Chapter 67- Deja Vu

Donna stared at Wiley bleeding on the floor. Her mouth hung open.

"What's going on?" Spencer and Josslyn asked.

Donna jerked and quickly crawled under her bed, pushing the gun under some toys.

"Mommy?" Avery cried, holding Amelia tight.

Josslyn looked between Ava, Wiley, and the gun on the floor. "Oh my gosh. Ava shot Wiley, then shot herself!" She jumped over Ava and dropped beside Wiley. "He was shot in the head. Spencer, call an ambulance!"

Spencer pulled out his phone, while the babies kept screaming.

"Come on, Wiley," Josslyn said. "Stay with us."

Avery kneeled beside Ava. "Mommy…."

Ava reached for her hand. "I… love… you…." Her eyes moved up and froze in place.

Tears fell down Avery's face. "Mommy… Mommy…."

"The ambulance is on its way." Spencer knelt beside Ava and felt her pulse. "Oh no…."

GHGHGH

Laura screamed when Cyrus fell to the ground, dropping his Bible beside him. Dante pulled out his gun and hurried down the stairs with Sam.

"Dad… drop the gun," Dante said.

Sonny turned and stared at him. Then he tossed the gun into the water.

Martin kneeled beside Cyrus. "He's dead."

Dante handcuffed Sonny. "You're under arrest for the murder of Cyrus Renault…."

GHGHGH

Spencer scooped up Ace when Jordan, Chase, and the ambulance arrived. The paramedics lifted Wiley onto a stretcher.

"I have to go with him," Josslyn said. "Will you stay with the kids?"

Spencer nodded. "Don't worry about it."

"Spencer, I need you to take the kids downstairs," Jordan said, after the paramedics left with Josslyn, Wiley, and Ava's body. "But don't leave the property. One of us will be down to question all of you."

"Right. Come on, Avery." Spencer prodded Avery, and they took Amelia and Ace downstairs.

Donna trembled under the bed, not wanting to move.

GHGHGH

"How are the kids?" Michael asked when he sat with Carly on his couch.

"They're fine, Michael," Carly said. "We need to talk about yesterday. How could you take them over to see Willow?"

"They're not happy. They miss their mom."

"They just need time to adjust," Carly said. "What if Nina was there? You need to think about these things, Michael. This is about Wiley and Amelia's well-beings. We need to monitor what kind of people we allow in their lives. What if Wiley were to sustain another head injury under their care. Willow still needs to earn our trust."

"But I do trust Willow."

"Even when she took your children to live with Nina?" Carly asked. "I know you weren't happy about that."

"No. But I think in time Willow and I will come to an understanding about that. She even told us yesterday she won't bring Nina with her if she can see both Wiley and Amelia more."

"Actions speak louder than words, Michael. Until she proves to us that Nina won't be in her life, we can't allow her back in Wiley and Amelia's lives."

"And in the meantime, we just let the kids suffer?"

"They just need time." Carly sighed. "I can't handle all this stress right now on top of whoever is harassing me."

Michael raised an eyebrow. "Someone is harassing you?"

"Some unknown caller keeps sending me weird texts and pictures. And they even call me and all I hear is breathing. I've blocked them several times, but they must keep changing their numbers."

"That's creepy."

Carly's phone rang and she saw Josslyn's name on the screen. "Hi baby. I can't really talk right now. Michael and I are having a serious convers—"

"Mom," Josslyn choked up. "I'm on the say to the hospital with Wiley."

"Did something happen?" Carly asked.

"Ava shot him, then killed herself."

All the colour drained from Carly's face. " WHAT?"

"I'm in the ambulance with him," Josslyn said. "Mom, I'm scared."

"Is Wiley breathing? Is he conscious?"

Michael stared at her with wide eyes.

"They have him hooked up to oxygen, but he's not awake," Josslyn cried. "Can you and Michael meet us there?"

Carly squeezed the bridge of her nose. "Josslyn, Josslyn, where was Wiley hit? Can you tell me where he was hit?"

"In the head."

Carly dropped her phone.

"Hit?" Michael picked up the phone, but the line went dead. "Mom, what do you mean Wiley was hit? By whom? With what?"

"Ava shot Wiley. In the head."

Michael paled. "We—we gotta get to the hospital now."

GHGHGH

Esme strolled through the park to clear her head. She wanted to trust her mom more than anything, but she also knew what the Cassadines were like, plus having the Corinthos family on Spencer's side scared her as well.

She sat on a bench and scrolled through her photos of Ace. He was growing way too fast. She couldn't miss out on his childhood like her mom missed out on hers. It would just kill her.

"Hi there."

Esme looked up to see a young woman with strawberry blonde hair.

"Mind if I sit with you?"

Esme shrugged. "I guess."

She sat down and extended her hand. "My name is Nelle."

Esme shook her hand. "I'm Esme."

"Oh yes, I've heard about you."

"You have?"

Nelle nodded. "I read about you in the Invader. And I've heard about you through other sources. We have a lot in common."

"What could we possibly have in common?" Esme asked.

"We were both taken from our mothers when we were babies and given to abusers. We're also very misunderstood by everyone around us. And we're both about to go through custody battles for our sons."

"H-how do you know all that about me?"

Nelle smiled. "Esme, the question isn't how do I know. It's how am I helping you."

"You make it sound like you already are."

"Oh, I have been," Nelle said. "You see, by helping you I'm helping myself."

"How?"

Nelle's phone rang. "Herman? What is it?"

"It's the boy," Herman said. "Wiley was shot and is on his way to the hospital."

"What? Is he all right?"

"It didn't look good. I'm finally able to leave now after the police questioned me."

"Did you tell them why you were really there?" Nelle asked.

"No. And I never mentioned you."

"Where was he shot?

"In the head."

Nelle hung up and ran off without another word to Esme.

GHGHGH

Willow stared at the computer screen at the nurse's desk. She read through the patient's file several times but still couldn't process what it was saying. She kept trying to bury herself in her work since she lost custody but could never focus.

The elevator doors opened and Nina stepped out. She headed over to the nurse's desk.

"Willow, honey, can we talk?" Nina asked.

Willow sighed. "Nina. I already told you. I can't see you anymore. I don't want this either, but I have to focus on getting my kids back."

"We can't just roll over and let Carly win."

"This isn't about who wins or who loses. This is about Wiley and Amelia. I'll do whatever it takes to be back in their lives."

The elevator doors opened again and the paramedics pushed Wiley in on the stretcher. Josslyn ran in behind them crying. TJ and Elizabeth hurried over to them.

Willow stood there in shock for a moment. "Is that—is that Wiley?"

Nina's hand went over her mouth.

"The patient was shot. Pupils are fixed and dilated," one of the paramedics told TJ. "He's not responding to the painful stimuli."

"He could have cerebral edema," TJ said. "We need to prep him for surgery. Quickly."

Elizabeth called over to the desk. "Call Patrick Drake. He's the best in the field."

Willow rushed over. "Wiley? Wiley, Mommy is here, baby. I'm right here."

"We have to get him in now, Willow. You can't come, you're too close to this." TJ and Elizabeth wheeled him off.

Willow turned to Josslyn. "What happened? It looked like his head was bandaged."

Nina wrapped her arm around Willow.

"Ava shot him," Josslyn said.

Nina's mouth dropped.

Willow's eyes pooled with tears. "Sh—shot him? There's a bullet in his head?"

Josslyn nodded.

" Ava shot him?" Nina asked. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"I'm going to kill her," Nina said. "Where is she? Did they arrest her?"

Josslyn shook her head. "She shot herself immediately after. Ava is dead."

The elevator opened again and Carly and Michael ran over.

"Where is he?" Michael asked.

"They're prepping him for surgery." Willow sobbed. "Michael, how did this happen?"

"I—I don't know," Michael said. "They were at Mom's. I just got the call."

Carly gritted her teeth at Nina. "You need to leave. Wiley is in there fighting for his life right now. We are not putting up with you today."

"No!" Nina's nostrils flared and she kept her arm firmly around Willow. "My daughter and grandson need me right now and I'm not leaving."

GHGHGH

After answering Jordan's questions, Spencer sat on the couch with both Amelia and Ace on his lap.

"Was there anyone else present during the shooting?" Jordan asked him.

"Um… I don't think so," Spencer said. "I don't know. It just happened so fast."

Jordan took Avery to the kitchen.

"Avery, can you tell me what happened?" Jordan asked.

Avery sniffled. "I want my mommy."

Jordan reached for her hand. "I'm really sorry about your mom, Avery. That must've been really scary for you. But Chase and I need your help to figure out how your mom was shot. Do you know who shot her?"

Avery nodded through her tears.

"Who shot her, Avery?" Jordan asked.

Avery shook her head. "Where's Daddy and Mama Carly?"

"Your Mama Carly went to the hospital to make sure Wiley is okay. Your dad… he isn't available right now… and Dante is with him. Is there someone else you'd like me to ask to come be with you?"

"Josslyn."

"Josslyn is at the hospital too," Jordan said. "I can call her, but she might want to stay there. Is there anyone else? Isn't Molly your cousin? Do you want me to ask her to come?"

Avery nodded. "Kristina and Molly."

"Okay, I'll call them."

GHGHGH

"If you ask me, I think you should be the one to leave, Carly," Nina said. "Since Wiley was at your house and you can't seem to find adequate care for him."

"Stop it!" Willow threw her hands up. "If you're going to argue, then both of you can leave."

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Nina said.

Carly shook her head. Her phone rang and she answered it. "What is it?"

"Carly, it's me," Sonny said. "I've been arrested."

"What? Why?"

"Because I killed Cyrus in front of witnesses."

"What's going on with you?" Carly asked. "You're not usually sloppy like that."

"Can you come to the station?"

"No. You need to find a way to get to the hospital. Ava shot Wiley in the head."

There was a long pause. "What?"

"He's gone in for surgery, but it's not looking good, Sonny," Carly cried. "It's just like when…."

"When Michael was shot. Okay, stay with Michael and Wiley. Diane's on her way. I'll see if I can get away."

Carly slipped her phone away when TJ walked out with a clipboard.

"I'm not going to lie to you, Wiley's condition is serious," TJ said. "Patrick has just arrived. Elizabeth and I will be assisting in the surgery. The bullet lodged in his brain."

Willow placed both hands over her mouth and Michael balled his hand into a fist.

"We need to operate immediately," TJ said. "I just need someone to sign a consent form."

Michael held his hand out for it.

"You're not signing any kind of consent form without me." They all whipped around to find Nelle standing there.

Nina fainted.