Chapter 50 – A True Believer
FLASHBACK (November 17, 2021)
Nelle, having purchased Shiloh's old house, started a daycare business for low-income families called All Our Children. She took Leora under her wing as an assistant. Leora was happy to help the kids and expressed her gratitude to Nelle for giving her a roof over her head and helping her get on her feet as an adult.
Leora often shared stories about her childhood prior to going to boarding school, when she lived at the clinic. Nelle knew that she'd have to be gentle about asking Leora to tell her more about various things, but was determined to find out everything she could about whoever ran the clinic. Leora said that she never met the director and didn't know anything about them. Nelle wasn't sure one way other the other if the director was Dr. David Hayward, but eventually concluded that Leora had told her everything that she knew, and that asking her further questions would eventually start raising red flags. Leora trusted her, which was something Nelle knew that she couldn't afford to lose.
She was determined to find out everything she could about David Hayward. She knew it was a longshot, but she nonetheless wondered if perhaps the Cassadines were responsible for what happened to him. She had to find a way to get information from a Cassadine. The only Cassadine she somewhat knew was Valentin, and she knew that if he found out she was still alive, he probably would kill her. The same was true for Nikolas. Asking Alexis or any of her daughters was out of the question, as they'd definitely have her sent to prison.
She spent the next year figuring out the best way to get information from the Cassadines and was about to give up when she learned that a Cassadine who had previously been thought to have died turned up very much alive and had returned to Port Charles. She found out where he was staying and cautiously figured out the best way to see him.
*Nelle, disguised as a housekeeper, makes her way through the halls of the Metro Court to Victor Cassadine's suite, and knocks on the door*
Victor Cassadine: Janelle Clayton. I had a feeling our paths would one day cross. Please come in.
*Nelle is confused as she didn't think Victor knew anything about her, let alone that she was coming to see him, but nonetheless enters the room. Victor closes the door, and they sit down*
Nelle: How do you know my name?
Victor: How could I not? You are one of the True Believers.
Nelle: I am?
Victor: You are. You joined our ranks when you joined Dawn of Day. Not only were you a member, but you also were married to their leader. And you have the makings of a great leader yourself.
Nelle: I don't know about that.
Victor: You are incredibly humble. That alone is a major strength, and one that is often overlooked. And it is only one of the many ways in which you are strong.
Nelle: Well…thank you…I guess.
Victor: I wouldn't be saying it if it weren't true. You are very young, yet you have endured so much. The phrase 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' may seem like a cliché, but it's true. There were multiple times throughout your life when you could have died, yet you held on. From what I understand, you recently took a huge gamble by letting yourself fall from that cliff. You knew the right way to land in the water, and you swam against a powerful current. You could've easily given up, but you didn't. Even more impressive was the fact that when you were brought to the Orpheus Clinic in Whitby, you didn't even need to be revived, as you were merely unconscious.
Nelle: Well, thank you. Though I don't understand why that would make me a great leader.
Victor: Well, those are the ways in which you are strong as far as your ability to endure. You also are good with words. You know exactly what to say in order to get people on your side. That is why Shiloh agreed not only to marry you, but to leave you with everything he had, including the decision on whether his organization lives to see a new dawn. And you also got Ryan Chamberlain to "punch your ticket" out of Pentonville. They say to never underestimate the power of a woman. The fact that you got Shiloh and Chamberlain, and to a lesser extent Cyrus Renault under your thumb speaks volumes about how influential you are. You know, if you wanted to, you could turn that daycare business of yours into something much greater. If the parents of all those children trust you to look after them, imagine how you could use this to reunite you with your own son. I would of course be happy to assist you in doing so.
Nelle: I'll definitely take you up on that. But in the meantime, I was wondering if you'd be willing to help me with something else.
Victor: If it's something within my ability I am of course glad to help you.
Nelle: Well, it isn't much, but I was wondering if you know anything about Dr. David Hayward. You mentioned the Orpheus Clinic, which isn't something that most people know about.
Victor: Yes, I am indeed familiar with Dr. Hayward's research into ways to re-awaken the dead. I can tell you what I know, but perhaps it would be more informative if you were to see it for yourself.
Nelle: You mean you can show me?
Victor: I unfortunately am not able to show you, though I can tell you where to look.
Nelle: Okay, where do I look.
Victor: Cassadine Island.
Nelle: Cassadine Island? But that's all the way in Greece.
Victor: It is, but the journey will be worth it. Not only will you find what you are looking for, but there is a man who is on his way to the island as we speak, whose assistance will prove most valuable. However, he will not be easily persuaded to join your cause. Many have tried, none have succeeded.
Nelle: Okay, well, if no one has succeeded, how will I be any different?
Victor: To get him on your side, you must speak his language.
Nelle: Um, well I only am fluent in English.
Victor: Use what Ryan Chamberlain has taught you. You already know about how he was able to communicate with Carly Corinthos through the walls of Ferncliff Asylum, and you know about the events that transpired that supposedly rendered him incapable of communicating with anything other than his eyes. They say one's eyes are the windows to their soul. When you see this man, you'll know what you need to do.
Nelle: Have I seen him before?
Victor: You have. And when you see him again, you will understand just how valuable he is. But make haste, as he will not be there long, and he is a wanted man. If you don't get to him, somebody else will.
CASSADINE ISLAND, GREECE (November 19, 2021)
Jason accompanied Dr. Britt Westbourne to Cassadine Island to rescue Britt's mother, Dr. Liesl Obrecht, from Peter August. Along the way, Jason had an unexpected reunion with his twin brother, Drew Cain. Peter arrogantly demonstrated how he was able to activate Drew's conditioning using tarot cards and get him to do everything he said. However, Peter made a critical error by inadvertently showing them the card used to deactivate Drew.
Britt managed to get the card from Peter and gave it to Jason. He successfully deactivated Drew right as Drew was about to kill him. They made their way through the unstable tunnels beneath the Cassadine compound, catching up with Dr. Obrecht, Britt, Peter, and one of Peter's guards. They confronted Peter at gunpoint; Jason shot him in the arm, and Peter fled. Jason and Drew managed to get the guard to drop his gun and run away by telling him that whatever Peter was paying him wasn't worth dying for. Jason and Britt then embraced.
Dr. Britt Westbourne: That was my perfectly normal response to the fact that you're not dead.
Drew Cain: Where…where's Peter?
*They all look around. Peter is nowhere in sight. Jason picks up the dropped gun*
Dr. Liesl Obrecht (speaking in a heavy German accent): That schleim Peter must've run away to be out of the commotion.
Jason: Yeah, but we know he's not headed toward the house.
Obrecht: Peter doesn't know where he's headed. He was hopelessly lost!
Britt: Which isn't so surprising. This place is a maze. How did you find us?
Jason: Drew was able to track you.
Obrecht: Of course. Congratulations on overcoming the conditioning.
Drew: No, credit goes to Jason.
Jason: No, actually credit goes to Britt. She found a way to give me the card from Peter.
Obrecht: I know, I was just trying to be inclusive.
Jason: Drew, can you pick up Peter's trail? We need to find him.
Drew: Yeah. Can you guys find your way back?
Obrecht: You all may not know this, but one of my minor PhDs was in geology.
Britt: Way to slip that in, Mother.
Obrecht: These tunnels are on the brink of collapse.
Drew: Yeah, and that gunfire did not help the situation.
Obrecht: It made it exponentially worse. If we want to get out alive, we need to go now!
Jason: Okay, let's go. Come on!
*They all turn to leave when Peter reappears!*
Jason: GET DOWN!
*Peter opens fire, Jason fires back at him*
Obrecht: Stop shooting or this place will cave in!
Jason: Drew, get them out of here now!
Drew: Go! We've got to go now!
Britt: No, we need Jason!
*Jason fires several shots at Peter, all of them miss. He fires again. The sound of the gun echoes off the walls. Jason feels a trickle of debris falling from the ceiling and raining down onto his head. He ducks out of the way just in time to avoid being hit by a falling beam*
Britt: Jason! JASON!
*A large rock falls down and hits him on the head. The last thing he hears before falling unconscious is Britt screaming his name as the tunnel caves in. When he comes to, he looks behind him to see a wall of rocks and debris blocking the way. The only way out of the tunnel is to go straight, and he has no idea what might be awaiting him on the other side. He tries to get up and notices a pair of feet in front of him, and a gun pointing at his face*
Nelle: Well hello Jason. I've been expecting you.
