One month later…

Trina stood next to Ava as they watched yet another coffin be lowered into the cold ground. This time it was Josslyn Jax that this freaking pandemic had claimed. First, not to Trina's surprise, the pathogen had claimed her mother. Of course, Portia had been on the front lines, dealing with sick patients, it had been no surprise to Trina when her mother had gotten sick. It was devastating because their relationship had never healed before Portia's death and Trina couldn't forgive herself for being unable to forgive her mother in time. Then the virus had claimed her dad, and then Curtis, Marshall, and Aunt Stella. Pretty much her whole family in Port Charles, leaving Trina alone and bereft. Now it had claimed her best friend. And yet, the vaccine had still not been replicated. Trina did not get what was taking so long!

Of course, Trina was devastated. Not only did she not have Spencer, she no longer had her family and she had lost Joss as well. All of her loved ones were either dying or so far away from her, they might as well be on a different planet.

Trina did not say a word as she and Ava made their way back to Wyndemere. Trina took out her phone, hoping that Spencer would call back. After he had called that one time, she had rushed the phone to the police station, hoping that the call could be traced. But sadly, it couldn't. He had called from a burner phone and the call hadn't lasted long and he had yet to call again.

Spencer. He probably didn't know about Joss, his old childhood friend. In a way, she hoped he didn't call. She didn't want to have to tell him.

"I can't believe this, but I feel so bad for Carly. She loved that girl so much," Ava shook her head. "I certainly can relate. I never healed from losing Kiki…"

Trina reached over and took Ava's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Did today bring back memories for you?"

Ava simply nodded, then wrapped an arm around Trina. "At least I know that you're safe my lovely girl. I can't tell you how relieved I am that you're safe from this virus."

The ring of Trina's phone broke the comfortable silence that had fallen. Trina frowned, wondering who that could be.

"Hello?"

"Trina?" Spencer's voice came through the phone, subdued as if he was hiding somewhere, which he probably was.

She felt hot tears in her eyes and a sob escaped her. "Spencer...oh Spencer...it's awful!"

"What happened?"

"Joss...we buried her today. I'm so sorry, Spencer. She's gone," Trina rubbed her eyes.

"Oh, my god…"

"I know that you two were childhood friends...and this must be a shock. I wish I could be there with you right now…"

"Don't worry about me. How are you? She was your best friend...god, I'm so sorry Trina. I tried to get Uncle Victor to give her the vaccine too...but he barely wanted to give it to you…"

"My mom died...and so did my dad and Marshall and Aunt Stella. Everyone. All I ever do is survive while everyone dies around me…"

Spencer's heart broke and he wanted to hold her so bad and soothe her tears away, but he knew that was impossible. God, he felt so useless. "You're not alone, are you? Is someone there with you?"

"Ava. I've been staying at Wyndemere with her…"

"That's good."

"I miss you, Spencer! I wish you could come home! I tried to take the phone to the police, but they couldn't trace it...and they're still looking for your Uncle Victor."

"I don't think they're going to find us, Trina. My Uncle had this all planned out. He knows how to disappear without a trace and that's what we've done. I want to come home, I want to be with you…"

"I want to be with you too."

"I…"

"Spencer?! Where are you?!" Victor called out, standing right outside Spencer's bedroom door.

"Shit, I have to go…"

"Spencer wait...I have to tell you…"

"Take care, Trina," Spencer quickly got out before hanging up.

"I have to tell you that I love you," Trina told the now-empty line. She rubbed away her tears, feeling lost and alone, despite Ava, who took the crying girl into her arms.

…..

Nikolas Cassadine had spent months in a coma and had finally got himself released from the hospitality of an up-and-coming mob boss, who had her eyes on Sonny's territory. But that hadn't been his concern. His concern was getting as far away from Port Charles as he could get and working on regaining control of his family. After paying a good amount for his freedom, Nikolas made his way to Cassadine Island and began making plans.

First thing first, he needed to take out his revenge on his ex Ava. He was going to bring her to his location and keep her his prisoner for the rest of her days. He already had it set in motion. Soon, his prisoner was going to arrive and realize that her life was forever changed. She would no longer be causing him any problems. Not with his personal romantic life and not with his family.

His plan was already in motion, really. This time tomorrow, he shall not be the only resident of Cassadine Island, but to make sure that nothing goes wrong, it was best to check in and get a status report. He took out a phone and dialed a number.

"Do you have my precious cargo? Great. You know what to do. Leave no witnesses, do you understand? Good. I'll wire your payment as soon as my cargo arrives."

Nikolas hung up and smiled happily. First, it was Ava. Next, it'll be his oh-so-loving Uncle Victor, who has stolen both of his sons. Well, it was time to get them back, after he has taken care of his Ava problem.

…..

Ava yawned, fighting against the urge to sleep as she stared out at the passing scenery. She knew that the trip to the cemetery was a long one, but this was ridiculous. She looked at Trina who was staring intently at her phone, willing it to ring again.

"Oh, Trina...I doubt that he'll be able to call you back. It sounds like Victor is keeping a tight watch over him," Ava sighed, her heart going out to the girl.

"It's not enough...I need more time to talk to him, Ava. I need to tell him that I love him. He has to know. Only then can I…try to move on, I guess," Trina sighed, putting her phone away. Ava was right. Spencer won't be calling back. "Not that I will ever move on. This is it. First Rory...now Spencer...I'm probably meant to be alone."

"Now, that's not true. The universe has plans for you, young lady. Whether it's Spencer Cassadine or some far-off tall stranger in the future, you will have that love of a lifetime. A love you can hold onto forever."

"But I want Spencer! Why is it so hard to just be with him? First, it was Esme, then it was his stint in prison, now...it's his Uncle Victor sweeping him off to only god knows where...and at the worse possible time!"

"Well, at least he's taking care of you. Made sure that you got vaccinated against this pathogen…"

"What good is that? All I'm doing is watching my friends and family die! I'm going to end up alone and miserable and without the man I love! That's all getting me that vaccine will accomplish!" Trina cried, feeling more hopeless than she's ever felt before. She just wanted things to go back to where they were before The Nurses Ball. Before Spencer's disappearance. She just wanted a chance to change everything.

Ava didn't know what to do except just rub Trina's back and be there for her the best way that she could. She frowned as she watched the scenery change, and became alarmed when she realized where they weren't going.

"What the hell? Driver! This is not the way to the docks!" Ava nearly yelled, alarming Trina.

"We're not going to the docks," was the driver's surly answer. "Just sit back there and shut up!"

"Pardon me? What do you mean that we're not going to the docks? Where do you think that you're taking us?!"

"You'll find that out later," the driver pressed a button and a barrier slid up, blocking Ava and Trina from the front of the car.

Frightened, Trina tried to open the door, it was locked tight. "Ava, I can't get out!"

Ava was on her phone, dialing the police. Trina hit redial, hoping Spencer answered. To her surprise, he did.

"Trina?"

To Trina's horror, the car began to fill with some kind of gas and she began to cough.

"Spencer...I...love you…" She managed to get out before the gas overtook her and knocked her unconscious.

…..

Alarm and fear swept through Spencer as he yelled into the phone, trying to get an answer. Then the line had gone dead.

"Trina! Trina answer me! Trina!" He yelled into the phone, becoming desperate as he realized that something had happened, something not good. "Trina!"

"Goodness, what is with the racket," Victor came into the room just to see Spencer yelling into the phone. "Where in the hell did you get that?"

Spencer ignored his uncle as he yelled into the phone. "Trina, answer me! Where are you? Trina!"

Victor had Ambrose snatch the phone out of Spencer's hand. Enraged, Spencer flew at Victor, ready to kill him, but the guards grabbed him and held him back.

"What did you do to her?! If you touch one hair on her head I will kill you! Do you hear me, Uncle Victor?! I can't believe I had ever trusted you!"

"Oh Spencer, do calm down. Whatever had happened to the girl, I had nothing to do with it and there's nothing you can do to help her anyway. What I want to know is where you got this phone from? Luckily it's a burner phone. No one can trace it, but still…"

Spencer didn't say anything. He refused to betray the one friend that he had in this place. Who knows what his insane Uncle would do to Nikolai if he found out.

"It had to have been one of the guards. Which one was it?"

"It was Ambrose," Spencer stated. He never liked Ambrose, so if his Uncle took his anger out on him, so be it.

"Boss, he's lying! I would never!" Ambrose declared, glaring at Spencer.

"We'll just have to beat it out of him," Victor sighed as if disappointed. "Really, Spencer. I was hoping that this would be an amicable venture for the family. But you are making it more difficult than it has to be."

Ambrose smiled, punching a fist into his hand. "I think I'm going to like this…"

"Stop! Sir, it was I that gave him the phone," Nikolai came through the door, his eyes wide and scared. "It was only a burner phone. I made sure that it couldn't be traced. He just wanted to hear his girlfriend's voice. That's all. I didn't see the harm in that."

"Nikolai," Spencer shook his head, his own eyes full of fear. He wanted to cry. He didn't want Nikolai to get hurt just for helping him. "Uncle Victor, please don't. I...I manipulated him. I pulled at his heartstrings. If you want to punish someone, punish me. Nikolai has been loyal to you. The phone was the only time he helped me with anything. And like he said, it couldn't be traced."

Victor pursed his lips. It was obvious that Spencer cared about the young guard. He was there pleading for the guard to be spared any punishment for his betrayal. Which left him only one thing to do. "You are a good loyal employee of mine, Nikolai. You moved up the ranks and did a good job for me. I was looking forward to you reaching the top. Which is why this pains me…"

Victor took out his gun and shot the young guard in the head.

"No! Nikolai!" Spencer struggled against the guard's hold on him.

"This is what happens to people that betray me. So I suggest you keep your distance from my employees. I don't want to kill anyone else, nephew."

"Why did you do that? He had a wife and child!"

"You should have thought of that before asking him to get that phone," was Victor's cold reply. "Release him."

Spencer fell to his knees as the guards released him, leaving him there sobbing, over the dead guard and his ongoing worry over Trina.

"Do not underestimate me again, Spencer. It's too bad. I was going to let you visit your brother today. That's off now."

Spencer didn't say a word as his uncle walked out the door, leaving him sobbing over the dead body of the one person that had tried to help him.