Re: The Edwards Family's Herfordshire Estate Part 1

[Pockets]

Alexis just looks at Ewan a moment, searching his face to see if he might actually be encouraging her.

Alexis: I... hope Alex can be so proud of me....

[Cruel Britannia]

Ewan pulls away a cloth that has been hanging next to Alex's section of the wall, revealing a blank plaque.

Ewan: He already does. That is why you are here. Should you succeed today.... this is where your wall shall be.... this is where your greatest achievements shall be recorded for as long as this place exists.... you will be one of us..... and we will love you as one of our own....

He pulls down another, larger cloth to reveal another blank section of wall.

.... just as, God willing.... we shall one day love you and Alex's children.

Ewan walk up and looks Alexis in the eye.

The Legacy always Continues Alexis.... because we care for our own.....

THAT is what it means to be an Edwards...... Now do you understand?

[Pockets]

Alexis meets Ewan's gaze, and smiles, nodding.

Alexis: Yes, I do. And I will succeed.

[Cruel Britannia]

Ewan nods.

Ewan: Then you are ready for the challenge.... follow me.

He leads Alexis back into the darkness.... he points down the longest darkes corridoor yet.

Ewan: At the end of this hallway is a door.... through the door lies your final challenge. You must make this walk alone.... because it will be the very last journey you ever have to make alone.

Once you step through that door there is no turning back.... you will either leave that room an Edwards.... or you will not leave.

Last chance.... do you wish to change your mind?

[Pockets]

Alexis straightens herself and looks at Ewan.

Alexis: No. There is no going back. I've gone way too far.

She looks down the dark hallway, steels herself, and begins to walk. She almost laughs to herself hearing her echoing footsteps again.

After everything else, how hard can this be?

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley sits alone now in the library. His mind feels fuzzy. He gradually forces himself to stand up and he walks over to the dvd player and presses play. He starts from the very beginning, and can't help but smile at all the Edward's achievements over the generations. But soon that smile disappears at the moment he watches himself kick Jillian. Something he hasn't been able to watch in years. The words of his daughter scream in his mind..." you want forgiveness, but you refuse to be fully honest, either with me, with them, or even with yourself."...

What is the truth?

Ashley struggles...trying to find something...some reason for all of this...he looks around the library from the chair he sits in...He starts talking to the wall as if talking to the entire Edwards family

Ashley:"You want to know why I did wot I did? You think I'm 'iding something? I..."

A voice in his head speaks. Memory of Naomi and the doctor explaining why they felt he needed therapy...Could....could that be where the answer lays?
He looks back at the door he came from and then in the direction Alexis and Ewan went...

This could be your last chance old man.

He turns his back on the open door and goes to follow Alexis

[Pockets]

Thud

Alexis stops midstep. That footstep did not come from her.

Alexis: Ewan?

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley struggles in the darkness, walking blindly and feeling his way around

"...Alexis?"

[Pockets]

Alexis: What the hell are you doing? Go home! You are not going to ruin this for me!

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley:"I don't want to ruin anything fer you Alexis. I just...Please can't you just 'ear wot I 'ave to say?"

[Pockets]

Alexis: I heard you back in the library. Has anything really changed since then?

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley:"You were roit...I 'ave been hiding things. Especially from meself. But...I need 'elp. I need serious 'elp. I ignored it. Even when the doctor, Colin, and a woman that I know cares fer me asked me to get it...I didn't want to...I didn't want to admit that maybe the doctor was right about me...that...that I do need therapy. Alexis please...If I get the 'elp I need...please give me the chance to gain a daughter back again. I know at this point that...

he sighs

"That Jillian and Ewan will never forgive me. That they 'ave no interest in that. And...fer wot I've done...I'd 'ate meself to. But please...all me cards on the table give me this one last chance Alexis."

[Pockets]

Alexis sighs, glancing at the door.

Alexis: If I pass this... I will be one of them... I will be part of the Edwards family. I'm not the one you should be doing this for anyway. But, if you can redeem yourself... we'll talk.

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley sighs...the thought that by the end of this day Alexis will likely hate him, no matter what he does burns in the back of his head like a hot iron

Ashley:"Who...would you think I should be doing it fer in yer opinion?"

[Pockets]

Alexis rolls her eyes that she has to spell it out for him.

Alexis: I would hope yourself.

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley sighs...he already knew that

Ashley:"And If I lose everything?"

[Pockets]

Alexis shifts impatiently.

Alexis: What do you want from me? I don't have any answers for you. I can't help you.

[Jabberwocky]

Ashley turns and starts to walk away, he gives up

Ashley:"You will 'ave a family that's better then anything I was or am...Be 'appy with them. I will miss you, Alexis."

he walks away, hating himself

[Cruel Britannia]

A voice can be heard booming from a balcony above.

Ewan: Still running away from your problems like a coward Irish?

.... for the love of god Ashley.... listen to your daughter. She said she would consider talking to you.... just not now.

I will NEVER forgive you..... and Jillian will NEVER forgive you.... but I will not force my opinion on her if she becomes one of us. If she decides to forgive you.... it will be her decision.... and she will make that decision knowing the truth.... a truth you should have told her 19 years ago.

Take one more word of advice from your old friend..... for the first time. If you have lost everything.... all you can do.... is rebuild..... Start a new life..... We wish you well in that task. How can you expect anyone else to stop living in the past if you insist on living there yourself?

Think about it Ashley.... but now I must insist that you leave.... today is Alexis' day.... not yours.

[Pockets]

Alexis runs her fingers through her hair, listening to her father's receding footsteps.

Why did you come after me? Why now? I can't deal with you now....

She closes her eyes and breathes deep, searching for strength. After a moment she walks through the darkness again, startling slightly at the faint echoing voice, then with another deep breath, continuing to the door. She reaches her hand to touch it.

This is it....

She opens the door.

[Cruel Britannia]

Alexis walks through the door and she hears it lock behind her. She walks down a long, dimly lit spiral staircase.... into a dungeon.... a literal dungeon.... the legendary Edwards family dungeon. The room is littered with weights, punching bags and suplex dummies. The room is lit by candles scattered around and being held by members of the Edwards family still dressed in their red robes. Directly in front of her she can see Alex tightly chained to the stone wall.

[Pockets]

Alexis stares at Alex and around the room. She runs over to Alex and pulls at a chain.

Alexis: What is this? What's going on?

[Cruel Britannia]

Out of the darkness emerges Ewan.

Ewan: It is a necessity..... as I told you Alexis.... you must make this journey alone.

Ewan sits in a large oak throne with red upholstery.

Ewan: He must be bound to ensure he does not interfere with the final challenge.

[Pockets]

Alexis backs away and nods.

Alexis: Alright. What is it?

[Cruel Britannia]

Ewan gestures for Alexis to step into the "ring" a layer of padding no thicker than bare carpet on top of solid stone.

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