AN: Thanks for the incredible response to this Snowing story! See previous chapter for important authors notes on characters and story notes.
Important note: Milah is not Neal's father in this universe. Cora is I've taken some liberties again with characters and back stories. :)
Special Note: The character of TJ Morrison is a Manifest character. The characters of Nick and Greta Branson are based on Hansel(also known as Jack and Nick Branson) and Gretel from Once season 7.
Another Note: As we get further into season 2 and season 3, I will be focusing more on the major Manifest plotlines and not so much the minor ones that involve one offs with passengers, in addition to the original plots I have created for this story. Season 4 will be premiering soon and once I see what I'm working with, I'll make a decision if this story will be going with a Manifest type ending or if I have to move to more of a Once ending. Most of you that watch Manifest know that (spoiler alert) that Margaret's counterpart character in the series, Grace, dies at the end of season 3. I will not be doing that with Margaret. Either way, when the time comes, I will give this story a satisfying ending that may or may not match the series. :)
This one will update bi-weekly on Sunday nights now. Please consider leaving a review, it is much appreciated. Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Yeah, hopefully Olive will come around. Glad you're enjoying it!
Jennifer Baratta: I actually think David is right here and Olive is in the wrong. Samdi is leading a cult. Yep, I think Cora is going down. Glad you're enjoying it.
Grace5231973: Thank you so much for your condolences and prayers. Yep, the walls are closing in on Cora! Yep, Baron Samdi is a con-artist. Hopefully Olive will come around. Glad you're enjoying!
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Samdi has been warned! Thanks, it was a little hard to get going again, but I think I'm back at it. I know, David is so protective and I love it too. Yeah, Olive is a little mixed up right now, but she'll find her way again I think. Samdi is a con-artist for sure and she'll soon come to see that I think. Yep, I'd say there were tipped off. Yeah, the walls are closing in on Cora, thanks to Gold. Yep, Margaret knew he was going to sneak out so she went too. Glad you're enjoying!
Lightning in a Bottle
Chapter 65: Return Trip
"And we did," Tamara said, as she sat in a meeting and confessed her truth.
"We got engaged, because that's how we were back then. Wild and impulsive and in love or maybe it was lust, because we were also incredibly toxic together," she continued.
"We fed each other's addictions. But he finally found a path out of all of that. He's sober, dating a police detective, happy. And I'm happy for him," Tamara said.
"You don't feel slighted or tossed aside?" the group leader asked.
"I do a bit…but I'm working through it. If disappearing for a year was what he needed to get clean, then I'm glad he did that for himself and I forgive him for the hurt he caused," she replied, as the group clapped and was dismissed. Tamara stood up and made her way over to the coffee station. A man came up behind her to pour himself some coffee as well.
"You're a bigger person than me," he mentioned.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"I just mean that I'd be a little pissed if my partner disappeared into thin air for a year and then came back, only to jump into something with another woman. Especially one of those freaks," he replied.
"Freaks?" Tamara asked.
"Yeah…that Detective he's with was on flight 828, you know that plane that disappeared for five years?" he replied.
"Oh yeah…I think I remember something about that. I…I haven't been clean very long. I guess I didn't realize that was her deal," Tamara said.
"Yeah…it's definitely weird that they both disappeared. Makes you wonder what's really going on, you know?" he asked.
"Yeah…guess it does," she replied with uncertainty.
"I know you said you're okay with it, but I can see that you're not. If you're ever interested in revenge, you should come by my sister's bar sometime. We're going to do something about those freaks. My name is Nick," he said, as he handed her a card, which appeared to be for his sister's bar. She took it and watched him leave, before staring at it in contemplation.
"Here you go," David said, as he handed a small box to Emma and she raised an eyebrow.
"This is a few things?" she asked. He winced.
"Yeah…well MM has been spending a lot of time in the house lately," he replied.
"Since the accident?" she asked. He nodded.
"And apparently waging a holy war on clutter," she commented.
"If it's too much, I can just donate this stuff," he said.
"No it's good…I can use three whisks," she joked.
"So…how has it been going with Neal?" David asked. Emma suppressed an eyeroll. She knew her sister-in-law was just itching to ask the same question, but also knew it might come off as less intrusive if David asked. Except that she knew them both so well and knew MM had prodded her brother to sniff out any information for her.
"Did MM ask you to ask me that?" she asked. He sighed.
"Yeah…guess I should have been less direct," he replied. She shook her head.
"It's fine…and he's a great guy. He's doing really well in his program," she said.
"And the old fiancé popping up?" he asked.
"They talked and she was on her way. She hasn't come back since so I guess the whole engagement is definitely off. He said they enabled each other," she replied.
"Yeah…and maybe he's met someone else," David said.
"We're just friends," Emma replied.
"Right," David said.
"I know what you're trying to do…or rather what MM is trying to do and you don't even try to not encourage her," Emma replied.
"She just wants you to be happy. We both do and you clearly are developing feelings for each other," David said. She sighed.
"Maybe…but can we talk about something else?" Emma pleaded. He chuckled.
"Fine…any leads on the blue truck?" he asked.
"I wish…but Graham has iced me out of this whole thing. He thinks I'm too close," she replied.
"He's probably right, but we can't exactly help it. The hatred is growing out there," David said.
"Don't tell me you've been torturing yourself by trolling those websites and chat rooms," Emma replied.
"You know I can't help it. If someone is planning something, they may slip up and reveal details. I have to know," David said.
"I guess…just don't let that crap mess with your head," Emma warned.
"I won't…I happen to have a pretty good anchor that helps me climb out of any pitfalls," he mentioned, referring to MM.
"Yeah…I guess we both do," she agreed.
"You still think there is a mole at the station?" he asked. She nodded.
"I know there is. There's no other way the x'ers could have been tipped off," Emma replied.
"Then you need to be extra careful, Em," he warned.
"I will," she promised, as she gathered the box of things and started out to her car.
"I feel like an accessory to a crime," TJ joked, as they arrived at the soup kitchen.
"Didn't you tell your Dad that we're doing Tarot card research today?" he asked. Olive gave him a look.
"And we will…but I want to help here first," she said. The church of the believers often volunteered their time at this soup kitchen.
"You know, my mom used to volunteer at a soup kitchen. There was this Buddhist Temple that had one in it. Sometimes I'd go," he said.
"So, your mom was Buddhist? She was a lot of things. When I came back and she was gone, I, uh, had my own mini Buddhist memorial rite for her," he confessed.
"Did it help?" Olive asked.
"Kind of. I could...feel her," he said. Olive smiled and squeezed his shoulder, as they made their way into the back where Baron was directing.
"Where do we start?" she asked.
"No," Baron said, surprising Olive.
"I…" she stammered, but he cut her off.
"No, no. You have to go," he said.
"What? Why?" she asked.
"Your dad was very clear and because you're a minor, I have to comply. I'm sorry," Samdi answered. Olive looked very disappointed.
"Okay," she said, as they left and Isaiah came over to him.
"If we're turning away the very people who experienced the miracle firsthand, how are we going to get the rest of the world to believe?" he asked.
There'll be another miracle, Isaiah. An even bigger one," Samdi promised.
"Margaret?" he called, as he came into their bedroom.
"Good news. Your whisks officially have a new home," he joked and then noticed her worried expression.
"What is it?" he asked, as he was immediately at her side and she held up her phone, before putting the voicemail on speakerphone.
"Hi! This is Jane Hawley of New York Life. Our magazine is doing a cover feature on your pregnancy. The first 828 baby is a big story, and we'd love to interview you for the article. Call us back…" the message said and it ended, as Margaret put her phone down and he sighed.
"Well…I guess we should have expected that. We know they somehow found out even before those nosy nurses let it loose," David said.
"I wonder how long until there's some story about us from a nurse that got a big payday to talk about our arrival at the hospital," she said.
"You're not thinking we should actually do the interview, are you?" he asked. She sighed.
"No…I mean if we did, then maybe we could just get the right story out there in a perfect world. But I know that it would only add to the frenzy and maybe even the fear," she said, as she put a hand to her stomach.
"How could anyone think of our baby as anything other than a blessing? I mean that woman Bo treated me like I was carrying the antichrist or something," she lamented.
"Hey…she's a close minded hack if she thinks that and so is anyone else who believes any of that nonsense. Our baby is a miracle and blessing," he assured, as he kissed her and then her stomach. She smiled and leaned in to kiss him again, but he seemed to zone out at that moment and she gasped, as she had the Calling with him. She opened her eyes and saw him with her, his hand in hers. But what was around them was frightening and it was another joint Calling, for Emma, Neal, and Regina were all there.
"What…what is this?" Margaret asked, as what she thought was snow fell from the sky. But she soon realized that it was not snow at all, but rather ash. They were standing inside a burned out shell of a plane.
"What the…" Neal asked.
"What is this…did we crash?" Emma asked, a little panicked.
"But I'm here…and so is Margaret," Neal reminded her.
"He's right…" Regina reasoned and as quickly as it came, it ended. What they did not see was Baron Samdi, outside the plane, looking in and experiencing the Calling with them with a foreboding look.
They gasped, as they came out of the Calling and stared into each other's eyes.
"But the plane didn't crash!" Margaret exclaimed. His brow furrowed.
"And you and Neal were there…no this is a warning of something else. Something bad," he said.
"But what?" she asked.
"I don't know yet, my love…but I will protect this family," he promised, as he pulled her close and held her.
Sidney tried not to fidget nervously, as he sat in the interrogation room.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Glass…" Killian said, as he waltzed into the room with a file in hand.
"No…you're not. I'm a reporter and I know all the police tactics when it comes to interrogation. I want a lawyer," he demanded. Killian shrugged nonchalantly.
"Of course…" he said, as he pushed his cell phone over to the reporter.
"Make your call. I'm going to do the talking anyway," he said, which intrigued Sidney, the Detective opened the file.
"Oh…I'm sorry, you'd probably like to see this," he said, as he turned the file over and pushed it toward him.
"Banking information?" Sidney asked.
"Yes…your banking information for an account in the Cayman Islands. That's a lot of money for a New York Times middling reporter," he mentioned. Sidney glared at him.
"Middling? I'm in consideration for a Pulitzer for my work on the Nolan family and the Blanchard arrest. I'm the envy of my colleagues right now," he said smugly. Killian smirked.
"Except that, as scummy and disgusting as Leopold Blanchard is, he's not guilty of his wife's murder thirty years ago or the murder of Johanna Mason. His current wife, however, is and I'm within hours of proving it," he said, silencing him.
"You're bluffing," Sidney challenged. Killian shrugged.
"Cyber is digging deep and once I make the arrest, you know Cora is going to throw whoever she can under the proverbial bus. The thing is…you're here now and whoever talks first gets the best deal. Cora knows that…do you really think she'll protect you?" he asked. Sidney was quiet for a moment.
"And if I tell you what I know?" he asked.
"Perhaps there is a deal in it for you. I'd call your lawyer and maybe you'll only do a little time in a medium security facility. It's much better than Riker's for accessory to murder and other assorted felonies," Killian replied, as he got up.
"Wait…" Sidney called and Killian smirked, before turning back.
"What kind of deal do I get if I can offer Cora up on a silver platter?" he asked.
"I already am on the way to proving she is guilty of two murders. What can you possibly offer?" he asked.
"A third murder I assure you that you know nothing about and a plot for the destruction of the entire Nolan family," Sidney said. Killian considered it for a moment and saw the text on his phone from Graham that simply said make the deal.
"If what you have to offer is big enough and that is a big if, Mr. Glass…the DA is prepared to offer you journalistic immunity, with the condition that these illegal funds are confiscated into evidence of fraud, of course," Killian said.
"I can bring down the entire Blanchard house," Sidney promised.
"Well, that was certainly quick. I didn't think you'd flip so fast," Killian mentioned.
"I am a journalist…my loyalty is to the truth," Sidney claimed. The Detective scoffed.
"You mean your loyalty is to whatever keeps you out of prison," he retorted. Sidney shrugged.
"Believe what you want. I want that deal in writing," Sidney said.
"You'll get it in writing, but it's not guaranteed until you prove it's worth it," Killian countered.
"Then buckle up, Detective…you're in for a story," Sidney said.
Olive huffed, as they left the soup kitchen and headed for the park.
"You know…you shouldn't be too mad at your Dad," he admonished. She looked at him incredulously.
"How do you figure that?" she asked.
"Because he's just trying to protect you and if you want my honest opinion…I think Baron Samdi is full of crap," TJ replied. She stopped and looked at him.
"But you came to the services with me…why didn't you say anything before?" she asked. He shrugged.
"I wanted you to find whatever it is you're looking for and you're smart. I knew you'd eventually realize that Samdi doesn't have the answers. He's a con-artist," TJ said.
"Then you don't believe in the miracle of 828," she said.
"I believe us surviving and coming back is a miracle, but it doesn't always feel like that. Me coming back and finding my Mom gone definitely didn't feel like a miracle. The looks and the fear…I mean, don't you think if we really did have powers or magic that we'd make things easier for ourselves?" he asked. She thought about that for a minute.
"I guess so," she replied.
"But I think there is something we can actually do that might make a difference," he said.
"What's that?" she asked.
"Let's see if we can track down the tarot deck that this card came from," he said, showing her the card on his phone that was the same peacock design on the pocket watch. She smiled and nodded, as they headed into the park to find someone that might be able to tell them about what they were looking for.
David opened the door and Regina came in.
"I'm guessing you're here about the Calling we just had," he said. She nodded.
"I was rebuilding my research and I think I have a viable serum. Just nothing to test it on, except myself," Regina replied.
"Which you are absolutely not going to do," Margaret interjected. She sighed.
"It may be the only way to know if I have cured the Death Date," she argued.
"And it might kill you too," David said.
"He's right…it's too risky," Margaret said. She sighed.
"I suppose I could ask Robin if she could get me any more mice from the student lab," she replied.
"Now that sounds like a reasonable thing, but won't the hospital just provide more?" David asked.
"Not unless I want Whale breathing down my neck again," she replied.
"Anyway…so that Calling. Any ideas other than sheer terror at what it might mean?" she asked.
"Not a clue and we got a call from a reporter wanting to interview us about the baby," David replied.
"Not surprising…the hospital is still abuzz about you two," Regina said.
"I don't know what they find so fascinating," David replied.
"Believe it or not, sometimes a hospital is worse about gossip than High School. The plane and the fact that Margaret is the daughter of Leopold Blanchard and that you two are still together and having a baby even after the plane. Most marriages don't make it through normal circumstances," Regina said. Margaret smiled.
"I guess we are unique," she agreed, as she looked at her husband.
"We are and it's none of their business. We're having a baby and that's all they get to know," he said.
Olive and TJ sat at a table in the park with some snacks and her tablet, doing some research.
"Okay, so, most versions of the Star Card show a woman at a river. This one has a peacock," Olive said.
"And a peacock is what helped you figure out the Death Date?" TJ asked.
"Yeah," she answered.
"So, why would the tarot reader give you and your mom a card in the first place? Wouldn't that make the deck incomplete?" he asked.
"I supposed you would have to ask the reader who gave it to us, but I don't know her name, nor do I know the name of her business. It was literally a stand on the sidewalk," she answered.
"We could go look for her," TJ suggested.
"Field trip," she joked and they chuckled.
"Let's do it," Olive agreed.
"Well…you were right," Neal said, as he came in from the back of the shop. His father was doing the books and Belle, his new employee, was helping a customer.
"I usually am," Gold commented.
"I mean Sidney Glass was arrested. You think he's spilling his guts to Detective Rogers about now?" Neal asked.
"Oh, I know he is…worms always squirm when they're squeezed, even just a little," Gold replied, as the customer left and Cora stormed into his shop.
"Right on schedule," he muttered.
"What have you done?" she demanded to know.
"I do a lot of things. You'll have to be more specific, dearie," Gold answered.
"You know what I mean…crossing me is a big mistake," she warned.
"I haven't crossed you…Sidney Glass did. Hiring an unethical journalist like that was not one of your best moves, dearie," he countered.
"You put this in motion…I know you did," Cora accused.
"You're just a piece on my chessboard, dearie. You think yourself to be the Queen…but you lost that position long ago. You're now simply a pawn and one that I'm about to eliminate," Gold responded, as she clenched her teeth.
"What do you get out of this?" she questioned. He shrugged.
"Not a thing," he claimed.
"That's bull…and you know it. You always have a motive…you always get something," she said. He smirked.
"Perhaps…perhaps not, but I'd run along if I were you. The police are probably on their way to your husband's mansion as we speak," Gold said.
"You'll pay for this…all of you will pay for this, especially that little family you keep protecting!" she warned, as she stormed out.
Olive and TJ approached a tarot card reader in the park and she looked up from her stand.
"Hi. Excuse me… do you know about a tarot-card reader here about three years ago?" Olive asked.
"Sorry, I don't do missing persons," she replied, as Olive showed her the card she had once received from that reader.
"Okay, then can you tell us about this?" she asked.
"It's a Star Card from the Major Arcana. Corresponding to Aquarius and Air Elements," she said, as she stopped and looked at them expectantly. TJ chuckled and put some cash in her palm.
"Okay, uh, but can you tell us the deck where that card came from?" Olive asked.
"Yeah...I know this deck," she replied expectantly. TJ rolled his eyes and put another bill in her hand.
"It's called the Alzarus deck, I think. Stunning artwork," she mentioned.
"Alzarus…okay, that's something," TJ said, as Olive looked it up on her phone.
"Okay, there's nothing on Amazon or eBay. Oh, no, no, no. This deck has been out of print for decades," Olive said in frustration.
"I do know a few places in New York that sell rare and out-of-print things, if you have some time to dig around," the woman said. TJ handed her some more money.
"We'll take those names," he said.
Tamara took a drink that she was served. She had followed her new friend back to his sister's bar and was getting acquainted.
"So…you're part of this 828 hater group?" she asked.
"We're not a group…we're a cause. These people are dangerous. One is carrying a badge around, another is teaching students, and there's even a doctor. They're not human…and even if they are, they're definitely cursed or something," Nick replied.
"Wow…you really hate anything that's different from you," Tamara mentioned.
"Judge us if you want…but we're not wrong. Those people are weird and that place that worships them is even weirder," Greta replied.
"I'll give you that one," Tamara agreed.
"So…what is the goal here?" she asked.
"Depends on what you have the stomach for," Nick replied.
"That's still pretty vague…but I think you'll find that I have a strong stomach," Tamara said.
"I have nothing against most of the passengers, but my ex did disappear without a trace for a year and then comes back, only to hook up with one of these 828 freaks. It's unsettling and I've never been one to just cut my losses. I usually go for revenge. Probably the reason my life is crap," Tamara said, as she finished her drink.
"Yet you're here," Nick mentioned. She shrugged.
"Some people can't help the darkness inside…I sense you relish it too," she mentioned. He smirked.
"Oh…you have no idea," he said.
"And that freak that your boy is with…that's bad enough, but her brother has spawned a freak baby with his wife. They're bringing a demon into this world," Nick said.
"So what do we do about them?" Tamara asked. He smirked.
"Well…if it were me, I'd go over there right now and take them out, but I'm not in charge. The boss has a more delicate approach and before I say anymore, he'll want to meet you. Are you interested?" he asked. She smirked and finished her second drink.
"I'm interested," Tamara replied, as she saw a man enter the bar with a badge on his hip and she recognized him from the reading she had done on Emma Nolan.
"Your sister is friends with that cop?" Tamara asked.
"Yeah…don't worry though. He's one of us," Nick replied.
"Are you sure?" Tamara asked.
"What are you talking about?" Nick asked.
"Because that guy was engaged to Emma Nolan…before the plane disappeared," Tamara replied. Nick frowned and his gaze became fixated on Killian Rogers.
TJ and Olive looked through the items at one of the old libraries and TJ spotted something.
"Okay, this is something," he said.
"Tell me what you got. That's not Alzarus," she replied.
"It's the "Alzarus Deck," created by Yusuv Alzarus," he clarified.
"A 16th-century Egyptian scholar and artist. Yusuv Alzarus, scholar, traveled around Europe," Olive read.
"Whoa," TJ said.
"What?" she asked.
"Uh, according to legend, he was lost at sea for 10 years and mysteriously returned," TJ read.
"Really?" Olive asked in surprise.
"That sounds... familiar," TJ replied.
"Yeah. "Upon returning, he claimed he could," he said, before trailing off.
"What? What is it?" Olive asked.
"Upon returning, he claimed he could hear the voice of God in his head," TJ answered.
"Does this mean it's happened before?" Olive wondered.
"I don't know," TJ said.
"Okay, it doesn't say when he died, but I'm assuming it's 10 years after he returned?" TJ added.
"Which means the Calling led us to Alzarus to show that the Death Date was real," he continued.
"Okay, well, we have no idea when this guy died. For... For all we know, he could have lived another 30 years," she said. He looked skeptical though.
"Hey, maybe the Calling led us to this guy because he survived the Death Date," she added.
"Maybe…" he said, but he wasn't convinced.
"You know what you need?" Olive asked. He shrugged.
"A tarot reading," she said, as she shuffled the cards and turned one over.
"Ohhh…" she said and he shook his head at her antics.
"This... See the man in the jeggings? It's Emo Drake," she joked and they laughed.
"And he's doing a slow jam with a mandolin. And if I'm reading the cards right, they say
it's your favorite kind of music," she said.
"Very insightful," he teased.
"Uh, now, you see this card. This is a glowing path, illuminating the way to true love," she said.
"Yeah, that just looks so much like a volcano and some lava," he joked and she nudged him.
"But whatever you say," he teased.
"What about the third card? The heart and the crown?" he asked.
"It's a strawberry. And that is a fancy pie pan," she replied, making him laugh again.
"Mm-hmm. Which means you're gonna have a very fancy strawberry pie in your future. You, sir, have a bright, shining, and, uh, very lucky future," she added, as she leaned in. He smiled.
"Yeah. You're right. I am lucky," he agreed, as their lips met in a kiss.
"Nice shot. I got winner," Nick said, as Killian played a game of pool.
"Oh I think this is my last…I have a big case I'm on now and need my sleep," Killian replied.
"I've done a little digging," Nick mentioned.
"What are you talking about?" Killian asked.
"Turns out you were engaged to an 828er. Emma Nolan?" Nick questioned.
"I'm onto you. Don't come back here. Stay away from Greta, too," he added.
"All right, you want to know about me? How I ended up here? I'm happy to share, mate," Killian said, as he downed his drink and the glass thudded against the table
"You're right, I do know Emma Nolan. And, yeah, yeah, we were gonna get married. Then she went to Jamaica. I swear to God she died on that plane. Because 5 1/2 years later, whoever came back, hell, whatever came back, that wasn't her," he spat.
"This person destroyed my marriage, and then she threw me under the bus in open court to protect some drug addict she barely knows. Which destroyed everything that I have worked for," he added.
"Yeah, Nick, you want to know why I'm here?" he asked.
"It's because Emma Nolan destroyed my life. My entire life," he confessed. Nick smirked.
"Well, then let's get another round and toast to the day where we destroy those freaks," Nick said. Killian kept his cool at those words. It had been very close and he knew they would be watching him even closer now. But he was still in and had to stay in until he burrowed his way to the source of it all…the leader.