October 20th 2029 ~ Red Bank, NJ
"Hey! Come in, they've been waiting for you!" Pauline said smiling from ear to ear when she answered the door. "Hello darlin'!" Richie said first as he walked in followed by Jon. "Hey Pauline! How are you doing?" Jon asked as she closed the door behind her. "You know work, the usual stuff. These two are driving me crazy since Jesse left." she replied as the three of them were walking to the living room. "But i manage, i got used to it you know." she added as she sat down on the couch. "I saw that online show man it was fucking awesome!" Pauline spoke again looking at them feeling proud for them. "Thank you, we are pretty good." Jon said first smiling. "Where are the boys? It's very quite around here." Richie asked while looking around. "They're packing their stuff for the weekend. It's the only thing they're talking about." Pauline answered to Richie.
"Thank you so much for taking them for the weekend. I really need that break." she added and looked at them. "We know the feeling and it's the least we could do." Jon replied knowing how she must be feeling. "We love spending time with them and you with Jess deserve some alone time, we need more children running around here!" Jon said without giving it so much thought. "Jon!" Richie spoke right after him giving his best friend his version of stink eye. "It's alright! We're doing everything we can." Pauline answered feeling little awkward. "Don't listen to him darlin'! You know when the time will come." Richie said softly. "Yeah, i know." she said simply.
"Can i ask you something?" Pauline turned at them after a long pause. "Of course." Jon said taking his serious look. "I heard Kevin singing the other day while he doing his homework..." Pauline started. "And?" Jon said first feeling his excitment raising. "And his voice was unbelievable. I was sitting outside of his bedroom for like 10 minutes listening to him. He was singing that new Adele song and his voice came so effortessly." Pauline finished while both Richie and Jon were proudly smiling. "I told Jesse the next day and said i should tell you guys. I don't know what to do." she said again. "We'll have a karaoke night and see for ourselves. Don't worry he's too young to go an a tour with us." Richie joked and Jon laughed. "I'm not joking i might be raising a future rock star!" Pauline said a little terrified when she spoke those words out loud. Jon and Richie looked at each other and chukled bit before they could answer they heard footsteps coming from upstairs.
Four legs running down the stairs as fast as they could yelling "Gradpa!" Kevin and PJ said with one voice as they run to where Jon and Richie were sitting. Jon stood up in now time and hugged his grandsons very close. "Hey, boys! I've missed you." he said when they broke the hug and gave each on a kiss on their cheek. "Boys give Richie a hug too. Don't be shy you know him." Pauline said who was watching them and knew they must be feeling a little uncomfortable. They looked at her mother and did what she asked. "Oh boys!" Richie said as he felt four little hands hugging him back.
"What are we gonna do?" the 7 year old PJ asked first looking at Jon. "Whatever you want! We can go to the park, we can paint. But first we will do your homework, okay? Go get your bags from upstairs so we can go!" Jon said while he was looking at their excited faces. "Okay, we'll be back! Don't leave without us!" Kevin said confident enough to point his finger on his grandfather. "We won't!" Jon said with playfull voice pointing his finger back at him. Smiling both of them stormed out of the living room. Once they were upstairs Pauline turned her head at them and said "We'll see you at the party right?" "Of course, we won't miss it for the world!" Richie said smiling. "It's costume party remember, don't show up wairing jeans!" "Oh right Halloween party!" Jon said laughing "Please don't be Joker again we sceared them last year." Pauline answered as she remembered how much teriefed they were the previous year.
"Nah, i'll dress up as Rich this year!" Jon said and poked Richie on his showlder. "You wish you were as fashionable as me Kidd!" Richie joked. "Really? You wanna bet?" Jon started and searched his pocjet for some money. "Here 50 bucks! Whoever gets the best costume wins!" he added as he placed the 50 dollar bill on the coffee table and offered his hand for a handshake. Richie looked at him and gave him an evil smile as he shook his hand back "Challenge accepted Kidd." "I really don't know who is going to babysit who this weekend." Pauline said as she sat back on the couch with his arms crossed and looked at them. "You know Kidd is being a kid sometimes but you have my word as an adult!" Richie joked and Pauline laughted.
"We're ready!" PJ and Kevin yelled again as they were walking down the stairs not running this time holding their bags on their hands. Jon and Richie stood up "Say goodbye to your Mum boys and let's roll!" Jon said as he searched for his car keys on his pockets. Pauline stood up as well only to get on her knees to fix her sons coats. "Be good for Grandpa and Uncle Richie okay?" she said as she hugging them both tight. "Don't worry Mum i'll keep an eye on Kevin!" PJ said feeling like a big brother even though he was only 2 minutes older than Kevin. "I know you will baby." she said as she fixed his brown hair. "Whatever!" Kevin said a little annoyed. "Come on guys! Let's go have some fun!" Richie said clapped his hands. "Yeah!" both the boys said and run to the door waiting for the rest of them.
Once at the door Pauline watched her sons getting in Jon's car. "Don't let them eat too much sugar. If anything happens call me anytime!" Pauline to Jon. "Yes, ma'am! Make sure you have some fun and we'll be alright. You have nothing to worry about, Richie is the best babysitter you could ask for." Jon answered as he watched his best friend helping them get into the car and put their seatbelts. "Yeah, i know." Pauline said and checked the time on her watch. "Oh fuck i have to leave in a few nimutes." she added. "When will he land?" "In three hours but you know how busy is JKF on Friday nights." Pauline answered and was waiving back to PJ and Kevin who were waiving at her from the backseat. "I know, i know! See you Sunday at 7.00 pm then Pauline!" Jon said and gave her a quick hug. "Have fun! Hope they don't drive you crazy!" "They can't, already crazy!" Jon joked.
"Jon! You coming?" Richie yelled from the passenger door opened. "Coming Rich!" he yelled back and said his goodbyes to Pauline. She watched them as they were driving away. Once they were gone she walked back in the warmth on her empty now house. But she had no time to waste. She run upstairs and changed to a pear on Levi's jeans and a white sweater. She grabbed her purse and coat as she exited the master bedroom. She placed them on the couch and closed all the curtains as long as most on the lights. Then she walked in the kicthen to drink a glass of water before she'll leave for the airport. Her heart was already racing when she thought she will spend the next two and a half days alone with Jesse. Of course she adored their children but she needed some alome time with her husband. She checked the time once more before she left the kitchen and turned off the lights.
Walking across the living room to get her coat and purse she notished one window was open and the curtains blowing. "Where is my mind?" she wondered to herself and walked closer and sealed the window. Turning back her breath was caught on her throat and felt her heart skip more than one beat. She was looking at a silhouette coming closer to her. She wanted to run away but she felt like she couldn't move, like she was trapped here. "Hello Pauline! Long time no see and that's a shame." Pauline heard a familiar voice saying but her mind had stopped working at this time. She could hear the footsteps on the wooden floor coming closer and closer from the dark. "Who are you? Leave or i'll call the Police!" she screamed and reached her phone from her jeans pocket with shaking hands.
The only light coming from the other side of the room revealed the identity of the person who broke in. "Jennifer." Pauline said almost whispered as her eyes opened wide. "It's been years and i thought i'd pay you a visit." Jennier said while she was looking around the living room. "You have a nice place here." she started and put her right hand in her pocket. "Unfortunately, you won't stick around too long." she added and pulled a loaded gun and pointed it on Pauline. "What do you want?" she said after she gathered all the power she had inside her. "What i want? I think you already know!" Jennifer said and closer to where Pauline was standing. "I want what you took from me all those years ago!" "Really?" Pauline answered knowing she was playing with fire now.
"Really! I promised you one thing when Jesse was in the hospital, remember?" Jennifer answered while she was walking around her making circles. Pauline was watching her every move, how could she not? She had a gun aiming her. "I promised i'll send you to your grave even if i will not see the light of the Sun again, were the words i used. And because i always keep my word let's get over it, i have one more stop before i'll go to the airport to pick up Jesse." she said so calmly. Pauline's whole body was shaking now. "Why now?" she asked trying to buy herself some time to think how she will escape her.
Jennifer stopped in front of her and looked in her eyes. "Because i was in a psychiatric clinic for almost 8 years. Jesse said it was for the best. I was doing okay but i was even better when i stopped taking the pills they're giving me." Jennifer paused and laughed a little. "I escaped early this morning when the guards changed their shift. And here i am finishing what we started years back, where i can finally be with Jesse and you'll be long gone." she added and walked behind her. Pauline closed her eyes as tears were rolling down her cheek. But she had no time for tears she thought to herself. She was looking around the living room trying to find something to distract her attention. At this moment she was praying for a miracle hoping her savior hasn't left town.
Jennifer placed the gun on the back of her skull and she could feel her breathing in and out on her neck. Pauline closed her eyes and saw her whole life passing by. Memories she didn't know she had until now. The memory that was kept coming back again and again was the one she had only minutes ago, hugging PJ and Kevin. She was an army of one with no gun right now. She could hear her heart beating inside her so fast like never before. She closed her eyes and opened them again determined now to fight for her life. "Any wishes left bitch?" Jennifer joked and placed her finger on the trigger.
The door that was leading on the patio outside was open and the curtains were blowing under the fall cold breeze. Jennifer heard a noise coming from the garden and slowly turned her head and saw a dog had just jumped the fence and was now on the backyard playing with a tennis ball. "Get the fuck out of here!" she screamed and pointed the gun at the dog and fired. Pauline heard and turned around only to make sure that Bella, the dog, was alright and she was. Jennifer was still looking at the god running in terror at the sound that the gun made. This was her chance. Her savior didn't left town after all.
Without thinking about it Pauline run towards the stairs. Jennifer felt her running away and aimed at her and pulled the trigger. The sound kept echoing on the living room as Pauline covered her head with her two hands hoping for the best. Pauline tunred around her face and saw Jennifer running to her side. Rapidly she started climbing up the stairs but missed a stair and that gave Jennifer the opportunity to grab her leg and dragged her down of the remaining stairs. Pauline hit her head in each stair but didn't feel anything. She was moving fast and she managed to escape her death wish one more time. Pauline run to where the door was and she heard Jennifer firing her gun again. Her hands were placed on the door trying to open it when she felt a burning coming from her left leg. Pauline held out a voiceless scream when she realised she shot her on the leg.
She turned around and faced Jennifer who had an pure evil smile on her face while she was walking closer to her. Her back was against the door as she rolling down she notished some umbrellas on her left. She took a step closer and took one on her left hand. Jennifer was one breath away when she opened it. Once the umbrella was open Pauline pressed it forward with whatever power she had left in her. That made Jennifer loose her balance and fel on the floor with the gun she was holding. Pauline saw the gun on the floor being only a few feet away from her, she knew she had to be fast. She looked down at her left leg. Blood was running but there waw no time to think right now. She walked and stopped in front of the gun and took it her shaking hands covered in her own blood.
Jennifer managed to get back on her feet in now time and in just a matter of seconds she was standing next to Pauline who was holding the gun in one hand while the other one was gently placed on the wound. Jennifer thought fast and with a simple move of hers she kicked Pauline's leg right where she shot her moments earlier. Pauline lost her balance and as she was hitting the floor she saw the gun dancing away from her hands. She screamed loudly. She was felling excruciating pain but didn't say a single word. Jennifer grabbed her by her hair and was dragging her closer to the light. It was dark now and only the light was coming from outside. Pauline kept trying to escape, she was only an army of one after all.
Jennifer stopped and lifted her face looking in her eyes while Pauline was on her knees. She placed the gun touching gently her forhead this time. "You won't be alone for long, your bastard sons will follow soon enough!" she said as her finger was flerting with the trigger. "You will never find them!" Pauline answered back quickly. "You know when people are about to die, they're always telling the truth. Tell where the fuck are they?" Jennifer screamed in front of her face. "Never!" she said while she was gathering all the strength she had left. Pauline was standing tall and yet so broken in front of Jennifer. She won't bend. She won't break. She won't back down now.
Pauline was breathing in and out fast and she almost didn't feel that the gun was now touching her belly. Jennifer's blue eyes were never leaving Pauline's hazel ones. She was looking dead in her eyes and Jennifer only saw how terrified she was. Jennifer's lips broke into a bitter smile knowing the moment she was planning for 10 months finally came.
"One for Patrick John!" Jennifer pulled the trigger.
"One for Kevin Constantine!" Jennifer emptied the last bullet in Pauline's body.
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