O Children

Her hand brushed against the brittle wallpaper, it cracked into pieces under her very touch. She didn't try to leave a trail behind for them to find her, but the faster she dragged her leg down the narrow hall the more proof of her presence was left. She knew this was stupid. She had no clue where she was going or where she was, but her mind was outweighed by her need to get the hell out of there. That need was strong. Stronger than any logical thought she could muster up. The little girl in front of her always made sure to run up ahead to check and see if the close was clear, before waving her down. Sam followed without hesitation. Trusting this tiny human with her life. She didn't know why she put such faith in her, but something about her seemed familiar. Sam couldn't shake it.

The lights down this end of the hall were nonexistent. Not even a candle could be found to light their way. They had to use their sense of touch to make sure they didn't walk into anything. Sam's hands pressed against the tight walls on each side of her. The feeling of entrapment grew with every step. It felt as if the walls were closing in on her and would soon enclose her into their tight embrace. Smothering the life from her and that of her unborn child.

"Where are we going, Alli? Alli?" Sam called out to the girl, who she had come to think of as a friend. Odd as it was, that she was pinning all her hopes of freedom on a child that couldn't be no older than eleven. Darkness cornered her. Giving her the sense of danger where there probably was none. Sam was too afraid to call her name again. Seeing eyes taking shape in the inescapable blackness. Sam pressed her back up along the wall closest to her. Slowly sliding down to the dank carpet just below. Her knees curled into her chest, she hugged them tightly. Her fear caused her to stop moving. Even the sound of her breath caused her great panic. She just knew they had been caught. She would have to return to that room, with wires and machines. No other living thing to keep her company, other than the walls of silent imprisonment. She couldn't go back to that. She needed to get to her family. Her life. Her Patrick.

Suddenly a beaming warm yellow light caught Sam's attention. She almost gasped when it grew with every step toward her, but she was relieved to see it was Alli. "This way leads to a library. Inside there's a door hidden behind the bookshelves." Alli said, crouching down to come face to face with Sam. Sam took notice of the girl's small nose, dark curious brown eyes, and heart shaped face. She was quite beautiful. Sam wondered if she knew, but didn't stay too much time on it to ask her. "Leading to where." Sam asked, already moving into a standing position. With the small flickering candle to light their way, Sam could see much clearly now. Shadows bent and curved whenever the candle was lifted or moved with haste. Sam could still very much feel the presence of another, but once again her fear kept her from saying so. "To your freedom."

Alli placed the candle on the desk inside the room. She moved straight over to the bookshelf that sat against the furthest wall, across from the desk. "What are you doing?" Sam asked, already feeling weary from all their strenuous activities. This was the longest she ever been on her feet since awakening from her coma. Her legs were sore, especially the one wrapped in a cast. She barely put any weight on it, but it still caused her a significant amount of pain. She tried her best to keep moving and not give away her weakness. She had to be strong for herself and for this child. "I'm trying to find the book. One book will end this nightmare and you'll be free." Alli didn't stop in her search. Her hands move across the backs of thick ancient encyclopedias, novels, and many other sources of material that sat on the shelves. Her fingers were gentle and light. Making sure they didn't linger on one book too long. Hoping to find the right one. "Here I'll give you a hand." Sam said, moving forward and then stopping. A sudden movement to the left of her caught her attention. She turned just in time to be struck by a iron fire poker.

48 hours ago

Lucky slammed the man against the wall. Not caring for his muffled groan. "What the hell do you mean by that?" The room grew in a panic. Lulu could feel her chest tightening at thoughts of that horrible night. "This is just like last time." She murmured. Nathan instantly moved beside her, holding her slightly. Trying his best to comfort her. He didn't know what to do. So he just stood by her, hoping her fear would pass. The Cassadines that filled half the room, looked unbothered and somewhat irritated. "This old man is crazy. I'm just here for the inheritance I was promised. The rest of this is bullshit." A younger man said from the back. He stepped forward, not caring he was bumping into the others, who were in his way. He was handsome with a harsh look about him. His eyebrows were sharp and pointed, like his nose. His mouth was in a flat line and his eyes were bloodshot. He was obviously high. "Stop talking, Nikolai." The older woman, Sophia instructed. The young man did what he was told. His face of course showed his desire to defy, but he didn't. "My son is right. We are here for what's rightfully ours and then after we'll be on our way." Sophia said, coming closer to the man and Lucky. Lucky, still with his hand tightly wrapped around the man's throat didn't loosen his grip for anybody. The Cassadines didn't seem to mind though. "Lucky, release him." Nathan said softly. His hand holding Lucky's arm. Lucky shook him off. "This isn't Port Charles. You have no jurisdiction here. Which means you don't tell me what to do….Cassadine." Lucky spat the name like it left a foul taste in his mouth. Nathan looked shocked at his hostility and stepped back. "Tell us what you know. Tell us now." Lucky growled into the man's face. The man no longer struggle and simply nodded. Lucky loosened his grip. "Welcome. My name is Lionel Musgrave." He rubbed his neck as he spoke. "I am not your hostess, but I will answer one question you have." Carly came forward. She had been silent for far too long and needed to know what was going on. She needed answers. "What is this island all about? Why are we here?" Lionel cleared his throat. Straighten his tie, the same one Lucky loosen with his strangling grip. "This island is where souls are bound. Where darkness looms and chaos thrives. Your lives are now forged with this island. Together you are now one. Destined to fall together. This island is Hell. Welcome to your new home, children." Lionel said mechanically. It was as if he was reciting a poem. A very dark and disturbed one. Soon after finishing up he pulled a long thin dagger from his suit jacket and lift it to his throat. In one quick motion his hand dragged the sharp end from one side of his neck to the other. Blood poured from the wound. "NO!" Lucky screamed, rushing toward his side. He applied pressure onto bleeding source. Hoping he could stop it. Lionel choked on the blood seeping from his neck. Thrashing about, as if he was trying to catch his breath. He flopped around like a fish on land. Oddly, in his eyes Lucky saw no fear. Not even an ounce of it. He was...content with his action. Pleased. Lucky removed his hand off Lionel's neck. Letting a bit of blood hit his face. And then he was dead.

Sam was able to talk one of the doctors treating her into removing her feeding tube. She wasn't on solids yet, but it was a start. They also felt she was nonthreatening enough to remove her restraints. Gia, her ever so welcoming, but thankfully not her only visitor, would watch her carefully. More so her stomach than anything else. When Sam had finally gotten an ultrasound, the heartbeat from her child caused Gia to become emotional. The affect it had on Gia was strong. So much so she had sat down beside Sam to touch her growing bump. This was beginning to worry Sam more and more. She knew if she didn't leave this place she wouldn't be leaving at all.

So when her room was cleared of doctors and Gia, Sam would stretch and move her limbs for at least an hour. She could feel how weak and fragile she had become. This would only hurt her if she didn't get them use to moving. Once she felt strong enough. She would stand. The first time her legs were wobbly like a newborn foal. She couldn't keep her balance, but in time she soon did.

She would also receive visits from her little friend, Alli. She had whispered her name through the crack in the wall she hid behind. Giving Sam some small piece of gratification.

"Are you scared?" Alli asked her one night when the thundering rain was becoming too much to bear. Sam shook her, sitting up in the darkened room. With only strikes of lightening to brighten the darkness. "No." She spoke the word aloud. "I'm more afraid of this place than of a little rain. How about you? Are you afraid?" Sam watched as another quick strip of lightning flashed the room. Helping Sam see the two small brown eyes peeking in on her through the wall. Alli blinked for a second and then thunder shook the room. She didn't jump from the noise. She stood deathly still. "No." She finally replied. "Then what are you afraid of?" Sam pressed. Sam could swear she could see the little girl's face turn as white as snow, as if all the blood had run out of her. It couldn't be possible though. The crack in the wall wasn't big enough to give a visual of the child's face. And yet she still knew for a fact her face had blanched at the question. "I'm afraid to close my eyes." Sam watched her closely and noticed she no longer blinked. Sam swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. Not sure why it was there, but couldn't deny the overwhelming fear she suddenly felt. "Why?" Sam murmured. Not really sure she wanted to hear the response. Still not blinking, Alli's eyes captured Sam. She felt something for them. It was like a piece of her she never noticed was missing until she finally had it. Sam wanted to look away. She was becoming more and more afraid of what was hidden just beneath the cool warmth of her brown eyes. She couldn't though. So they stayed like that until Alli spoke again. "I'm afraid that once I shut them, I won't ever be able to wake up again."

Madness ensued with the residents he had invited. Valentin smiled, sipped his glass of scotch, and watched. They were all so damn pathetic. Easily duped into believing they would get their desire fulfilled from that of a stranger.

Was he a genie now?

What a disastrous night they were in for. He was the one to unleash Irina onto Port Charles. Where she wreaked havoc for months. Now he had entrapped those he considered "obstacles" to his plans of a pure new breed of Cassadines. Consisting of his fiancé, his niece, her unborn child and him. They will be the most formidable and impenetrable dynasty anyone ever saw. He will look back on this day and remember how far he came. He succeeded in something his father failed to. He was weak. Valentin wasn't. He did what had to be done so this could be the end result. Playing on his nephew's lust for his cousin. Convincing him to do whatever it took to have her. Weakening his niece's boyfriend by getting Nikolas to get him hooked on prescription sleeping pills. So the seductive Samantha could be the mother of untainted breed. One where no outside interloper could disturb. She was born to be his queen. He knew it the day he laid eyes upon her, back in Port Charles, in the cemetery visiting the grave of her lesser child. He just didn't predict that his other niece would also be so tempting. He even thought wedding all three of the girls, his sister Natasha produced, but that would be much more of a challenge. Where as a mentally unstable young girl and a frightened, yet resilient, pregnant lady were less demanding. Especially if they were kept apart. He now would become the patriarch to the Cassadine 2.0.

"Marvelous." He cooed.

Carly went straight for the door. Followed by Nathan, Lulu, and bunch of disgruntle Cassadines. "I say we get back on the boats and head back to the main island. I'm not staying here." She said, over her shoulder. Lucky flopped on the first step of the staircase. Running his fingers through his hair. Not caring for the blood that stained his dark blonde locks. "Don't even waste your time." Lucky said, tossing his cellphone across the room. "What?" Carly stopped in her tracks. Almost causing the others to collide into her back. Lucky sighed. Lulu noticed he looked tired. He also looked hopeless. "Don't bother. They won't be there. We were brought to this island for a reason. To die, maybe. I don't know, but what I do know is whomever wanted us all here. Isn't just going to let us leave so easily. So don't waste your time heading back down to the beach. Those boats won't be there." They each looked from one another. Obviously considering what he was to saying. "I don't know what your problem is. And I don't really care what it is. Cause maybe you want to die. You look like shit, Lucky. Lulu may dance around this subject, but I'm not." Carly didn't look back as she swung open the door. Leading up to a devastating explosion. Carly was blown back, as was everyone else that stood behind her. Bodies were thrown everywhere. Resembling fallen dolls. Fire and smoke decorated the black charred door. Nothing was visible. And the only thing that could be heard was the sound of laughter emitting from just outside the house.