Author's note: This chapter has the lyrics to "Memories" by Within Temptation.

Chapter 3: Samuel's Past

"How do you know about Sportacus?" asked Stephanie.

"He was my friend. The tallest and the kindest. How do you know about Sportacus?" asked Samuel.

In this world you tried
not leaving me alone behind
There's no other way
I'll pray to the gods: let him stay.

"He and I hang out with each other many times before." replied Stephanie.

"I hanged out with Sportacus many times before also." said Samuel.

"You did?" asked Stephanie. Samuel looked at her.

"I used to live in Lazy town. I'm 9 years old now so 5 years ago, I was 4. My family lived there. Cutest place in the world my dad said. My mom and I agreed. When I first moved there, we were greeted warmly by mayor Meanswell and Miss Busybody. That's when I met Stingy, Ziggy, and Trixie. They were awesome. While we were playing, I heard some one behind me. I turned around and saw Sportacus. He was really happy to see me simply because I was new here.

The memories ease the pain inside
now I know why.

That night, he told me all about Robbie Rotten, the man who kicked me out of Lazy town. I remember the mayor telling me about…you! I knew you were familiar from somewhere! He showed me a picture of you. I recognized that pink hair anywhere! Anyway, my friends and I would always find out that Robbie Rotten had a plan to make us all lazy. I couldn't let that happen. Sportacus and I teamed up. Everything was going great. We'd always send him home aggravated. Everything was going so well, until, well, my father got a new job WAY outside of Lazytown. That made us have to move FAR away. I never saw Sportacus or my friends again!

All of my memories
Keep you near
It's all about us
Imagine you'd be here
All of my memories
Keep you near
The silent whispers
The silent tears.

Made me promise I'd try
To find my way back in this life
I hope there is away
To give me a sign you're okay
Reminds me again
It's worth it all
So I can go home

Sportacus and I emailed each other though. Sportacus' last email said that Robbie Rotten has made everyone lazy. That email was the last one I ever received. Because that was the day that we had the car wreck that was made by that drunk driver I told you about." explained Samuel.

"It's been like that ever since." he said again.

"Until I came along." replied Stephanie.

"What?" asked Samuel. Samuel looked at her strange.

"When I first went there, I guess it was just the way Sportacus told you in his email. Everyone was lazy. You know what; my uncle showed me a picture of you once. That's why you're so familiar." said Stephanie.

All of my memories
Keep you near
It's all about us
Imagine you'd be here
All of my memories
Keep you near
The silent whispers
The silent tears.

"Mayor Meanswell showed me the same thing of you. That's why YOU'RE so familiar." replied Samuel.

"Mayor Meanswell is my uncle." said Stephanie.

"Really?" asked Samuel.

"Yes." replied Stephanie. "You see the only reason I'm here with is because…"

She used 3rd person narration:

Stephanie lied on the hospital bed trying to wipe away the tears stinging her face. She was bleeding at the back of her neck. She had a pain in her front side. She's been in the hospital for awhile. There was a light in front of her. She was wearing the long gown you wear when you are in a hospital. There was only one reason why she was here. Her head would hurt when she would think about it. She put her hand on her head when the pain started unleashing. Her mouth was bleeding. She took out her hanker chief and wiped her mouth from the bad taste of it. Many thoughts came. Bad thoughts.

Ever since what happened a week ago, she wanted it to disappear out of her mind. She tried to help. When she did, she became badly wounded. She knew she did it for the right reason but it ended with results that were bad for her but good for her friend. Her friend named Trixie. She looked at her hands. They were covered in dry blood. She almost busted in anger and dismay.

"I wanted to stop. But I couldn't do it properly." she whispered. She never thought that something like this would happen. She looked at the picture that Sportacus gave her earlier. As much as she appreciated it, she still felt the pain inside her self. She looked at the long red cut on her stomach. Robbie Rotten did this to her.

She knew she will never forgive him for that. She felt her heart pumping fast. She breathed heavily wishing to come out all right. She wished that it was over with. She wanted to escape. She started singing a little song her parents used to sing to her when she was little. When the song was over, she wished that something would happen. Stephanie took out her purple head band out of her head. She laid her head gently on the bed. She couldn't forget what happened last week. She'd never forge. When she wanted to forget, it would just come back to her in a bad way:

FLASHBACK:

Stephanie was holding onto Trixie's hand. Trixie's other hand held a crystal in her hand. The crystal she had the power to make everyone so weak that everyone would have no choice but to lay on the ground and become lazy.

Robbie became interested in this and knowing that Trixie was the only one who can have it, he took her away. Stephanie and Sportacus went off to save her. In this attempt, Robbie grabbed Stephanie's arm and made her turn around. Robbie took out a knife and pierced her in her stomach. Stephanie fell to the ground. Sportacus' crystal started blinking. He went down to Lazy town and helped Trixie and Stephanie get out of there. Stingy helped Trixie home and Sportacus called Stephanie's uncle. Mayor Meanswell helped Stephanie into the hospital. Stephanie found herself in her hospital room. That was when she saw stitches on her faces. She realized Robbie did more than what he did.

END FLASHBACK

Stephanie was visited by her friends. Stingy gave her a get well card; Trixie gave her a bracelet that said "See you soon". Ziggy gave her a couple pieces of Taffy, and Sportacus gave her flowers. She smiled.

Mayor Meanswell and Miss Busybody visited. When they all left, Stephanie fell into a deep sleep. Her smile faded. She dreamt and dream that was so horrific, it looked like a vision. She woke up and heard noises. Weird noises. She didn't like this. She wanted to scream.
"Is someone there?" asked Stephanie. She started to sing the song again.

"Shut up! I'm not done with you yet." whispered a voice. Stephanie recognized that voice.
"I know that voice." whispered Stephanie.
Stephanie started to panic. Stephanie started shaking. She then saw Robbie Rotten appear. Stephanie stood up and had her eyes widened. She started to scream. But when she saw that Robbie come out, she sat there on her bed motionless. Waiting for something good to happen. but she knew that nothing good will come now.

"Sportacus where are you when I need you?" thought Stephanie.

--

"Is this true?" asked Samuel.
"Yes." replied Stephanie. Samuel put his hand on her face.
"It's okay Stephanie. No one can harm you." whispered Samuel. Samuel face came closer to hers. Stephanie's came closer to hers. There lips touched each other. They kissed passionately.

Together in all these memories
I see your smile
All the memories I hold dear
Darling you know I love you till the end of time.

"You're never alone." whispered Stephanie. There kiss departed when Stephanie's phone started ringing. When Stephanie answered it, it turned out that it was Sportacus on the other line.
"Stephanie! Where are you!" he asked on the other line.
"I'm in a secret place that Robbie Rotten won't find me. This time, he's gone MAD!" replied Stephanie. Sportacus was speechless.

All of my memories
Keep you near
It's all about us
Imagine you'd be here
All of my memories
Keep you near
The silent whispers
The silent tears.

Sportacus hung up. Stephanie hung up also. She looked at Samuel.
"I have to leave." she whispered.