"Painted On My Heart" - Cult
Chapter 14
I THOUGHT YOU'D BE OUT OF MY MIND
AND I'D FINALLY FOUND A WAY TO LEARN TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME
TILL I HAD A HUNDRED REASONS NOT TO THINK ABOUT YOUAs Bart came into the room Sami was still on the floor crying as she looked at the black screen. She couldn't believe that the man she loved was still there, still loving and gentle when it came to her. He was so in love with her and not even her "death" could change that.
"Told you he still loves you." He said and handed her a tray with her breakfast.
BUT ITS JUST NOT SO
AND AFTER ALL THIS TIME, I STILL CAN'T LET GO
"Ya, I just don't understand how he could be so loving and caring one minute and then a cold hearted monster the next. It just doesn't make sense."
"Oh that's easy, he's always like that. All anyone has to do is say your name and he'll stop dead in his tracks. It's like he's under a trance and it takes him a minute to remember what he was doing. He even calms down to a point. But it fades and he's back to being the man his father wants to see, cold and unforgiving.
I'VE STILL GOT YOUR FACE
PAINTED ON MY HEART
SCRAWLED UPON MY SOUL
ETCHED UPON MY MEMORY, BABY
"I guess that doesn't surprise me really. I mean, I did always shock him and get him to stop dead in his tracks." She said with a laugh, the first in months. But in that moment, Sami finally seen what she was fighting for, a chance to have the life she always wanted with the man she always dreamed of. A life with Ej!
Sami tried her best over the next couple of months to find out all she could able the room and tried to remember all her mother told her about it. She needed to find a way to escape if there was any hope at a real life. After a year of being presumed dead, her faith she would be rescued started to fade, even though Bart did his best to remind Sami of the love she shared with Ej, somehow it just didn't seem like enough any more.
I'T GOT YOUR KISS
STILL BURNING ON MY LIPS
THE TOUCH OF MY FINGERTIPS
THIS LOVE SO DEEP INSIDE OF ME, BABY
Ej was more withdrawn then ever from the world, only wearing black to show how he felt about life and not allowing anyone near him since his last attempt at a girlfriend faltered when he couldn't stop thinking of Sami. On the day of Sami's one-year anniversary, the anniversary of her death he went to her grave and brought a different arrangement of flowers, the same ones he gave her on their first date.
I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING THAT I CAN
TO GET MY HEART TO FORGET YOU
BUT IT JUST CAN'T SEEM TO
"Darling, I know this isn't our normal time, or my normal day to visit but today is special. You didn't just die on this day, but a piece of me died too, for we were always connected and therefore my pain is your pain." He said and set the flowers next to the others, as usual her talked for nearly an hour before he could pull himself away from her. He didn't know how to say goodbye.
I GUESS ITS JUST NO USE
IN EVERY PART OF ME
IS STILL A PART OF YOU
"You still have my heart, branded for eternity with your name and no amount of time will change that." As the tears started to fall, he forced himself away, knowing it was only going to get worse as he realized she was gone. Sami's heart broke as she watched him on the screen, her heart breaking wit his as she forced herself to turn off the television and cry in peace. She should have known the tears would be there, every time she seen him that upset she cried, she could feel her heart breaking.
AND I'VE STILL GOT YOUR FACE
PAINTED ON MY HEART
SCRAWLED UPON MY SOUL
ETCHED UPON MY MEMORY, BABY
"What do you got for me today Bart?" She said as she heard the lock on the door, but she was surprised to see Stephano. She hadn't come face to face with him since her wedding day. "Leave me alone." She said and picked up her sweatshirt from the floor and placed it on the edge of the bed. Wanting to do anything but look at him, talk to the man who ruined not only her family's lives but his own son.
I'VE GOT YOUR KISS
STILL BURNIGN ON MY LIPS
THE TOUCH OF HER FINGERTIPS
THIS LOVE SO DEEP INSIDE OF ME, BABY
"Samantha, are they not taking care of you?"
"Bart has been doing his job just fine. Sorry if I don't look like a beauty queen when I'm locked in a cell watching you turn your son into a chess piece." She said and could feel the hatred she had for him rise. She was no longer afraid, no longer afraid of what he would do to her.
"I see you've been paying attention. But brains are not going to get you out of here or get me to stop my influence on my son. You will remain here and he will remain on my chessboard, carrying out all my endeavors and not asking questions as to why." He said and walked towards her but she didn't' quiver, or start to walk away from him. She stepped to him.
"I am not afraid anymore. The worst you can do is kill me, and if you do that, really succeed in that you better pray to god Ej never finds out. Because we both know there will be no controlling him then, there will be no stopping him from going after you! He loves me more than anything, all you have to do is look at him and you can see that!" She said and went to turn away but he grabbed her.
"Bart, where is my father?" Ej said as he came crashing through the door, always composing himself and wiping away all tears before entering. Bart just looked at him and knew what needed to be done.
"Basement, I'll show you but you have to stay calm and listen to reason." He said and led Ej straight to her. As Ej entered the room, Stephano had Sami by the throat against the wall and was in the process of strangling her. Ej was frozen in the moment, unsure what he was seeing and what was real. Then he heard her voice, begging for help and he knew he needed to react.
"Ej." Was all she could get out before she started to see the world go black, she was loosing all her focus.
I'VE STILL GOT YOUR FACE
PAINTED ON MY HEART
PAINTED ON MY HEART
PAINTED ON MY HEART, BABY
Ej attacked his father and got him off Sami as she fell to the floor clutching at her throat. Bart went to Sami to check on her while Ej continued to choke his father, however when Sami seen what was happening she scrambled to her feet to grab him.
"Ej no, please let him go. For me, let him go." She said and touched his arm and he immediately loosened his grip and as she spoke started to let go. "Come back to me." Was all she had to say before he let go of Stephano and put her face in his hands.
SOMETHING IN YOUR EYES KEEPS HAUNTING ME
I'M TRYING TO ESCAPE YOU
AND I KNOW THERE AINT NO WAY TO
TO CHASE YOU FROM MY MIND
"Darling, are you ok? What happened to you? How long have you been here.?" He asked, hugging her and feeling whole for the first time in years. However, when he went in to kiss her all he got was a slap across the face.
"I've been here for a year! Since the day I supposedly died and not once did you even come close to finding me. If it wasn't for Bart I would have lost my mind months ago, but that doesn't matter. I need to get the hell out of here. Someone please take me away." She said and EJ was the first to stand up and put his arms around her as he headed towards the door. Only pausing to turn around and address his father.
I'VE STILL GOT YOUR FACE
PAINTED ON MY HEART
SCRAWLED UPON MY SOUL
ETCHED UPON MY MEMORY BABY
"Don't even think about going anywhere, me and you have a lot of catching up to do." He said and let Bart out before closing the door behind him, causing his father to be locked in the room, again. When Ej was in the hall with Sami he couldn't help but hug her and pull her close.
I'VE GOT YOUR KISS
STILL BURNING ON MY LIPS
THE TOUCH OF MY FINGERTIPS
THIS LOVE SO DEEP INSIDE OF ME, BABY
"You came back to me." Was all he could muster before she finally let him kiss her, knowing that it was the best way to say everything she ever thought she needed to. However, Bart broke it up with his stuttering.
"Uh…I know this isn't…the best time. But uh…"
"Nothing is going to happen to you Bart. Right Ej?" Sami said and hugged Bart, knowing that without him she would really have lost her mind.
"Of course, but you will tell me everything later. Make sure my father gets whatever he needs until I get back. Put Dr. Rolf in there with him just in case. I'll be back." He said and walked out of the mansion and put Sami in his car. However, when they got in the car Ej had yet to say anything, say that he loved her or missed her and for some reason Sami felt like she needed that reassurance.
"Ej what's wrong?" She finally asked, not understanding his silence, he was never quiet. "Are you not happy you found me?"
"There aren't words for me finding you. Darling, I have missed you more than you can even imagine. This last year has been like living without a piece of my heart and I never want to go through that again. You didn't just die in that crash to me, I died with you and I have never been whole since. Not until now." He said and touched her face, giving her the reassurance that he needed.
I'VE STILL GOT YOUR FACE
I'VE STILL GOT YOUR FACE
PAINTED ON MY HEART
PAINTED ON MY HEART
"Ej, you don't know the whole story, you don't know what really happened.." she started to explain, seeing the guilt still in his eyes, but he stopped her.
"Please not right now. Just let me live in this moment, live in the moment that I have you back. You can tell me everything later, for now I need to take you back to your family, to the Pub." He said and headed there, his hand never leaving hers.