Chapter 5

Nikolas was sure that he had heard wrong.  "Luke, did you say that Helena had kidnapped Mom?" he asked.

"Yes, that's exactly what I said."

"How did she get Laura out of the hospital?" Gia asked.

"She didn't.  That's not Laura in that hospital room," Luke said.

Nikolas stood up and walked over to Luke.  "Luke, I know you'd like to believe that it's not Mom in that hospital, but we both know that it is."

"No, Nikolas.  I know it's not her.  Laura and I shared something special.  I could always feel something when I looked into her eyes, something in here," he said putting his hand on his heart.  "But yesterday I went to see her and there was nothing there."

"That's because Mom's sick," Nikolas said.

"No, it wasn't that.  I mean that's what I thought at first, but then I got back to my hotel room and this man came to the door.  He brought me this note."  Luke reached into his pocket and pulled out the note and handed it to Nikolas.

Nikolas read it and gasped.  He handed it to Gia.

"How could this happen?" Nikolas asked.  "How could my grandmother do this?"

"I don't know, but I do know that I have to get her back."

Gia had just finished reading the note for the second time.  "Luke, the note says set them free.  What does it mean by them?"

"I think she has Lucky too," Luke said calmly.

"What?  That's impossible.  I just saw Lucky last night," Nikolas said.

"I don't think the boy in Port Charles is really Lucky."

"Why?" Nikolas asked as he sat back down.

"Do you remember how different he acted after he came back to Port Charles?"

Gia and Nikolas nodded.

"Yes, it was almost like he was a different… a different person," Nikolas said.  Her eyes grew wide.  "You mean Helena sent back an imposter and kept the real Lucky?"

"I wouldn't put it past her," Luke said.

"So that's why you didn't want me to say anything to Lucky," Nikolas said nodding.

"Yeah," Luke said.  "So do either of you have any ideas?"

"No, but I don't care if Helena is my grandmother, if she hurts Mom she'll have to deal with me," Nikolas said as a look of anger crossed his face.

"Then I can count on the two of you to help me?" Luke asked.

"You got it Luke," Nikolas said.

"Count me in," Gia told him with a smile.

"Good, now let's get a plan together."

The three of the moved to the table and started discussing where they should start looking for Helena and Laura.