Do not own General Hospital or any of the characters.

So this is my take on Francophrenia.

The Flame of Franco

Francophrenia...

Jason and Spinelli stood outside of the exhibit. It was just passed 7 and the show was just about to start. There was a large line up already just outside the entrance of the exhibit. Everyone wanted to see what the famous Franco had in store for his new work called Francophrenia.

It had been 24 hours since Jason had gotten the phone call from Alexis that Sam was missing. It had been 24 hours since Spinelli had told him about Route 66. No one knew he was here except for Sonny, who's plane he had borrowed. He had yet to tell Lucky or any one else for that matter. He didn't want to involve the police...not yet that was.

"I guess we shall get in line," observed Spinelli as she gestured to the long line of people standing a few feet away from them.

Jason's eyes glanced over at the line and back to Spinelli. He nodded his head slightly before following the computer hacker towards the line up. There was no other way into the exhibit. He just hoped that there would be no trouble getting in for him. He could see that there were metal detectors at the entryway. They were scanning people, making sure no one was bringing in gun or any weapons of sorts. Jason, however was packing heat like he always did.

There as no way they would allow him through, he thought to himself as the line began to move a few feet before stopping suddenly.

"The Jackal hates to say this, but he is most impressed by the turn out," commented Spinelli as he watched at the people lined up behind them. "Usually art exhibit don't get much attention like this one is or so I have seen."

Jason was a little taken back by how crowded the place was too. He didn't understand how a psychopath like Franco could be loved and admired by so many people who thought he was some sort of genius. Franco was anything but. He was a freak who deserved to burn in hell. Didn't these people know anything about Franco and his past crimes?

A good ten minutes or so passed before Jason and Spinelli had made it to the front of the line. There were only a couple people a head of them now. There was a huge banner that hung above the entrance way that read, Francophrenia: Dissolving the Boundary Between Illusion and Reality!

"Dissolving the boundary between illusion and reality," read out loud Spinelli towards Jason, "What do you think that means?"

Jason shrugged his shoulders. He didn't have a clue and didn't really care. All that matter now to him was getting into the exhibit and finding out where Franco was holding Sam. It had been over 24 hours since she had been kidnapped. It had taken him longer then he wanted for them to arrive in LA. He had not told anyone about Sam's kidnapping. He was hoping that he would be able to find Franco and Sam before he had to involve the police. If it was him that Franco wanted, then it was him he was going to get.

Nerves and fear pulsed through his body at the unknown that awaited him. His blue eyes shifted from the sign and over to the hostess. It was now their turn to enter. A look of seriousness appeared on his face as she took a step forward and locked eyes with the man before him.

"Hello, Mr. Morgan," spoke the hostess as he looked up from his clipboard and lay eyes on Jason.

"Yeah, that's me," answered Jason in confusion. He had not been expecting that.

"We have been expecting you. Welcome!" spoke the hostess as he smiled at the mobster before gesturing to step through security and enter the exhibit without being checked.

Nodding his head at this, he stepped around the metal detector and into the exhibit. He glanced over his shoulder and gestured for Spinelli to follow him. "He's with me," stated Jason towards the hostess before he could deny Spinelli from entering.

The hostess just simply smiled though and nodded his head, allowing for Spinelli to walk into the exhibit as well.

"Well that was easy," spoke Spinelli cheerfully as the two men walked along a small hallway of sorts before entering the main area of the exhibit. It was all outside. It looked more like a film lot then an art gallery.

"yeah too easy," replied Jason, "Franco knows I'm here." His eyes lingered on Spinelli's face for a moment before he turned his attention to the scene before him. All around them were layouts of rooms. There were giant televisions screens suspended from cranes above their heads. As he began to walk around the space, taking in the displays, he couldn't help but notice how they all looked familiar. It didn't take him long to realize that they were of places he had encountered Franco at. The show was about his time spent in Port Charles, he thought as he continued to look around.

There was a layout of Franco's studio that the artist had occupied while his stay in Port Charles before it had gotten blown up. Beside it sat a replica of the Plexiglas box that Franco had kept and raped Sam in. There was also a replica of what looked like Sam's old apartment patio with it's hot tube. There was also Josslyne's crib and nursery depicted. There was a replica of the Port Charles art gallery where Jason had first met the artist. There was even a replica of the alleyway were Jimmy Limbo had been killed and Franco had spray painted his tag.

Jason couldn't believe what he was seeing. He knew Franco was different and he would think about everything that passed him. But this was also something new all together. Every room was replicated perfect down to the last post note posted on Franco's studio wall.

The whole thing scream obsession and compulsion.

As he continued to stand there, taking in the strangeness of what was before him, the television screens above suddenly came alive and Franco's face appeared. The artist had his brown hair greased back as he smiled sheepishly down at the crowd below. He was dressed in a tux. The MOCA sign could be read behind him. The image of him froze for a second before coming alive.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! BOYS AND GIRLS! SAINTS AND SINNERS! AND ESPECIALLY YOU MR. MORGAN!" boomed Franco's voice. He winked playfully on the screen as he said Jason's name. "WELCOME TO FRANCOPHRENIA! THE BLURRING OF LINES BETWEEN ILLUSION AND REALITY! I WILL BE YOUR GUIDE THROUGH THIS FUN HOUSE! SO REMEMBER TO KEEP YOU SEATBELT UNFASTEN, YOUR HANDS OUTSIDE THE CAR AND DEFIANTLY TALK TO STRANGERS! AND WHAT YOU SEE IS MOST DEFIANTLY IS NOT WHAT YOU GET! AND ONE AMOUGEST US WILL NOT SURVIVE! ENJOY!"

The artist voice faded as the picture on the screen shifted suddenly to a still of Jason arriving at the artist's studio, he had his gun raised and ready. It had been taken when Jason had first gone over to the artist's studio back in early December when the artist obsession over him had first begun. There was no sound coming from the picture, just the image of Jason confronting the artist.

Everyone continued to look up at the screens for a moment longer before beginning to shift their attention else ware. Franco announcement seemed to be over. The video was just part of the show now. It ran for ten minutes or so before starting from the beginning. It was on repeat.

Spinelli looked over at Jason who was showing no emotion at all on his face. His eyes were dark and ice cold as he looked around the plaza, looking for the artist. "Do you think he is here?" asked Spinelli in a quiet voice, attempting to get Jason to talk.

"He is and I will find him," whispered Jason harshly. He was determined to find out where Franco was hiding. And he knew one of the people working the exhibit would know too. However before he could ask anyone, the sudden sound of a woman screaming came over the speakers. A sudden chill came over him. Sending the hairs on his arm to rise. He knew that scream all too well.

Everyone's attention turned towards the screens as they suddenly came to life. "Please don't," she whispered, sound of footsteps could be heard in the background. The picture did not show either of Sam or Franco. The video was zoomed in on Sam's chest and torso which was covered in the sheet. All that could be seen was the yellow whiteness of the sheet.

A deep chuckled filled the space as the sound of movement heard. There was some else in the room with her. The sound of weight hitting the mattress could be heard next. The soft tweaking of swings.

"NOOOOO!" screamed out Sam's voice, she was breathing rapidly at the fall and rise of her chest.

"Now Sam," he whispered. A shadow was then suddenly fell onto the picture. It was hard to make out what exactly was going on. A struggle of sorts as the whatever was underneath the sheet moved suddenly upwards.

. All that could be heard was the heaviness of their breathing. The silence seemed to last forever as everyone continued to watch in wonderment what was going on. Just then another struggle of sorts broke out or so it sounded like. All the sudden the image of the sheet was ripped out of frame, revealing a close up of bare breasts. The audience watched as the breasts bounced as the body that they belonged too fell backwards.

Franco's laughter could be heard in the background at this attempt of escape.

"Please," whispered Sam in a small voice as Franco's hand was shown brushing up against Sam's breasts before disappearing off screen. Her screams filled the picture as heavy breathing could be heard once again in the background. There was the sound of movement too. A shadow was shown falling over her chest.

The picture faded to blackness. Sam's screams echoing out. A deadly silence fell over the crowd for a moment. No one was sure of what they had just really watched.

It didn't last long though for the gallery wall suddenly came to life as a sudden image was projected onto it. Sam is shown on the bed, naked except for the bikini bottoms which hung losing over her. There was looked to be bruises covering her legs and arms and chest and face. Her face was turned towards the camera where dry blood along her swallow mouth could be seen. Her eyes were barely open as they looked into the camera as it zoomed in. They were blank with emotion.

As all this played out before him; Jason's worse nightmare was coming true yet again before his eyes, waves of rage watch over him. His hands were clenched into fist by his sides. His face was ice cold. His blue eyes dark was anger. He couldn't believe Franco was making him watch this twice. That he was making other people watch Sam's pain.

However, before he can react to anything. The television screens came to life yet again. The sound of a explosion can be heard as the image of the plastic box is shown blowing up.

The image of Sam is still protected on the wall. Her eyes staring out at everyone.

The audience does not know what to make of all this. The show had suddenly taken a dark turn. The crowd had an uneasy feeling as the continued to look up at the screens, waiting for something else to happen. Some where looking towards the plastic box, expecting it to suddenly to burst into flames just like the one in the video had. However, the box remained intact.

The screens remained blank for a moment before coming to life again. The picture was black and white. It looked like a security video of sorts as the camera appeared down into a room. It was a church of sorts. Sam was shown sitting on the floor with her hands tied behind her back around a column. The footage was only thirty seconds long before cutting to the image of Franco.

He is shown topless. His back is to the camera as he looks down at a computer screen. The audience is looking over his shoulder and onto the computer screen, where the same image of Sam from before can be seen.

It is silent for a moment before the artist's laughter can be heard over the speakers. He is laughing to himself as he continues to watch Sam as she struggles to undo the ties around her wrist and escape.

"Oh there is no point Sammy," speaks Franco down at the computer screen, "Franco is always watching..."

The video then freezes.

It is in this moment as Jason's looks up at the still of Sam on the computer screen that this had all been a mistake.

Coming to LA was all a joke. Franco had yet again fooled him in believing something that wasn't true. Franco wasn't here. He never was. It had all been a decoy.

It had all been for nothing. He was no closer in finding Sam or Franco then had been back in Port Charles.

Franco was yet again winning the game.

Thanks for reading and please review! More to come soon!

Julie