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Tuesday - September 14

She reopens her eyes and sees that they're no longer in the city, but in the country. She presses down on the electric switch to allow the window to roll down, but it's locked. She asks Raymond if the window can be opened. The driver rolls down the window for her. Claire sticks her head out and inhales the country's fresh, cool, wintry air. Atlanta's air is stale and stinks of the drudgery of humankind. The country air smells of freedom and peace.

The chauffeur turns into a plowed gravel road, warning Claire that the window needs to be closed. There are no other buildings, no other roads, and no presence of people. Claire hopes that she's not in any serious danger and that Raymond can be trusted.

The limo begins to slow down as they approach a hill that has an old, eroded building erected upon it. The limo finally stops.

The chauffeur gets out and comes around to open Claire's door. Claire gets out of the car and becomes nervous when the chauffeur goes to the trunk. Thinking that he'll do her harm, she looks around to see if there's anywhere for her to escape. When she sees him pulling out a wheelchair for Raymond, she vents a sigh of relief. He takes the wheelchair to Raymond's door, opens it, picks Raymond up, and carefully places him in the chair. He covers Raymond's legs and begins to wheel him to the entrance of the run-down building.

"Why are we here?" Claire asks.

Ignoring her question, Raymond nods to his chauffeur to continue. Claire sees them heading towards the building, but is too afraid to follow. She protests, "I'm not going in there! You can't make me!"

Raymond's chauffeur turns the wheelchair around. Raymond's gentle voice says, "Claire, this is for you, and for your baby's sake."

As Claire stands in front of Raymond, not fully understanding as to what's happening, or as to why she's even here, she finds herself bewitched by Raymond's eyes. As she tilts her head slightly, she says, "There must be some reason why you brought me here. I don't know what it is, nor why, but I guess I'll have to trust you. So, let's go and see what's in store. Okay?"

Quietly, the three of them enter the building. Claire shutters from the unknown as they enter the dark, dimly lit building. She wonders what this place was before the economy took a severe drop in the early part of the century. The place is deathly still, except for the crunching noise of broken glass being crushed by Raymond's wheelchair, or hers and the chauffeur's footsteps.

The chauffeur stops in the middle of the corridor. Claire looks around and doesn't see any doors. Disgusted, she asks Raymond, "Why have we stopped? Do we just stand here, or what? What's going on, Raymond?"

Claire looks around, when all of a sudden she hears a small, faint, squeaky noise. Claire begins to see that the wall is moving. She steps back, swallowing a big gulp. After the door, or wall, is fully opened, Claire notices a shadow in the soft light of the elevator. She ruffles Raymond's shoulder, and bends down, whispering in his ear, "Who is that?" The figure begins to exit the elevator when Claire realizes who it is. In total disbelief, Claire finally musters the courage to say, "Gerald! You're Gerald! You're John's father! You're supposed to be..."

"Dead? Yes, I'm supposed to be dead, my dear. But, as you can see, I'm very much alive. Please, allow a father-in-law to embrace his daughter and grandchild."

Totally flabbergasted by seeing Gerald, Claire allows him to embrace her and to feel his touch for the first time.

Gerald releases his hold from Claire, and places a finger under her chin, saying, "You, young lady, are so brave. That's why you've been chosen."

Claire continues to stare in disbelief at Gerald, and then says, "Chosen?"

"Yes, dear, chosen."