I want to thank everyone for the kind words. Let's keep going!
As the day started, changes were already being noticed around town. Will was alive. Paul and Sonny's wedding had been suspended. Deimos Kiriakis had been exposed as Will's kidnapper and was nowhere to be found.
Proof of that was when Chad came downstairs for breakfast, where Abigail was already feeding Thomas, and Andre and Stefano were having their coffee cups and bread.
"Morning" he said.
"Hi" said Abby.
"Hi" said Thomas in a little voice, and grinned widely when he heard the "aw's" from everyone.
"Good morning, Chad" said Andre.
Stefano had a copy of The Spectator in his hands. He gave it to Chad. "I see you succeeded, son".
Chad took the newspaper, which had the first pages colored red, and read the headline.
WILL HORTON ALIVE
The young writer, thought to be dead by murder in 2015, was revealed to be alive yesterday morning after an operation led by the CIA with the help of an anonymous contributor. See the special edition The Spectator has made about the case in the following pages.
Chad chuckled. "I'm an anonymous contributor. How ridiculous, everyone saw me standing there with Malcolm".
"Not everyone in town" said Andre. "You see, you are a person of quite importance here, the CEO of DiMera Enterprises, so I believe your participation in a CIA mission was kept 'secret' to preserve your image".
"But Father said it, I succeeded. How could that possibly affect negatively my image?"
"In more ways than you think" Stefano replied.
Chad turned the page of the paper.
DEIMOS KIRIAKIS MISSING
The now former CEO of Titan Industries has been reported to have escaped after he was acussed by the CIA of the kidnapping, replacing, and possible torture of Will Horton. The CIA released a statement last night informing that an APB has already been put out on him.
"Of course he's missing" Chad said. "How come there's no mention of Percy Ruggles? He was Deimos's accomplice, he's the one who drugged and took Will to the castle".
"My mom said there was risk of him getting a copy of the paper, finding out he was being looked for and escaping" said Abby. "At least that's what an agent of the CIA told her".
"So the agency has really intervened in town" Chad said.
"They are everywhere!" Andre complained. "They arrived all at once yesterday, a few hours after the frustrated wedding, and dispersed all over town looking for Deimos and making just a few details of everything that really happened make it to the papers".
"I see" he said, turning to another page.
WEDDING SUSPENDED
The union between Titan Industries new CEO Jackson "Sonny" Kiriakis and former baseball star Paul Narita was interrupted and suspended in a twist only seen in soap operas, after Will Horton, Kiriakis's ex-husband, was revealed to be alive.
"So Will is today's trendic topic, I see" Chad mused. "All they are talking about is Will's comeback and the events surrounding it".
"Well, William is actually one of the few Salemites that has that kind of 'importance'" Andre observed. "He's one of the few people connected to the Hortons, the Bradys, the Kiriakises and the DiMeras, the four most important families in town, in some way or another".
"They made a special edition" said Abby, grinning. "That was Mom's idea. Though I don't understand how that could work since almost all the details of Will's captivity have been kept in the dark. But Mom said she wouldn't let the paper publish them had she had them. She would never hurt her nephew like that".
"I know she wouldn't" said Chad, smiling at her and turned to another page.
FIRE AT DIMERA CASTLE
The DiMera Castle, situated in Rome, Italy, suffered a fire two days ago. The disaster resulted in the almost total destruction of the building. A spokesman of the DiMera family said arrangements were already being made to rebuild it.
Chad rolled his eyes. "Was this necessary? How did they get the news anyway?"
"Beats me" said Abby. "It's your family and it's a castle. I don't think that fire would have gone unnoticed, with or without an operation".
Stefano glared at her.
"What? It's true" she defended.
"The fire was caused by a grenade thrown by Deimos" said Chad.
"That's the truth we know" said Andre. "The truth they know is that it was caused by a short circuit".
"Of course it was you who had to tell what happened" Chad groaned. "Well, at least you changed a few facts".
"I still don't understand how Deimos entered under a DiMera name" said Abby. "I thought the security team there was very prepared".
"Ruggles put Will in a private room without being noticed thanks to a secret door behind the castle" her husband replied. "Deimos went there before coming here, and apparently he had studied Tony really well, because he fooled everyone".
"I support that theory" said Andre with a chuckle. "You can't just go to the castle claiming you are Tony DiMera. He didn't have a simple life, you know?"
"Yeah, well" she said. "I'm just really glad Will's home, back where he belongs".
"And his name has been cleared" Stefano commented. "I read that on the last page of that special edition.
Chad frowned and turned to the final red page, to which other pages with local, normal news followed.
WILL HORTON REIVINDICATED
William Robert Horton was kidnapped and replaced with a lookalike in early 2014, say CIA sources, proved by medical records. The Spectator offers sincere apologies to the Horton family for the sensationalist news, lack of respect of privacy and hard criticism against him for the scandals under his name.
"It was about time" said Chad. "Those bastards were really ruthless with him after the articles, the cheating, the schemes. Even after death. Not that I still feel sorry about that, now that I know it was all done by a doppelganger".
"You know who I feel sorry for?" Abby said. "Sonny. My God, the wedding was a disaster".
Chad glanced at her.
"It was for a good cause, though" she shrugged. "But still. Paul stood there, Sonny ran away, the wedding was suspended. And Will! He and Sonny are both my cousins, how can I not feel for them? They were in love once. I think Will still thinks, or thought until yesterday, of himself and Sonny as a couple because that's how it was left when he was taken. And all that ruined by some impostor! It must have been so hard for him to see Sonny with another man".
"It was" said a voice at the door of the dining room.
Everyone turned to see Will standing there.
A plane from New Jersey had landed that morning at the airport. Some hours had passed, and the passenger had not been allowed to get off the plane for 'unknown' reasons.
It had happened that a team, led by Malcolm had made the arrangements after a follow-up work, knowing that Percy Ruggles had taken a plane and headed to Chicago early after midnight.
The men arrived at the gate where the plane had stopped, armed with their uniforms and weapons, at the sight of many confused and shocked passengers who waited for their turn to board.
Malcolm was in front of them.
"Proceed" he ordered.
The team entered the plane, to everyone's surprise, but Malcolm stayed at the gate. Orders were orders.
Some yelling was heard, and Malcolm smirked, knowing they had caught Ruggles off-guard.
A few minutes later, the agents got out, and two of them had taken Ruggles, and put handcuffs on his hands.
Malcolm approached them. "So you are the son of a bitch who took advantage of my brother's naivety and took him away from his family. Be ready for a life in prison, I'll make sure you get it".
Ruggles looked at him defiantly. "Indeed, I'm just a piece. But have you gotten the entire puzzle?"
Malcolm narrowed his eyes, and stood close to Ruggles, his face really close to his. "You bet your ass I have".
He stepped back, and the men took Ruggles away. Malcolm followed them. Ruggles was put into a van, and taken to the station.
"Hey" greeted Chad, taking Will to the table. "Have a seat. Sleep well?"
"Kind of" he replied, knowing about his nightmare the previous night, but deciding not to mention it. Chad understood, though.
"Do you want anything, Will?" asked Abby, taking the empty little plate away from Thomas. "I could make some eggs and coffee".
"Have the cook do that" said Stefano in a loud voice, so the people in the kitchen would hear him.
Abigail rolled her eyes. "Whatever".
"Hi, Thomas" said Will, giving the little boy a weak smile.
"Hi" he replied in his tiny voice.
"Aw" Will grinned. "He's so cute, Abby"
"I know" she said, caressing her son's little head, as a maid brought a cup of coffee and eggs for Will. "So, have had some thought about what you wanna do now that you're back?"
"Well, my first priorities are my health and my daughter" he replied, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm sure she's gonna ask so many questions, God, especially with my bad shape".
"I've been told you are not allowed to leave the mansion until Deimos Kiriakis is found and caught" said Stefano, getting up. "I will make a few calls".
He left the room, and Will stared at the others. "Who's he calling?"
"Oh, since it's too risky to go to the hospital with Deimos out somewhere, he's going to bring a doctor for you" Andre replied. "We always have the best".
Will raised an eyebrow. "If a Stefano's doctor is going to examine me, I want someone I trust watching".
Andre smirked. "Oh, William. We are not the same ruthless family we used to be".
He stood up, and went to his office.
"He's right, you know?" said Chad. "According to pretty much everyone, we have become more 'peaceful'. The latest scandals have the Kiriakis family involved, one way or another".
"I've been absent for four years, I deserve to have the right to be cautious" he replied.
Abby tilted her head in agreement, as the bell rang. "Fair enough".
"Now who might that be?" Chad wondered, going to open the door.
Sami, and Lucas, who carried Ari, were outside.
"Hi!" he greeted. "Come in".
Sami entered the living room. She definitely looked in a way better mood than the previous day. "Hi, good morning!"
"Hey" said Will, getting up, accepting the bone-crushing, suffocating hug from his mother.
"Oh, I've never been so happy to see you" she said. "It's like when you were born".
"And she was way crazier back then" Lucas joked, and hadn't he been carrying Ari, he would have received one of her classic hard smacks.
"I do feel I've been born again" said Will, receiving Ari from Lucas. "Hi, baby. How are you?"
"Fine" she replied with a grin.
"We know how reconnecting with her is very important to you" said Sami. "We spoke to Gabi last night. Even thought she won't allow her moving in here, she has agreed Ari will come visit you everyday after preschool, and all day during weekends".
"How nice of her" Abigail commented.
"Everyone's really thrilled you're back" said Lucas. "That of course includes us. We know you need time to heal physically and psychologically, and you have all our support""
"Ours too" said Chad. "But, do you have any plans?"
"Not exactly" he replied. "I mean, yeah, I wanna reconnect with my family and work. I know things aren't going to be the same, though".
"And that's ok" said Sami.
Will sighed. "I missed you all".
He turned to Lucas. "What are these news that I have another brother?"
Lucas chuckled. "Right. It's a long story. Do you like him?"
Will shrugged. "Pretty much. He's nice".
"He came to town last year" said Lucas. "It was very awkward for all of us, because he looked a lot like you".
"I saw that" said Will. "When he burst into... My cell".
"I didn't even like him at first" Lucas continued. "Sonny hates him for some reason".
"Eh, the feeling's mutual, from what I've heard" said Chad.
"His resemblance to you meant so much trouble for him, and for us" said Sami. "He was really nice, yes, but he reminded us of you so much that it made us really sad".
"Then, I was stabbed by some guy who was actually meant to attack Chad" said Lucas. "I'm fine, don't worry. He donated blood. That's how we found out".
"Wow" Will said. "And you guys got to know each other".
Lucas smiled. "Yes. You're gonna love him. He's a great guy. Sadly, his past is troubled".
"Why?"
"I'll let him tell you".
Will nodded. "Ok then".
He stopped for a moment before talking again. "Yesterday, when you told me what I had missed, I couldn't help but notice you never mentioned... Sonny".
Sami and Lucas shared a glance.
Chad grimaced, turning to Ari. "Hey , sweetheart, why don't you and Thomas go upstairs and play, huh?"
"Ok" she said. She planted a kiss on Will's cheek, earning a smile from him, went to the other side of the table, grabbed Thomas's hand, who had been put on the floor by Abigail, and took him upstairs to the playroom.
Will turned to them. "So?"
"We weren't sure how you would react had we mentioned Sonny" said Abby.
"It's alright now" he replied. "I mean, it's obvious he's moved on, we crashed his wedding for crying out loud".
"Just how much do you know?" Chad asked.
"The summary. What my double did to ruin my name, my relationship with Sonny and his death. But I want to know the details".
"Oh, Will, I don't know if you really want to" Chad hesitated. "We're just worried about you. You've been through such a traumatic experience, there's no need for more stress".
"I wanna know" Will insisted. "My name has been cleaned, but I want to know this so I can move on from it".
"You won't have to worry about Ben" said Sami, who had taken the newspaper.
Will took it.
WESTON TO REMAIN IN STATESVILLE
Ben Weston, otherwise the Necktie Killer, has been reported not to be acquitted for Will Horton's alledged murder, for he had killed his doppelganger and been charged with three murders in his trial plus escaping prison once. Salem's DA informed that the former serial killer's sentence wouldn't have any changes. Weston was convicted in 2015 for the murders of Serena Mason, Paige Larson and friend 'Will Horton', and was sentenced to life in prison in 2016 when he was recaptured after escaping to harass Abigail DiMera (neé Deveraux).
"So this is the guy who killed me" said Will. "Well, my double. It says they were friends".
"Ben was a psychopath" said Abby. "I almost married him, you know? But I was close to Chad, and he knew it, and in his twisted mind he resolved killing people and frame him so he wouldn't be close to me".
"But Chad was my best friend, he would never do something like that to me. I know it was my double, but you all believed he was me".
"Your impostor was never a target" said Chad. "He figured out Ben had killed those women, but Ben caught him. You can imagine what happened".
Will hid his face in his hands. "Oh, dear. And Sonny had already left him, right?"
Lucas nodded. "Yeah. It wasn't pretty. The guy was very remorseful, you know? I'm starting to think that maybe he would have confessed everything if he hadn't been murdered".
"I just don't understand" he said. "I mean, you all knew how I felt about marriage for starters. I was too young in 2014, there's no way I would have said yes to Sonny's proposal!"
"To be fair, your double did say no to Sonny's first proposal" said Sami.
"First?"
"He thought about it, had a change of heart and accepted later" she said.
Will groaned. "Smart move".
"And the wedding was beautiful" she admitted. "Ugh and then, when Nick died, he thought Sonny had done it and tried to take the fall for it".
"And that convinced everyone he was me" Will said. "Because I would have done that for Sonny. God, he had green light to spiral out of control and no one suspecting something was wrong!"
He turned to Chad.
"I was out of town by then" said Chad. "Yeah, I received some pictures and a postcard but when I came back everything was on track. I just fell for it like everyone did. I'm sorry".
"Don't be" he said. "He was just... A hell of an actor".
"The magazine job should have been a signal" said Sami. "But even though the things he wrote about us were horrible, the grammar and vocabulary were amazing, they were... 'You'".
"But the cheating, oh my God, the cheating" Will cried. "How could I ever cheat on Sonny? I love him too much for that!"
"He played the insecurity card" said Chad. "No offense, but it's part of your personality. He fooled everyone with that when the scandal came out".
"I should apologize" said Abby. "Because I was such a bitch to you. Well, him. I am very sorry I thought you would do that".
"Don't" said Will. "It wasn't me anyway. And I'm pretty sure you weren't the only one".
"The Kiriakises were against you when they found out. Sonny turned cold towards your doppelganger and got closer to Paul. If he and your double had a physical affair, he and Sonny had a psychological one".
"Sonny does love him, doesn't he?" Will sadly said.
"No, he doesn't" said Chad. "He thinks he does, and I'm pretty sure he proposed to Paul because felt some kind of pressure".
Abby turned to him. "What?"
"It's my theory. They are just not right together. And considering what happened to get them to where they were yesterday, it makes me sick".
"Please stop it" said Will, hiding his face in his hands again. "I don't need you to trash-talk him. I... I need a moment".
He stood up to leave, but Chad stood in front of him. "Whoa, you're not going anywhere. Deimos is still out there"
"I want to go to the bathroom!" Will snapped, pushing Chad aside and walking away.
Chad sighed. "That went well".
"He has been locked up for so long" Sami lamented. "He may be well physically, but mentally, he must be wrecked".
"Ugh, this is so messed up" said Abby. "And what about Sonny? He hasn't returned any calls or texts".
"He must be also very confused" said Lucas. "I'll try to check on him later".
"And Paul, God, I feel so sorry for him".
Sami rolled his eyes. "I have to admit he's a good guy. Also, I must say I'm kinda glad the wedding didn't succeed. It was too messed up".
"What do you think will happen with those two?" asked Lucas.
"Whatever has to happen" said Abigail. "This time, no one must interfere with their opinions. We must let Sonny and Paul, and Will if he wants, figure it out on his own".
Sami nodded in agreement.
They remained in silence for a while.
"Will's been in the bathroom for quite a while, hasn't he?" said Chad.
"Go see if he's ok, I'll clean up the table" said Abby.
"We'll help" said Sami.
Chad went to the bathroom, and Lucas and Sami helped Abby.
"Do you think Will's gonna need professional help?" asked Abby.
"Probably" said Sami. "I'll ask my mom. Physically he's fine. Please make sure he eats well and healthy".
"I will" she replied. "Hey Chad, and Will?"
Chad had rushed in the living room, horror written in his face. "Will's gone".
Sonny and his parents were out at the square having breakfast. The poor man hadn't slept at all. He looked tired and emaciated, with bags under his eyes. Not the best image he had. In fact, he couldn't find it in himself to eat.
"Have some bread at least, Sonny" Adrienne pleaded. "You need to eat. Come on".
Sonny just shook his head.
"Leave him" said Justin. "Son, I know you're really stressed. But you must do something".
"Paul hasn't speaked to me since the failed wedding" Sonny lamented. "I don't have the guts to call him. I just can't take it. It's too much".
"Sonny, I can't deny you're suffering" said Adrienne. "But have you even stopped and thought about what Will has suffered. My God, four years in captivity, alone and forgotten. I feel horrible for the way I thought of him".
Sonny groaned. "And Will, I don't know what to do about Will! He's alive, he never cheated on me, he never schemed against anyone. He was my husband, I should have been one of the people who knew him the best, I should have known all those things weren't like him!"
"You were in love, honey" said Adrienne. "And your anger and frustration when your marriage was in crisis blinded you too".
"It's not anyone's fault but Deimos's" said Justin.
Sonny clenched his fists. "I hate him. He took my husband away, hurt me just to make Uncle Vic suffer for me. He must pay!"
"And he will" said Adrienne. "The police is already looking for him. They'll send him back to prison for the rest of his life".
"No, it's not enough" Sonny hissed. "I want him dead. He should die for what he did to Will!"
"No, Sonny, don't think like that" said Justin.
Sonny breathed heavily. "He didn't deserve it. I..."
He trailed off. "He never married me".
Adrienne looked at him, concerned. "What?"
"The dates..." Sonny gasped. "I married his imposter".
He started walking backwards.
"Sonny..." said Justin.
Sonny ran away.
"Sonny!"
Will ran and ran, until his feet got tired. He looked around, and saw the many gravestones that surrounded him.
"God" he murmured.
He slowly walked, and stood in front of a tomb.
He breathed heavily as he read the name.
WILLIAM ROBERT HORTON
November 16th 1992 - October 9th 2015
"No" he mumbled in a horrified voice. "No".
He fell to his knees, placing his hands on the ground, not able to take his eyes off of it.
"NOOOO!"
He crawled to the right, for he had seen a relatively big rock, took it with both hands and returned to the grave, and started hitting the stone with all his strength.
"NO, NO, NO!"
Tears fell down his face as he saw how the stone was shattered to pieces.
"No..."
Suddenly, he gasped, as he felt a throbbing pain on his neck. It was a needle.
He slowly took his hand to his neck, and pulled what had hit him. It was a dart.
He gasped for air once again, before falling unconscious.
His eyes closed, just as a shadow approached him.
Sami had yelled at Chad until Lucas told her not to waste her energy on him but in finding Will.
It hadn't been Chad's fault. Will had lied and run away after all.
Abby had suggested they looked around the mansion first, for there was a chance he could be in his room or somewhere inside, since he had indeed said he wanted to be alone.
And so, half an hour later, Chad came downstairs, meeting the others in the hall. "He's not up".
"Neither in the second floor on the basement" said Lucas.
"Ok, that confirms he's out somewhere, with Deimos on the lookout" said Sami.
"It's only been 30 minutes" said Abigail. "He can't be that far".
"Ok, me and Abby will search the Pub, you guys go to the square, we'll be in touch and keep moving" said Chad, just as he heard a few knocks on the door. "Oh, come on".
He opened the door. Malcolm was there, with an unconscious Will on his left shoulder and a blowgun on the right hand. Behind him was Marlena.
Malcolm glared at Chad. "You had one job".
Chad was speechless. "Uh..."
"Whatever" he said, pushing him aside, and walking inside, to everyone else's surprise. "Where's his room?"
"Um, upstairs, next to mine, it's..."
"Uh huh" he replied, going upstairs, carrying his unconscious brother.
Marlena signaled to the living room. "Shall we?"
Everyone followed her inside.
"Mom, what's going on? Where was Will?" asked Sami.
"Malcolm called me and told me everything" she replied. "He's the one who found him. Will was at the cemetery".
"Oh no" said Lucas. "Don't tell me he saw..."
"He saw the grave with his name" she confirmed.
"Why hasn't anyone removed it?" Sami complained. "I'll have it removed right now!"
"That won't be a problem" said Marlena. "The stone's been destroyed".
Abby blinked twice. "What?"
"Will destroyed it with a rock. Malcolm had to sedate him to make him stop" she replied. She turned to the stunned parents. "He has PTSD. I understand he can't leave the building for his own security so I'll come and treat him".
Sami nodded. "Ok. Thanks, mom".
"It's my pleasure" she smiled. "I'm just so happy he's back".
"About the stone" said Chad. "What will we tell the police? Because Will could be charged with vandalism".
"Oh great, one day in Salem and he has trouble" said Abby rolling his eyes.
"Not on my watch" Lucas said. "We could claim Will's mental health is seriously altered for what has happened".
Suddenly, someone started banging on the door.
"Oh my God!" said Chad, going and swinging the door open. "Who the hell is... What the hell are you doing here?".
Outside, Sonny glared at him.
I don't think we're done with this yet. There are a few things that need to be done first.
Please review and thanks for reading!