9 Seconds of Freedom, Pt. 45, Original Suspense, Episode links included

I climbed down the ladder and into Leeanne’s arms. She held me for what felt like forever.

“Um, you guys,” Sarah said. “That alligator, definitely moved.”

Story continues after episode links

In shock from being dropped out of their tank, and the giant stun gun I’d created, the creatures were starting to stir. Ben was definitely beyond hope and the mayor had died from her injuries when Leeanne had inserted the cage keys into her Carotid artery.

Bert Skinner was crushed under the weight of the Alligator’s island. It had been molded from concrete, made buoyant by Styrofoam inside its hollow shell. On top of what I’d already done to him, the sheriff’s body had simply given out under the force of the water. But, Deputy Skinner, was starting to move.

Leeanne walked over and pulled back the slide on the pistol.

“Wait,” Fred said. “Someone has to answer for everything they did. In front of a judge. The world needs to know.”

I agreed. We dragged Hal out and put him in the back of the Chevy. The others climbed into Rita’s black sedan.

I was backing out of the driveway when I remembered something. I stopped the truck and ran back into the barn. It took several minutes of searching before I discovered the waterlogged bear. Leeanne was honking.

I held up the bear in her headlights as I exited the barn.

“Seriously Dalton, you’re making my baby wait so you can find your toy?” Leeanne said.

I laughed. I climbed into the Chevy and tossed the bear onto the seat beside me, along with the nail gun. Then, I followed Leeanne back through town and out the other side down the same road I’d taken to the Baker’s, what felt like a year ago.

She pulled into a winding drive, lined on both sides with trees. The house looked like a plantation. Fitting. For a slave owner.

Almost all of the lights were on. Leeanne ran to the door and started pounding. The rest of us followed close behind.

“Oh, look Dexter, Grandma must be home,” Boots said.

She opened the door three quarters of the way before she realized who it was and started pushing back. Leeanne flattened her with the door.

There, standing in the Mayor’s foyer, was a little boy that was about to change my life forever. Leeanne knelt down. She held out her arms and he ran toward her. She picked him up, tears streaming down her face as he snuggled into her shoulder.

“Hello baby boy, mama’s so glad to meet you,” she said.

“Aww, he’s adorable,” Sarah said. “What are you going to name him?”

Leeanne smiled up at me. “I know it’s not your real name, but I’ll always remember you as Dalton. Can I call him Dalton?”

“I don’t know, maybe you should ask him,” I said.

“You like the name Dalton?” she asked.

The boy smiled.