The Ex Factor

Jesenik-Moreau Manor

"So far, so good." Kieran murmured. They'd made it down three floors so far, with not a guard in sight. Theresa began to feel some of her apprehension ease as they kept moving. They were going to make it...they were actually going to escape, with Sarah. She began to smile to herself, imagining the looks on everyone's face when they made it back to Harmony-especially Ethan's. And she would have Jane...she'd wake up every morning and her daughter would be there, back in her arms, the way she was supposed to be. She, EJ, and Jane would be a family. It wasn't the family she dreamed of with Ethan, but it was all she needed, because Ethan was just a far away fantasy that dissolved every time she tried to reach out and touch it.

Speaking of fantasies...Theresa cast a sidelong look at Kieran. Sure enough, his eyes were fastened on Gwen. An amused smile lit up her face. It seemed ridiculous now, all those things she'd tried to break Ethan and Gwen up, and all she really should have done was call Rent A Man and hooked her rival up. She'd seen enough of the looks Gwen had given Kieran in return to know that she definitely wasn't immune to the Irish man's charms.

"Gwen.." she stage whispered as they walked. Gwen looked at her enquiringly, and Theresa continued, unable to resist. "You know, I think our new friend has a little crush on you."

Sure enough, Gwen turned scarlet, the color blooming on her normally pale face and spreading down her neck. Theresa bit her lip to keep from laughing and Gwen gave her a stern look. "He does not, Theresa. He's just...very helpful." Gwen whispered back, giving Theresa a 'shut up' glare, as she adjusted Sarah, who'd fallen asleep with her head on her mother's shoulder.

"Actually, I do." Kieran was obviously not ashamed of his blatant eavesdropping. "I thought I'd been rather obvious about it." He gave her another one of those roguish grins he seemed to have an endless supply of, and Gwen blushed even more.

"That's very flattering, Kieran." she said, trying to keep her voice quiet as they kept moving. "But I'm married."

Theresa rolled her eyes and Kieran looked at her before looking back at Gwen.

"I'm aware of that, Gwen. I know all about your...husband." And his voice indicated that he did indeed know more than Gwen was probably comfortable with.

Suddenly, Kieran held his hand up to stop them.

"Ok, now." he whispered. "Now this is where it gets tricky, because we are going to go through a hall full of what I hope are sleeping guards. If anything goes-ugh!" Kieran suddenly gasped and choked, and reached down to grab his leg.

"Kieran, what is it?" Gwen gasped.

Kieran fell to the floor hard, as Theresa and Gwen stared in horror. He struggled to rise then fell again, staring up at them, his eyes desperate. "G-go...run!" he said hoarsely.

Sarah, who'd snapped awake, stared down at him worriedly. "Kieran, what's wrong? Get up!"

"Sorry, sweetheart. I'm afraid that won't be possible." A cold voice came from behind them. Gwen and Theresa spun around to see an older, white haired man looking at them coldly as he lowered what looked like some kind of dart gun.

"Well, well, unexpected guests. And so impolite to drop in and then try to leave without even greeting your host."

Gwen felt her heart sink into her shoes as she looked at the man's face. "Claude Moreau."

"Yes, that's right. By the way, you're holding an expensive piece of my personal property, and I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist that you return her."

"You bastard-I won't let you touch my baby!" Gwen hissed.

"You're not really in a position to fight me, especially whith your champion flat out on the floor." He made a hand gesture and suddenly men came into the hall, surrounding them. "These are my personal guards. Luckily, they were not affected by whatever it was that you slipped the others, Kieran." His voice was calm but there was an undertone of pure venom in it as he walked over to Kieran, staring down at him with contempt.

"What did you do to him?" Gwen cried, alarmed as Kieran's moving eyes were the only sign of life - he made no other movement.

Moreau smiled, looking pleased with himself. "A kind of tranquiilizer dart, except this one causes temporary paralysis. The effects will wear off in a few minutes, which I'm grateful for because I want Kieran to feel every bit of the punishment I have planned for him." His face hardened. "How could you betray me, after all I've done for you? I suspected there was someone inside my household working against me, but I never thought it would be you. You were very valuable to me. Ah well. I'm going to enjoy doing what has to be done in your case. And I'm going to make sure it's slow, and painful. After seeing what happens to you, no one here will ever dream of betraying me again."

He looked at the guards. "I want them all in my study. I have some...business to conduct."

Theresa and Gwen pulled back, ready to fight, and Claude pointed at Sarah, who was staring at him with large, frightened eyes. "Don't even try it. I'd hate to damage such a valuable child, but I will. And your friend here is completely helpless-do you really want to watch us kill him right in front of you?"

"Damn you." Gwen whispered, close to tears of fury and anguish as the guards began to pull her along. Theresa was in the same state as she was pushed down the corridors. What were they going to do now? Frantically, she tried to run through scenarios in her head but nothing came up, no grand, elaborate escape plan was forming in her mind. 'No!' she whispered to herself. 'We've come so far...how could this happen? And what about Sarah?' Her eyes filled with tears. They had failed her, and now they were probably going to all die.

It didn't seem possible for either of them to feel any worse...until Claude reached his study and ushered them in with a nasty, malicious smile.

A man was standing in the elegant, dark paneled room, his back to him.

"Ladies, I'd like you to meet my honored guest, although I don't believe introductions are really necessarily." Claude smiled cruelly and the man turned around, an identical smile on his face.

heresa and Gwen both gasped in shock and horror. Theresa felt her knees go weak and her heart plumment. "No, no...it can't be!"

Alistair Crane was standing in front of them.

Jesenik-The Village

Rina finished speaking and wiped her eyes, still sitting on the ground. Next to her, holding the girl's hand, Fancy felt sick at what she had just heard.
The other four felt the same mix of nausea and fear.

"So this sick bastard has been terrorizing all of you for years, had your sister in his home, and you sold out my sister in exchange for her. You know what? That makes you just as bad as him!" Paloma spat, looking at Rina angrily.

"Paloma, come on, I know you're upset but look at the situation she was in!" Fancy stood up, shielding Rina protectively as Paloma stepped towards her.

"I don't care! Theresa could be dead because of her!"

Jared snapped out of his stupor long enough to pull Paloma back as she once again charged at Rina. "Paloma, this is not helping, alright? We don't know what's happened to Theresa, Gwen, or Fred. We're going to find out, right now. I can't believe they're dead, OK? I can't, not until I see it for myself. I'm not quitting now, so are you all with me, or am I going there myself."

"Oh, we're going." Ethan said quietly, unable to shake off the numbness that had settled on him as soon as Rina had said those terrifying words about Theresa and Gwen's fate. "We are going and we are going to tear that place apart, stone by stone, until we find them, and the bastard who did this.

"Well, let's not stand around watching the damn grass grow already. Rina, can you take us there?" Luis asked.

Rina had gotten to her feet and she looked towards the woods with fear in her eyes. For a long moment, she didn't respond as she stared into the distance, then she looked back at them.

"I cannot. I'm sorry. I must go-go home. There is something I need to do. Please, please forgive me..and be careful." Without another word, she turned and ran down the path.

"Damn her!" Paloma burst out. "Not only does she send my sister on a suicide mission but she won't lift a finger to help. She deserves what's happened to her."

"Paloma, stop. Let her go. And have faith...like Mama would tell us. We have to believe that Theresa is alive. Don't give up-she deserves that much." Luis stroked his youngest sister's hair. "Let's go."

They'd been following the path through the forest, moving at an infuriatingly slow pace as they tried their best to be on guard for whatever may be lying in wait for them.

"What do you think this is about?" Jared murmured to the others as they walked. " Why would he tell the locals to be on the lookout for anyone who comes from the States, particularly from Harmony? I mean, this guy sounds awful but what possible connection could he have to Theresa, or Gwen, or any of us, for that matter?"

"I don't know." Luis's voice was grim. "But you can be damn sure I'm going to find out, and with luck, he'll make me beat it out of him. I feel the need to burn off a little frustration."

"I'm with you there." Ethan's voice was a low growl. He couldn't stop seeing them both in his mind...Gwen, the first day he'd met her, their wedding day, all the trials they'd gone though, and Theresa...the one who'd walked into his life and shattered all of his plans, the one who changed his dreams, the one whose smile haunted his every waking moment. He'd wronged both of them, over and over. His selfishness, his own loss of identity, his own confusion had done this. He couldn't live without being able to make up the wrong he'd done to Gwen, and as for Theresa, he couldn't live without her, period.
"

Wait...look!" Fancy suddenly stopped walking and pointed to a dark object partially hidden in the dense foliage. Dashing forward, she reached down and picked it up. "It's a purse!" The rest of them gathered around her as she opened it, looking for a wallet. "It's Theresa's! She wouldn't have just dropped this-oh my God, he must have gotten to them already. We have to hurry!"

"OK, maybe we should-" Luis was cut off by a bone chilling scream from Paloma. They turned to see her, stark white, pointing shakily at a tree several feet away, tears filling her eyes.

"Oh my God-Fred!" Jared cried.

They ran forward, and Luis fell to his knees beside the man, frantically checking for a pulse. He looked up at them, his eyes despairing. "He's dead-been dead for a while by the looks of it." He looked away, not wanting to look at anyone at the moment, afraid they would see the sheer terror in his eyes. Because now he felt it, felt the horrible knowledge course through him that it was looking more and more likely that they were too late-far too late.

"They killed him! Why would they do this-why would anyone want to hurt him? Why would anyone want to hurt Theresa and Gwen? Luis, what are we going to do?"

"We're not going to give up, Paloma! Fred is gone, but Gwen and Theresa are nowhere to be seen so we gotta believe they are in there, in that house, and they are still alive. So let's keep-"

His words were cut off by a loud explosion. It was coming from directly ahead-from the manor house.

Moreau Manor

Alistair's smile widened as he took in their shocked expressions, obviously loving every minute of it. "Gwen...Sarah. And of course, my loving wife, Theresa. A reunion-how wonderful. It's just like old times, isn't it?"

Theresa stared at him, desperately wishing this was some kind of terrible nightmare. "Why aren't you in hell where you belong?" she demanded.

"Well, it's not for your lack of trying, now is it?" Alistair snickered. "You must know what it would take more than a train accident to derail me."

"Of course."Â Gwen stared at him in utter disbelief. "Because you arranged the whole thing, didn't you, in case you had to make a quick escape? You killed innocent people to cover your tracks!"

Alistair shrugged. "And?" He gave them a feral smile.

"And what about Beth and Marty?" Theresa stepped forward. "If you're alive, they must be! Where are they, Alistair? Where is my nephew?"

Alistair plastered a mock look of sadness on his face. "I'm afraid my daughter and grandson were not as lucky as I. They, alas, didn't survive. Pity, isn't it?"

"Liar!" Theresa hissed, trying to pull away from the guard that was holding her.

Alistair shrugged. "Maybe. But you'll never know, will you? Oh Theresa, look at you. Watching you struggle reminds me of old times." He turned to Claude. "I believe we have some business to conduct. How much were you asking for her again?"

Claude looked at Theresa thoughtfully. "Well, she is my prisoner, and my guards would have enjoyed her. If I let her go, it may foster a loss of morale. Let's start the biddng at one million."

Alistair frowned. "I want her. I'm not in the mood to dicker over it. I'll give you two."

"Sold!" Claude grinned wolfishly and the two shook hands as Gwen, Theresa, and Sarah stared in horror. Kieran, lying stiffly on the floor, groaned softly.

"You can't just sell people like cattle!" Gwen gasped.

"I believe I just did." Claude stared at her as if what she'd just said was blatantly offensive. "Besides, that's a fraction of what I paid for your daughter. I have no use for you, however, and Alistair doesn't seem interested either. Guards, take Ms. Winthrop outside and shoot her. Dispose of the body in the usual way."

"No!" Before anyone else could react, Sarah jumped out of her mother's arms. She ran over to Claude, drew back her small foot, and kicked him as hard as she could. "Don't hurt my mommy!"Â

Claude tried to grab the furious little girl, and then drew back his hand with a shriek. "She bit me!" he cried angrily, shaking his hand. A small circle of blood was forming on it.

Alistair laughed heartily, and suddenly picked up the child. Caught off guard, Sarah struggled, beating her tiny fists against his chest, but he didn't release her.

"Why, look at you, little Sarah. If I'd known you were going to grow up so pretty, and with such a delightful temper, I would have doubled your asking price."

"I don't find it amusing." Claude spat. "This was exactly the sort of low, peasant behavior I was hoping to avoid. Obviously, she has some mongrel blood in her, courtesy of her father and that pedestrian cop who sired him. I should have never taken the deal, once we found out she wasn't a purebreed."

"My daughter is a person, not an animal, and I'll kill you for talking about her like one!" Gwen launched herself at Claude but the guards jumped her, pulling her back.

"Do you want us to kill her now, sir?" One asked in a rough accent. At his words, Theresa saw Kieran twitch out of the corner of her eye. Looking at him, she saw the anguish and pain on his face. The drug was starting to wear off, but not fast enough.

Claude started to answer but Alistair held up his arm. "Actually, Claude, I may want her after all. That is, if you're willling to sell Sarah back to me, since you're so dissatisfied with her. If you are, I'll buy Gwen from you as well. I'm sure Sarah will be very motivated to behave herself if she knows I hold her mother's life in my hands...won't you, Sarah?"

The little girl stared up at him, fear in her eyes, but said nothing.
C

laude looked thoughtful. "Hmmm. Well, you'll have to make me a very good deal. After all, I've spent a lot on this failed experiment." He eyed Sarah coldly, then looked at the men assembled in the room. "Guards, you are dismissed. I'll page you if I need you."

Theresa shrank back into the corner as the guards left the room, hardly able to believe what she'd just heard. Alistair had bought them, all of them, with less trouble then it would be to buy a car. What would he do with them now? Well, she knew what he wanted with her, at least, and her stomach roiled. Alistair touching her again..she couldn't bear the thought.

Beside her, Gwen stared with wide eyes at Alistair and Claude, then looked at Theresa. For a moment, they exchanged frightened messages with their eyes. They needed to do something, but what? Alistair held Sarah in his arms. If they tried to attack, who knew what that sick bastard was capable of?

Claude smacked his head after the guards left. "Damn, I forgot to tell them to take the trash out." he indicated Kieran on the floor. "This man's going to be late for his scheduled torture." He and Alistair both laughed. "Well, it won't be nearly as much fun, but I'll just take care of him now." He turned and walked towards a cabinet, apparently intending to get a weapon.

"No!" Gwen cried, falling to her knees beside Kieran. "Don't do this, please!"

"I suggest you move." Claude had pulled a gun out of the cabinet and turned back towards them. "Otherwise, you're going to get blood all over that pretty outfit."

Kieran twitched again, several times. His fingers moved rapidly, but he was still unable to rise. Tears filled Gwen's eyes and slowly trickled down her face.

"Alistair, please stop this. If you let them go, all three of them, I promise I will go with you willingly. I will do whatever you want...anything, Alistair, please!" Theresa turned to the monster she called her husband, begging desperately.

Alistair looked tempted for a moment. "Anything?" Then he shrugged. "Well, you will any way, and actually, forcing you is half the fun. Carry on, Claude. Sarah, don't look-it will just upset you."

Sobbing, Sarah buried her face in his neck, and Theresa watched, sickened, as Alistair patted her back in a mock kindly fashion.

Claude raised the gun and Gwen screamed. Angrily, he kicked her and she fell away from Kieran, gasping and holding her stomach.

"Goodbye Kie-AGH!"

Claude stumbled back, holding his chest in shock as a loud crack sounded through the room. Blood appeared on his chest and his mouth fell open in shock as he looked at his attacker, standing in the doorway.

"R-rina!"

To Be Continued...

Coming Next...Claude may be down, but he's not out...a final attack may prove fatal for more than one person.