Just exiting the jet, it would be less than an hours drive to Dredge’s Tennessee ranch. There wasn’t much traffic on Highway 24. The further from the city they got the more disgusted Senester felt. The air had that putrid, country stench to it. It reeked of hay, of dirt, filthy livestock and their shit. He could tolerate it because there were more important issues at hand than where Michael Dredge was born, settled, and decided to start his family. Finally they came upon the estate. The property stretched for a few acres, its flourishing green hosted trees, animals, even its own private lake. In the distance were the ranch and the main house. He thought that at the very least, minus the location, Dredge had managed to spend some of his wrestling earnings reasonably well. They turned onto a gravel road and not much further along came to an archway with a large sign with the name of the estate. They drove up the long driveway and a few hundred yards later stopped in front of the main house.
The door is opened for him and Senester steps out of the limo. There’s a crunch of gravel beneath his feet, he looks at the house and the surrounding grounds. Senester motions for his security detail, who had been trailing the limo, to remain behind. Somewhere off in the distance they were able to see or where fully aware of his command. He walked to the front door which he found to be surprisingly unlocked. He stepped inside and deep within could hear running around. Michael Jr. suddenly comes into view running in rain boots he’s muddied, and further tracking mud in the house as he chases a puppy and a little piglet.
His innocence was divine. One small soul so removed from the sins of man, and the common worries of the world. His bright smile and light giggle fill the room as he romps around. The pig and pup head through the living area and MJ runs after them spotting Senester by the door. He looks up at him.
(MJ): Hi!
You can hear more footsteps in the house and soon see Kate running into the room, a roll of paper towels under her arm, and a bottle of cleaner in another.
(Kate): Michael Jr…..honey you’re tracking mud all through the house sweetie.
She sounds out of breath from running around trying to wipe up mud as quickly as he puts it down. She’s bent over wiping and moving forward, but suddenly feels a presence in the room. She looks up to see Senester standing just apart from the front door simply watching her. Kate’s face turns white as if she’s seen a ghost. Fear strikes her so hard she is frozen still. Senester smiles at her kindly as he takes a few steps from the door towards her.
(Senester): Don't look so surprised my dear, you had to have known I was coming.
The sound of MJ giggling in the background breaks Kate’s trance and her motherly instincts kick in. Her eyes move over to a fantastic cabinet with an assortment of guns, obviously Dredge’s collection. She runs over to the cabinet and stands on her tippy-toes to reach a key hidden up top far from MJ’s reach. She’s quivering from head toe, fumbling with the lock until she opens the cabinet. He breathing is heavy, her brow is cold and sweating. Senester takes a few more steps towards her.
(Senester): I was hoping we might have a civilized conversation Kate, please have a seat.
She ignores him, grabbing a shotgun from the rack and a box of shells. She’s so nervous that they spill out onto the floor, she scrambles to get a few, her head turning back and forth from the gun to Senester as she struggles to open the chamber and get a few shells into it. There is a flash in her head of the many times Dredge had taught her how to shoot in the back. Being so adverse to violence, it had taken years before she even agreed to touch a gun, and now as dark fear gripped her it was as if this was her first time. By the time she loads the chamber, and gets back to her feet Senester is upon her. MJ can still be heard in the background playing, puppy barking, pig squealing and she’s terrified to scream out loud for his safety. She tries to lift the gun up at him, but her efforts for extremely futile.
(Kate): Get out! Get out of our house!
Tears are flowing down her face and Senester grabs her by the throat. His whole hand nearly reaching around her entire neck and with minimal effort he hurls her across the room.
(Senester): This is no way to greet your lord and master. You should be thanking me Kate. I’ve allowed you this fantasy for five years now. This illusion of happiness, of love, of life.
Kate is trying to pull herself up from the floor, her body riddled with pain from falling into a hand carved wooden table. Senester walks over and kicks her straight in the face, a splatter of blood splashes the wall as she flails back.
(Senester): You should have listened to your instincts when you first met him. You should have left and never looked back. You could have been a doctor by now, instead of a ordinary farm maid.
Kate’s face is bleeding, she seems barely conscious as she meagerly mouths “Michael.”……..Senester kicks her hard in the stomach a few times as she scream…”No!”
(Senester): I’ve come to collect what belongs to me. He was never yours woman. I’ve had him since 2004. I nurtured him. I harnessed his rage. I developed and refined his skills. It was the love of God who made him who he is.
Kate is crawling on the floor. MJ can still be heard in the distance running around. Kate grabs hold of the side of the couch and pulls herself up, she’s in tears, in pain and bleeding. Senester grabs her by the hair and yanks her head back.
(Senester): Do you know the word of God Kate? Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Barely conscious at this point, her head held back in Senester grabs, Kate weakly mouths…
(Kate): Michael.
Tears and blood streak her face as Senester reaches into the breast pocket on his suit, pulls out some device that he sticks to her neck. A small noise of air pressure escapes and her eyes begin to quiver as he lets her drop to the floor. He kneels down beside her as her vision blurs, in the background she can see MJ coming back into the room.
(Senester): You were but one of many instruments whose use has come to its end.
Senester gets up and sees MJ. He turns to the giddy four year old still playing with his pig and puppy. Senester snatches the dog as it runs towards him then kneels down eye level with MJ.
(Senester): Is this your puppy?
MJ smiles and just nods excitedly.
(Senester): I have a lot of pets too. I have birds, fish, dogs, pigs, horses, even monkeys.
MJ’s mouth forms an “O” in surprise.
(Senester): I know huh? I have a very fun idea. Since your mom is out you can come with me and I’ll show them to you, and then your dad can come pick you up when he gets home. How does that sound?
MJ looks confused.
(MJ): My daddy said……he….he told me no.
(Senester): Oh I see.
Senester gets to his feet and motions with his hand. The front window cracks as a tranquilizer dart comes through hitting MJ. Within seconds he’s out cold. Two armed guards enter the home and pick him up as Senester adjusts his suit looking at MJ as he’s taken outside.
(Senester): Sorry kid…..I don’t have time for this.
He looks over at Kate on the floor and smiles.
(Senester): Goodbye my dear…..and thank you!
Senester exits the house and closes the door as the scene fades to black.
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