CHAPTER SEVEN
TRYING TO SAVE A SOUL
MELANIE'S ROOM
"Okay, so I'm not good at this." Melanie sighed as she opened her eyes. She had been trying to contact Carly's soul for the past thirty minutes. With zero luck. "What am I doing wrong here? Come on Melanie, sooner you get this done, the sooner that you can move on with your life.
"The sooner Carly wakes up – the sooner she will know that you are still mad at her. That you hate her still. You just don't want her dead is all." Melanie moved uncomfortable in the bed. "You are just saving Carly's life for new unborn sibling is all. It's not that it's his or her fault that Carly is no good at motherhood."
She brought her hands up to her face and brushed her hair back in frustration. "Why is this so damn hard!" She seethed softly to herself. Glaring at the wall that connected her room with Carly's. Her hands pulled her hair out by the roots. "Okay Melanie you can do this girl. All you have to do is allow your soul to speak to a soul whom you really don't want to be around. Easy." Frowning she tore her eyes off the wall.
"This isn't just about you." She whispered as she felt heat rise in her face. "This doesn't even have to be about you. Think about your unborn sibling; the one whom deserves a chance at life. Do this one thing for him or her."
Melanie closed her eyes and reminded herself to just relax. That only relaxation would help her contact her soul. Calling Carly's soul. Calling Carly Manning's soul. This is Melanie's soul calling Carly's soul. Come in Carly's soul.
CARLY'S ROOM
"Carly," Jennifer gently rested her hand against her best friend's pale cheek. "Dear God, she's cooling off. What's going on?"
"She's fading." Daniel said with a deep frown as he listened to her heart beat. "She's not even fighting for her life."
"Princess, I know that it hurts that Melanie has rejected you. But baby, she just found out that you are her mother. She just found out after waking up and discovering that it was you whom shot her." Bo began to talk with panic in his voice. "You have to give her the time top calm her emotions down; she'll come around."
"Soon you will be with me, darlin'. In the hell that you created just for me. It will be my pleasure in dragging you down inch by inch." Lawrence leaned down into Carly's face. He was quickly pulled inside her soul where he had been waiting for her to allow. "Hello Carly."
"Go to hell." Carly sneered as she faced her dead husband.
"You all ready put me there. I'm just waiting for you to join me." Lawrence said as he put his hands in his pockets. "Just think whore, you and I together forever. With the brimstone fire all around us. I'm going to have so much fun beating you, taunting you. For all time Carly, for all time. You will never be able to stop me this time. Hell, you have all ready murdered me after all."
Lawrence had glided up close to her, he had pulled his hands out of his pockets without her noticing. "Just think Carly of all the fun that I'm going to have." His right hand lightly ran down her cheek bone. With a smirk, "I'm going to have fun telling you in detail about your precious daughter's life under Trent's thumb."
Carly pulled away. But Lawrence quickly grabbed her chin and pressed hard. "Still trying to escape are we." Leaning forward he captured her mouth with his own. He jammed his tongue deep into her mouth. She began to struggle, but he just held her tighter against him. She decided the sooner she stopped trying to fight him off, than sooner he would release her.
It took several endless minutes before he pulled away. His hand still holding her chin tightly. "If you even think of trying to escape me, darlin', by willing yourself back to conscious. Than heed my words." Leaning forward and whispering in her ear. "I will have my revenge by taking your precious Melanie to the hell with me."
"N-n-n-o ..." Carly softly begged as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Lawrence suddenly was back to where he had been when he first appeared to her. "Just remember my words, Carly. If you don't willing join me and soon. Than I'll have Melanie for all time."
Carly just stared at him until he blinked slowly out. His laughter echoing throughout the darkness that she was in.
"Calling Carly Manning's soul. This is Melanie calling Carly's soul. Come in soul."
Tears fell freely down her cheeks as she listened to her baby's voice echoing into the darkness. Trying to reach her. With everything in her Carly wanted cry out that she was here. That she was always here waiting for her baby to reach her. But, Lawrence's words were ringing in her soul, over and over again.
She knew what she had to do.
"NO!" She forcefully said and she felt her baby's voice being slammed out of her soul. She felt the bricks of the wall that she knew she had to build to protect her baby one final time rise at a rapid pace. She fully knew the bricks wouldn't keep her baby girl out. So she quickly cemented them, and made a steel wall to cover the cement.
MELANIE'S ROOM
Melanie gasped as she felt her body slam into the mattress. Her eyes wide and her breath was erratic. Her hand went to her heart as she tried to calm herself down. The pain of the gun shot wound whacked her body – but she refused to cry out.
Closing her eyes as she got her breathing under control. She felt her heart still racing and she prayed that she would be able to get it under control on her own. There was no way she wanted anyone – especially Daniel to come rushing in. She told herself to breath in and out. Too just relax. That everything was fine. That she was going to be just fine.
It was several minutes before she opened her eyes once more. Still with her hand pressing against her chest, Melanie frowned darkly looking at the wall that connected her room with Carly's. "Okay, seriously what the fuck was that all about?!"
"I thought you wanted me back, Carly." She groaned in frustration. "Than why the hell did you kick me out when I willing searched for your soul?!" Breathing in and out through her nose. "Why are you making this so damn difficult for me?"
Shaking her head she turned to face the spot in the wall that had become her favorite impassive stare place. Truly if it wasn't for my unborn sibling's life that is at stake here, Carly. Then I wouldn't even brother with you. But that little person growing inside you is counting on me. Forcing herself to turn to lay facing the connecting wall once more. "I can do this all day, Carly. I don't give up easily."
Blinking her eyes closed once more, she willed herself into a relaxed state. Melanie calling out to Carly's soul, come in Carly's soul. Calling Carly Manning's soul. Calling Carly's soul. Come in Carly's soul.
What the? Melanie faced a steel wall. "Okay Carly, seriously. You think you can block me out with solid steel? You don't know me well do you?" Shaking her head she lifted her hands and started to beat the steel.
RAP RAP RAP RAP SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH BANG BANG BANG BANG
Echoed all around the blackness that she found herself in. Pounding both fists into the steel she suddenly leaned forward panting. Resting her wet forehead against the cooling of the steel. "Come on Carly, why do you have to be so damn stubborn here. I'm trying to save your life here. Why aren't you allowing me too?! Why do you make it so damn hard?!" She didn't realize that tears were falling furiously down her cheeks.
Her palms rested on either side of her face as she sobbed her frustration and fear. She knew that she was in for the long haul here. That she actually had to willing work her way through the blockage that Carly had set up in her way.
CARLY'S ROOM
"I want everyone out of here, now." Daniel said in a hard mono tone.
"I'm not leaving her." Bo's voice rose in heat.
"Leave now, or watch her die." Daniel said turning his stormy eyes on Bo. "I need to work freely on her in order to save her and your child. Now get out."
"Princess, I'm here for you. I'm not leaving you." Bo said trying to push Daniel away from him. "Do you understand me, Carly, I'm here for you."
Daniel quickly pushed Bo away from the bed, and he jerked the door opened. He pushed Bo into the arms of Rafe whom was standing just outside the door. "Keep a firm hold on him, otherwise I'm going to press charges against him." Turning his head, "Do I need physical strength to hold you also, Jennifer?"
"No." Jennifer whispered. She inched passed him out of the room. "Just do what you have to do quickly, Daniel. Carly needs Bo and I to be by her side."
Daniel nodded and looked over at the nurses desk. "You two in here now." He turned back around into the room. He knew the nurses were going to join him within a few seconds. He had much work to be done to get Carly stable once more.
He had his daughter's mother's life to save here. He knew that if he didn't get her hooked up to the machines quickly than he was going to lose her. He would never allow that to happen. He couldn't.
"I want her hooked up …." Daniel ran down the list of things that he knew that Carly needed to remain alive. They silently quickly went to work. Within the next thirty minutes everything was silent as they quickly worked on saving Carly's life. "Get out." Daniel finally breathed out. "Please send Bo and Jennifer back in here." He didn't even brother to look into the nurses eyes.
"Yes Doctor." The nurses said in union as they left the room.
"Get out of my way." Bo said quickly shoving Daniel aside so he could be by Carly's side once more. What he saw stopped his breath. "Oh God, not again." Tears rolled down his cheeks. He was transported back to the last time he saw Carly in a hospital bed unconscious seventeen years previous. He was back to looking down helplessly as she was hooked up to machines to help her live. Those machines didn't do their job. His beautiful Princess had died. He had to say good bye to her in her coffin in the church. He had to know that she was put in the ground – that she was lowered into the ground. That she had dirt pile over her. That she was six feet underneath him for all time. That she had actually woken up from the deep coma that Vivian had put her in. That she had to realize that she had been buried alive. That she had to fight for her life before she lost it for real. That she had to beg and cry for him to save her; only for him to believe that she was actually dead.
He had willing giving up all hopes of ever feeling her once more. He would never ever forgive himself for that. He never did that with Hope. Yes; he believed that he witnessed Hope's death in that horrible cage. But he never shut off his heart from feeling her. He couldn't. He had Shawn Douglas as the permanent link to his Fancy Face. But his soul always cried out to her soul. He actually felt it even through he believed her to be dead.
Why didn't he do that with Carly? Why did he shut his soul off from crying out to her spirit? Why didn't he beg her spirit to be with him alongside Hope's spirit? Why did he find it easier to rush off into getting involved with Billie? Why was he so willing to rush himself deep into the first woman after Carly's death? Why didn't he search for the link that he had with his Princess?
Bo would never forgive himself for his actions after Carly's first presumed death. How could he when he truly and willing abandoned her in her deepest time of need of him.
Leaning down he pressed his mouth onto her forehead. "I love you Princess, and I'm not going to allow you to die. Not again. So you get that out of your head here and now. It's not your time. You must live. For yourself, me, your three children. We need you and you need to stay with us. So you fight your way back to those whom love you."
MELANIE'S ROOM
"Open up, damn it." Melanie had pushed herself away from the steel. "I thought I was stubborn." She glared at the steel. "Okay so you won't be helping me. Fine, than. I'll just get through on my own than."
"So how to go about breaking through steel to someone's soul? I don't even know how to do it in the real world! How am I opposed to know how to do it subconsciously?!" Melanie's lips pursed as she stared wide eyed at the cold shinny steel in front of her.
Her eyes opened and she didn't even try to fight her body. She breathed in and out. "Shit." She breathed as she felt her heart drop. "Okay, so I need a little more information here." She lifted the call button and pressed gently down on it. Holding it for a few seconds before dropping it down once more.
It was several seconds before the door opened, and a nurse walked in. "I don't want you. No offense." She spoke before the nurse could ask what she needed. "Can you ask my husband to come in please."
"Of course." The nurse turned and left the room.
The door opened and Phillip was quickly by her side. She accepted his kiss on the lips before pulling away from him. "I love you Phillip." She simply stated. "Never doubt my love."
Phillip's brow creased. "I have never doubted your love. I would never doubt it." He gently brushed her limp hair from her face. "I love you more than life it self."
"I need to know what the hell is going on in Carly's room." Melanie seethed her hands were in claws on her lap.
Phillip sighed, "I promised myself that I would never lie to you. Even through the truth will hurt you to the core of your very soul." Licking his lips, "Your mother isn't doing well. She lost the will to live. Your father has hooked her up to life support. He refuses to allow her to slip away from you and him."
"Is that healthy for the baby?" Melanie asked her voice businesslike.
"The baby will continue to grow, and get the nourishment that it needs to be able to be born." Phillip sighed once more. "But, it won't feel his or her mother's love for him or her."
Her face lifted after several minutes of taking the information deep within her heart. "I want you to track Vivian down. Tell her that if she even thinks of attacking me or Carly ever again, than she will have hell to pay." Her teeth grounded, "More hell than even Carly can think of. Tell Vivian that I am pressing charges against her sorry ass for the attempt on my life. Tell Vivian that if she even dares to come near my family ever again – than I'll gladly kill her with my bare hands." Her jaw tightened. "Tell Vivian, that if she even thinks of stealing Carly and Bo's baby …. than she will wish she was dead."
Phillip swallowed, "I will support you in what you decide to do with Vivian." He bent down to kiss his wife on the mouth. Pulling away from her, "But please allow me the pleasure of ending her life." He whispered in her ear.
She shook her head. "If Vivian lays one hand on Carly, Daniel or the baby – than I will personally end her life." She glared into her husband's eyes. "Please inform Vivian that her time out in the free world has come to an end."
Phillip nodded and left the room.
CARLY'S ROOM
"You think even though your lover put you on life support – that you will be able to last until Bo's baby is born?" Lawrence appeared in front of the kneeling Carly. He lifted his foot and kicked her in the stomach, causing her to bend forward and protect the baby inside her. "Look at me when I'm talking to you whore."
Carly's head slowly lifted her tear streaked face. "Please Lawrence, not again. Please just not again." She whispered weakly.
"You are still in the delusion that I'll allow you to live and have another man's baby!" Lawrence knelt down so his face could be within an inch of her own. "I allowed Daniel Jonas's daughter to live." A smirk lit up his face, "If you can call what Trent had done throughout childhood living." He reached out and touched her womb, after forcing her right hand away. "But no mistaking here Carly, Bo Brady's baby will die with you." He pressed extra firmly against the thin womb.
"Please Lawrence no." Carly whispered. "I promise once this baby is born than I will willing join you in hell. But, please let this innocent soul live."
"Isn't it comforting enough to know that this soul will be with the Heavenly father for all time." Lawrence's hand lifted from her stomach and tilted her chin up. "Isn't it comforting enough to know that I'll never be able to reach this soul for all time once it's in Heaven? As it's earthly mother, don't you want what is the best for your child?" His voice held the vile bile that was in his soul. "Or do you want this soul to be able to be born and grow – and I will be able to reach it and drag it down to hell along side you?"
"N-n-n-no." Carly moaned.
"You know what you have to do, Carly." Lawrence stood to his feet and looked down at her bowed head. "Do it all ready." He suddenly faded from her.
….
Carly rocked back and forth. Her arms protecting across her stomach. "I'm not going to allow him to harm you too baby. You are going to be the one child whom I am going to protect." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I just wish I could give you to your earthly father. But, not even Bo can protect you darling sweetheart."
"I love you." Carly whispered. "But I have to protect you the only way I know how."
Suddenly bells started going off. The machine that was attached to the womb suddenly flat lined.
"NO!"
Carly's heart sped up at the sudden harshness in the voice that echoed through the darkness. She knew that voice. She had to listen to that voice. She had to trust that voice.
Her own will lost and the will of the voice won. She smiled in relief as she obeyed that living voice whom was fighting for the life of this innocent life.
Before anyone could reach Carly's stomach, a steady soft beep came from the machine. Everyone began to breath easier. The baby was safe for now. But, each person promised themselves not to let themselves off of high alert until Carly willing woke up.
MELANIE'S ROOM
"Success." Melanie whispered as she watched as the steel melted away. After her loud "NO!" the steel rapidly started to melt. "All right Carly, I got thew your first strong layer of stubbornness." Facing the cement that faced her next, "Time for the second some what strong layer of pure stubbornness."
"I wish I could have a ice pick at least. The sooner I chip away this horrible cement than the sooner that I can stop having to deal with you." Melanie shook her head as she clicked her tongue.
She had been desperately trying to break through the steel – with no luck. Not until she felt Carly willing give the child that she was carrying up to the Heavenly Father. Than Melanie had firmly said her no, that was when the steel melted. But now the cement was solid. She didn't feel Carly trying another foolish stunt like before.
So now she was back to trying to break through the cement.
Her eyes opened and she looked at the wall that connected her room to Carly's. "I don't want to face you!" She breathed harshly. "I don't want to see your face ever again."
CARLY'S ROOM
Carly felt her spirit fall as she felt the presence of the voice leave her in the void once more. She opened her mouth to cry out for the voice to return to her. But she knew she had no right to demand or even to beg the voice to remain. She had given up the right a long time ago. Willing.
There was no going back to fixing things.
…....
"Bitch!" Lawrence breathed as he hit her in the womb. "Slut." Another hit. "Whore." Another hard hit. He kept calling her every derogatory name he could think of … hitting her womb after each name.
Carly kept her head bowed and her hands over her womb. Trying to protect the precious soul that was trying so desperately to grow inside her. She just prayed that her baby girl was managing to protect herself behind her organs every time Lawrence managed to make contact with his fists. She just prayed that her baby girl wasn't going to be too damaged at birth with the beating that she was receiving.
Lawrence finally stopped and just looked at her. "I have another perfect way of punishing you darlin'. One that you are going to personally enjoy." He quickly grabbed her and before she could comprehend her clothes were off her body. She stood shriving still with her arms protecting her womb.
He stood naked before her and threw her onto the couch behind her. Before she could prepare herself for the attack on her lower body he was in her in the roughest way imaginable. She cried out in pain of having him force himself deeper into her. She felt her skin break at the sheer dryness of him. She couldn't keep the sobs from breaking from her chest. She just prayed that her precious daughter was no where near his twisting and sharp penis. She knew that he was trying to break into her womb to cause her to mis-carry.
Lawrence's hands were gripping her waist, trying to fight her own arms from her womb as he kept slamming and twisting deep in her. His eyes were cold as ice, and he leaned down as he whispered, "I'm going to get this bastard out of you one way or another, darlin'." Leaning down and kissing her hard on the mouth, his tongue jamming to hit the back of her throat.
Gagging she tried to fight for her breath and still be aware of her surroundings. She couldn't allow him to cause her to be unconscious – if she allowed it; than all would be lost. His mouth was finally off of hers. Her breathing was ragged as she desperately trying to catch her breath.
"You are a better woman to rape, than Jennifer ever was." Lawrence slammed in Carly and managing to laugh as he saw her wince in pain. "I'm glad I waited so long to finally rape you, Katrina. I'm glad that it was actually Jennifer I raped so many years ago; instead of you. Because darlin' this rape is so much more bitter sweet then the original one that I had planned for you."
Lawrence jerked himself out of her, and slapped his fist into her jaw. "Don't think I'm done with you, Carly." Leaning over and kissing her womb. "I'm not done with you or with your daughter." He slammed out of the room.
Carly closed her eyes and listened with her soul too her precious daughter whom was still inside her.
----
"You think that your daughter was protected back than … and is now?" Carly looked up into Lawrence's blank eyes.
"She's alive, happy, in love. She's married to Phillip. Personally I hate the fact that she has Victor as a father in law. But, even I know Victor well enough to trust him not to take out his distaste, and hatred of me out on my daughter. Melanie is quite safe with Victor close to her life." Carly's right eye brow. "If I make my guess right, than Phillip is off right now to tell his father that Vivian can't come anywhere near Melanie." She smiled as she rubbed her still thin womb.
He knelt down and put his hand against her own. She winced as she felt him press hard against her stomach. "You think just because she prevented you from freely giving up Bo's bastard; that I will just allow you to be on life support – until the baby is safe to be delivered, then darlin' you are very ..." With that he punched both of their hands deep against the thin stomach hard, "very, very delusional."
"Leave her alone you bastard!" The voice said in anger.
Lawrence pressed once more, and smiled into Carly's eyes. "All because she's finding the way back into the soul, Carly, doesn't mean she's safe." With that he faded.
MELANIE'S ROOM
"I need a break." She whispered opening her eyes. "This is much more difficult than I ever dreamed it would be." Reaching over Melanie grabbed the cup of water on the table. She took a long slow drink from it – making sure that she stayed hydrated. It wouldn't due if she herself went into a coma trying to save Carly from herself.
"I know that voice that was threatening Carly. I just don't remember when I heard it last." A dim light began to shine in her eyes. Shaking her head, "Must be a past demon that Carly is hell bent on holding onto." Shrugging, "I'm not trying to solve the mysterious voice of Carly's past here. I'm just interested in saving my younger sibling is all."
Melanie smiled grimly at the site of the cement at her feet. "Bricks are next. Those are easy to break down." She huffed. "No wonder why our cemented and steeled the bricks over, Carly." Taking a deep breath Melanie blew it out and watched in slight surprise as the bricks crumpled in front of her.
"I don't want you here." Carly softly looked up into her daughter's eyes. "Please obey me in this and just leave me alone."
"I can't do that." Melanie hadn't moved from where the bricks were at her feet.
"You don't even want to be here." Carly shook her head. Her hands still protecting her thin stomach. "You are just here because …."
"I'm here only because Maggie asked me too be." Melanie said in a harsh voice. "I'm here because of my unborn sibling that is currently in you. I'm here to save my unborn sibling and that is all." She couldn't help the bitterness that shot out of her vocal box.
"It's not safe here." Carly simply said as she stood to her feet. She was the one whom walked up and stood close to her daughter. "It's not safe for you here. As your mother I must order you to leave. Now!"
"You gave up all rights on being able to tell me what to do, Carly. The moment you decided to give me away." Melanie chin jetted out.
"I had no choice." Carly whispered. Her right hand lifted and reached out. The moment before she touched Melanie's cheek, she stopped. "I have no choice here."
"You always have a choice." Melanie whispered with tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Than please understand that my choice had always been to protect you. Always." Carly reached out and touched Melanie's cheek. "Even before I was thought of in the Heavens, my choice had always been to protect you."
"Why?" Melanie couldn't help but whisper. "Why am I so damn special that you had to protect me even before you were even a mere thought?"
"You are my precious gift from God." Carly simply stated.
"I'm just the soul that God allowed you to have; due to you choosing to marry the spawn of the devil." Melanie said backing away, causing Carly's hand to drop from her face. "I'm just the soul that God allowed you to have and made sure that I wasn't spawned from the devil also."
Carly bowed her head. She couldn't counter attack that. It was the truth; and she was actually proud her daughter's spirit knew it to be the truth.
"Why did you block me from your soul?" Melanie asked in the darkness. "Ever since we first meet – you had been forcefully trying to worm your way into every aspect of my life, and soul." Her hands held out in frustration. "But, when I chose to enter your soul, you not only block with bricks and cement – but solid cold steel!"
"I'm only doing this darling to protect you." Tears rolled down her cheeks as Carly whispered backing away. "It's time you go now."
"I'm not leaving, not until you get passed your selfish nature and decide to live." Melanie said in hard voice.
"It's better that I remain here." Carly spoke in a low but firm voice.
"For whom? Me? The baby? You?" Melanie shot back.
"I can protect you better if I remain here." Carly firmly said. "I can't protect you in the out side world any longer. I have given you your father, he'll protect you better. It's best that I leave you alone for all time."
"Says who!" Melanie demanded.
"Says me!" Carly growled back. "Melanie, I'm your mother and I know what's best for you. Now it's time you go back to your own body."
"I hate you." Melanie lost her temper. "I loathe you."
"That will protect you the best." Carly said. "Hating, and loathing me will protect you from Vivian's revenge. As long as you keep those feelings deep in your soul, baby than you will be safe. Even after I am dead and in hell."
"Why are you doing this?" Melanie cried.
Carly remained silent as she just stared into her daughter's eyes.
"I love you mommy." Melanie whispered.
"Don't." Carly firmly said. "It will kill you in the end. I love you. But you hold onto the hate and loathing you have for me. It's the only way to protect you." She swallowed. "You need to go back to your own body before it's too late."
"I'm not leaving." Melanie firmly said. "Not without you."
CARLY'S ROOM
Moaning and crying as she felt her body come to life once more. She tried desperately to fight to remain locked inside herself. But she felt that saving essence push her back to the land of living. She had to obey that essence. She couldn't fight the essence. To fight to remain where she felt was the safest than the essence would die along with her. She could never allow that.
Please just allow me to remain where I was.
No.
Please just allow me to protect you with my life.
No.
Please just let me love you ….
No.
I love you.
"Melanie...." She moaned in a harsh pain filled voice.
MELANIE'S ROOM
Opening her eyes she sighed deeply. She had done what Maggie had asked her too. Her job concerning Carly was over with now. She had relinquished her self pride to help the woman whom willing gave her up at birth. She was finished now.
Taking care of Carly now is Bo's job. She had made sure that Carly's will to live was back full force. Now that Carly was back in the land of living – it was up to Bo too keep her there.
Melanie was finished dealing with Carly Manning for all time. She was ready to live her life with Phillip by her side – start her own family and never look back.
END CHAPTER SEVEN
