Series Wednesday: Family Game Night page 59

     “Frankie there is nothing more I can say about the past. All I can do now is point you in the right direction. I want Hope to be safe as much as you. So instead of focusing on me, get him!” My mother says to him looking over at Daniel. Frankie turns and walks over to Daniel who has guns pointed all round him. My mother grabs Percy and Grace. We start to move towards the door when more men with guns walk into the warehouse. These men look completely different from the men that came with Frankie. Two of the men point their guns at us, while the rest move toward Daniel and Frankie.
            “So let’s have a conversation about why you felt it was okay to take my Hope away.” Frankie says to Daniel. “I needed Hope so I could draw out other people. She really was just collateral damage.” Daniel says with a smile. “She better not be dead or you are going to have to pay me. Seeing as I owned Hope and she was not yours to be collateral damage or however you want to put it. She belongs to me!”  Frankie says with a serious look on his face. “I think you might be over playing your hand here Frankie. I really don’t have to explain anything to you.” Daniel says as he points at the men surrounding Frankie with guns. “You think you can kill me?” Frankie screams at the men with guns. “They could if I tell them to. So why don’t you take your men and go while I am kind enough to let you walk out of here.” Daniel says back to Frankie.
            Frankie just looks at the men with guns and smiles. He puts his two fingers in his mouth and whistle loudly. I hear more footsteps coming from the door of the warehouse. More men with guns come running through the front door.  They surround the guys who have guns on us and surround us as well. More come in and surround the guys with guns on Frankie. “What you thought I came unprepared. I never come to a party empty handed. That is the problem with the youth of today; they always think they are so much smarter than they actually are. So let’s try this one more time. Where is my Hope?”  Frankie says. 

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     “I have the big gun so I ask the questions. How does that sound?” The man says. “Seeing as none of us here are afraid to die, your gun really doesn’t matter.” Grace says as she steps towards him. “I am simply here for my beloved. She was taken so I have tracked her here. I just want to be sure she is safe.” The man says now fixing his eyes on me. I talk from behind Grace. “He is here for Hope” I whisper in her ear. “Who is this love of yours?” Grace asks him as the swat team slowly surrounds us. “Hope, I am looking for Hope and she was last seen being dragged into this warehouse.” The man says not even looking at Grace. The man’s eyes are locked on me. “Cahira come here.” My mother says to me, still strapped to the table. Grace turns and looks at me. “We need a plan to get out of here. We can find Hope later or just wait for these nice men to find her. I am sure once she is back with her people she will contact you.” Grace whispers to me.
            I am ignoring my mother’s request for me to go to her. I am staying right next to Grace. “Are we going to kill mother or take her with us?” I ask Grace. “If we don’t have to kill her I say we take her.” Grace says back.  “Sounds good to me” I whisper back to her. “We did not take Hope. He did, we are the ones trying to get her back.” Grace says to the man pointing at Daniel. “I can see that. My question for you is why are you trying to get Hope back? Who is she to you?” The man asks. I look back at Percy and he is gone. The swat men are surrounding Daniel now. I look over at my mother and see Percy unstrapping her from the table. “Because they are my kids Frankie.” My mother says as she walks out in front of us. “Hello there Rose didn’t see you there strapped down.”  Frankie says to my mother. She seems to know him. “Well we were having a little bit of fun. You have the man you want, he is the one that took Hope and is keeping her hostage. So my children and I will be on our way. Tell Hope to give us a ring some time.”
          My mother is trying to grab us all and push us behind her. “Rose, oh sweet Rose.” Frankie says to her. I notice my mother stands right in front of my ensuring that he has to take his eyes off of me. “I don’t feel like you are telling me the whole truth. So I think you and your children are going to need to hang out for a bit until I can sort somethings out.” Frankie says. “What could I possible be lying about Frankie? We have always had a good relationship.” My mother says. Frankie walks right up to my mother. “You’re right we have. But there was a time you hid my Hope from me which left me with many questions on why she did not want to come home.” Frankie says right in my mother’s face. “I was in love with her Frankie I was not hiding her she was simply staying with us for a bit and if I remember correctly we paid you for that time.”  My mother says right back in his face. “Yes you did pay you’re not lying there, I just did not like not knowing for a whole year where my Hope was.” Frankie does not seem to like my mother. “That was her choice Frankie, we paid like we were supposed to and the rest you have to take up with Hope.” My mother is still blocking me. “HOPE DOES NOT HAVE A CHOICE. I OWN HER!” Frankie yells at my mother. I have never seen my mother let anyone speak to her this way; I am starting to fear this man. 

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 “Stop!” Daniel yells at me. I am not going to kill her but I definitely wanted to scare her. She doesn’t look scared at all. “Stop?” I ask Daniel. “Yes I said stop, I have reconsidered. I think Percy should kill her as she wishes.” Daniel looks at Percy. “I am not going to kill my mom” Percy says without any hesitation. “What if you don’t have to kill your mom, what if you kill Hope instead? You will get to keep your mom.” Daniel says. “NO way, Hope is not on the table.” I scream at him. “You do not tell me what is on the table. That is for me to decide little sister. If I say he can kill Hope to save his mom than it is his choice of who dies here today.” Daniel steps toward me. “No one will die here today.” Percy says. “Either you choose or I have Hope killed and your mom.” Daniel says.
            Daniel seems very serious about Percy choosing. “I pick my father.” Percy says. We all stop and look at Percy. “Dad?” Grace and I both say. “Yes, to save Hope and mom I choose to kill dad.” Percy says this like it is an easy solution. “No.” Daniel says. “Why not? Because only we have to lose someone we love. You don’t even know our father any way. So I pick him to die here today.” Percy says. “NO! You don’t get to pick my father.” Daniel says. “Oh dear brother, you really want daddy’s love don’t you? If we kill dear old dad who will you have? Just us and we will most likely kill you in the end any way. This is all because you have no mother to go home to. So you’re trying to take one of ours. That’s if Cahira mother is even still alive.” Grace says to Daniel as she moves forward. “Don’t talk to me like you know me. This is not about me.” Daniel says. “This has all been about you! About your introduction into our family. OUR Family not yours. That’s why you want our mothers gone so you can have us. Guess what you will never be one of us. Good or bad we grew up together and trust each other. You will always be an outsider.” I tell Daniel.
         “That is it. They both die! I tried to be kind to you guys because you are my siblings but I am seeing that was a mistake. So now everyone dies.” Daniel says. “Oh look his feelings are hurt.” Grace says in a mocking tone. “How do we even know you’re a killer?” Grace follows up her mocking with. “How do you know I am a killer?” Daniel says. “I am sorry was I not speaking English?” Grace asks as she looks at me and Percy. I start to laugh at how Grace is getting under his skin. “I will kill you all!” He says to us. Grace, Percy and I look at each other and bust up laughing.  When we hear a loud boom coming from the warehouse doors. “No I will be the only one killing everyone here today.” I know that voice. Says a large man with an even larger gun and what looks like a swat team behind him. “Who are you?” We all ask.

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      Daniel is thinking and looking at Grace. “I mean I really wanted Cahira to kill her, you know deeper meaning and all. But you killing her is just as poetic.” Daniel says. “Grace you can’t be serious right now.” I stand in front of her letting go of Percy’s hand. “Cahira I know you don’t get it. But maybe if she is gone I will feel better. Maybe without her I won’t need to kill.” Grace says. Does she really think that our mother is the reason she needs to kill? “I have a hard time believing that you think killing mother will help you.” I tell her as I look her in the eyes. “You don’t know what it is like for me. Plus Hope seems like she would be more likely to love us all the way we are.” Grace says not blinking. She is serious. “You can’t kill mom!” Percy says.
      “We should vote on it.” I say hoping to buy time while I come up with a plan. “Do I have a say in who kills me?” Our mother says. We all just look over at her. “No, you have no say in who kills you.” Daniel tells her. I look at my mother who raised me and almost feel bad for her. “I think she should have a vote in who kills her.” I say defending her. “I say we don’t kill mom at all.” Percy says as he tries to walk over to our mother. “Oh dear sweet Percy, don’t be silly. I am going to have to die. If it was up to me, you would kill me Percy.” My mother says in her normal psychopathic voice. “You want Percy to kill you!? Are you kidding me?” Grace scream at our mother. “Yes, it is my dying wish.” My mother says in response. “Why Percy?” Daniel asks. This is the question I am sure everyone but me is wondering. “So she can see if he enjoys killing. She wants to be sure that Percy’s killer gene is activated.” I explain. My mother laughs. “Cahira, as much as you wish to be Hope’s you are more my daughter.”
      I am sickened by what my mother has said. “You would say that.” I tell her. “You are the only one here that gets why I want Percy to kill me. I want to ensure he is on the right path before I die.” She says. “Right path? Becoming a monster. You would want to set him on a path of lying and hiding. You want him to become a murder who can never live a normal life.” I yell at her. “I want him to live a life of freedom. Something you will never understand.” She says back to me. “Forget this! I’ll kill her.” I says as I go to grab a knife.

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     “One mothers life for another.” Daniel tells me. It’s my mother he has strapped to this table. “Why!?” I ask him. “It’s simple I needed someone Grace wouldn’t help you kill. Plus I don’t think she will ever welcome me into the family. So I thought how poetic that you kill your mother Rose to get your mother Hope. One life for another” Daniel smiles. “You are truly evil aren’t you?” I say as I take a step back. “She will never really accept us. She isn’t our mother and is the only thing standing in the way of having a great relationship with our dad.” Daniel is trying to get me to be on his side. “What happens if Cahira doesn’t kill our mom?” Percy asks. “I will kill Hope.” Daniel says as he rolls my mother closer to me. Percy grabs my hand and holds it. “Daniel can we make another deal? Is there something else we can give you in exchange?” Percy is trying to reason with him. I don’t think Daniel is the reasoning type. I can see Daniel thinking it over. “Aww my dear little brother Percy, don’t you see I just want to be part of your family with you. She will never allow that. We have to get rid of her. Plus we need to make you “ stronger and maybe losing her will allow your heart to harden.” Daniel says. Grace is being strangely quiet. “I don’t want to lose my mom.” Percy says so sadly.

            “You really are an idiot.” Grace says to Daniel. “Excuse me?” He says back to her. “YOU ARE AN IDIOT!” She says louder. “How do you figure that?” Daniel says back. “Dad will never forgive you or accept if you kill his other half. He will hunt you down like a dog. When honestly she would love you more than he ever would. She would admire all you have done, even this moment right now. Look at her she is smiling.” Grace says as she points to our mother. Daniel looks back at her. “She will never accept me. She told me so.” Daniel says. “Does it have to be Cahira to kill her? Or can I kill her and you still give Cahira her mother back?” Grace asks. “WHAT?” Percy and I can’t help but yell. “She will never see me, especially now that he is here. She will fall in love with him and his inventive murdering ways. I once again will be thrown to the side. Percy if anything I am doing you a favor to. Once mom and dad have their perfect killing machine son, they will never look at you again.” Grace says as she steps forward. “Well this took a turn I didn’t plan on.” Daniel says as he looks at Grace. “Grace are you crazy? You cannot kill mom. She loves us in her own way. I know it often feels like she should love us way more but she does love us.” Percy says to her. “No Percy I am just sick of living in perfect Cahira shadow and she hasn’t even been that person for years. Now that he is here, well he will just be another shadow I will have to live in. No I want to put a stop to it now!” Grace says. “So Daniel are you going to let me kill her or what?” Grace asks. 

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We all stand here looking at our older brother. I pull out Grace’s gun and point it at him. “This is not the way I planned on this going” he says. “Where is she?” I ask him. “She is hanging around here somewhere. How about we make a deal?” He says. “How can we make a deal with a nameless person?” Grace says. “That’s  an easy answer, you can just have to ask for my name.” He says back to Grace. “Do you have just one name?” I ask. “Now you’re asking the right questions.” He says to me. “What would you like us to call you?” Percy asks.  “You can call me Daniel if you would like. It was my name the longest.” He says. “Okay Daniel, what is the deal you want to make?” I ask him. He smiles as he walks out of the room and starts to head down the stairs. I roll my eyes and follow him. He does love the dramatics doesn’t he?
            We all follow him down the stairs and through the warehouse. He leads us back where Grace and whatever that little girl’s name was who killed everyone. All the bodies are gone. He must have cleaned everything. How long were we in that room for? “So what is the deal Daniel?” I ask him as I stop walking. “Grace did all the work to get Percy back. Cutting into people and killing them. I think if you want your mom back so badly I want to see you slice someone open and kill them.”  Daniel says to me. I point it at his head. “How about I just blow your brains out and just search the warehouse for my mom without you.” I tell him. “You could but did I say she was in this warehouse? Maybe I meant the one in New York or London.”  I look back at Percy who is standing behind me. “How many days ago did he take Hope away?” I ask Percy. “It’s hard to tell time in the room but I would say a few.” I look back at Daniel. “You want me to kill someone. That’s it? Why?” I ask him. “I just want to see if you have it in you. The first time I met you it seemed like you would kill anyone for no reason at all. Plus let’s just call it a life for a life. What if I promise to make it a good one?” I turn to talk to Grace. “I don’t want to take a life.” I whisper in her ear. “I will help you. You’re just going to have to do the torching part. You use to love this maybe you will again.” Grace says. “I don’t think so. But promise me I won’t have to take a life.” I whisper back to her. “I promise.” She says.
            I turn back to Daniel. “You are a real son of a….” I start to say. “Hey now let’s be nice, I lost my mother, much like you I had no idea who she was. You want a chance to know yours. I’m willing to give you that chance.” He says it like he is doing me some kind of favor. “What did you mean you promise to make it a good one?” I ask him. “So you agree to kill someone after you cut them up for a little while?” He asks me. “No I agree to do what I have to in order to get my mom back.” I tell him. He claps his hand and guys roll in a person strapped to a table with a sack over their head. “So you promise to do whatever it takes to get your mom back right?” He says. I look at the figure and it looks like a women’s body. “If that is my mom you’re trying to make me kill, I promise to end your life.” I point the gun back at his head. He laughs. “Oh no I would never do that. I am sorry I didn’t even realize how it looked until right now.” He says so light hearted. “Okay fine ill do what I have to.” I stop pointing the gun at him. He smiles and pulls the sack off her head. “NO!” Grace screams.

Life update: Timetopia is out!

I am so Excited to announce that Timetopia the book is finally released. After years of hard work it is finally available on amazon. Be sure to buy a copy. Tell me what you think. Thank you so much for all of you that supported Timetopia as a weekly series, you made this possible. I couldn't be more grateful!

For Timetopia Click here