Green Eyes on the Prize
byline: Anubis C. Soundwave
9. If Providence sees me as fit for judgment...
The eye of the storm arrives, moving over Baxter Farm towards Barrineau Plantation.
"I think we should check it out," says Danny, trembling with a strange feeling of delight and jubilee.
"With the vast amount of spectral phenomena we've witnessed," adds Vlad, filled with the same thrill as Danny, "I can imagine the data that needs to be documented."
Jack nods; everyone in the house exits.
Sitting outside on the porch, Shane grins, drenched to the bone.
"I brought some dry clothes," says Dash. "Put them on, dude."
"Not going to wring them out into a cooler?" asks Sam, averting her eyes as Shane changes into the dry clothes.
"I still can't believe," chuckles Shane, wiping water from his eye, "that I won't have to do that shit anymore."
Dash opens the door to Shane's SUV. "Believe and see, Shane," he grins.
Shane musses Dash's hair. "You're missin' your halo, boy," he says as he enters his SUV and scoots into the driver's seat.
"I'm sure you meant horns," quips Sam, leaving for Bethea's SUV.
"Oh, I've got a horn for you, Manson," sneers Dash.
"Get in the truck, Dash," says Shane, tugging onto Dash's T-shirt.
"You don't have to preserve my flower anymore," scoffs Dash as he sits in the passenger side of the SUV.
"No," quips Shane, "but I still feel obligated to cock-block you on her parents' behalf."
"It's a miracle," sighs Mary Jane as she prepares to climb into Bethea's SUV.
"To be honest, Mrs. Foley," says Danny, helping Mary Jane into the back of the SUV, "the 'mills of God' could have gone a bit faster."
"Boy," says Mary Jane, "try to imagine lettin' your mama and daddy solve your problems, instead of just workin' it all out on your own."
Danny studies his parents, glancing between Jack and Maddie as they board the FFAV, and Shane's SUV. "I think I have an idea of what you're getting at," he says, "even though I disagree."
"We done had the Civil War," says Mary Jane soberly, "because we didn't want our Heavenly Father to come down on us to fix our problems. You might not believe what's in this book," she continues, shaking her Bible, "but you read it."
The vehicles drive toward Barrineau Plantation.
"Ten plagues would be a bit much," grins Danny.
"When we ate of the fruit of the tree that was in the midst of the garden," says Vlad, riding in Bethea's SUV with Danny, "that was us asserting our independence from God. Fighting our own battles," he continues, "is part of the price we must pay for our independence from our parents, earthly or heavenly."
"Where does the snake come into play?" asks Danny.
"The snake was set up to take the fall," says Vlad, "to give us something to blame. That's what human beings do best, Daniel: shift the blame."
Mary Jane cackles. "And that's why God, knowing what He created before we was ever formed, set in motion the plan to have His Son for us to shift all of the blame onto."
"So that's Christianity in a nutshell," snorts Danny. "Point to Jesus and say 'he did it'!"
"If you choose to accept Him as your Lord and Savior," says Mary Jane.
"It's closer to 'I did it, but He paid the price for it before I was ever born to do it'," says Damon, driving the SUV, "'so I won't do it anymore if you'll just forgive me, God'."
Valerie grins at Danny, seated in the front passenger seat next to her father.
"Maybe I'm one of those wise people this theology exists to confound," says Danny.
The group reaches Barrineau Plantation, exiting various vehicles.
"It's best to live and let live," says Damon, "no matter how absurd the philosophy may seem."
Jack opens the gate; everyone enters the plantation.
"Shit..." drawls Alan, staring at the eye of the hurricane. "This is one fucked-up hurricane eye."
"So many rainbows," says Dash, in awe. "I almost expect to see a blonde girl on a horse with a rainbow-colored mane or a bunch of teddy bears on clouds."
"Your parents must have taped a bunch of old Eighties cartoons and let you watch them as a kid," snorts Danny.
"They have Rainbow Brite on video!?" squeals Maddie, grabbing Dash's arms. "It's one of my favorites!"
"My mom's favorite Color Kid was Lala Orange," says Dash, flabbergasted by Maddie's enthusiasm. "I was more into Buddy Blue myself."
"Naturally," mutters Sam. "He was the sports nut. And my mom was just as oddly-fascinated with Rainbow Brite. She thinks the Care Bears," she continues, "can go straight to hell with their mind-control tummy beams, though. I'm personally fond of Grumpy Bear."
"Why? Because he's a surly grouch?" asks Dash.
"He keeps shit real in Care-A-Lot," quips Sam. "Keeps guys like Tenderheart and Braveheart from abusing their powers."
"Let's stay focused, everyone," Jack grins wryly, putting on a pair of spectral goggles. "We've got a lot of footage to record."
"Indeed!" adds Vlad, struggling to keep his ghost sense hidden.
Danny, shivering, drops to his haunches to conceal his ghost sense. He looks up at the eye of the storm, a ring of storm clouds and rainbows. "I'm seeing it," he whispers, "and I still don't believe it."
The former slave ghosts look up into the eye of the hurricane, crying as they dance in relief and ecstasy.
"Ghosts shoutin' and praisin' God," smiles Bethea.
Rays of sunlight pierce through some of the clouds, mixing with the rainbows to create an ethereal effect. The ghosts rush headlong into the eye, the sheer force creating a spectral vortex.
"It's like an inverse ghost tornado!" says Jack, amazed as he records the footage with the Fenton Spectral Camcorder.
Danny trembles, feeling the overwhelming desire to join the ghosts.
Vlad grabs Danny. "No, my boy," he hisses into Danny's ear, equally giddy. "Don't get caught up in their enthusiasm."
"They're so happy," Danny gasps, breathless as tears of joy trail his cheeks.
"Imagine being freed from hell, Daniel," says Vlad. "For them, it was real...and its devil was killed."
"My dad killed an empirically-verifiable Satan with a pistol," grins Danny.
"Jack has his moments," smirks Vlad.
"You know, deep down," whispers Danny, "that he's the most awesome friend you'll ever have."
"And yet I will never quit coveting his wife and family," says Vlad quietly. "I'm well aware of my own sins, Daniel," he continues. "I won't repent of them."
Bessie takes Lucretia and Countess' hands and leads them into the light. The three Gray ghosts smile at Valerie in gratitude.
"I just helped," says Valerie, "to finish the work you had started."
Damon draws Valerie to his side, tears in his eyes.
Lucretia and Countess rise into the light. Bessie walks toward Danny and Vlad.
"You aren't joining them?" wonders Danny.
"I still got work to do," whispers Bessie. "Somebody got to keep an eye on you both."
"I understand Vlad," says Danny, "but why me? Haven't I proven that I'm one of the good guys?"
"What you prove to me, Daniel," says Bessie, "is that you is a lot of trouble. I'm goin' back to Amity Park to protect Valerie."
Danny chuckles, then looks into Bessie's eyes. "I'll behave, ma'am," he says, "and I'll keep him in line." He nods to Vlad.
"A lot of people got they eye on you," says Bessie, "so you better mind, Daniel Fenton." She vanishes.
"She done told you," quips Vlad.
"Never attempt to speak African-American Vernacular English again," pouts Danny.
Two ghostly antebellum Southern gentlemen and a prim brunette somewhat resembling Jazz arrive.
"The Barrineau clan," whispers Jack.
The younger gentleman, resembling a taller and older Danny, tips his silk hat to Jack, then Danny. The Barrineaus approach the light.
"Whatever His final verdict may be," says the eldest Barrineau, "let us stand before His divine judgment." The three Barrineaus all gravely enter the light.
The light changes Aldridge's ghostly form, restoring his lost eye; Aldridge stands taller, straighter.
"D...daddy!" cries Jeanette.
"Please, hush, Jeanette," says Aldridge softly, smiling. He walks to a peach tree, shaking the shoulder of a bedraggled, chained ghost.
Danny approaches Aldridge and the other ghost, followed by Tucker.
"Don't you want to join the others?" asks Tucker.
"I just wanted to let Mr. Middleton know," says Aldridge, nodding to the other ghost, "that his debts are repaid."
"This guy?" wonders Danny. "I've been wondering why he was sitting here like a homeless Vietnam vet since I was a kid!"
"Vietnam?" mutters Mr. Middleton. "Of what war do you speak, young man, and in which nation?"
"Uh, Vietnam's the nation," says Danny, "and we had fought a war there years ago. It wasn't one of our better military moments. Now," he continues, "I'm going to ask you one more time: who are you, and why are you sitting here in chains with a bayonet?"
Tucker studies Mr. Middleton. "He looks familiar," he says, touching his chin. "Judging by the clothes, I'd say he lived during the 1700s."
"Indeed," smiles Mr. Middleton crisply. "I had passed on as a relative pauper, and I wanted to know how Mr. Aldridge Foley's family had gotten on during the years. When I learned the fate of Mr. Aldridge Tucker Foley," Mr. Middleton continues, nodding to Aldridge, "and how grievously he had been denied the freedom-which his forefather, my earthly savior had long earned-by Jackson Barrineau, I swore that I would not move or loose myself from this spot: where the proof of the recently expired Mr. Barrineau's perfidy is contained herein."
Jack approaches the two teenagers and two ghosts. "Danny," he says, noting Mr. Middleton, "that's our 'immovable chained ghost hobo'."
"I, good sir," says Mr. Middleton curtly, "am named Arthur Middleton, of Charles Towne in Carolina."
"You can go haunt Charleston, then," says Tucker.
"Or go and meet Providence," Danny scoffs, pointing at the light-imbued eye of the hurricane.
"If Providence sees me as fit for judgment," says Mr. Middleton, "but not until this is opened by the one who shut it." Mr. Middleton stands, revealing a carefully-hidden trap door.
Aldridge silently directs Tucker to open the trap door; Tucker complies, with help from Danny and Jack. Tucker and Danny enter the underground room, followed by A. T.; Jeanette, Alvin, and their older brothers Simon and Theodore enter after A. T. and the teenage boys. Aldridge and Demetrius, standing with Aldridge's wife, join the other Foley ghosts below.
Mr. Middleton stands guard, blocking Jack.
Jack scratches his head. "So," he says sheepishly, "what was it like being a prisoner of war during your time?"
Mr. Middleton sighs. "My apologies, Mr. Fenton," he says. "I fear that my privations have made me rather uncivil."
"It's okay," says Jack. "I understand why," he continues, displaying his now-shaven self. "I'm just worried about my son."
"He will come to no harm," says Mr. Middleton.
"Of course not," says Jack. "He's got Tucker for a friend."
Mr. Middleton smiles. "He carries his family's name well," he says.
Inside the underground room, Tucker notes a slightly-rusted lockbox. "How long has this been down here?" he wonders, picking it up.
"How do we open it?" asks Danny.
Aldridge reveals the key, hidden under a layer of dirt where the lockbox once stood.
Tucker picks up the key and unlocks the lockbox, discovering documents. He switches on the light on his PDA. "It looks...like some kind of contract," Tucker says.
Danny squints at the documents. "It was signed by..." he says, trying to make out the signatures, "Aldridge Foley, Arthur Middleton, and...Edward Rutledge, Esquire...?"
"We should take it upstairs..." Tucker trails off, noting a young woman studying an old grayish-white blanket and an empty leather canteen.
Danny's ghost sense goes off. "Why does that woman look so much like...me?" he wonders.
"That's twice, then," muses the woman, looking at A. T., "that you've saved me from perdition...and twice that I didn't even recognize it for what it was: undeserved mercy and friendship."
"At the first," says A. T., "you were an innocent infant, and at the second, an innocent woman. Your father's sins were never yours to bear, Danielle."
"And I, your humble descendant," says Danny, "won't let the Baxters and the Grays run us out of town with torches and pitchforks...or in Valerie's case, ghost-hunting equipment."
"And how can you be so certain, Jackson Daniel Fenton the Second?" asks Danielle.
"Because my gift is a burden and responsibility I must carry with honor," says Danny gravely.
"Good," says Danielle primly. "Because I'll be in Amity Park with Miss Bessie-if for no other reason than to clear up any misunderstandings."
"With all due respect, ma'am," says Danny, "my parents are both above-ground and perfectly capable of keeping me behaved. As far as misunderstandings go," he continues, "I guess it's a matter of hoping she had matured enough through life to look past your name and see you for who you really are."
Above-ground, Maddie stands alongside Jack, stroking his cheek.
"I was supposed to shave my mountain-man beard when I came home, you know," Jack quips.
"I don't think either of us anticipated the absence of ontological inertia required for a supernatural hurricane to hit a cursed town immediately, hon," says Maddie.
"The eye's going to pass over soon," says Jack.
Danny emerges from the underground room, followed by Tucker holding the lockbox. The Foley clan and Danielle float out after the two teenage boys.
Apart from the group, Vlad speaks with an auburn-haired ghost. "Why are you afraid?" he asks.
"I...I should have seen what was happening," says the ghost. "I should have found a way to stop Jackie."
"Speaking from personal experience, Mrs. Barrineau...may I call you Jill Ann?" asks Vlad, smiling at the ghost due to her strong resemblance to Maddie.
Jill Ann nods.
"What I must say is that Jackie threw open the doors of his heart to darkness," Vlad continues, "long before you and he crossed paths."
"What are you saying, Mr. Masters?" asks Jill Ann.
"Let's be responsible human beings!" says Vlad. "Let's not seek to blame one another...or ourselves. I would, if I were you, go into that light knowing that you were a woman joined to a grievously-flawed man."
"Are you speaking of Jackie," asks Jill Ann cannily, pointing her gloved hand towards Jack, "or our garishly-dressed descendant?"
Vlad smirks. "You know my heart all too well, Jill Ann," he says. "I see some of Jack, and even some of Daniel in you."
"I loved Jackie," says Jill Ann. "In spite of everything, that is one matter of which I cannot repent. Though you're terribly faithless as a friend," she continues, "even someone like you would have been Jackie's salvation."
"I'm not certain why. Jack Fenton," says Vlad, "is undoubtedly the nicest guy I know. It's one of the reasons he infuriates me."
"You, Mr. Masters," says Jill Ann, "are a living opportunity for both Jackson Daniels to practice the arts of compassion and humility. That makes you a better friend to them both than they realize."
Vlad stares at Jill Ann.
Jill Ann opens her parasol, then glances longingly at Danielle, Jack, and Danny with an expression of regret.
Danielle smiles at Jill Ann.
Danny stares at Jill Ann. "Why is she looking at us like that, Dad?" he asks.
"I...have no idea," says Jack.
"It's a feminine thing," says Maddie. "Maybe she feels she's failed as a wife and mother."
"Jackie failed himself and her," say Jack and Danny in unison, startling themselves.
Resolute, Jill Ann walks into the light. "I ask your forgiveness," she says to everyone assembled, "for any pain I may have caused you all."
"Lady," says Shane, "you were truly Jackie Barrineau's better half. He was just too rock stupid to realize it."
"Seeing as all men suffer from that malady to a degree," adds Damon, "that simply made your husband all too human."
"Go on, Mrs. Barrineau," says Mary Jane. "We forgave white folk a long time ago," she continues, "just as God forgave us before our sins were ever committed."
"And if God is actually up there," adds Danny, "please ask him how that's supposed to work!"
"Daniel!" reproves Jill Ann as she ascends into the eye of the storm. "There is a book you've read on the subject."
"Yeah," grins Danny, "but it's pretty obtuse."
Jack and Maddie pout at Danny; Danny elbows Jack, then winks at both of his parents as he waves goodbye to Jill Ann.
Vlad studies Jack, Maddie, and Danny, a mixture of envy and yearning in his eyes. He glances at Jack's handgun. "Requiesce in pace et nihilo, Jackson," he says. "I can't be your descendant's friend," he continues, walking to his Axion minivan, "but I will be his brother in all but blood-even though I must forever be the Cain to his Abel." Vlad boards his minivan as it arrives via remote control, then drives off.
NEXT: United we stand.