Chapter 6:

Friends (and Family)

The Saarne Institute

Estonia

2007

Leena Klammer sat at a bare white table, staring into the camera which had recorded this session years ago onto its memory card. She looked gaunt, tired, and somewhat discolored, looking grayer than her usual healthy complexion. She wore a white hospital gown and a white robe, her hair tied into a neat little ponytail as she stared uninterested into the camera feed. Her hands were placed palm down on the table as she thought about what she wanted to ask.

She smiled as it then came to her.

"Why do you do what you do, Dr. Varava?" Leena asked, her right eye slightly twitching.

"I do what I do because I want genuinely want to help people, Leena," came Dr. Varava's voice from behind the camera, "I chose this line of work as a means to help those who are otherwise lost and need help finding their way. I believe that there's good in most people, and as long as they have that little bit of good in them, then they're not beyond saving. I can help them try to better themselves, and give themselves a second chance."

"You said most people have good in them, doctor," Leena said, slightly smirking, "Which means that not all people have good in them."

"That's correct, Leena," Dr. Varava continued, "There are those who are pure monsters, some are born, and some are bred. Serial killers like Dahmer, Gacy and Bundy are all irredeemable monsters. Those are people without reason, remorse, or morality. Those are the ones that became monsters and enjoyed it. But we're doing your therapy because I believe in you, Leena. I believe that there is good in you, and you're not beyond saving. I can help you."

Leena stared at him for a few moments as she tried to read his face and body language. After a few moments, she slowly nodded and then stared off to the side.

"You read my arrest report doctor, you know what I've done," Leena said, turning back to stare into the camera, "That's why I ended up here. I'm a monster in their eyes."

"That's because most people don't know your whole story, Leena," Dr. Varava said gently, "Your father was a monster, a sick twisted monster with no regard for the terrible things he'd done to you. You've endured a lot throughout your life, and have a lot of scars from it. But I can help you come back from this, Leena. I can help you recover and begin a new life. This hospital doesn't have to be your tomb. You still can have a normal life of your own outside of these walls. I just ask that you let me help you."

Leena stared past the camera feed, presumably into Dr. Varava's eyes, trying to detect any lies from him. If he were lying, he had one hell of a poker face. But what he'd told her seemed genuine, so once she was satisfied that be was being truthful, she slowly nodded.

"Are you my friend, Dr. Varava?" Leena asked innocently.

"Yes, I am, Leena," Dr. Varava said warmly, "And I swear to do everything in my power to help you overcome this and better yourself. I believe in you, Leena. I truly do."

Leena stared into the camera for a few brief moments. Then she smiled warmly and genuinely.

The Saarne Institute

Present Day

2009

Dr. Varava sat in his office, staring at the recording on his laptop as it ended, which then switched to a black screen. He minimized the video and lifted his gaze to look out through his office window, out at the snowy day beyond it.

As he sat there at his desk trying to sort through his thoughts and feelings on the news of Leena's resurgence, he felt crushing guilt for this whole situation; the massacred Albright and Sullivan families, John Coleman's death and a broken promise to the woman who he swore to help. Had he done more for her, maybe all of this could've been avoided altogether. Now there were 2 dead families and 1 broken one. He hoped that he could help make this right in some small way, by bringing Leena back to Saarne before she did something like this to another innocent, unsuspecting family.

A light knocking at the door startled him from his thoughts. It was a colleague of his, Dr. Novotny. Dr. Novotny held up a tattered file and shook it.

"We've copied and sent everything that we have on Leena to the American police," Dr. Novotny said, coming in and handing Dr. Varava the file.

"Thanks, Yuri," Dr. Varava said, taking the file and staring at it, "It's been a while since we've had to open this up, huh?"

"Yes, it has," Dr. Novotny said, shaking his head, "And it's been a good long while since we've heard a peep about her. She's been quite busy this whole time, hey?"

"Yes, she has," Dr. Varava said, as he glanced out of his office window once again, "But this has to end, and end now. Leena belongs in here, where she can't harm anyone else ever again." He then paused briefly before continuing. "I used to think that I could help her. I believed that there was still good in her and at least some shred of morality and decency. But she's become quite a monster in her own pursuit of happiness. I thought that maybe I could save her in time, but maybe I was wrong."

Dr. Novotny said nothing, only glanced out the window as well. Dr. Varava then turned to him.

"The Americans might need me to go down there to help with their investigation," Dr. Varava said, "If that happens, will you able to hold down the fort until I return?"

"Of course, Nikolai," Dr. Novotny said, with a nod. He paused, before adding, "And this time I won't let another one escape."

Dr Varava turned to him; his eyebrows raised.

"You mustn't cling to that night she escaped, Yuri," Dr. Varava said, "We both knew that one day she very well might. What's done is done. But now we have another chance to recapture her and bring her back to where she belongs, and keep her from killing anyone else."

"Thank you, Nikolai," Dr. Novotny said with a smile.

New Haven Hospital

Kate's Room

A Few Days Later…

Kate lay in a near fetal-position as she stared out through her room window down to the snowy courtyard of the hospital interior below. It was mid day and the snow hadn't stopped falling since that dreadful night a few days ago.

Kate lay in quiet contemplation, feeling betrayed by fate, first feeling relieved at Leena's apparent death, only for that security to be quickly taken away, and to be given the news that she'd survived her icy tomb and was now somewhere out there, planning God knows what.

Her thoughts raced constantly after hearing the news of Leena's escape. Would Leena come back and finish what she started with their family when she killed John? Would she risk her freedom to get payback for the shaky mother/daughter relationship that she'd had with Kate from the first day of her adoption?

Kate figured that if Leena was as smart as she thought she was, that she'd crawl into a deep dark hole somewhere and live out the rest of her days in hiding. There was no way that she'd try the same orphan-girl charade on another family, right? As much as Kate hated to admit it, Leena was much smarter than that. Look at how many people she fooled as Esther.

As Kate was just about to close her eyes and have a quick nap until her dinner tray got there, she heard her phone go off. Her eyes flew opened and she reached over for it, thinking that it might've been that detective that had been so kind to them calling her. When she picked up her cell and read the name and number on the screen, her jaw dropped slightly. It read 'Dad.'

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Kate said, muting the ringer and placing it back down on her nightstand. She then rolled over, closed her eyes, and fell into a troubled sleep.

Daniel's Room

Daniel lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling as he too was in quiet contemplation, just as his mother had been. His 2 friends from school hadn't come to see him yet, or had even taken the time to message him to see if he was alright, which stung. Some fucking friends they were. Yet they could sure take the time to enjoy watching him pick on Esther for their own amusement… assholes.

A light knocking at his door startled him from his thoughts and he glanced over in its direction. It was those 2 girls from yesterday, Amy and the taller aboriginal-looking friend who stood in the open doorway. They were joined by 2 other kids, an older boy and a younger girl who were standing alongside them. Amy now sat in a wheel chair, as it was probably easier to move around in, than having to constantly use her crutches for her injured leg.

Amy was holding some 'get well soon' balloons, a large basket of goodies and a small personal pizza, which smelled amazing and made Daniel's stomach rumble.

"Hey Daniel, can we come in?" Amy asked, her eyes having warmth in them.

Daniel nodded silently with a weak smile.

Amy smiled as she was wheeled in by Taylor, who wheeled her over next to Daniel's bed side. The other 2 kids trailed in behind them, glancing around the room. Amy placed the balloons and basket on his nightstand. She then held up the small pizza and smiled at him.

"Hungry?" Amy asked with a sheepish smile.

"Starving," Daniel said with a smile of his own.

Amy handed him the pizza and Daniel took it, opening the box and inhaling the aroma.

"Mmm, that smells great," Daniel said, glancing over at her, "Thank you, Amy."

"Ha ha, you remembered my name!" Amy said with delight, "And you're very welcome!"

Daniel slowly nodded and began to eat his pizza. It was loaded, which was a nice bonus, and was also a nice switch from the hospital's own food which was bland and tasted like cardboard. He then glanced over at both girls and their friends. He then held out the box to them to offer them each a slice.

"Oh no, it's all yours, Daniel," Amy said, with a polite wave of the hand, adding, "I figured your tastebuds would appreciate it after the cardboard this place serves us."

"More than you can imagine!" Daniel said dreamily. He then quickly grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth off. He then glanced up at his visitors, his eyes stopping on the tallest one and the oldest; Taylor.

"Hey, I know you, too," Daniel said to Taylor, "You're in the next grade above us. You're that artist who designed our school team's logo. You're pretty badass!"

"Yes, that's correct, Daniel," Taylor said, reaching down and tousling his hair, "I'm Taylor, Taylor Gauthier. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Taylor," Daniel said as they both fist-bumped, "Man, those self portraits you did during the global warming awareness week were awesome! You should get your art in a museum!"

"I hope to, one day," Taylor said with a chuckle, "That or illustrate comic books."

"That'd be awesome!" Daniel said. Taylor nodded in approval.

"So, Daniel, you've met me and Taylor," Amy said, then gesturing to the other 2 kids behind her, "I'll introduce you to the rest of our flock; this is Taylor's boyfriend Oliver, and my younger cousin Penny."

"Hey bro," said Oliver, fist-bumping Daniel, "Nice to meet ya."

"Likewise," Daniel said with a return bump of his own.

Oliver was an older kid, about the same age as Taylor, with short dark brown hair, dressed entirely in black, black winter jacket, dog tags, black Punisher T-shirt, baggy black cargo pants, and black hiking boots.

Penny on the other hand was a young girl also about Daniel's age, with a mop of short, parted curly dark brown hair and gold-rimmed glasses. She wore a dark blue parka, an undone brown scarf over a dark blue zip-up hoodie and black Ghostbusters logo shirt, jeans, and brown hiking boots. She smiled at him and held her hand out.

"Hello Daniel, it's a pleasure!" said Penny, proper shaking his hand with a cute little smile.

"It's nice to meet you too, Penny," Daniel said, shaking her hand. He then looked them all over, adding, "It's nice to meet you all. I'm only sorry that I didn't get to do it sooner."

"Hey, better late than never, right?" Oliver said pointing to him, "At least we all know one another now." Daniel nodded and smiled.

"We just wanna let you know that we're here for ya and that we've got your back," Amy added, smiling at him, "So does the rest of the school. In fact, they sent us here with this. Taylor?"

Taylor then lowered her backpack and pulled out a massive handmade poster with glitter, as well as painted letters reading 'Get Well Soon, Daniel.' It had chocolate bars taped to it, as well as a couple hundred signatures and massages from his school's peers and teachers. And sure enough, these 4 had signed it as well.

Daniel's eyes welled up as he poured over the signatures and messages from countless people, most he knew, some he didn't, but none of that mattered; what mattered was that they had all cared enough to wish him and his family well. He smiled and blinked away a few tears which were forming. Amy saw this and gently took his hand.

"I'll keep it forever," Daniel said, as he looked up his 4 visitors.

"Glad to hear it, Danny," Amy said, lightly squeezing his hand.

"Thank you all, really," Daniel said, genuinely smiling in what felt like forever, "I didn't think I had a friend left in the world."

"Well, we're your friends now, Daniel," Amy said, with a wink, "And I swear that we'll take good care of ya from now on. You're one of us."

Daniel smiled triumphantly, as they then all hugged him, and he them in a show of a strong comradery and the beginning of an even stronger friendship.