Nikolas lay back in the coffin as it bobbed over the waves, reminding himself just how dismal and horrible his life had become in the past few months. Not that it had ever really been that great because his father had been some crazy zombie and his mother had abandoned him to return to her "real" family. If she hadn't desperately needed a part of him, his damn bone marrow, to save her beloved daughter's life…he might still be rotting away on Cassadine Island lavished in luxury.

But then again, maybe he would have been better off if she had never returned because in PC, he'd really had to slum a bit, his current digs being a pale comparison to his old haunts. Perhaps if he remained at the place of his birth, he wouldn't have been subjected to a string of women who loved him and then left him.

So his life had always sucked but never as much so as in recent months. He had blamed his parents, his manipulative grandmother Helena and just about everyone around him. The island had become his haven away from the sordid life on the mainland and he rarely left it anymore, though he did take long walks along the moors up to the rocky cliffs.

He heard some huffing and puffing and lifted his head up to see Jax's strong arms churning through the flooded waters, tugging his coffin to the mainland. The only thing keeping Jax afloat was his surfboard, which sliced through the currents.

"Are we almost there yet," Niklos asked as it seemed they had been in the water for hours.

No one responded which irritated the dark prince.

"I said…."

Jax sputtered some water out of his mouth.

"Just another mile, maybe two and we'll be safely on dry land."

Niklos sighed heavily as he lay back in the coffin, which had grown damp because of the water splashing inside it and soiling its silk lining. Then he noticed a ghostly presence sitting on the coffin, that of a young translucent woman with curly brown hair. It looked like….

"Georgia?"

She looked at him, her lips pursed in disapproval.

"You should just die Nikolas."

His eyes widened in shock, who was she to say such a thing to him?

"What are you talking about?"

She pointed a finger at him.

"You are so gloomy Nikolas," she said, "There's a whole world out there and yet you sulk on a fog shrouded island and sleep in a coffin."

He threw her a pouty look.

"It's my life and everyone who's ever been in it has betrayed me beginning with my own parents."

Georgia just shook her head.

"My parents are the most irresponsible, flakiest hippies on the planet," she said, "My mother didn't even see fit to birth me in a hospital but I lived my life fully."

Nikolas just stared at her broodingly.

"You're dead….your boyfriend killed you in a fit of rage after you discovered his murderous ways."

"Hey at least he was a little bit sorry afterward."

Nikolas just fumed in his coffin.

"How can you judge me on anything if your own actions made you dead."

She arched a ghostly eyebrow.

"Ah but Nikolas, I'm only dead on the outside," she said, "You're dead on the inside and that's enough to be eternally damned."

He shook his head.

"No. I can't be."

Georgia just looked at him sadly as she began to fade away.

"There's great evil inside this town and only the righteous will prevail.'

With that admonition, she was gone leaving Nikolas to sink back in his coffin while Jax fought against the current to deliver them both to shore.


Edward nibbled on the stale pizza as he sat on top of the roof at the Q mansion, the lone building not submerged beneath the flood waters on the richer side of town. He had waited for Alice to cook up a meal for him and the others until he realized two things, that the kitchen was under water and Alice had disappeared. Dillion his freeloading grandson had blown into town after bumming around Europe for a while and Ned had wanted to move back in after his investments took a killing in the stock market. Lois had hooked onto Ned with her manicured talons by then and so when he arrived, so did she and at that point, Ed had his butler padlock the door to seek every other erstwhile relative outside.

As he saw Reginald do as he ordered, he felt a wave of nostalgia mercifully brief about Nigel, who he still missed though he'd never admit it out loud.

Edward had retreated to the roof to escape both the flood and everyone else. He had hoped the spirit of his beloved wife Lila would provide him some guidance but except for the rushing water, the night had been quiet. Maybe she was too busy giving his late son Allan, a much needed kick in the pants.

Dillion had rescued some old pizza just before the kitchen had been flooded, providing some justification for his miserable life. He had tossed the box to Edward and he had feasted on it. Tracy hadn't yet reemerged which meant there was no reason to have Dillion taste the pizza first and make sure it wasn't poisoned.

"Hey Eddy Q, can I take the Porsche out for a spin?"

Edward just blinked his eyes at his blockhead for a grandson.

"The entire town is flooded in case you haven't noticed."

Dillion really started looking around him and then nodded slowly.

"Yeah…I see what you mean Eddy Q, maybe I should take the yacht out inside."

Maybe Dillion should get a haircut and a shave, some respectable looking clothes and go out looking for a job. Or help out with the rescue effort or something.

Suddenly Dillion's eyes widened and he pointed.

"Hey look…someone's out there," he said, "It looks like someone surfing."

Edward looked out too and saw a man lying on a surfboard pulling something like a box. Damn fool to think about going out in the middle of a flood but this younger generation had no brains.

"He seems to be coming towards us," Dillion said, "Maybe we should go meet them."

Maybe not, Edward thought still gnawing his pizza. Only the Thanksgiving Turkey or Christmas ham would be harder.

"You go check them out and take the shot gun….maybe Ned should go with you."

Dillion just looked at him not quite understanding.


Alexis saw the lady with the veil standing across the room and it made her nervous. She had no idea who this mysterious woman might be or what she might want. But she couldn't waste much time wondering about it not with everything she already had on her plate.

Franco, sweet man that he appeared to be had offered to buy her a drink. Really she thought he might just be perfect for her wayward daughter Sam who needed the right man to stir her away from her gold digging, tramp acting ways. Alexis just didn't know where she had picked up that kind of behavior but she couldn't just keep acting that way and she couldn't keep shacking up with that thug, Jason. So a little match making might be in order here.

But then Brenda and Carly had gotten into a chick fight overthrowing furniture and damaging crystal. Finally Liz had to take a few minutes away from her emergency appendectomy to inject both women with sedatives that they were both sleeping off in their respective corners.

Mac walked up to her with what looked like her daughter…Molly her name was and he smiled.

"I found her wandering around," he said, "It's not safe for a young girl."

Alexis looked down at Molly who looked perfectly fine, even serene.

"I can see she's perfectly fine now," she said, "I never have to worry about this child."

Mac nodded and then sighed.

"Alexis…I was thinking sometime maybe we could go out and have a coffee or…"

At that point, a scream shrieked through the building and Mac spun his head around as Lulu came running out of the hallway.

"There's been a murder…."

Mac rushed up to her and grabbed her shoulders.

"What is it…who is it and where?"

Lulu nearly collapsed in a puddle in her poodle skirt.

"It's so horrible…she's dead…lots of blood and her eyes…oh her eyes…"

Lulu lost it then and nearly went catatonic. Alexis just walked up to her and slapped her.

"If only someone had done this with her mother," she sighed.

Mac just looked at Lulu as her eyes fluttered and she returned to life.

"Where is she?"

Lulu struggled to remember.

"She's lying in the hallway," she said, "I found her while I was looking for Johnny Wonderful and he's still missing."

Mac patted Lulu on the shoulder.

"We'll find him and we'll find this remorseless killing machine too," he said, "I'm telling you this as the police commissioner."

Lulu nodded wordlessly and wandered off. Alexis looked at Mac.

"Who could have done such a thing…and before you look at me, I do have an alibi."

But Mac looked distracted, maybe he was thinking.

"I don't know if PC has ever seen such a killer before," he said, "We must find and apprehend him or her before it's too late."

He dashed off then and Alexis followed him, leaving her youngest daughter there to watch them go.