Page 57 of Psychotic Nightmares

One fucked up love life

Unemployyyyment

One gunner fail

Pa’s cold corpse

Two rapists dead

And my baby’s safe returnto meeee

What the newspaper clipping says:

Xander Jacobs, 23, was found shot outside of Shaws Bank on the evening of Tuesday 27th July. The bank was also burned down along with nearly $3,000,000 of cash missing from the safe.

At this moment in time, Mr Howard Shaw, the owner of the bank, is the primary suspect and police are doing everything they can to find him.

Police chief and Howard's brother, Gerald Shaw, was quoted in saying, “I have received a letter from my brother, and at this point in time he is the primary suspect in the murder of Mr. Jacobs. He also admitted to stealing the money and burning down the building, not only to cover his crime, but also to commit insurance fraud. He also admitted to the assaults of many women who had worked for him previously, we are investigating these claims and are doing everything we can in finding Mr. Shaw to put him away for all his crimes. As for you Howard, just because I am your brother, that doesn’t mean I will protect you every time you mess up. If anyone has any information relevant to the case, please call the local police department.”

Part Two

5Months Later

seventeen

Grace

I’m a grandma. I’m 26 - almost 27 years old and I’m a grandma.

“You’re okay, baby girl. You’re doing so well.” Anya squeezes my hand as she gives another push. Her mousey blonde hair sticks to her head as she sweats. Her blanket covered legs start to tremble as she struggles to keep them up on the makeshift stirrups me andGustin quickly made from pillows, duvets, towels and whatever else we could find while Bull checked how dilated she was. Turns out she was fully dilated and she hid her pain from the contractions most of the night.

Just as I did.

Only I had no-one while I gave birth, Ma and Pa came in as soon as they heard my newborn cry and took her away from me. But no-one, and I meanno-oneis going to come close to taking my grandbaby away. They would have to kill me, and the rest of the bandits, first.

“That’s it, almost there.” Bull encourages her to do one more push. “You got this, darlin’. Deep breaths.”

She shakes her head and reaches out for Gustin with her other hand. They’ve both been living with me at my apartment since the night I killed Pa, and yet, she still hasn’t spoken a word to me. “I’m here.” Gustin comes from where he stands in the corner of the room, unsure of what to do, and holds her hand in his trembling one. He’s been panicking since her waters broke at three this morning.

I almost had a heart attack when he came bursting through my bedroom door screaming for help. Of course the first thing I did after making sure she was okay was call our friendly neighborhood doctor, who was here within minutes, the others close behind. When I asked how they knew, Julian pointed to the cameras.

Of course he was watching.

He’s always watching.

Justlike I’m Mike Wazoski and he’s Roz.I mean, he has the same gruff voice as her when he’s tired, and he looks adorable when he wears his glasses to read.

Maybe he’s more like her than I realise.

Thankfully, he’s stopped sneaking in, but he made me promise to let him replace the cameras in the hall, lounge and kitchen. He came round while me andBull were at Ma’s and took out the one in the bathroom - I never minded it there when I lived alone, I loved taunting him whenever I bathed or showered. Always putting on a show for him.

But it’s a different story now I have the kids here.

After letting all the bandits in - including the young ones,I made them all wait in the lounge while my bedroom became a makeshift medical room.

“Come on sweetheart. Just a few more pushes and your baby will be here.” I wipe the sweat off her forehead with a cool washcloth, “deep breaths, honey.” I inhale deeply, fortunately she mirrors me. I exhale slowly and she copies.

“That’s good.” Bull says. “Now ready to push?” She nods. “Okay, push.” She grasps my hand so tightly I swear she could break my fingers. “Okay, the headsout. The next push is going to be a little harder, okay, it’s to get their shoulders out.” She nods. “Take some deep breaths and push when you’re ready.” She nods again. I know she’s not mute, I’ve heard her talking to Gustin quietly at night. I know some people may think I’m fucked up for letting them share a bedroom at their ages and after everything they’ve been through. But my heart couldn’t take her screams and constant crying in the middle of the night. The only way she would settle was when Gustin held and sang to her, while I sat there helpless from the blow up mattress on the floor in which I slept.