Year Three, Chapter Thirteen

"RepentHouse"

A private jet makes its final approach over Sacramento. The pilot struggles to regain control of the airplane as its passengers are tossed around like ragdolls.
George: LYDIAAAAAAAAA
George is thrown across the cabin and slams up against the floor as the aircraft is now upside down and drops 5,000 feet in ten seconds. Lydia screams as her cane goes flying and smacks a floating Penelope in the face.
Lydia: (Screaming) OH GOD, SAVE US, SAVE US
The jet veers in the opposite direction and shifts on its side. George's head is bloodied from the hit.
George: This... should not... be happening

The airplane momentarily steadies itself and returns to a normal position.
Lydia: GEORGE, GEORGE, HELP ME
George looks to their unresponsive daughter across the way.
Lydia: GEORGE
George staggers over to Lydia's side and helps her with her seatbelt.
Lydia: (Crying) Your head
George: I'm fine... Penny!
The representative stumbles over debris clogging up the aisle in a desperate attempt to reach his daughter. All engines suddenly cease and the jet drops into another death spiral.
George: (Pinned against the back wall) I... love you... Penny
Lydia screams. Everything goes dark.
George: (Gasping) Tim
Minutes later, George squints his eyes open. He peers around and realizes that the jet did not crash and that he's safely on the ground.
George: (Taking a deep breath) Wh... what the...
Lydia's soft sobbing causes him to jump up.
George: (Touching his head) Ahh
Lydia: George
George: I'm here... PENELOPE
He spots his lifeless daughter on the other side of the plane and races over.
George: OH GOD, NO, NO - NOT HER - PLEASE, NOT HER
Lydia: George, I think I broke my leg - I... I can't walk!
George: WHEN COULD YOU EVER WALK?
The fierceness of the tone stuns them both. George now cradles Penelope in his arms.
George: (Weeping) Please, not my little girl - TAKE ME, TAKE ME INSTEAD
The shaken pilot and co-pilot now appear before George.
Pilot: Emergencies crews are on the tarmac, they'll be here soon
George: (Rocking Penny) Thank you... thank you both for getting us down safely
The pilot and co-pilot share a look and then offer a dazed shrug.
Pilot: We didn't do a damn thing, Mr. Renselier... we have no idea how this aircraft landed
George: I'm sorry?
Co-pilot: We blacked out... we all should be dead right now
Penny suddenly sucks in a huge gulp of air and sits straight up.
George: (Releasing her) PENNY
Penelope: I knew we would have been better off back home
The pilots back away in fear as George stares at her in shock. Penelope's eyes are glowing a deep blue as she turns to Lydia.

Penelope: Isn't that right, mother?

Tim fetches the black rucksack and hurries back towards the Jeep. Erika runs over to the bathroom door while grabbing on some clothes as quick as she can.
Erika: (Whispering) Morrigan, can you hear me?
Morrigan: Yeah, what's going on out there?
Erika: Our ride has just arrived
Morrigan: Do you want me to come out?
Erika: No, not yet - carefully open the bathroom window and listen for my whistle - when you hear it, go find some clothes and a hat, and then get ready to leave - got it?
Morrigan: Okay
With the utmost stealth, Erika makes her way outside and sneaks up behind Tim. She flips the hunting knife around and uses the heavy butt to knock him on the back of the neck. Tim instantly collapses to the ground.
Erika: (Taking the car keys and his sunglasses) So sorry to do this to you, Timothy, but I do not have a choice
She grabs under his arms and drags him back to the cabin porch. She quickly takes off his clothes and leaves him on the swing in the black silk robe.
Erika: I must say, you could not have come at a better time
She checks his vitals and his eyes to make sure she didn't hit him too hard.
Erika: Do not worry, I will take good care of your Jeep and I will make all of this up to you... I promise
She covers him with the blanket so Morrigan can't see. Erika now puts the parka back on and whistles.
Morrigan: I heard that!
Morrigan darts out of the bathroom, gets dressed, grabs a box of crackers and some water for the road, and runs outside.

Morrigan: (Noticing the lump under the blanket) Who is that?
Erika: (Deepening her voice) Nevermind, get in the back of the Jeep and crouch down as much as possible
Morrigan: YOU DIDN'T KILL AGAIN, DID YOU?
Erika: NO, now go!
Morrigan runs over to the Jeep and climbs inside. Erika quickly checks around and follows behind.
Erika: (Starting the engine) We are most fortunate to have a way out of here - unfortunately, this vehicle has no cover
Morrigan: Beggars can't be choosers
Erika: We will appear odd with our clothing and I cannot take the chance of anyone identifying you
Morrigan: Look, I'm crouching down as much as I can with this stupid bulky bag in the way
Erika: (Flooring it) Find a way to compensate - hang tight, we need to go off-road because of our earlier visitor
Morrigan: (Preparing to dump Tim's bag) Slow down for a sec so I can toss this thing...HOLY HELL
Erika: (Slamming on the breaks) What?
Morrigan: (Holding the bag open) Lookie what's inside!
Erika: (Stunned) My my, I wonder what he was doing with this?
Morrigan: Who?
Erika: Unless it belongs to his brother, Geoff
Morrigan: WHO IS GEOFF?
Erika: Nevermind - do not dump this, it might come in handy for us later on
Morrigan: Um, handy if we want even MORE trouble
Erika spots one of the sheriff's cars on the upper road.
Erika: (Killing the engine) Speaking of which...
The two remain still as the it passes.
Erika: Once the pests leave, it will be a straight shot along the riverbank - everyone is too preoccupied with the volcano to notice us
Morrigan: Hope you're right
They start up again and travel on. Morrigan spots the phone in the front seat.
Morrigan: Hey, that's a satellite phone
Erika: So it is
Morrigan: (Reaching for it) I want to make one quick call...
Erika snatches the phone away.
Erika: NO
Morrigan: WHY?
Erika: We cannot have anyone knowing that you are still in town
Morrigan: What about still alive? - a lot of people think I'm dead
Erika: Even better
Morrigan: My dad...
Erika: (Thinking of her own) I know... but it is not safe for you yet - give it more time
Morrigan sighs and rubs her eyes.
Morrigan: Fine... so, where are we going? - the undersea Bat Cave?
Erika: No
Morrigan: Up north?
Erika: Home
Morrigan: Home? - I thought you said we weren't going to your place?
Erika: I am taking you home, your home on Willowbrook
Morrigan: HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE WATER TOO LONG?
Erika: The city has been evacuated, no one will suspect that you have returned
Morrigan: YOU HAVE COMPLETELY LOST IT, FIN - NO FUCKING WAY
Erika: Keep the shades drawn and try not to make too much noise
Morrigan: HELLO, ONE NAME FOR YOU, AMETHYST
Erika: She should not be an issue
Morrigan: SHE TRIED TO FUCKING KILL ME
Erika: Please stop using that particular obscenity
Morrigan: Well, what do you want me to say except NOOOOOOOOOO
Erika: You have heard the words 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer'
Morrigan: Pardon me for not wanting to share zucchini bread with someone who willingly offered me up to her crew of loonies!
Erika: If Amethyst wanted you dead, she would have killed you long ago
Morrigan: (Thinking) Well, she did try to save Zach... Tallulah always liked Amy and... NO NO NO, NOOOOO
Erika: Do not fear her for you are vastly more powerful than she is - The Clergy knows this and she will not go after you
Morrigan: Ya think? - 'cause I'm thinking my duplicitous landlord will invite her hood pals over for a backyard blowout starring me as the pale-faced piñata!
Erika: You actually have more color in your cheeks since the incident
Morrigan: WHY CAN'T I COME WITH YOU TO THE CAVE?
Erika: You need to stay on land... and you need a link to The Clergy, Amethyst is that link - find a way to use her as she has used you
Morrigan: (Sighing) I just don't think I'm going to be very safe
Erika: You will
Morrigan: And you know this... HOW?
Erika: Instinct tells me so
Morrigan: Oh well, I totally feel reassured now
Erika: I will check up on you frequently
Morrigan: I think you need to do more than check up on me
Erika: Such as?
Morrigan: You could, you know, maybe bring chocolate? - helps the nerves
Erika: We shall see
Morrigan: Will you be back to your green self soon?
Erika: Hopefully
Morrigan: Will I ever get to see the real you again?
Erika: Hopefully not

Later that afternoon, Zach sits along on the beach and watches the incoming waves. Gracie makes her way towards him and deliberately keeps her distance.
Gracie: I finally got a hold of Turner and told him the newsvan was swiped - I didn't tell him it was Justine because I'm hoping she ditched it by now
Zach: I'm hoping she found Joenne
Gracie: Kylee is getting a ride from the cook... and he's driving her home later
The joke does not tempt Zach.
Gracie: Ooookaaay
Gracie sits down on the sand near him but still at arm's length.
Gracie: Just to be clear, are we going to talk about what happened earlier or are we going to pretend that it didn't happen?
Zach: I'm leaning towards the latter
Gracie: The huge bruise on my ass begs to differ
This causes Isaacson to cackle like a hyena and bury his face in his hands.
Gracie: I'm glad you think shoving your friend into furniture... cheap, hideous furniture is funny
Zach: It's not funny... it's payback
Gracie: EXCUSE ME?
Zach: Not for you, for me
Gracie: (Shaking her head) I am really lingering in a WTF fog right now - you need to clarify
Zach: Gillian Reuther
Gracie: Gillian Who Her?
Zach: Ruether... my first real girlfriend
Gracie: Again with the fog, but this time, there's a cold breeze blowing with it
Zach: What happened to me was payback for the way I treated Gillian Ruether and every other mean, nasty, deceitful, dishonest, obnoxious, wrong thing I have ever done in my life
Gracie: What have you been smoking, besides the soot in the air? - I'm going to let you ramble on and, hopefully, I can piece it together after another cup of coffee
Zach gets up and starts walking along the shore. Gracie reluctantly trails behind.
Zach: Back in high school, I wasn't rich, good looking, or a jock...
Gracie: No shit?
Zach: Because of that, there was a limited dating pool for me to choose from and getting laid was the only real objective
Gracie: Mine was to sleep through my classes without getting detention
Zach: Grace - can I focus on my story please?
Gracie motions for him to go on.
Zach: Gillian... Gill was the lead clarinet player in the band - I played trombone...
Gracie: Trom BONE... heh heh heh, sorry
Zach: She was smart and kind but was also this huge, frumpy cow
Gracie: Well, you know, we all can't look like Princess Fucking Barbie!
Zach: I know... well, I know now - anyway, no one really wanted to hang out with her - on her band jacket, the "G" wore off for some reason and she walked around with "ill" over her pocket
Gracie: COOL
Zach: NOT COOL, why the hell didn't she fix it?
Gracie: Maybe she didn't think it needed fixing?
Zach: Whatever - it was now my senior year and I had yet to, you know, fuck someone besides myself and half a watermelon
Gracie: EWW
Zach: IT WAS HOT
Gracie: You have just ruined Midori for me forever
Zach: I knew I had to get some action before the other guys got on my case - we had a bunch of classes together and she was always trying to talk to me - one day, I decided to talk back
Gracie: How oh so very magnanimous of you
Zach: My older cousin told me that if I took her out for pizza, she'd probably give it up
Gracie: All you guys are such pigs... but it totally worked, didn't it?
Zach: Like a charm - who knew anchovies were such an aphrodisiac?
Gracie raises her hand and winks.
Zach: It was her first time as well - that was a bigger score for me than my Pac-Man high
Gracie: Ooh
Zach: But I didn't give a shit about Gill... I said what I needed to say to get me some action and to brag to the other guys about cherry popping - meanwhile, she's making me homemade Valentines and buying me clothes and meals - all the things I thought I was supposed to do for a girlfriend... was she really that desperate?
Gracie: (Growling) Maybe she was just trying to be nice, asshole
Zach: We went together for almost a year - she would always have these bridal magazines with the pages highlighted and she talked about getting a Golden Retriever
Gracie: She already had one dog, guess she wanted a smarter one
Zach: (Ignoring the dig) I was totally like 'yeah, yeah, whatever makes you happy, babe, now suck my dick'... and she'd swallow, too
#Gracie goes to say something but bites her lip.
Zach: By the time I got to college and filled out more, all of the sudden, there were these horny gorgeous girls who would get drunk and do any guy with a pulse!
Gracie: Yep, I remember those days... vaguely
Zach: I actually had a girl who was a Miss Hawaiian Tropic contestant - can you believe that?
Gracie: Huh, she must've been really wasted
Zach: One weekend, Gill surprised me with a visit and saw me with this girl - I was like "Gill who?"
Gracie: Um, yes, that was a sleazy lowball thing to do but I'm still waiting for the strangling kittens part - seriously, Zach, why are you beating yourself up over this now?
Zach: I haven't finished...
Gracie: Go on, go on
Zach: I took glee in verbally assaulting her - she was a huge reminder of what I was before and I was pissed beyond belief that she dare show up in my new life, in front of my new girl, with her hokey homemade cupcakes and her pathetic I LUV U teddy bear - and I told her so
Gracie: Okay, the heartless dirtbag part is starting to shine now
Zach: I screamed so everyone in earshot could hear what an ugly, hairy, walrus she was - I told her that I was just using her for sex and it wasn't even good sex - and, unless she did a complete body transplant, no one would ever love her no matter how many stupid Valentines she made!
Gracie: (Wiping a tear) You win, Eyes... you are indeed one world class piece of sleaze!
Zach sinks back down to the sand and sighs.
Zach: Still not done
Gracie: GOOD GOD - what else?
Zach: Gill... went back home and hung herself
Gracie recoils and dry heaves.
Zach: That's the ultimate power, isn't it? - the power to talk someone else into committing suicide?
Gracie can't hold back the sobs.
Zach: I'm worse than fucking Hitler... and all because I couldn't accept Gill for who she really was - yes, I am that horrifically shallow - all those feel-good lines about loving someone for who they are, not what they look like... sorry, it's bullshit to me
Gracie: (Wiping her nose) You... SO need to stop talking
Zach: It's like... it's like finally having Kylee but then having to settle for you
Unable to contain herself, Gracie swings around and wallops Zach on the side of the head.
Gracie: YOU SON OF A BITCH
Zach slumps in the sand and whimpers.
Zach: Gracie
Gracie: (Walking away) I CAN'T BE AROUND YOU ANYMORE
Zach: GRACIE
Gracie reaches in her pocket and hurls some change right at Zach's face.
Gracie: Call someone to come get you, Isaacson, because I don't ever EVER want to see you again!
Zach: I WAS RAPED
Gracie freezes in her tracks.
Zach: I was gang raped

.

.