Rose Red Page #11

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Stop it!

Losing his fingers has affected|his mind. Don't hold it against him.

Oh, wake up, sweetheart.|Wake up, all of you!

It locked us in when she was awake.|Then she passed out...

...everything opened up again.

We could've gotten away then|if we'd understood what was happening.

One of us did understand.|Joyce understood, didn't you, Joyce?

And when the little b*tch|woke up again...

I can't... My hand hurts too much.

You know as much as I do.|Tell them the rest.

Tell us he's insane, start with that.

But he's not.

Why bring psychics, telekinetics|and automatic writers here, anyway?

It was to recharge a cell that|was never dead, merely dormant.

And we have all played our part,|I think. But Annie has been key.

But what Emery doesn't understand|is that Steve has been key too.

Steve's about as psychic|as a ham sandwich.

Please be quiet, Joyce.

Don't you tell me to shut up.|How dare you?

He asked you to be quiet.

And do it, please!

I want to hear this.

Everyone has some psychic capacity.

I've read your books and articles.|You used to know that...

...before all this psychic superstar|infatuation stuff.

I know Miller isn't the only...

...imagination-challenged idiot|you've had to deal with.

- But you've become blinded, misguided.|- I have not become blinded.

Whatever Steve's psychic ability in|the outside world, here in Rose Red...

...it's amplified to the power of 10.|Because he's blood, Ellen's blood.

You said so,|you're the last of the Rimbauers.

I'm not holding the doors shut,|or transforming the window glass.

No, of course you're not,|Ellen's doing it through Annie...

...but also through you.|You know it, or at least sense it.

She's not doing anything through me!|I don't sense that!

Hello, Stevie.

- Mommy?|- No, Stevie, look, please.

Would you like to help me build?|I'll show you how.

Stevie, where are you?

Go to her, but come back.

- We have to go!|- Come back and help me build.

Help me build, Stevie.

Steve, what's wrong?

A false memory, the house planted it.

- Are you sure?|- No, I'm not.

For now, let's stick to the kid.

With her gone, if the doors are|still locked, we'll deal with him.

No one is going to hurt this child.

Of course they're not.

And there's the rub. We're in|trouble, ladies and gentlemen.

Big trouble.

Want to play a game, Annie?

You take 10 real deep breaths,|squat down, blow on your thumbs.

You'll get all floaty, then you'll go|to the North Pole with Santa Claus.

- The rest of us, meanwhile...|- Stop it!

We'll scurry out of here|like little mice.

- It's not funny.|- Neither is this!

Tell you what, let's find some|dry cleaning bags to wrap her up...

...until she passes out,|or pinch her nose shut.

And you? You're the utility|infielder on this team.

Knock her out with your mind.

Five minutes would be enough for us to|make like bees and buzz. Hell, three.

I can see her thoughts,|but it's the most peculiar thing...

- They're high.|- Yes.

High above me as if|she were a princess in a tower.

She's waving, but there's no way|to reach her. At least not from me.

Annie, look at Nick.

What to do with you, little sister?

The back of the head's the best|place, above the nape of the neck.

Hit her hard, the lights go out,|hit her harder... .

Oh, you ugly man.|You ugly little troll!

Don't say you've never thought of it.|Do us a favor, do yourself a favor.

Or do you want to spend the rest of|your life wiping your sister's ass?

Stop it!

Where are you going, Cathy?

I'm going to get a glass of iced tea.

I saw a nice big pitcher of it|in the fridge.

- You shouldn't go alone.|- I'm not.

God goes with me, everywhere.

Get away!

You killed my boy!

You killed my Emery!

I beg your pardon.|Would you mind awfully letting her go?

I guess not.

Cathy, are you all right?

- I think so. What about her?|- You really are a good Christian lady.

Well, is she all right?|Is she even alive?

Pulse is strong and steady.|You know who she is, of course.

Emery's mother?|We'll have to tell him.

You don't want to?

"Emers, your mother just|popped out of the cellar.

Forget round the bend.|She's off the planet."

How does that sound,|given the condition he's in?

Sounds very bad.|What should we do with her?

Annie, can you open the doors?

Can you open the doors|and let us out?

Annie, look at me.

No, don't touch her!|Don't touch her!

It wasn't her. I thought it was|April Rimbauer. I'm sorry.

Damn this house. If only there were|a way to reach the Annie inside.

Talk to her with your mind.

It's not high, it's not where|she lives. If only there were a way...

- What are you thinking about?|- I'm not sure.

Nick and Cathy should've|been back by now.

Why did she have to go off on her own|anyway? That was extremely stupid.

This is wrong to me.|The woman is ill.

She's also dangerous to herself|as well as to others.

Will those hold her?

I think so. Besides, Emery gave me|the feeling her interests run more...

...to the Home Shopping Network|than "Amazing Escapes".

Drink up. It will do you good.|Here's to damsels in distress.

And the knights who rescue them.

Coming in here alone was very stupid,|but Emery so upset me.

Emery upsets everyone. Look at her.|Well, I'm sorry, but it's true.

She's coming around. Now we only|have to worry about Miller.

Mrs. Waterman.

Have you seen Professor Miller?|Joyce's department head.

You killed my boy!

Mrs. Waterman, you've got it wrong.|Emery's fine. Now, have a sip.

Liar! Limey jack-tar!

Limey jack-tar? I've been called|many things, but never that.

I'm afraid we'll have to leave you|alone for a little while.

Only till you feel yourself again.

Cathy, come here.

We're doing that. It's feeding|off us. You must feel it too.

Of course I do. Oh, dear Jesus,|please get us out of here.

Steve couldn't hold us. Not with me,|you and Emery against him.

No, the problem is Annie.|Emery was right about that.

- Could you...?|- Could I hurt her?

I have the power. But no,|of course I couldn't hurt her.

What is it? Do you want|to buy a vowel or spin again?

- That's not funny.|- Sorry. What are you trying to say?

Anything?

No.

But it's so cold.

It's coming from in there.

Close the door, then.

We're going to leave you, but not|for long. You'll be perfectly safe.

Something's happened to her.

Rose Red has happened to her.|Let's join the others.

Wait. I'm sorry we can't|make you more comfortable.

But we'll be back to get you soon.|I promise, I promise.

- She's fried.|- That's also unkind.

But it's also true.

- This is not the way we came.|- You're telling me.

- Thank you.|- You're welcome.

"Seattle Livery, 1924."

But it's brand-new.

You'd have thought she would|have Rose Red eat...

...at least one|halfway decent carpenter.

Of course, the real question is,|how does it go?

What? What is it?

The reincarnation of Emery's mother.

- Nick.|- Sorry, Cathy.

The truth is, I'm rather scared.|Let's find the others.

We won't.|We'll never see them again.

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