Finals are over! And I'm sick, which means I can finally get back on track.
Percy Ruggles walked through the dark hallway, escorted by a guard. He looked around as they moved forward. The walls were dirty, and many messages had been written on them in Greek. For he understood quite well the language, Ruggles could actually read some of them.
"Revolution!"
"Death to the traitors!"
"Athens will fall!"
"Death to the Government!"
"Good Lord" he thought, horrified. "Where am I?"
"He is in here" said the guard in a deep Greek accent, as if he could barely speak in English.
They had stopped in front of a cell which had rusty bars and the insides couldn't be seen for the hallway didn't have any light except small skylights on top of the high walls.
Ruggles approached the bars, and flinched when he felt some movement around his feet. He looked down and managed to see a small rat that, as soon as it looked at him, ran away.
The guard chuckled and left Ruggles alone in front of the dark cell.
"Finally" said a voice, making him wince again. "I thought he'd never leave".
Ruggles stepped away slightly, and Deimos's emaciated evil face appeared between the bars of the cell.
"Ah, Mr Kiriakis" Ruggles exhaled in relief. "It is you. For a minute I honestly believed I had been delivered to the wrong cell".
"I see why" said Deimos. "I understand you're here with news. I hope they're good. Is it done?"
"Yes, sir, it is done, very well done" he replied.
"Where's the boy?"
"In a locked room in the castle".
"And our man?"
"Already in Salem, doing his duty".
"And no one suspects a thing?"
"Certainly not, Mr Kiriakis. It was all done with the biggest discretion. No one will ever know of the switch".
Deimos nodded. "Then good job, Percy. I'm sure you also supervised the procedures that came after, didn't you?"
"Indeed, sir" said Ruggles. "I did supervise the surgery. It went just as planned".
"Was the chip implanted correctly?"
"Yes, sir. Very well put inside his head".
"Excellent" said Deimos, exhaling satisfied.
"May I ask, sir" said Ruggles. "Where did your magnificent idea originate?"
Deimos smirked. "Oh, it actually came from a man in Salem. Mr Stefano DiMera".
"Oh, I heard the name" Ruggles said, bitterly. "He's responsible for many tragic events in that town".
"The man is a genius!" Deimos exclaimed. "He had, years ago, something like this done, and it was a success. Before I landed in this hellhole, I started working on my own mental control chip".
"So you were planning to experiment with the boy?"
"We gotta keep him busy, right? But if you really need to know, the switch was made to hurt my brother. You see, he's the reason I'm here".
Ruggles narrowed his eyes. "I have read all about Victor Kiriakis. The man is untouchable. At least, every attack against him has very little effect. I doubt this doppelganger will do any harm".
"My man will not hurt him directly" said Deimos. "He will go after a person Victor loves very much".
"His wife?"
"His nephew".
"Oh, the nice young man who was with him and that precious little girl!"
"Sure, sure".
"So the harm will be done by making him suffer because a loved one is suffering".
"Exactly".
"That's brilliant, sir!"
"I know" said Deimos with a smirk. "Now, you must go back to Salem, and stick around for a bit so you don't lift any suspicions".
"I will, sir" said Ruggles. "Right after a quick visit to my house. There's a man there that requires my care. Poor soul, he had fallen to the river and hit his head. But my eyes see beyond, I know he was pushed in an attempt of murder. It's actually something very common in nature, sir. Instead of getting the claws dirty, some species let their prey fall to its death".
"Delightful" said Deimos. "Now, get back to work. My sentence will soon be up. I will join you when I'm free".
"I will be expecting your call, sir" said Ruggles, turning around and motioning to leave. However, he turned to Deimos once again. "I just wonder, sir, whatever do you need the boy with the chip for?"
Deimos smirked again, and let out a chuckle. "The first Kiriakis soldier. DiMera will never see it coming".
"Who would have thought a heart attack and surgery on the head have the same time of recovery" Chad commented as he laced his shoes, sitting on the hospital bed next to Will.
"I'm pretty sure they made us stay longer than expected just so we could leave together" Will chuckled, buttoning his shirt. "I'm pretty sure my Aunt Kayla figured you wouldn't leave me alone anyway".
"After all the crap that's been done to you only this week? Hell no".
"I'm just glad it's all over now. I can finally get my stuff in order and start from scratch".
"There's an available office in the Mansion" Chad said. "If you're still interested in a Literature career you can use it. It's full of good books you can use for research and stuff".
Will smiled. "Thanks. I have some ideas. I had a lot of time to think while I was there".
"I'll put you in contact with some editors and that" said Chad. "This is so great, you're officially back on track".
"I know, right?"
The door of the room opened, and Gabi entered with a "Get well" balloon in a hand and Ari's hand in the other.
"Hey!" she greeted
"Oh hi!" Will said, receiving Ari's hug.
"Hi, Daddy!" she exclaimed.
"Hi, my sweet baby!" Will greeted happily. "You just made Daddy's day better!"
"Hey!" Chad complained.
"Oh, you know what I mean" Will laughed.
"I'm so glad hou guys are getting out of here" said Gabi, looking at Will. "I, um, kinda wanted to talk to you".
Will frowned. "About what?"
Gabi grimaced. "A certain guy who can't seem to get you out of his head".
As Will nodded, getting the hint, Chad approached, and took Ari from Will's arms. "Alright, princess, you and Uncle Chad are spending some time outside while Mommy and Daddy talk, alright?"
"Don't worry, I'll be with you in a short while" Will said.
As soon as they were out, Will sat on the bed and crossed his arms. "Ok, what's with Sonny now?"
"Not him, you" said Gabi.
"Me?"
"Yeah".
"Ok, what's with me?"
"I know you need time to heal and probably see yourself in a complicated situation when it comes to your relationship with Sonny" she said. "But for Ari's sake, you gotta decide at least whether you hate him or love him or care about him, I don't know".
"I will always care about Sonny, and maybe I still love him with the same passion I had four years ago, but that's for me to find out, at my own pace" said Will. "And what does Ari have to do with anything? If I remember correctly, we agreed that if we ever had an argument, we would never use her for our own benefit. No, we would never use her at all".
"It's not that. In her mind, you two are still her dads. Now, I don't wanna break her heart but if you and Sonny aren't going to be together then we gotta be honest with her".
"But what can we say when I haven't figured it out yet?" Will said. "I could easily go and tell her 'that man is not your dad anymore' and then find out I still love him, or say 'we re your dads' and then see what a mistake I made. That will only confuse her".
"That doesn't necessarily have to happen" said Gabi. "You're just putting yourself in the worst scenario".
"I have to, don't I?" he replied. "Look, when Ari was born, I vowed she would never have the broken home I grew up with. Now, I may have failed when we still had to have custody agreements and when I was taken and my double was murdered, but I'm going to make it right".
"Will..."
"We are going to make this right" he said firmly. "For our daughter, ok? She's the most important thing in our lives and I will not make a decision if I'm not sure of what comes next. I'll handle Sonny. If he wants to keep being in her life then he's more than welcome, but I'm not putting up with more people demanding things from me".
"Demanding things?"
"Exactly. I love Arianna with my whole heart, I do. That's why I'll take my time and make sure that I choose the right thing. But no one gets to tell me to hurry things. Make sure Sonny knows this too. Got it?"
Gabi nodded. "Ok. I'm sorry".
Will sighed. "I get Ari still thinks she has two dads. Maybe that doesn't have to change, whether I'm with Sonny or not. I don't know. I wanna wait, see what happens".
"Ok, I understand" she replied.
"Would you bring Ari again, please?"
Gabi opened the door, and Chad entered with Arianna again. "Sorry we couldn't run today, sweetie, but we're not supposed to, this is a hospital".
"Not to mention" said Will, picking her up. "Your uncle Chad can't get too tired for now".
Ari pouted, but nodded and clung onto Will's neck.
"I think you guys are ready to go" said Gabi.
"Yeah, we're just waiting for Abby and Thomas" said Chad. "That and for Kayla to bring our release papers".
"It shouldn't take long" said Will, and turned to Ari. "And you and I are going to have the greatest time later, ok?"
Ari nodded eagerly, and Gabi smiled at them.
Malcolm had tossed his rifles on his sofa, trying to choose the one that would make him look more dangerous. He was going to go grill a powerful crimelord after all.
He wasn't kidding this time. If he had to shoot, he would. This was the last time a member of his family was attacked by that old Greek son of a bitch.
"This one maybe, but this one's better" he muttered trying to decide, when some knock were heard on the door. "Dammit, I'm busy, get lost!"
"It's me" said Sami on the other side of the door.
Malcolm sighed, tossed a gun on his other weapons and covered them. Then, he opened the door. "Yes?"
"Hey, Malcolm" said Sami, with EJ behind her. "Mind if we come in?"
"Must be important" he replied suspiciously, but let them in anyway, making sure to block their way to the sofa where he had hidden his rifles.
"It is, actually" said EJ. "It's about the control chip William had implanted on his brain".
"What about it?"
"Malcolm, you must understand, this is not Father's doing".
Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I know".
"You do?" Sami asked, as Malcolm gave them glasses with water. "How do you know it wasn't him?".
"Because I know the real culprit" he replied, and drank his own water.
Sami and EJ shared a glance, and she became exasperated when Malcolm didn't say anything else. "Well?"
Malcolm stared at her. "Well what?"
"Are you going to tell us who was it?"
Malcolm shook his head. "Hell no".
Sami's eyes widened and opened her mouth to argue, but EJ beat her. "And why is it that you won't tell us?"
"Well, for starters, you guys are DiMeras" he replied. "I simply don't trust the way you handle this kind of situations". He looked at Sami. "Especially some more than others".
"Excuse me?" Sami said, indignantly. "What's with me?"
"Sami, don't get me wrong, I like you and I think you're one cool lady" Malcolm said. "But I've been in this town for not too long, but long enough to know how you... React to these problems".
"I don't care, I'm Will's mother and I have a right to know!"
"This is precisely what I'm talking about" he said. "Now, I gotta deal with this guy before it's too late".
"Too late?" EJ asked.
"The guy's smart" Malcolm shrugged. "I gotta attack when he least expects it".
"Well, if you are going to confront him and he's so resourseful, then you must let us come along".
"You handle weapons?"
"I can".
"I have handled guns myself" said Sami.
Malcolm narrowed his eyes. "Ok".
He went to his sofa, and uncovered his rifles, making Sami gasp. He took one and went to the door. "Choose one you like".
EJ and Sami approached the sofa. EJ took one of the rifles, and noticed they had a lock and a security code that prevented his from pulling the trigger or take out the cartridge.
"It is locked" he said to Sami as they both examined the rifles. "Hey, Malcolm, what's the combination..."
He was interrupted by the sound of the door closing, followed by a click. The couple turned to it. Malcolm was gone.
"Oh, that little...!" EJ cursed and went to open the door. He couldn't. "What the hell?"
"You can lock this from outside?" Sami asked, disbelievingly.
"Malcolm! Malcolm!"
Outside, ignoring Sami and EJ's calls, Malcolm unlocked his rifle and prepared his gun.
"Sorry guys" he muttered, as he left. "But I'm working solo".
Inside the apartment, EJ and Sami tried unsuccesfully to get out.
"Dammit Malcolm!" said Sami.
EJ suddenly got an idea. "The window is open. Come on!"
They went to the window, and EJ got out first, helping Sami to get out after him. After all, Malcolm and Sami's apartments were on the first floor of the building.
"Such a gentleman" she grinned when she was out.
EJ closed the window and they ran to the street, only to see Malcolm's car rush down the street.
"We gotta follow him!" Sami exclaimed.
EJ took her to their car and raced down the street too, trying to follow Malcolm.
The door of the hospital room opened, and Lucas, Abigail and Thomas entered, followed by Kayla. She made her way in front of them, facing Chad and Will.
"Your release forms have been signed" she announced. "You two are free to go".
"Thank you, Aunt Kayla" said Will, who had Ari on his arms.
She just nodded and pointed to the bed. "I just hope I don't see you in one of those anytime soon, ok?"
He chuckled. "Ok".
Once she left, Lucas approached them. "So, you guys ready to go?"
"We most certainly are" said Chad, picking up Thomas.
"Oh look at you two" said Abby. "You're holding your kids, I must take a picture".
Both shared a glance. "We're not sure..."
"Smile!"
They smiled and Abby took the photo. "Oh, it's perfect!"
"I would rather a more conventional background like a garden or the park instead of a hospital room" said Chad.
"Fine, I'll take it again".
"I think you two have a similar photo holding pumpkins in Halloween" said Lucas. "You could put it next to this one, years later, holding your kids. Like a before/after picture!"
"That's a great idea!" Abby said.
"Right" said Chad. "Can we leave now?"
"Oh, wait" said Will. "Wasn't Mom going to join us?"
Lucas frowned and checked his watch. "Huh, you're right. She should be here by now".
"She must have gotten stuck in traffic or something" Chad suggested.
"She would have called" said Will.
"If you wanna wait for her, that's ok, we can stay with you" said Abby.
"Thanks" he said. "It's weird, though. I wonder if something happened..."
As in cue, Lucas's phone rang. "It's Sami, hold on".
He picked up. "Sami, where are you? You're supposed to be in the hospital with me to pick up Will!"
"I know!" Sami said on the other side of the line. "I'm sorry but I won't make it".
"Why not?"
"Because this is too good to let go!"
"Too good, what are you talking about?"
"Can we do this later? I, uh, have something to do".
Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Sami, I can hear the street noises, you're in a car! Where the hell are you going?"
"I'm trying to reach Malcolm".
"You and Malcolm live in the same building, don't lie to me!"
"No, you idiot! I was at Malcolm's a few minutes ago with EJ, because I wanted to know how his investigation was going and EJ wanted to clear Stefano from any suspicion, but Malcolm was acting strange, like, with secrecy".
"Malcolm always acts with secrecy, it's his job, remember?"
"Yes, but this time it was bigger, he didn't want us to know something he knows. He in fact told us that".
"And what could he possibly be hiding from you? Let me know your 'suspicions' if you don't mind".
Sami sighed. "It's not a suspicion. Malcolm knows who's responsible for activating the chip that made Will go crazy and he refuses to tell who it was".
Lucas was speechless. "What?"
"That's right. EJ and I are following him. If Malcolm gets answers from whoever it was, I'm hearing them".
"Sami, are you insane? This guy could be dangerous, he will kill you the secong he sees you! Let Malcolm handle things, geez!"
"Oh, you believe in your eighteen year-old son but not me?"
"He's well trained for this kind of situations, Sami".
Sami remained silent for a second or two. "I'm sorry Lucas. But I'm Will's mother. I'm getting those answers".
Before Lucas could argue more, she hung up.
"Dammit, Sami" he hissed, and turned around. Everyone was staring at him.
Will scoffed. "Ok, what has Mom gotten herself into this time and what does Malcolm have to do with it?".
Lucas played nervously with his phone. "Malcolm has found out who's behind the chip in your brain being activated... And your mom just so happens to know as well".
"She knows who was it?" Chad asked.
"No, she just knows that Malcolm knows. But she doesn't know what".
"Let me guess" said Will. "She's following him and will most likely put Malcolm's operation at risk".
"Well, she's not alone" his dad replied. "She's with EJ".
"Ok, at least we know things are gonna be a little more under control" said Chad.
"Yeah, unless she acts impulsively and gets everyone killed" Will said. "I'll be writing my eulogy for her".
He got out of the room with Ari in his arms.
"What's an eulogy?" they heard her ask.
Gabi approached Lucas. "I, um, we should try to make him relax a bit. He's been through so much stress".
"Yeah, yeah" he replied.
"Do you think we should intervene?" Abby asked to Chad.
Chad shrugged. "If Malcolm didn't come to us then he clearly doesn't want us involved. It must be pretty juicy what he knows. We should know better than to mind his business".
"Why?"
Chad smiled at her. "Darling, I'm not planning on getting shot for the fourth time".
Abby chuckled. "I just hope they are ok".
"So, any progress with Will?" Victor asked as he sat on the couch.
Sonny shook his head. "He's not sure. He wants to take things slow, and I agreed".
Victor nodded. "You know, I was wrong".
"About what?"
"Will" he replied. "I wasn't fair. He's a good kid. Who poisoned our minds against his name was the geezer who took his life and fooled us all".
Sonny nodded, and sat with him on the couch. "Well, I'm glad you finally got some perspective".
"That doesn't mean I'm letting my guard down" Victor added. "Especially with that brother of his, Malcolm Horton. I know you can't stand him either so you don't get to disagree with me".
"Someone mentioned my name?" said Malcolm as he entered the living room, rifle in hand, making them turn to him.
"How the hell did you get in here?" Sonny demanded.
Malcolm shrugged. "I was... Let in".
Victor narrowed his eyes. "What have you done to Henderson?"
"I... May have knocked him unconcious".
"What?"
"He's ok, I promise" Malcolm defended. "He just wouldn't let me in!"
"I'll go check on him" said Sonny, motioning to go to the foyer.
"Actually, Jackson, I think you'd like to stay" said Malcolm, blocking his way with the rifle. "I believe you'll find our conversation very interesting".
"This is outrageous!" Victor exclaimed, angry. "You barge into my home unannounced, you attack my butler and you come in here, making accusations and pointing at us with that thing!"
"Hey, I'm just doing my job here" said Malcolm. "And just so you know, I haven't made any accusations yet".
"You are as idiotic as everyone else who has tried to blame anything on me" he said. He snapped his fingers and two men appeared from behind Malcolm, grabbing him.
"Hey!" he complained.
"Get him out of here" Victor ordered. "And confiscate the weapon".
"Hey, this rifle is property of the CIA".
"Yes? I don't care. You should have thought of that before you decided to break into my house".
"Victor, I'm warning you, you're gonna regret this".
"I don't see how".
"You're the one who's at fault here!"
"Get him out!"
"No, wait, let him go" Sonny intervened. The men obeyed.
Malcolm regained his posture. "At once, you finally act intelligently, Jackson".
"Sonny, stay out of this" said Victor.
"No, Uncle Vic, I want to know what he's got to say" said Sonny, and turned to Malcolm. "Why did you say I'd find this conversation interesting?"
Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "Because the main topic is your favorite: my brother Will Horton".
Chad leaned on the doorframe of the office he had given to Will. His friend was sitting in the desk, with a piece of paper in front of him.
"I didn't think you were talking seriously when you said you'd write an eulogy".
"I can't think of anything good to say about my mom" Will replied.
Chad let out a tiny chuckle, and entered the office. He took the paper and put it in the drawer. Will didn't complain. "If there wasn't anything good about Sami, no one would tolerate her. Not even EJ, and he married her, so there's definitely... Something".
"Or maybe I didn't mean what I said" he argued.
"You just had brain surgery. I'm pretty sure you get tired of thinking. Or aren't thinking at all".
"Kinda hurts" Will pouted.
"I hate to admit this, but Sonny was right" Chad said, putting his hand on top of Will's head. "You are kind of a dork".
"Shut up" Will laughed, and his friend laughed with him. "I hate you, get out".
"You love me because I cheer you up" Chad declared. "In a parallel universe, you and I are married and our children are siblings".
"Ew, no!"
Chad smirked. "Uh huh, tell you eighteen year-old self that".
"Stop teasing me!" Will said, trying to be annoyed. He couldn't be. Chad did cheer him up.
"Try to relax a bit" said his friend. "Have some faith in your mother".
"Easy for you to say".
"Then have some faith in EJ or Malcolm. But I believe Sami's smart enough not to leave you motherless". Chad rubbed gently Will's hair. "And you rest. That pretty blond head of yours can't go to waste".
He went to the door.
"Chad?"
Chad turned around.
"Thanks".
"What else am I here for?" he smiled, and motioned to leave.
"Chad?"
Chad turned around again.
"About that parallel universe" Will said. "If you and I are together, where does that leave Abigail, the greatest love of your life?"
Chad put his thinking face. "She is the greatest love of my life. But, if there's a 'you and I' in that dimension, I like to imagine she's doing it with Gabi".
He whistled. "So hot".
Will chuckled. "And you say I'm the dork".
"Ok" said Sonny, looking at Malcolm suspiciously. "What about Will?"
Malcolm turned to Victor. "You wanna tell him or I do?"
"Me?" Victor asked. "I haven't even seen him since he came back!"
"You didn't have to" said Malcolm. "You see, Jackson, the chip Will had on his head was activated long distance by remote control".
Sonny frowned. "Ok?"
"I got the chip from Dr Brady to investigate more about its background" he continued. "The chip had been created by Deimos".
"Deimos?" Victor said. "That's impossible. The master in mind control is Stefano DiMera!".
"Oh, I agree" he replied. "But it couldn't be Stefano the one who did this because this chip had been poorly configured. It had damages that altered the effects on the person who wore it".
"Are you saying Deimos was experimenting with him?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah, you could say that".
"And what do I have to do with anything?" Victor demanded.
"You, you..."
Malcolm was interrupted by the sound of the door opening abruptly, and Sami and EJ entered the room. The men who had grabbed Malcolm looked at Victor, awaiting orders.
"Malcolm" said Sami. "What are we doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" Malcolm asked, surprised. "I locked you in my apartment!".
"The window was open" EJ said.
Malcolm thought for a moment. He had left it open. "Dammit".
"What's going on here?" Sonny asked.
"Nothing, everyone's leaving" said Victor, turning to his men. "Get these intruders out of my house, now!"
"No one is going anywhere!" Malcolm said, not letting the men do as they were told. "Not until I do what I came here to do".
"Malcolm, you said you knew who activated Will's chip, what the hell are we doing in the Kiriakis Mansion?" Sami demanded.
EJ looked at Victor, and exhaled knowingly. "Of course".
"That's right" said Malcolm. "Deimos created the chip, but Victor Kiriakis activated it".
Victor looked at everyone, preparing his defense. Sonny looked at his uncle, his face showing a mix of anger, fear and disbelief. Sami was ready to kill, EJ was ready to stop her and Malcolm just smirked.
I'm finally on vacation, so I can get to work in this story again. Sorry I kept you waiting.
About my last message, I will write a couple more chapters and there will probably be an epilogue, I'll let you know what comes up.
Please review and thanks for reading!