FULL NOVELXO Chapter 18: Battle Lines
Andrea said, "she can't run from me forever, I will find her". She went to go find Paula; Figuring that maybe Paula could help but all she found was the door to the garage open and her keys gone. Andrea walked back into the kitchen and said "Alternate reality Paula is going after Andi" and Maldor said, "are you sure she's not running away?". Andrea said, "that woman saved my life and hung in there with me until I healed up and she even gave me a reality check and promised me she'd get me back here". Andrea smiled and said, "She's got this, I promise...just trust me". Maya nodded and said, "very well, I'll give her 2 days".
Meanwhile, Paula continued on the road, following Andi's trail through their bond that was created when they first had sex, a few weeks after Victoria had died of infection and she was now very close. For her, this was the straw that broke the camel's back in her relationship with Andi. Paula had been with her the last 3 years, helping her come to terms with her past, only to be dumped like garbage for a life that wasn't even her own. Paula had made up her mind and decided that since Andi couldn't find peace living...she should've done what she thought about doing all those years ago; kill her.
Meanwhile, Victoria sat in her car seat as Andi continued to drive when Victoria spoke up and said "mommy we've been driving for hours, can I please take my blindfold off". Andi sighed and said, "sorry sweetie but if you do you'll ruin the surprise sweetie". After getting tired and fearing them putting a warrant out for the car, Andi decided to pull over at a motel and rent a room. After getting a room, she pushed Victoria in and told her she could remove her blindfold for now, while she went out back and transformed the truck into another car. After taking care of that, she went back inside with Victoria and whipped up some food using her powers but of course, she made sure Victoria wasn't looking.
Meanwhile, Paula drove for a few more hours before she pulled into a motel far outside of the city limits and got out of the car, with a gun in her hand. Just as she approached the door of the room Andi was in; a car came from behind the motel and sped down the road. Paula got in her car; floored the gas pedal and headed after them. Paula took out her gun, and since she was always the better shot; hit two of the car's tires, forcing Andi to pull over. Andi quickly pulled Victoria out of the car and tried to use her powers to escape, but before she could, she found a gun raised to her head. It was dark but the headlights from a passing car shined on the person, revealing to Andi that it was Paula. Andi grinned and said "hey babe" before kicking Paula and whipping out her own pistol and drawing it on Paula".
Paula sighed and said, "so It's come down to this, after all these years of us knowing each other". Andi said "it doesn't have to be this way, you can join me" and Paula said "what so you can betray me again...you showed your intentions when you dipped out on me for a life that's not even yours...you didn't bring her back bc you knew I wouldn't approve and that I would hunt you down if you ran". Victoria said "mommy what are you guys talking about?" and Andi said "nothing sweetheart, keep your blindfold on and it'll be over soon okay.
Paula said "you're not getting out of here alive" and Andi said "neither are you" and Paula said, "that's okay because I know I'll see my Jorge again... I've lived a full happy life". Andi said "you don't understand, I need her" and Paula says "that doesn't give you a right to murder another version of you and Jay, and take their daughter...how do you think they would feel? How she would feel... it's selfish". Andi grunted and said "no it's not, I can do way better than they ever could raising her...and Paula said "yes if your Victoria was here, but her time has passed and so has yours...you just don't want to admit it". Andi was now shaking her head before Paula said "its time to give you the peace you never found in life but before she pulled the trigger, Andi smiled and said" I've already found it, before she shot Paula in the chest who in turn, fired and hit Andi in the neck, instantly killing her.
As Paula fell to the ground and bled out, she used her last breaths to yell for Victoria. She ran over and Paula said, "listen to me carefully...take off your blindfold but keep your back turned to the car and go wait inside until your daddy comes okay?... there's food in the glovebox". Victoria did as she was told and waited in her mom's car.