Getting It Together

A Plan Badly Failed

"My bag, Genevieve." Beatrice holds out her hand expectantly.

A young girl, in her twenties hurriedly grabs Beatrice's suitcase and struggles to open the door for her. "Yes ma'am."

Beatrice strides towards her car and gets into the back as her driver opens the door for her.

The girl hurriedly puts her bag into the trunk and sits in the back with her.

Beatrice smoothes out her dress, and the girl mirrors her, making sure her hair looked fine under Beatrice's judgmental eye.

"Step on it James." Beatrice orders once her driver gets in, a malicious twinkle in her eyes. "Let's go see my son."

"I need you to tell me the truth." Florencio stared at Giovonnie. "Because the ghosts don't know anything, but Amelia said that Pascal looked guilty."

"Gio, how did you get chemical pneumonia? Amelia said it was caused by gases." Forgetful asks.

"Pascal-" Giovonnie starts, looking at Florencio worriedly. "When we were driving we ran into a person I knew. Pascal had saw her at the party I was at on the night he kidnapped me. He thought she was mean to me so he-He blew the gas station up."

"He what‽" The ghosts and Florencio all exclaim.

Florencio stands and stumbles out of the room, not wanting Giovonnie to see his panic. Most of the ghosts stay with Giovonnie, while Pumpkin followed Florencio into the hall and down the stairs to the living room.

"No-No-He-" Florencio gasps, wheezing.

"I know it's a lot to take in right now, but you need to breathe Flores." Pumpkin instructs.

"I can't breathe!" Florencio panics. "I-I can't!"

"Flores, it's going to be okay buddy. Help will come eventually."

"No no no...If he...He could do that to us!" Florencio screams, collapsing onto the sofa and curling up. "Ohh fuck! he's gonna...k-kill us!"

"Oh no." Pumpkin backs up, moving to call up the stairs. "Can someone help Flores? Anyone?"

They don't notice the door opening just next to them, but they do hear the small "Shh." Pumpkin turns in time to watch Jason pull Florencio onto his lap. Florencio lets out a small "eep", squirming and trying to get away from him."

Jason lets out a low moan and Florencio freezes, eyes blank. "Careful with how you're teasing me there, puppy. There's no need to cry. Pascal will kill you when he wants to, there's no need to get upset about it."

Florencio stifles a sob, yelping as Jason grabs his hips and makes him move around more.

"Fuck, that's not what I meant!" Pumpkin yells, hurriedly flickering into Alejo's room. "Alejo, please go help Florencio! He's having a panic attack and Jason is making it worse."

Alejo looks panicked, standing and trying to open his bedroom door.

It's locked.

"Pascal? Pascal, can I come out, please? Please just for a few minutes? I want to spend time with Florencio." He whined.

"Pascal, I think Alejo is trying to talk to you." Pumpkin flickers into Pascal's room next, before running out of steam and disappearing.

"Hmm?" Pascal looks up from where he was cuddling Logan and a very uncomfortable Jasper, begrudgingly sighing and handing the squirming baby to Logan. "Fine, okay, okay."

"Giovonnie?" Robin says gently. "Can you go spend some time with Florencio? We think it'd help."

Giovonnie looks up and shakily stands, slowly moving downstairs and over to the doorway to Jason's room. "What are you doing?" He accuses weakly, looking at the two.