Chapter 5

The past day seemed to fly by in an instant and it was time for Ethan to go on his trip.

It was still early in the morning, but Matt was already hard at work at the firm. He was looking over law books that might help in Theresa's case when the phone rang. He didn't take his eyes off the sentence he was reading as he reached for the phone and pulled it to his ear.

"Yello?"

-- "Hello? Is this Winthrop and Ryan?" A woman's voice asked.

"Yes it is. This is Matt Ryan. How may I help you?"

-- "Is Mr. Winthrop in, please?"

"No, I'm sorry he's not. He won't be in the office until Monday. He's leaving for a conference in Minnesota this afternoon. Can I take a message?"

-- "Minnesota, you say?"

"Yes, ma'am. Is he expecting your call?"

-- "What part of Minnesota?"

"I believe he said St. Paul." There was silence. "Ma'am, I am Mr. Winthrop's partner and I would be happy to help you if you need."

No one answered.

"Hello?"

Then the line went dead.

Matt took the phone away from his ear and stared at it. "Weird." That's when he realized that the voice sounded strangely familiar. He just couldn't place it.

Who was that woman?…

Ethan held Theresa close and took in her scent, as if needing to remember her forever. He had no idea that it would be a good thing he did so…

Theresa pulled back and stared into his eyes warmly. "Please be careful."

Ethan leaned in and kissed her lips softly. "I will. Don't worry," he said, stroking her cheek. He looked over and saw Little Ethan playing with his toys at the other end of the room. "Hey, big guy," he said, making Little Ethan look up. "Come say goodbye to me." Little Ethan ran to him. "I'm gonna miss you. Do me a favor, buddy? Take care of your mommy for me, okay? I'm leaving you in charge."

"You got it," Little Ethan responded.

"All right. You're the man of the house for a couple days. I'll see you when I get back, buddy." Ethan dropped his gaze from Little Ethan and turned back to his wife. "I love you."

"And I love you," Theresa said. Ethan kissed her goodbye again, grabbed his luggage, and headed out the door and into the taxi that awaited him.

Ethan's taxi pulled up to the curb in front of his airline at the airport. The driver helped Ethan with his bags from the trunk and then drove away.

Ethan began to walk to the door into the airport when a man stopped him. "Excuse me. Are you Mr. Winthrop?"

"I am. Can I help you?" Ethan asked curiously.

"Yes, I'm with the Myer and Hadley Convention. I've been instructed to take you from here to Lewis Airport."

"Lewis? The private airport?"

"Yes, sir. May I take your bags?" Without another word the man took Ethan's bags and headed in the direction for a black Lexus.

Hesitantly, Ethan got in the car and was silent as the man in the black suit and tie drove him to this other airport.

It was strange. The car pulled right up to the runway and there were many men in black suits awaiting his arrival.

The driver of the car got on the plane first, carrying all of Ethan's luggage. Next, Ethan boarded the plane himself.

The plane was huge. It was beautifully furnished. Somehow, it all looked strangely familiar to him.

Ethan took his seat on one of the couches and made himself comfortable on the obvious Italian leather.

A flight attendant in red appeared from behind a curtain on Ethan's right. "Sir, I would just like to let you know that the pilot is almost ready to fly."

"Thank you," Ethan said to her.

"Can I get you anything before we take off? A brandy perhaps?"

"No, thank you. I do have a question though."

"Yes, sir?"

"What plane is this?"

"Sorry?"

"What plane is this? Who does it belong to?"

The flight attendant opened her mouth to answer when the pilot's voice sounded though the speakers.

"All right. The Crane Jet is ready for take off."

Ethan's ears perked up. "What?"

"Sir?" The flight attendant asked.

"What did the pilot say? Did he say the Crane Jet?"

"Yes, sir. We're ready for take off."

"The Crane Jet?"

"Yes, sir," she said, leaving the cabin as Ethan spoke in shock.

"This is the Crane Jet…" Finally, the words processed and Ethan stood from his seat and ran towards the cockpit. "Wait-"

Then, a heavy object pounded on Ethan's skull.

As he fell to the floor, Theresa's image faded and then his world went black…

Somewhere, back in Harmony, Theresa sat in the living room reading when a deep churning, almost a punching sensation, thrust in her solar plexus. "Ethan…," she whispered worriedly.

Frantically, Theresa called Ethan's cell phone.

There was no answer.

It rang and rang…

As she stood over Ethan with the gun in her hand, she smiled. Somewhere, in the very depths of what was left of her soul, she felt bad. She couldn't do this to Ethan. But she knew it had to be done.

All of a sudden, a desperate ring sounded in Ethan's pocket. The woman reached under him and dug the phone out, careful not to wake him. She flipped open the phone and spoke. "Hello?"

"Ethan?" Theresa began. "Oh, thank God. I just had the most horrible feeling. Are you all right? Has anything happened?"

The woman on the other line was silent and smiled.

"Ethan?" Theresa asked again.

"Don't worry, Theresa. Ethan's fine," the woman on the other line answered.

Theresa's voice caught in terror. "Gwen…?" Theresa was silent as there was no response. "What have you done to him?"

Gwen laughed slightly. "Oh, nothing. He's just, uh… taking a nap."

Tears fell from Theresa's eyes as many horrible images flashed in her mind. "Where is he?"

"He's around. Not that I'm going to tell you where. I wouldn't make it that easy for you."

"Gwen-"

"I told you, Theresa. Round two has begun. You shouldn't step into the ring if you're not ready to play."

"Gwen, please," she begged. "I don't want- Please, just stop this. I'm begging you."

"You're begging me! Oh, no! Theresa's begging me!" Gwen said before laughing loudly in Theresa's ear. "Well, you know what, Theresa? I want you to. I want you to cry and beg on your knees. So you know what, Theresa? Beg I want you to beg until your little heart is content. I want you to know the pain that you've caused me. I want you to know what it is to lose your husband to your mortal enemy. I want you to know the pain of losing your child."

Theresa broke through. "NO! You leave my son alone! If you touch one hair on his head-"

"You'll what?"

Theresa didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say.

"That's what I thought. Remember, Theresa, I always win. You may have won the battle, but not this time. This time, I'll win the war. And I doubt very much that you'll live through it."

Theresa was shaking and crying. "Please, Gwen, please just let me-"

"You know what Theresa. I want you to know something. I want you to know that I WILL come after you. I WILL come after you and after everything you hold dear."

"Gwen, just-"

"And, if you drag anyone else into this, just know that their lives will be in your hands. You wouldn't want to have anymore lives on your guilty conscience, now would you?"

"Please! Gwen, don't-" Theresa tried again.

"I'll give Ethan your best," Gwen interrupted.

"Wait! Ethan! Please! Gwen! Gwen!"

It was too late. The line went dead…

What seemed like days later, Ethan awoke, lying in complete darkness.

It was cold.

Very cold.

He stirred and sat up, scared all of a sudden. He got off whatever platform her was on carefully.

His eyes blurred and struggled to make out something. Anything.

Then, a light flashed and Ethan covered his eyes.

"Why, Ethan… What's the matter, sweetheart?" A cold voice asked.

Ethan recognized the voice.

Shocked and terrified at the same time, Ethan tore his hands away from his face and slowly turned towards the voice.

She smiled playfully as he looked at her.

"Hello, sweetheart."

"Gwen," he said in shock.

"You seem surprised."

Ethan shivered and looked down. It was then that he realized that he had nothing on but his boxers. He looked around and saw nothing but a cot and an end table.

Scanning again, he noticed he was confined.

Thick, black bars, crossed and welded together surrounded him.

He was in a cage.

"I hope you like it. I made it myself. Even though, I admit, it wasn't exactly my idea. It's amazing what you can learn from TV. That Jan Spears is quite the genius."

Ethan whipped around. "What is this? Let me out!"

"I don't think so, honey. At least not yet."

"Gwen, what are you doing?"

"What am I doing? Ethan, don't you know?" Ethan's face crossed in confusion. "I'm finishing what I started." Ethan didn't understand. "I'm taking my revenge, Ethan."

"Revenge?"

"Yes. I'm getting revenge on Theresa for everything she's put me though." She spoke as if she were doing something as simple as going grocery shopping.

"What do you mean? What has she done to you?" Ethan asked desperately.

"WHAT HAS SHE DONE! WHAT HAS SHE DONE, Ethan! She took you away from me. She killed our baby! My baby Sarah is dead because of her!" She paused, composing herself. "And now, I'm going to make her suffer. She's going to wish I had killed her."

"Gwen, leave Theresa alone! She has a son-"

"Yes, I know," she said with a smile. "Poor thing. I really don't want to leave him without a mother. But you know what? He won't be. I will take care of him the way I should be taking care of Sarah."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, Theresa took my child and my happiness, and now, it's time that return the favor. She will learn what it is to say, 'An eye for an eye.'"

Ethan was terrified now. His wife and child were in danger and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Isn't revenge a bitch?" she said laughing.

Ethan swallowed hard and tears formed in his eyes. "You're crazy."

"Am I? Well all the more reason to continue."

She began to walk out and Ethan ran to the bars, shaking them hard.

She turned back quickly.

"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said, pulling out a little remote from her pocket and pressed a small red button. The bars shook and buzzed with a white spark and Ethan's hands burned. He quickly ripped them away from the bars.

"What the hell?" Ethan said, staring at his pained hands.

Gwen waved the remote in her hand. "Electricity powered security. I wouldn't want you going anywhere," she said, turning to leave. "Be good now, you hear." She stopped and turned to him again. "Oh, I almost forgot." She walked towards him and pulled him towards her through the bars.

Gwen pressed her lips to his. He resisted and tried to push her back. She forced her herself on him and finally pulled back smiling.

"I love you," she said to him softly.

Ethan was almost disgusted with her words. "I love Theresa."

"No-no," she spoke softly, stroking his cheek. "Soon, my love. Very soon. I will free you from her wicked charm. And then we can be together. The way it was supposed to be. We will be together. I promise you. In time, you'll see."

Ethan pulled back, away from her reach and glared at her with hate. "No, Gwen. I belong with Theresa. I love her with all of my heart. I could never love you!"

Gwen, a little angered, walked away from him. As she reached the door, Ethan spoke. "I love Theresa!" Gwen paid no attention. "I will always love her!" Ethan screamed and screamed, proclaiming his love for his wife and not for Gwen. When she reached the hallway, she slammed Ethan's door shut and fell to the ground against the wall, clasping her ears and crying.

"NO! YOU LOVE ME!" she cried. "YOU LOVE ME! ME!" She cried and cried, spilling salty tears onto her shirt. "Ethan loves me…," she whispered to herself. "He loves me… He loves me… loves me… loves me… me…"

And still Ethan cried for his love; his wife.