Chapter Nineteen

"Hello? Who is this?" Emily's curiosity was peaked by the strange voice on the phone. Elizabeth was looking at her quizzically but Emily's attention was focused on the phone call. "Hello?"

Emily was met with a dial tone. Her eyebrows raised, Emily cradled the phone and met Elizabeth's puzzled eyes.

"What was that about?" Elizabeth asked her.

"Some guy, he was saying, 'Gia, help me.' He was whispering it."

Elizabeth's face registered shock. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, and-- you're going to think I'm crazy."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow in question.

"It sounded a lot like Nikolas. I know! I know, it's not possible, he's dead."

"Emily." The tone of Elizabeth's voice caught Emily by surprise. "Gia got a phone call just like that the day she decided to go back to New York. She thought she imagined it. That voice." Emily didn't reply; she just waited for Elizabeth to continue. "She'd been hearing Nikolas calling out to her in her dreams, calling to her for help. That exact same phrase."

Emily was mystified by this turn of events. "But--Nikolas is dead. We both saw him for ourselves, Elizabeth, at the hospital. So did Gia, Laura, Lucky, Alexis! We ALL saw his body!"

"Just like Luke and Laura saw Lucky's?"

"No," Emily refuted. "That was different. The body that was supposed to be Lucky's was burned beyond recognition. When they saw it they would have had no way of knowing who it really was or wasn't."

"That's true," Elizabeth replied.

Emily took note of Elizabeth's sad face. "Look, it's not like I don't want him to be alive, Elizabeth, because I do, I really really do. But we both know that's not possible."

"Either way," Elizabeth sighed. "Something strange is going on."

****

Lucky's smile was wide as he waved good-bye to Laura and Lesley-Lu. Seeing his sister ride his brother's horse always brought on a smile.

The thought of Nikolas had been bringing a smile for the past few weeks, as well. But today it brought back a frown. Nikolas had been not just his brother but his best friend. And it seemed so heartless that the world kept right on turning without him, as if nothing had happened. Everyone else's life, including Lucky's, was going forth without Nikolas.

Sometimes it still seemed incredibly surreal that Nikolas was dead, gone. Even several months after the accident Lucky sometimes expected to look up and see Nikolas standing there.

Lucky's life was moving forward, and it hurt to do that without Nikolas. As time went by all that would be left would be memories. As he walked further down the road of his life, Nikolas was getting farther and farther away. Lucky didn't like the idea of his brother becoming a distant memory.

Lucky's phone rang, jolting him from his thoughts. The caller ID said Luke Spencer. "Dad, what's up?"

"Has your mother left yet?"

"Yeah, a few minutes ago."

"All right. Listen up, Cowboy, we've got trouble."

****

Cut off. Again. He couldn't believe it. Everytime he'd become lucid enough to get to a phone he would get cut off. This time two pairs of angry hands rolled him away from the phone and Nikolas felt the prick of another needle in his right arm. Now he was desperately trying to fight off the coming darkness.

While he wasn't sure where he was or what was going on, Nikolas knew he was in big trouble and that he was unable to help himself. While fighting off unconsciousness he also had to fight off despair. He'd seen the telephone cord pulled from the wall. The phone, his one chance of getting help, was gone. Nikolas saw no end to this life of darkness. If Stefan had not yet come for him he never would.

****

The first thing Stefan felt was a killer headache. And then the panic sent in. How had he gotten here? And where exactly was here? Did Helena really manage to get her hands on him?

"Stefan?" a hopeful voice called from his right. He turned and found himself looking upon Sonja's relieved face.

"Sonja?"

Tears were in Sonja's eyes. "Thank God you are awake, Stefan. Three months has passed."

"Three months?!?" Stefan tried to sit up but became overwhelmingly dizzy.

Sonja nodded. "I did not think you would ever wake up."

"Who else knows I'm here?"

"My brother. But that's it, Stefan, I swear. I kept my promise. Your secret is safe." Sonja's eyes shifted to the floor. "BUt the rest of the world thinks you are dead."

Stefan smiled. "I knew I could trust you, Sonja. Thank you."

"What is going on? Surely you didn't know that car accident would happen."

Stefan frowned. "Car accident?"

Sonja nodded. "Yes, the one you were in. On your nephew's wedding day."

Stefan paled. "Nikolas! Is he all right? Sonja, tell me where he is."

"I'm sorry, Stefan. He is dead."

"How do you know that?" he snapped, unwilling to believe it. "Was he here?"

Sonja shook her head. "He died in Port Charles, in the hospital."

Grief swelled in Stefan's heart. "No. That's impossible." Stefan was sure the accident was how Helena had planned to fake his death and get her control over him. But when he had first learned of her plan he didn't know how she planned to carry it through. And he did not think she would ever put Nikolas into harm's way. Unless Nikolas fit into her plan somehow.

Stefan's eyes widened. "No. He lives," he insisted. "My mother has him."

TBC

Well, things are starting to pick up a wee bit, it's all hitting the fan at once, lol. Thanks to all who have reviewed, keep them coming, they motivate me. :)