The blinding light and deafening noise caught him by surprise. Smoke and flames engulfed the clinic. Nikolas Cassadine's first thought was that his beloved Emily's tribute was ripped from the earth just as tragically as her own life. However, his thoughts quickly turned to another.
Nadine was supposed to be at the clinic.
"NADINE!" he yelled as he rushed into the severely damaged building.
Smoke, intermittent flames and debris filled the space that used to be the clinic's reception area. Nikolas recklessly threw aside furniture and other items blocking the path he was attempting to make to the supply room. Nadine and Nikolas planned on completing an inventory of the clinic's medications that evening. He had been detained discussing his sister, Lulu's mental condition with physicians at Shadybrooke. Nikolas could hear sirens approaching the building as he struggled to find the nurse who he found infuriating and comforting at the same time. His heart missed a beat when he saw what looked like an arm sticking out of the rubble.
As he rushed to uncover the body, he realized the person was not Nadine. He recognized the bloodied face of Dr. Matt Hunter. Nadine had convinced herself that the arrogant physician was responsible for the counterfeit drugs recently discovered not only at the clinic, but also at General Hospital. At that moment, two firefighters arrived in the building, rushing to aid Dr. Hunter.
"You need to get out of here, now! This building could collapse at any moment!" one of the firefighters directed at Nikolas.
"I have to find a woman who was in here!" Nikolas shouted back.
As Nikolas was finishing his words, he saw her beautiful, lifeless body on the ground.
"NADINE!" he screamed and hurried to her side.