Something was wrong. It was almost dark and Tom hadn't come down all day.
He hadn't been down since last night, when Elizabeth had managed to keep
him from hurting her again. It wasn't really a surprise that he hadn't fed
them but he liked to taunt them at least a couple times a day. Elizabeth
had decided that Tom was just going to leave them there to die. He had
probably already skipped town. She and Nikolas had spent the entire day
trying to find a way out. Nikolas had even tried to break down the door a
couple of times. In vain, of course. They didn't know whether be scared
or relieved that Tom hadn't been there when they had made all that racket
trying to break down the door. Elizabeth decided she was both.
"I have to say this is the most bored I've ever been," Nikolas said aloud, cutting into Elizabeth's thoughts. "And I'm so hungry I'd even eat whatever Gia cooked for me."
Elizabeth smiled at her friend. They'd already discussed the probability that Tom was just going to leave them there and that he had already left. They were both just sitting there, waiting to die. Expecting to die. And knowing that it would happen very slowly.
Nikolas sighed. He never expected to die like this. He always thought he would be old and gray. His time was not supposed to be up so soon. He hated that he was giving up already, but really, what could he do? Tom was pissed about what he and Elizabeth had both pulled yesterday. And Tom hadn't come down since. The only logical explanation was that Tom was leaving them there to die. No one would ever find them in time. How would they? They probably wouldn't be found until some nice couple came along in a couple of years wanting to buy the place. Nikolas shuddered at the thought. He thought about getting up and scouring the place again to look for ways to escape. But he and Elizabeth had already done that countless times, even before today. It was useless. He knew he would come up with nothing and that would just make him more frustrated. The wait was driving him nuts. He almost wished Tom had just finished them off before leaving. If there was no way out, he didn't want to have to sit there and slowly die, feeling his death coming inch by inch. Surely he would go mad.
Nikolas took a long hard look at Elizabeth. There was nothing left for them to say to each other. They had already confessed to each other that they were best friends, before they had given up. Neither of them particularly wanted to say their goodbyes. Comments came sparingly and never led into conversation. The place was as silent as death.it was waiting for them just around the corner. Who knew how long it would be now. He just hoped that they both went at the same time. He couldn't take it if Elizabeth died first and he sure as hell didn't want to do that to her either. But there was nothing he could do about it. All there was to do was wait.
*******************
Alexis pushed up her glasses as she sat down on her couch and went through the legal papers in her file. She was good at throwing herself into her work. and right now there was nothing else to do. She couldn't sit at Laura's any longer with the rest of them. it was driving her insane and she just had to leave. Half of the people there were trying to be optimistic, and she didn't want to be optimistic. Optimism usually led her to higher falls. But the rest of the people there were assuming the worst and she didn't want to do that either. Or at least she didn't want to hear them assuming the worst. The best way to deal with the situation was to go to work, do something productive. When there was any news, Luke would call her. She'd made him promise before she left Laura's house. So right now she was going to get some work done. Finally, something productive. Something she could do.
A knock at the door had her throwing her papers onto the coffee table and stalking to the door. She flung it open expecting to see Sonny at the other end, offering his support and blah blah blah. Instead she found Ned standing there, concern in his eyes, as usual.
"I heard," was all he said. She stood aside and let him enter. He was a bit slow to enter, which wasn't entirely unusual of him but it made her feel impatient. She closed the door and turned to him just as he turned to face her. "I'm sorry," he said eventually. "Anything I can do?"
"Yeah, you can make me some coffee, because I don't know what this crap is."
Ned smiled a little bit and agreed. She headed back to her stack of work papers and within minutes could smell an aura of fresh coffee hit her nose. Good. She was falling asleep and she couldn't afford to do that right now. She needed to get some work done first. She hadn't lifted a finger to work yesterday.
When Ned came back out he handed her a cup of coffee and sat down next to her with his own cup. He watched her work for a few minutes in silence.
"So," he finally said, "is this what you're going to do until Nikolas comes back?"
Alexis shot him a look that said 'not now.' How like him to ask something like that. She found it very annoying.
"Alexis," he continued in that tone every Quartermaine used when they were about to lecture someone. "You can't bury yourself in your work and act as if nothing is happening."
"Actually, I can," Alexis protested. "And it was working very well until you came along. Which reminds me, why are you here?"
"Because I thought maybe you would want someone to talk to," Ned said bluntly.
"Well I need to get some work done right now."
Ned stared at her for a minute. "Fine." He set his coffee down and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Alexis nearly demanded.
"You said you wanted to get some work done, so I should get going. I'm obviously wasting my time here."
Alexis wanted to say something in response but she just watched him go and got back to work.
************
Zander was staring blankly out at the patio. He was so tired, but he refused to even think about sleeping. He was worried to death about Elizabeth. And he knew it was selfish, but he worried about what it would be like when she came home and saw Lucky for the first time. He knew it was pretty much over between them. He couldn't help but feel jealous that Lucky was home and he would take his girl back. He & Liz had developed something over the year. And then their was Emily... God, she was still so beautiful. Even more beautiful. And even if he had new feelings for Liz, and he had been away from Emily for so long, old feelings had started to resurface. God, he felt so confused. Was there any chance at all for Emily and him? Or any chance between him and Elizabeth? He honestly wasn't sure at all. At that moment, he spotted Emily walking up the porch steps with Lucky. Emily was holding the food, and Lucky was helping her up the steps. They were making their way up the stairs, when Zander stepped closer to the them, from behind, he tapped Emily on the shoulder causing Emily to jump, she nearly dropped the food. Startled, she looked up in surprise to see him their.
"Zander..." She breathed heavily, after a few moments of catching her breath. They stared at each other for a very long time, both unsure of what to say. Lucky quickly noticed the tension between the two, and sighed.
"You guys probably need to be alone," Lucky suggested, "I'm going to head in side..."
Emily looked up in alarm, "You really don't have to go, Lucky."
"No," He stared at Zander, then back at Emily, "Believe me, I do. You two need to work some stuff out. Besides," He smiled tightly , "I need to go check on my parents." With that, he was gone- leaving Zander & Emily alone for the first time in a long time.
"So," Zander spoke, after a moments of breaking the silence, "I actually got to meet the great, wonderful best friend of yours, Lucky Spencer. It really is amazing that he is alive.
Gosh," he laughed softly, "Imagine how Elizabeth will feel when she sees him... something tells me she won't still want to be with me, so tell me? What about us? Is their any hope at all left for us?"
Emily looked down at the ground, not really sure of what to say, "I don't know... Zander. A lot has happened between us. We have both changed. We've been apart to long...."
"I've missed you, Emily." Zander quietly spoke, all of a sudden, "I didn't realize how much I have missed you since I saw you. And when I saw you, I couldn't help but feel those old feelings resurface."
Emily swallowed, "I've missed you to Zander. And I admit, that those old feelings returned somewhat to. But those feelings are in the past, I've moved on from them. If we could ever get back to where we were, I don't know, Zander. I just don't know."
Zander brushed his hands through is hair, and then looked at Emily, "You don't know... or you don't want to let yourself know?" He questioned, looking at her, "I bet if we tried, we really could try and get somewhere again. We could work things out and try to rekindle what we had."
Emily shook her head, "I dont see how I can forget everything that has happened and just get back together with you... besides..." She shifted uncomfortably, "Your still with Elizabeth."
"I doubt we will be together much longer," Zander whispered, "If she gets out... WHEN she gets out, "he corrected himself, not wanting to believe she wouldn't get out, "She will probably want to get back with Lucky." he walked away from Emily, and stood next to the railing. She however, walked up towards him.
"She WILL get out," Emily reassured him, "Elizabeth is a fighter, she always has been. She and Nikolas will both make it out okay."
"You know," Emily paused, "When I first heard about you and Elizabeth getting together, I was quite stunned. I was also rather hurt for awhile." She laughed, softly, "But then I realized, that you two would be good together. You are both fighters, and your both really great people. After awhile I was happy that the two of you were together, and that you had found someone I knew you would be good with."
"It amazed me to," Zander had to smile, "We weren't always friendly with each other. But we started hanging out, and it just happened. She was still trying to get over Lucky, and I was still trying to get over you. We found each other. We were happy together."
He however turned to look at her, and took a deep breath, "The trouble is, I don't know if I ever really got over you, Emily."
They stared at each other for awhile, not really sure what to say to each other. They were both relieved when the door opened, causing them both to jump.
"Emily?" Luke smiled at her, then his face turned serious.
"Yes, Mr. Spencer?" Emily politely asked, looking worried, suddenly, "You haven't heard anything on Nikolas or Elizabeth?"
Zander curiously studied Luke's face, hoping for some kind of answer.
Luke shook his head, "No... unfortunately not." he paused, "Emily. Mac just called. He wants both you and Lucky to go to General Hospital now. Theirs been report of a rape victim over their. Toms description matched how the rape victim described him." Emily gasped softly, as Zander squeezed her hand tightly.
"Who was the rape victim?" She asked, nervously.
"Allison Barrington," Luke replied.
"I have to say this is the most bored I've ever been," Nikolas said aloud, cutting into Elizabeth's thoughts. "And I'm so hungry I'd even eat whatever Gia cooked for me."
Elizabeth smiled at her friend. They'd already discussed the probability that Tom was just going to leave them there and that he had already left. They were both just sitting there, waiting to die. Expecting to die. And knowing that it would happen very slowly.
Nikolas sighed. He never expected to die like this. He always thought he would be old and gray. His time was not supposed to be up so soon. He hated that he was giving up already, but really, what could he do? Tom was pissed about what he and Elizabeth had both pulled yesterday. And Tom hadn't come down since. The only logical explanation was that Tom was leaving them there to die. No one would ever find them in time. How would they? They probably wouldn't be found until some nice couple came along in a couple of years wanting to buy the place. Nikolas shuddered at the thought. He thought about getting up and scouring the place again to look for ways to escape. But he and Elizabeth had already done that countless times, even before today. It was useless. He knew he would come up with nothing and that would just make him more frustrated. The wait was driving him nuts. He almost wished Tom had just finished them off before leaving. If there was no way out, he didn't want to have to sit there and slowly die, feeling his death coming inch by inch. Surely he would go mad.
Nikolas took a long hard look at Elizabeth. There was nothing left for them to say to each other. They had already confessed to each other that they were best friends, before they had given up. Neither of them particularly wanted to say their goodbyes. Comments came sparingly and never led into conversation. The place was as silent as death.it was waiting for them just around the corner. Who knew how long it would be now. He just hoped that they both went at the same time. He couldn't take it if Elizabeth died first and he sure as hell didn't want to do that to her either. But there was nothing he could do about it. All there was to do was wait.
*******************
Alexis pushed up her glasses as she sat down on her couch and went through the legal papers in her file. She was good at throwing herself into her work. and right now there was nothing else to do. She couldn't sit at Laura's any longer with the rest of them. it was driving her insane and she just had to leave. Half of the people there were trying to be optimistic, and she didn't want to be optimistic. Optimism usually led her to higher falls. But the rest of the people there were assuming the worst and she didn't want to do that either. Or at least she didn't want to hear them assuming the worst. The best way to deal with the situation was to go to work, do something productive. When there was any news, Luke would call her. She'd made him promise before she left Laura's house. So right now she was going to get some work done. Finally, something productive. Something she could do.
A knock at the door had her throwing her papers onto the coffee table and stalking to the door. She flung it open expecting to see Sonny at the other end, offering his support and blah blah blah. Instead she found Ned standing there, concern in his eyes, as usual.
"I heard," was all he said. She stood aside and let him enter. He was a bit slow to enter, which wasn't entirely unusual of him but it made her feel impatient. She closed the door and turned to him just as he turned to face her. "I'm sorry," he said eventually. "Anything I can do?"
"Yeah, you can make me some coffee, because I don't know what this crap is."
Ned smiled a little bit and agreed. She headed back to her stack of work papers and within minutes could smell an aura of fresh coffee hit her nose. Good. She was falling asleep and she couldn't afford to do that right now. She needed to get some work done first. She hadn't lifted a finger to work yesterday.
When Ned came back out he handed her a cup of coffee and sat down next to her with his own cup. He watched her work for a few minutes in silence.
"So," he finally said, "is this what you're going to do until Nikolas comes back?"
Alexis shot him a look that said 'not now.' How like him to ask something like that. She found it very annoying.
"Alexis," he continued in that tone every Quartermaine used when they were about to lecture someone. "You can't bury yourself in your work and act as if nothing is happening."
"Actually, I can," Alexis protested. "And it was working very well until you came along. Which reminds me, why are you here?"
"Because I thought maybe you would want someone to talk to," Ned said bluntly.
"Well I need to get some work done right now."
Ned stared at her for a minute. "Fine." He set his coffee down and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Alexis nearly demanded.
"You said you wanted to get some work done, so I should get going. I'm obviously wasting my time here."
Alexis wanted to say something in response but she just watched him go and got back to work.
************
Zander was staring blankly out at the patio. He was so tired, but he refused to even think about sleeping. He was worried to death about Elizabeth. And he knew it was selfish, but he worried about what it would be like when she came home and saw Lucky for the first time. He knew it was pretty much over between them. He couldn't help but feel jealous that Lucky was home and he would take his girl back. He & Liz had developed something over the year. And then their was Emily... God, she was still so beautiful. Even more beautiful. And even if he had new feelings for Liz, and he had been away from Emily for so long, old feelings had started to resurface. God, he felt so confused. Was there any chance at all for Emily and him? Or any chance between him and Elizabeth? He honestly wasn't sure at all. At that moment, he spotted Emily walking up the porch steps with Lucky. Emily was holding the food, and Lucky was helping her up the steps. They were making their way up the stairs, when Zander stepped closer to the them, from behind, he tapped Emily on the shoulder causing Emily to jump, she nearly dropped the food. Startled, she looked up in surprise to see him their.
"Zander..." She breathed heavily, after a few moments of catching her breath. They stared at each other for a very long time, both unsure of what to say. Lucky quickly noticed the tension between the two, and sighed.
"You guys probably need to be alone," Lucky suggested, "I'm going to head in side..."
Emily looked up in alarm, "You really don't have to go, Lucky."
"No," He stared at Zander, then back at Emily, "Believe me, I do. You two need to work some stuff out. Besides," He smiled tightly , "I need to go check on my parents." With that, he was gone- leaving Zander & Emily alone for the first time in a long time.
"So," Zander spoke, after a moments of breaking the silence, "I actually got to meet the great, wonderful best friend of yours, Lucky Spencer. It really is amazing that he is alive.
Gosh," he laughed softly, "Imagine how Elizabeth will feel when she sees him... something tells me she won't still want to be with me, so tell me? What about us? Is their any hope at all left for us?"
Emily looked down at the ground, not really sure of what to say, "I don't know... Zander. A lot has happened between us. We have both changed. We've been apart to long...."
"I've missed you, Emily." Zander quietly spoke, all of a sudden, "I didn't realize how much I have missed you since I saw you. And when I saw you, I couldn't help but feel those old feelings resurface."
Emily swallowed, "I've missed you to Zander. And I admit, that those old feelings returned somewhat to. But those feelings are in the past, I've moved on from them. If we could ever get back to where we were, I don't know, Zander. I just don't know."
Zander brushed his hands through is hair, and then looked at Emily, "You don't know... or you don't want to let yourself know?" He questioned, looking at her, "I bet if we tried, we really could try and get somewhere again. We could work things out and try to rekindle what we had."
Emily shook her head, "I dont see how I can forget everything that has happened and just get back together with you... besides..." She shifted uncomfortably, "Your still with Elizabeth."
"I doubt we will be together much longer," Zander whispered, "If she gets out... WHEN she gets out, "he corrected himself, not wanting to believe she wouldn't get out, "She will probably want to get back with Lucky." he walked away from Emily, and stood next to the railing. She however, walked up towards him.
"She WILL get out," Emily reassured him, "Elizabeth is a fighter, she always has been. She and Nikolas will both make it out okay."
"You know," Emily paused, "When I first heard about you and Elizabeth getting together, I was quite stunned. I was also rather hurt for awhile." She laughed, softly, "But then I realized, that you two would be good together. You are both fighters, and your both really great people. After awhile I was happy that the two of you were together, and that you had found someone I knew you would be good with."
"It amazed me to," Zander had to smile, "We weren't always friendly with each other. But we started hanging out, and it just happened. She was still trying to get over Lucky, and I was still trying to get over you. We found each other. We were happy together."
He however turned to look at her, and took a deep breath, "The trouble is, I don't know if I ever really got over you, Emily."
They stared at each other for awhile, not really sure what to say to each other. They were both relieved when the door opened, causing them both to jump.
"Emily?" Luke smiled at her, then his face turned serious.
"Yes, Mr. Spencer?" Emily politely asked, looking worried, suddenly, "You haven't heard anything on Nikolas or Elizabeth?"
Zander curiously studied Luke's face, hoping for some kind of answer.
Luke shook his head, "No... unfortunately not." he paused, "Emily. Mac just called. He wants both you and Lucky to go to General Hospital now. Theirs been report of a rape victim over their. Toms description matched how the rape victim described him." Emily gasped softly, as Zander squeezed her hand tightly.
"Who was the rape victim?" She asked, nervously.
"Allison Barrington," Luke replied.