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Paul O’Connor sits at his desk with the happiest smile on his face that anyone had ever seen. As Marcia watches his face get brighter and brighter, she decides to see what was making him so happy on the computer he was watching.
She spies out the failure of Joseph Arlington, caught on camera. The man he was to assassinate was spared by the shaking hands of Joseph. She knew what this meant. Paul O’Connor now had the chance to wipe the Arlington’s from the earth permanently.
“Isn’t this great Marcia? I finally have a legal chance to kill the Arlington’s off… particularly Daniel Arlington. He has been a pain in my side for far too long. It is time for the master’s star pupil to join him in the grave.” Paul said rubbing his hands together. “And what about the others of his family? Is it really right to just take them out too?” she asks him.
“Don’t get soft on me Marcia Rhett. You will do as I say and complete it without emotions. It is what we are all trained to do. Emotions is where failure spawns. The moment you feel sorry for yourself or your victim, you will fail in a large way. So, Marcia, eyes on the prize. There is no reason to back out on me now.” He says turning to her. “I’m with you all the way. I just thought you might be merciful.” “Merciful? Why would I risk any of the Arlington lineage to come after me? There will be no survivors. I don’t need them threatening my life.” He says with selfishness spilling from his gums.
“Get my plane ready. We’re going to New Heights.” Paul says. “Now?” she asks with wide eyes. “Not to kill the Arlington’s. I want to savor it. I’ll make it a spectacle of sorts when I do bring the rain upon their heads, but for now, we need to get there to get something I want. I’ve finally found the solution to my problem?” Paul says.
“What’s the solution?” she asks him. Paul clicks him mouse on another window and opens it up. There was a live feed of Joseph holding the Annabelle’s book in his hand. Annabelle was taking it from him in the slow framerate.
“A book?” she asks with spite. “A book. Where do you think we get all of our information? I know the book in his hand… that book there belong to my most prominent scientist. And now... now I know where it is. After all the years of searching for it, I finally know where I can find it. It’s time it came back to its home.” Paul says spreading his arms out, soaking up the entire facility in his prideful ego. Marcia rolls her eyes at Paul and leaves his office.
Paul bends down looking into the screen once more. He runs his fingers down the book that he hoped, held the solution to eternal youth. It was his to have and his only.
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Madison sits in front of the TV dressed in her PJ’s watching who knows what. She looks down the hall seeing the light on in Joseph’s room. She gets up and knocks on his door. He doesn’t answer, so she just opens the door.
Joseph was sitting at his desk drawing something interesting. She places her hands on his shoulder and rests her chin on her hands. She watches him draw the curves to what looked like a weapon.
“What are you doing up so early?” she asks him. “I should ask you the same.” Joseph says continuing to draw. “I’m always up early. Movies aren’t made in a day.” She says. “I’m up because I couldn’t sleep.” He tells her.
“You still thinking about what’s going to happen?” she asks him still watching his hands move across the paper. “Yes. I am worried. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up Madison. I’m going to fight with my last breath. They’re going to have to take my life and my family’s the hard way.” He tells her with a confident voice.
She gets off his shoulder then sits on his bed. She shuffles her feet on the floor little bit. “Joseph… I don’t want you to die.” She says to him. “I didn’t think you wanted me to.” He jokes. “Funny Joseph. But I’m being serious. I don’t want you to die. You’re my best friend… and you’ve been with me all these years. I can’t be here when the time comes.” She tells him.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0b7fOa6fI
“I don’t want you to be here. If I die, I don’t want you anywhere near my death.” He says turning back to his friend. “So… I’m going to go back to Hollywood. They have a part there for me to take up. I know it’s all of a sudden. But…” “Under any circumstance Madison, I encourage you to look out for your job first. Don’t worry about me. If I survive whatever is coming, I’ll tell you. In fact, I’ll come to you.” He says with a smile on his face.
“Alright. Deal. So… survive whatever thing is about to happen.” Madison tells him. “I’ll do my best.” He tells her. She hugs him then walks out of the room. Joseph continues his drawing.
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Natalia sat in her room sitting up. She looks to her stuffed bunny. “Joseph says he’s going to fight Fluffy Bottoms. Will he win? … … … You don’t know? You can’t see in the future? I should have guessed that. Well… you can calculate odds right? … … … Okay then. What are the odds of him winning against the entire IOSTA? 8%! You have got to be kidding me! How can we win? … … … … … By the hand of the familial head… the strike to the leaders’ life will end all current strife.”
Natalia looks at her door for a few moments thinking to herself. “But dad would have to do it.” Natalia says looking at her bunny. She tilts her head slightly. “Dad won’t be able too? Why not?! … … … Too old and slow? But Joseph isn’t the in charge. … … … … Things can change? What are you saying Fluffy Bottoms? … … … Close your heart to all that hurts. Look forward and not back. Survival can only be obtained by a calm mind. I don’t get it. What are you talking about? Don’t you go silent on me! Fluffy Bottoms! I’ll get you for this.” Natalia says.
Finally morning came around. Joseph left the house before anyone really noticed. He droves his car to Annabelle’s house. He stopped in front of a beautiful plantation mansion. His eyes went up and down the home. It was gorgeous, in excellent shape, and it was white as snow.
He gets out of the car and walks up the sidewalk to the door. He knocks on it three times and waits. The door opens and there was Annabelle. She smiles at Joseph.
“I didn’t think you would come Arlington. Come on in.” she says to him. He walks in to the home. It was as classic as a plantation mansion would be in the old days, other than the modern electronics pilfering the classic ambience.
“This is a beautiful home. Your family owns this?” Joseph asks. “My mother owned this home. My father owns it now, and it goes to me when he dies. It’s a lot to keep up with, especially with only two people living in it.” Annabelle says motioning him to come up the stairs.
“Two people?” He asks as he climbs the stairs. “Me and my father. My mother was… killed years ago. It’s just me and him now.” She says stopping at the top.
“Where is your dad? I’d imagine he wouldn’t want me in his home with his daughter.” He says to her. “Work. He’s out of town. He’s out of town a lot. Don’t think you’re a problem. I’m the problem.” She says taking him to the right wing of the home.
“You? Why in the world would you say that?” he asks her. “I think the world of my daddy, and I know my daddy thinks the world of me but he only sees my mother when he looks at me. He smiles every time and cries later. It’s hard for him to be around me.” She says opening the door she wanted.
“It should be hard for him to be around you.” Joseph says walking into a studio room. “You didn’t know my mother. She bewitched my poor old papa. He doesn’t function well without her. That’s why we have hired help doing all the work I can’t do for the family.” She says.
“Oh. Well…” “He’s around enough Arlington. He isn’t neglecting the only person he has left in his life. It would kill him to do so. He just needs to get out every so often. Plus, since you’re so much a gentleman and you’re worried that he won’t want you here, I told him you were coming over before I let you in. So… stop talking right now. I need to go unlock the safe over there. Excuse me.” She says walking away from him.
Joseph looks around the room at all the paintings. One side was filled with contemporary Art and the other side was filled with fine art. Each one was more gorgeous than the other. Sitting on the walls was photography, finely tuned to each scene on purpose.
“This is amazing. You did all of this?” he asks. “No. A lot of it is my mother’s. The contemporary in particular is hers. The fine art is mine. The photography we shared together.” Annabelle said with a smile on her face as she looked back to Joseph staring at it all.
Annabelle unlocks the safe and pulls her special book out. She opens the book up putting it on a table in the corner. She motions Joseph to come over.
“Take a look.” She says pointing at the book. “What?” he asks. “Read it.” She tells him. “The days of my youth were filled with scorn of the town and pain as no one understood me. My own mother tried to comfort me through it all. But she didn’t understand me either.
But I continued to be in pain, that no one understood the person I was. It was until one day I met an older man… nearly 80 at the time that I finally knew why I was misunderstood. He told me that there was a brilliance in me that could light the way to the future if I put it to good use.
The old man, named Chang Fo, said there were oppurtunities for me… oppurtunities in the IOSTA… The IOSTA? Your mother was involved with the IOSTA?” Joseph asks turning to Annabelle.
“My mother made mention of it more than once. It had a large influence on her life. I also think it took her life in return though.” Annabelle says standing back some.
“Why?” Joseph asks. “The book there has so many secrets in. My mother documented every bit of research she had in it. It holds secrets in it that could potentially change or destroy the world.” Annabelle said, “She unfortunately abused her brilliant mind, as I have read, and created things that could be used to harm life on this planet. She changed her mind to allowing it to get free, destroying the research, and then hiding the only evidence of its existence in this book.”
“Your mother sound interesting.” Joseph says to Annabelle. “My mom was awesome. She really inspired me. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t make her mistakes.” Annabelle tells him.
“So you just wanted to show me that you knew about the IOSTA?” Joseph asks her. “Well that and I really li… There was something else in the book you needed to see.” She says. “Were you about to say something else?” “No.” She said turning back to the book.
She flips to the near back of the book. Joseph comes around her and looks at it. “It is my conclusion as a woman of science and the art of what is right that I determine the state of the IOSTA. Since the death of my once great mentor Chang Fo, trainer of only those deserving, using his power only to help the world as best he could, that the IOSTA is in fact in a state of disrepair that will continue to break down.
The man now in power, I find to be crass, foolish, power hungry, arrogant, and dangerous. He has been making decisions slowly changing the face of the IOSTA, gaining ever more power so no one can contend with him.
My research of eternal youth has his interest. Fortunately he does not know that I have long ago figured out the problem. I have kept it a secret for the purpose that a man like him should never gain it and become the most dangerous person the world has ever seen.
In light of all of this… my recommendation to anyone who reads this, be it my daughter, or be it someone she trusts with the knowledge, you must take your moral code and toss it out of the window. You must end the life of Paul O’Connor. He will not stop until the world is in the flames he so wishes. Do not be afraid to take him on at all. End his life to protect everyone else’s.” Joseph read.
Joseph thinks on what he has just read a little bit. Annabelle reaches around him and turns the page for him. Joseph looks down at the book once more.
“I have found out that Chang Fo was murdered by his former pupil Paul O’Connor. Action must be taken. I have not the power nor the skill to take Chang Fo on however. I am too weak and anyone I ask to take him on will be killed in an instant.
His nature is dangerous and it will be difficult to contend with. He can’t be stopped. Someone else will have to conquer him before he gets to powerful or finds the solution to eternal youth.” Joseph finishes reading.
“My mother was in the midst of all of that and raising me as far away from it as she could. But she didn’t leave me clueless. She left me her diary. It holds things she discovered as a child… and as an adult.” Annabelle tells him.
“You’re asking me something aren’t you?” Joseph says to her looking her in brown eyes. Annabelle brushes her hair behind her ear. She looks down at her feet and nods. “Then just ask me.” Joseph says.
“I want you to end Paul O’Connor.” Annabelle says looking up at him. She made sure she looked in his eyes. She made certain he would know that she would hold her ground. She gave him an inch of the woman she was inside.
“I can’t do it for you.” Joseph says. “You can. You opened up to me in the woods Joseph.” “Yeah, I did. I needed someone to talk to. No one else was around.” “I though… never mind. Arlington, I need you. You don’t realize it, but if you take Paul out, it won’t corrupt you. You’ve got a good heart. You know that taking Paul’s life is the right thing to do. No one else will.” Annabelle says.
“I don’t want to take anyone’s life Annie.” Joseph says. “Please call me Belle if you want to shorten name up. Look, Joseph, I can’t do it. I don’t have your training or skill. I knew I could trust you the moment I laid my eyes on you. You always put others ahead of yourself. I know it’s not something you really want to do, but I’m begging you to do it. Even if you don’t do the finishing blow… I need you to bring him down long enough for someone to do it.” She says to him.
“I’m not opposed to someone else taking the finishing blow but I know that you would relish it for yourself.” Joseph says. “What do you mean by that?” she asks with her eyebrows coming down. The sincerity in her left as she tried to figure out what he was pointing at.
“Belle… I think you think Paul murdered your mother. I know I might be wrong but I highly doubt it. Therefore, I would still deny you your request.” He tells her. “Why?!” she asks flustered, “It’s not like you’re killing him.” “No I’m not. But you are. I doubt, from what your mother says, she wants you to end up like her. She’s by no means a clean woman. I think she wants you as far away from the IOSTA as possible. I won’t help you spill blood.” Joseph says.
“Would if I got someone else to do it?” She says. “Who?” Joseph says squinting at her. “That doesn’t matter. But… I see what you mean.” She says to him. “I’ll think about it. I’ll get back to you later.” Joseph says. “Alright.” She says. “I think it’s time for me to go. I have to go see a friend off.” Joseph says. “I’ll see you later then.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruZ5xzDgRI
