris, so they said their bitter goodbyes. They kept in touch over the years, until Lily came back to the states with her family. Amable, who she met through Lily, was still in Paris, but soon came to the states with his family. He tried to rekindle his love with Lily, but she turned him down.
Molly then was told to kill Ryan. She snuck into his apartment and stabbed him. She left him there bleeding to death, but stopped when she heard footsteps. Hidden, she saw Claire step out of the bathroom. It was too good to be true. She not only was able to kill Ryan, she could kill Claire. She stabbed her and then left the apartment thankful that she was able to play her part in the story.
Molly stopped thinking of the past and took another sip of water. "Now that Lily is out of the picture, I have decided take a page out of Joe's book. You see the way he wrote it, it could be interpreted in many ways. One of the ways, left and unfinished ending." She set her bottle on the table once again. "I had a simple task. Kill Ryan. That was my part in this whole ordeal. I was able to get so close to Ryan that he didn't even see it coming. I stabbed him and Claire hoping to kill the both of them." She paused and chuckled bitterly. "Yet with modern medicine and by some divine miracle both of them survived." She looked at her family sitting on the couch before her. "It makes me sick." She spat out with hate.
She began to pace again. "But what could I do," She said with a shrug. "At that time, everyone, including me, thought that Joe was dead. But he somehow survived, yet as much as I wanted to, I couldn't go and see him."
"Why is that?" Tanya asked curiously. She shifted in her spot uncomfortably. "If you cared about him so much and he cared about you so much, why would you not go and see him?"
"I don't know," Molly shrugged. "I guess I was afraid that since both Ryan and Claire had survived that he would see me as a failure. That he would not accept me back. I know it sounds silly." She thought back to the last thing Joe told her.
"This is your part of the book. Ink to paper. You are the artist. You are the mastermind. Go on and fulfill your dreams."
"Anyways we are getting off-key here," She said with the wave of the hand. "I needed to come up with a new plan. My plan is to bring Claire and Ryan back together. I want them to see each other for the last time, before they are killed. For real this time." She paused and licked her lips. "If that means cutting their heads off." She shrugged and laughed loudly and dangerously. "Then I will do that. But there is one roadblock and his name is Amable. He wants Claire as well and I am not exactly sure why. But he can't get her. So that is why we are going to him."
"Excuse me?" Amy asked not sure if she heard her correctly.
"I spoke to him. I know where he lives. That idiot didn't think I would find him," She said proudly. "But I have and my plan is to go there and take him out as quickly as possible. He does have a family and young ones. They shouldn't be a problem and must not be harmed."
"What if they become a problem?" Tyler asked liking her idea. He was anxious to get a move on and back into action. He hated staying in one place for too long.
Molly scratched the back of neck and sighed. "I don't think they will be a problem," She said looking at him with intense determination. "But if they do." She paused and sighed again. "Then you will do what you do best."
"Good," Tyler said smiling anxiously.
Michael closed his eyes and raised the temperature of the shower. The hot water washed off all the dirt and dried blood off his muscular body. He was beyond sore and tired. He was looking forward to getting a good night sleep in a comfortable bed after being on the run for the past few days. A proper meal was also something that he was looking forward to.
He ran his hand through his hair washing out the shampoo, as he thought back to the last few days. Cruz's death was on his conscience and would always be there. It was partly his fault. When Ryan and William barged into their room, he grew scared and ran instead of staying back. He left Cruz alone, which he felt led to his death. If he was there, maybe he could have stopped it. He could have also been taken hostage as well and killed in the same manner that Cruz was murdered.
He sighed and leaned against the wall as the hot water loosened his tense muscles. Cruz tell him not to think about it and that it wasn't his fault at all. That he did the right thing by running away. It saved his life. That he was thankful to not have been left behind in the hotel and to avenge his death.
A few minutes later, he was drying himself off when there was a knock on his door. He quickly dressed and opened the door to find Annabelle standing there looking sad. He smiled at her and stepped aside allowing her to enter.
"How are you doing?" She asked emotionally as he closed the door.
"I'll survive," He simply said with a bitter shrug.
Annabelle sighed and took a seat on the edge of his bed. "This isn't good," She said bitterly. "Tim dying. Cruz dying." She paused and looked at him tearfully. "It is amazing that you were able to get his body back. What happened out there?"
Michael sighed and ran a hand through his damp hair. "Cruz and I managed to get Tanya. It was too easy. She hardly put up a fight and her dadwas shot trying to stop us. I thought that he was killed. Anyways on the drive back home, we were hit by an unknown van. Tanya was kidnapped by them." He paused and looked at Annabelle failure all over his face. "Our car was too damaged, so the only thing I could do was find a place to rest up and clean our wounds. We were at a hotel, when Ryan and Tanya's dad barged in." He paused and blinked away tears. "I managed to escape, but Cruz wasn't so lucky. I hid for a day and then came back to get Cruz. I killed Tanya's dad and knocked out Ryan, before grabbing Cruz, who was dead." He paused again, his jaw quivering emotionally. "They killed him. Tortured him for information."
"I'm so sorry," Annabelle said sadly. She could easily see how hard this was on him.
"Thanks," He said with a small bitter smile. "I can't stop thinking that I should have done more. I don't know what, but that I could have been able to save him."
"Don't do that to yourself," She scolded him. "You off all people know how hard it was for me after Tim's death. I was forced to run and leave his body behind, just so I could stay alive." She stood up and approached him. "This was not your fault, so don't let itweigh yourself down because of it. Use it as strength to move on and direct it at the people who were involved." She lowered her voice. "Like Ryan and William."
Michael smiled at her. "When did you become so smart?" He asked with a slight tease.
"I have a good role model," She said thinking of her father. "Now I need to ask a favor."
Michael gave her a concerned look. "Yeah, what is it?" He asked his smile vanishing.
"It is Mark," She said seriously. "You know how I feel about him and I know how you feel about him." She took a step toward him. "He doesn't belong here as part of our family, even if dad feels he is."
"I agree a hundred percent," Michael said confused at what she was trying to say.
"When you were gone," Annabelle continued, "Mark threatened me and choked me." She raised her voice a bit. "He tried to kill me." She paused and grabbed his hand. "I can't live in a house with someone like that. He is dangerous and must go."
"You know what you are asking me to do?" He asked looking at her concerned and sternly.
"Yes I do," She took his other hand. "Kill him and then dispose of the body. We can make it look like he ran away."
Michael sighed loudly. "Fine," He said after a moment pause. "I could never say no to you."
"It is more than that," She said in a serious note. "He threated to kill me and it is simple as that." She pushed him gently to the bed. "He must die." She leaned close kissing him deeply.
"Then I will kill him," He said in between kisses.
"Good," She said sitting on top of him. She removed her shirt and tossed it aside. "Welcome home baby by the way." She kissed him again.
Carrie stepped out of her office building and reached into her purse grabbing her keys. It was late at night and she was beyond exhausted. She was looking forward to meeting up with Ryan for dinner later. She was cooking it and she wanted it to be perfect. Her long and stressful day was nothing compared to Ryan's.
It always seemed that he was under attack. Someone was always wanting to get him. For normal women, that would bother them, but she loved him and would stand by him. Maybe whenever this would be all over, they would get more serious.
A sudden gust of wind caused her to shiver and drop her keys. She bent down to pick them up, when she heard someone approach. She looked around the parking lot, but didn't see anyone. She swallowed nervously and continued walking to her car.
She made it to her car and unlocked the door when she heard more footsteps, this time closer. She stopped and looked around the dark and empty parking lot, but still didn't see anyone. She seemed to be completely alone, which resembled many horror movie scenarios. She shrugged her shoulders and took a seat in her car. She turned it on and was about to drive away, when someone knocked on the car window.
"Damn," She cursed in fright. She looked out her window to see a young female, about eighteen years old she didn't recognize.
"Carrie Cook?" The female asked when Carrie lowered the window a few inches.
"Yes?" She asked ready to press on the gas petal if anything happened.
"I have something to give to you to give to Ryan," The young female said reaching into her coat packet. She pulled out a manila folder. "It is urgent that he sees it."
Carrie thought back to the last time someone wanted her to deliver a message. If she didn't, her family and anyone she cared about would be killed. Shewas forced to show a video to the public of Joe. The question now was, what was in that folder and why was it for Ryan?
"What is it?" She asked doubtful that she would get an answer.
The young female smiled mockingly. "I can't tell you," She said pushing the folder through the opened window. "All I ask for you to do is give that to him."
"What if I don't?" Carrie asked testing her.
"I was hoping you would ask," She said pulling out a sheet of paper with pictures and addresses of her family. "Your dad, Arthur Cook, works at the Manhattan Library. If you value his life, you will give him that folder. That is all I am asking you to do."
Carrie gulped recognizing that her entire family was on that sheet of paper. "Fine," She said grudgingly. "I will give it to them."
"Good," The female said stepping away from the car. She bowed and the turned away.
Carrie didn't even look at the folder. She sped off trying to get home as quickly as she could. This was the second time this happened and she would be damned if anyone she cared about would get hurt.
Hope you liked the next segment! More danger to come!
shaw18