Tom Residence

Robert Carlyle and Darla Tom both exited Kassie’s room. It was where they had decided to keep Noah James Tom, their new addition to the family.

“He was out like a light,” Darla commented, turning towards her room. “I can’t believe how easy he is to handle. He has only cried once, and that was just because he was hungry.”

Robert nodded in agreement. “It’s good luck – we’ve got a good baby there. Good genes.”

Darla paused at her door, almost acting as if she had forgotten the truth. “You had to bring it up, didn’t you?”

Ignoring her statement, Robert said, “I have good news.”

“Really?” Darla said, not sounding convinced.

Robert moved past Darla and opened the door. “Step inside.”

“Why?” Darla asked, following him inside. “Is it top secret?”

Robert shook his head. “I just think it would be better if no one heard. It is regarding Patrick’s knowledge of Noah’s paternity.”

“Oh, no…” Darla gasped, covering her forehead. “He told Kassie, didn’t he? Oh… She’s going to confront me! What do I say? Do I deny it? No… I should give the truth. The whole truth? Even that I was divorced from her father months before his death?”

Robert laughed while watching her panic.

“What’s so funny?”

“You just jumped the gun a little,” Robert answered. “No, he didn’t spill the beans. And he won’t.”

“Why not?” Darla asked.

“Simple,” Robert started. “He doesn’t know.”

“What?” Darla looked at Robert in confusion. “That’s impossible. Of course he knows!”

Shaking his head, Robert said, “He hit his head after his fall. As far as I can tell, he doesn’t remember anything regarding the paternity!”

Darla’s eyes lit up, but quickly dimmed.

“What’s the matter?”

“More secrets,” Darla sighed. “I was half-hoping Patrick had said everything…”

Downstairs, Patrick was practicing using his wheelchair. Kassie came into the living room to catch him trying to attempt a wheelie.

“You’re going to mess up the carpet!” Kassie cried out, rushing up to Patrick.

Patrick quickly tried to wheel away from her. But, alas, his speed was significantly lower than Kassie’s. She came behind him. Grabbing over his chest, she tried to stop him from moving.

“Let go!” Patrick laughed, realizing how futile it would be to move forward. “You’ll regret it.”

“How?” Kassie asked.

Patrick briskly started pushing backwards. Combined with Kassie’s pull and his push, it sped backwards. It hit Kassie’s foot and the whole chair toppled sideways.

“Looks like your plan backfired,” Kassie announced, seeing Patrick sprawled on the floor.

“Not quite…” he declared, trying to crawl away.

Not wanting him to get away, Kassie got up and jumped on him. She tried desperately to pin him down, but he easily overpowered her. Patrick used his arms to flip Kassie on her back.

“Woah…”

Patrick pinned her two arms to her sides. His strong body was draped over hers.

“I win,” Patrick declared.

Kassie’s breathing quickened because he didn’t move. His wide chest was mere inches from hers, and she felt safer than she ever had. He, too, was breathing quicker than usual.

“Is there something you want?” Kassie asked nervously.

Patrick nodded. “One thing…”

Patrick leaned forward, letting go of her right arm. He moved his face close to hers, breathing on her skin. Kassie reached her free hand around his back and brought it down slowly…

“Woah…” Patrick said, surprised. “It’s tingling…”

Kassie giggled. “Doesn’t it always…?”

Patrick pulled himself off her, slightly disappointed by their interruption. “No… My leg… There is a slight tingle in my foot…”

Consuelos Residence

Skye Lore came into the living room and sat down beside Mateo Consuelos. She was holding a chilled bottle of champagne and two empty glasses.

“What’s that for?” asked Mateo.

Skye handed one of the glasses to Mateo and quickly popped the cork. It made a loud popping sound as the cork flew.

Skye was beaming… thrilled! “I want to make a toast,” she said, pouring some champagne into Mateo’s glass and then into hers. She held up her glass to his. “To Brianna! May she rot in hell!”

Mateo laughed loudly and shook his head, smiling excitedly. “Good toast! Cheers!”

The two glasses smash against each other loudly and the two demons laughed loudly.

After a few minutes, Mateo looked a tad worried. “I have a… quandary…”

“Yes?” Skye said, greedily sipping her bubbly.

“Brianna… she…” Mateo began. “She could very well still be alive. Very alive.” Mateo got up and looked out the window. “She could have crashed into a hedge… or maybe into a shipment of pillows and cotton candy.”

Skye suddenly lost the mood of euphoria she was in. “You could be right,” she said, placing the glass down, moving to the door. “But I can deal with that.”

Mateo eyed her suspiciously. “You can? How?”

“Just stay here,” she instructed. She picked up her dark leather jacket and slipped it over her red shirt. “I have my ways. I won’t disappoint you.”

Mateo smiled back, and took a cautious sip of the champagne.

Skye rushed out and got into her newly leased car. Pulling out of the driveway, she could only think about not disappointing her superior.

Huber Residence

Ian Huber was waiting for his wife to return. She had only been gone for a few minutes, but he couldn’t help wonder if she had gone to get his gift.

He realized how late it was actually getting, and decided to start getting supper ready.

Within mere minutes of placing the vegetable of the stove, the doorbell rang. Ian quickly turned the heat down and jogged to the door.

“Brie?” he called out, slowing feet from the door. “Are you back?”

“It is Mateo,” came the response.

Ian got to he door and opened it up. “What do you want?” he asked.

“I just wanted to speak with Brianna,” Mateo stated, stepping inside and peeking around. “Is she in?”

Ian shook his head. “No.”

“Has she… called…?”

Ian stepped up to Mateo. “Why do you care?”

“It is just about the paper,” he stated, looking to Ian coldly. “Nothing important.”

“I want you out, Mateo,” Ian said. “Brianna has been over the edge about you and that woman you’re living with next door. She hasn’t been able to sleep – or even eat right! I don’t know why she feels that way, but she does – and she really doesn’t want you or your friend coming around here.”

Mateo stepped up to Ian. “That isn’t the… neighborly thing to do.”

“Go, Mateo!” Ian announced. He didn’t go. “Do you hear me? Out… Mateo… Out… Mateo…”

Mateo swiftly grabbed Ian by his neck. “I really don’t like you calling me that.”

Ian’s eyes went wide. “What don’t you like me calling you?” he gasped.

Mateo, squeezing his neck, put his face up to Ian’s. “ ‘Mateo.’ It is getting on my nerves…”

“I…” Ian then gasped.

Mateo’s eyes began to glow red. He blinked and it disappeared.

“See something?” Mateo sneered. “Guess what…” He brought his mouth to Ian’s ear. “Boo!”

St. Peter’s Catholic Church

The service had ended and Iris and Bo Torres sat motionless in the first bench of the church.

Finally, Bo whispered into her daughter’s ear, “You know everyone has left… Are you ready to go?”

Iris moved around in the bench and smiled at her father. “I suppose.”

With that, Iris and Bo got up in front of the altar before heading to the back of the church. Bo stopped by the two coffins. “Would you like to say a final good-bye?”

Iris shrugged. “I don’t know. Would it be disrespectable if I didn’t? It’s just so hard. I’m afraid if I approach my mother’s shrine – or even my brother’s coffin! – I won’t be able to hold myself together.”

Bo wrapped his arm around her and rubbed her back, saying, “It’s alright. One can only expect the kind of sorrow you’re going through, having to attend the funeral of both your mother and brother in the same day. Let’s leave.”

Iris and Bo continued to walk to the back of the church. When they reached the back vestibule, Iris stopped. Adam King was still standing in the back of church.

Iris walked over to him. “You’re still here? I thought everybody left.”

Adam nodded. “I know, but I wanted to give my condolences to you before you left.”

“That’s so thoughtful of you, Adam,” said Iris, before wrapping his arms around him to give him a hug.

“I can’t express how sorry I am for your losses. It’s so terrible.”

Iris nodded and looked back up at Adam smiling. "At least I know I have friends that care about me." Iris realized she had called him a friend, so she said, "Well, goodbye Adam."

Just as Iris was about to turn around and walk back to her father, Adam said, “Wait, Iris. I was wondering… Would you mind having dinner with me?”

“Dinner?” Iris repeated.

“I was afraid to ask you,” said Adam. “I wasn’t sure if it was too soon. But, I thought maybe a nice, pleasant dinner might do you some good.”

Iris nodded. “Of course… That’s a very kind gesture… Where would be going? The Ocean Bar and Grill?”

Adam shook his head. "The mansion. My family is holding a New Year's party."

Iris nodded again. She and Adam left together, while her father went back home. She didn’t feel right leaving him. But he gave her thumbs up of approval.

King Residence

“Damn that son of mine!” Julian King said, storming into the mansion, throwing his tie on the ground. “I don’t want to be playing babysitter!”

Constance King entered the room, followed by Henderson and Muriel, their servants, wearing an elegant evening gown. “What is this tantrum you’re throwing?” She was organizing a party, and was pretty distracted.

“Adam actually had the gawl to go to a funeral of two lowly citizens,” he sneered, moving to the stairs. “He’s spending time with that Mrs. Torres.”

Constance smiled. “That woman you’re building a lawsuit against?” She pointed Muriel to the dinning room, and Henderson followed. “You know there is no grounds to the lawsuit. It’s as empty as your head.”

Julian snuffed his wife, and headed back upstairs. “This won’t do,” he whispered to himself. “Thank God John is my eldest son, and my heir. But Adam still has many responsibilities.”

Constance shook off her husband’s meaningless words. “Fool,” she muttered silently. “He better straighten up for the celebration.”

The mansion had just finished its decorating, and Constance was pleased.

As well, she hoped Adam would be careful. As she welcomed the first guests into her home, she had a bad feeling of what was to come.

Presence Memorial Hospital

Giovanni Pike wrapped his arms around Gillian Evans in the hospital hallway. “I wonder what Brooke wanted?”

Gillian hadn’t been told about the gift Brooke dropped by for her. “She just wanted to wish me a good holiday season.”

“And good it will be,” Giovanni announced proudly. He went to kiss Gillian on the lips, but she pushed him away.

“No,” Gillian announced. “I don’t want to do this.”

Addy Evans felt very groggy. She was sure that the doctors had given her enough medicine to put a horse to sleep. In her hospital room, she jotted her eyes around. She could see her daughter and Giovanni talking in the hallway.

“I can’t believe her,” Addy moaned, falling back into her bed. “I completely missed Christmas, and she’s flaunting her catch while I’m in the hospital.”

Addy caught a glimpse of something on her bedside table.

“A gift?” Addy asked herself, picking it up. It was nicely wrapped, and was shaped as a rectangle. “Maybe they did get me something…”

Presence Apartments: Wright Residence

Brooke Wright was sitting comfortably in her bed.

“Gillian will open my gift, and will then confront Giovanni on it,” she whispered. “This needs to come out if Gillian and Giovanni’s relationship is to be built on a strong foundation…”

Huber Residence

“No…” Ian coughed, feeling himself being choked by Mateo. There was definitely something wrong with him. “Please…”

Mateo lifted Ian up by his neck. “I’m just getting started…”

Ian clawed at his hands, but they felt almost like steel. They grasped onto him like an iron grip.

“Who… are… you…?” Ian wheezed, feeling faint.

“Your worst nightmare,” he stated. Mateo then breathed deeply and lunged Ian across the room in one clean swoop. He went flying, and crashed against a lamp.

Mateo looked at the scene, and left the house – just as Ian asked him to.

“Sleep tight,” he said. “You’ve got quite a fight ahead when you wake up.”

Ian couldn’t hear. He remained motionless on the carpet.

Intersection of Pier Road and Mystique Road

The macabre scene would chill anyone’s blood. The crushed car lay helplessly below the intersection. Several cars passed above, not noticing the broken barrier.

Inside, everything remained silent. As steam was released in one area, and creaks groaned in another, a body could be seen. Brianna’s body remained still – unmoving. Her head was lying lifelessly on the broken steering wheel… While blood dribbled down her forehead and down her chin…

Suddenly, a car stopped beside the broken barrier. A door slammed, and the sound of feet became closer.

Skye slowly climbed down the rocky incline. A lot of rock and dirt made is treacherous. Skye figured immediately that the earthquake in November had caused it.

Skye saw the car immediately, and was elated once she saw all the damage.

“No one could have survived,” she cooed, getting to the bottom and walking over to the vertical vehicle. “Hello?” Skye called out, mockingly. “Any dead corpses in here? Hello?”

No answer – obviously.

Skye got up to the car and peered into the driver’s seat. She was Brianna, looking very still and very dead. Blood poured from her head onto the steering wheel. She reached in and felt for a pulse on her neck.

“Yes!” Skye declared. “She is dead!”

Skye then took out her cell-phone. She wanted the good news to go around town as soon as possible. She quickly typed in three key numbers. 9-1-1.

“Hello?” she said as soon as a voice was heard. “Yes… I woman has crashed her car at the intersection of Pier Road and Mystique Road… Yes, an ambulance… No. She is dead… Yes, I’m sure…”

Presence Memorial Hospital

“What do you mean ‘No’?” Giovanni asked, pulling away from Gillian. “You don’t want to kiss me? What is this change of heart you’re having?”

Gillian backed away. “I… I’ve had a slightly lower-than-average reputation with men. I need to know that this relationship is right.”

“It is,” Giovanni cooed, trying to get closer – but Gillian would just back away. “Is this about your mother? Addy can be dealt with…”

“No… I know how to deal with my mother. I just don’t know anything about you. You’re nothing more than and pretty face and a good personality…”

“Listen!” Giovanni insisted. “That is all you need to know. I have nothing to hide.”

Gillian nodded. “I just need to know… Have you had other relationships with women?”

Giovanni breathed deeply. “Yes… of course. One relationship… but it was in no way serious.”

“Did you two… you know…”

Giovanni shook his head. “No… It ended before we could…”

“So are you…?”

“A virgin?” Giovanni guessed.

Gillian nodded. “I… It is important for me to know…”

Giovanni nodded in reply. “Yes… It sounds odd for a man in his twenties to have never had sex, but that is the truth.” He paused, and, “Are you?”

Gillian nodded. “Many of previous relationships ended because they wanted… more than I was willing to give.”

“I would never lie to you,” Giovanni said, coming close to her. “And I wouldn’t want to do anything you didn’t want to.”

Gillian smiled. She came up to him and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Wrapping her arms around him, she felt that this was so right.

Addy shook the gift again, unable to guess at what is was.

“It sounds familiar, but I have no clue.” She peered out to see if her daughter was coming in. “Well… I can’t wait another minute! I need to know.”

Addy tore into the paper, and took out the gift.

“Oh!” she gasped, seeing the object. “My, God!”

King Residence

Adam brought Iris up to the mansion’s entrance. Iris paused.

“Are you sure your family wants me here?” Iris asked.

Adam turned to her. “It doesn’t matter. I want you to be here. My parents always throw great parties… And maybe my father won’t even see us… There are always tons of people.”

Iris nodded. She entered the mansion, and she gasped in awe. The mansion was beautifully decorated with white, black and red balloons. A small string quartette played music in the background, and they had transformed their living and dining room into a ballroom.

Iris wowed, “This is…”

“…Pretentious?” Adam finished, laughing. “My parents always seem to go all-out. You should see their Fall Celebrations… They transform the entire estate! They invite all the ‘important’ people… It is always a feat to see.”

Iris nodded. “I’ve heard of it… I’ve never been there myself, but I’ve heard it is something else.”

“No one in this town would have been invited,” Adam said. “Only the rich blood. But enough of that, let’s find someplace to sit down. I’m sure Henderson will be serving meals soon.”

Within seconds, Adam’s mother came up to them. “Adam, I’m so glad you made it. I’ve made it extra extravagant since you missed the Fall 2000 Gala.” Constance looked over at Iris. “And this is…?”

“Iris,” Adam finished. “Iris Torres.”

“Ah, Torres,” Constance said. “I’ve heard… many things about you from my husband.”

“They must have painted a flattering picture, I’m sure,” Iris said sarcastically. “What did he say? That I practically killed your son here, or that I slapped him?”

Constance’s eyes widened. “Slapped him? My, my… he said nothing of the sort…” Constance guided her son and Iris to a table. “Come… I want to hear all about it!”

Julian saw his wife guide the hussy and his son to a table. Constance was even laughing with them.

“This will stop,” Julian said. “You enjoy this party, but you aren’t staying near my son!”

Torres Residence

Bo got back to his daughter’s home. He dropped his coat off by the door and moved into the kitchen. Taking in all the sights, he felt something.

Pride, he figured.

“My daughter,” he whispered. “She made all of this for herself.”

Moving to the fridge, he picked up his cell phone and placed in on the counted. Bo reached into the fridge and picked up a plate of leftover chicken wings.

As he sat down to eat, his phone rang. He got up and answered it. “Yes?”

“Bo Torres?”

“That’s me.”

“I know what you and your son did that night all those years ago,” the raspy voice spoke.

Bo turned pale. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

But he did. He immediately flashbacked to arguing with Vivian Torres, his wife, last July:

Vivian walked up to her angry husband. “Iris isn’t to only one who has secrets. I know a lot more about what you and our son, Wyle, have done. I have kept it secret, but I don’t know – it makes a good bargaining tool, doesn’t it?”

“You ungrateful bitch!” Bo screamed at his wife. “Our daughter is getting away with a heinous crime from the past, and you are against me?”

“At least hers was an accident,” Vivian countered. “You and Wyle both were involved in something twice as bad. And I helped you! I can as easily get you into the mess as I did getting you out of it.”

It was the last time he had seen her alive.

“Yeah, right,” the voice said. “Either come forward, or you’ll hear from me again.” After a click the dial tone filled his ear.

Bo took his phone and threw is across the kitchen.

Tom Residence

Robert came over toward Darla. “It looks like you’re still bothered,” he observed.

Darla nodded. “There are just so many things… I’m worried about Patrick. I’m worried about those men who went after Kassie last spring in Switzerland. And I’m worried about Noah.”

Robert wrapped his arm around her. “Why Noah?”

“What if he gets sick?” she asked. “And he needs blood. There are so many ways that it could turn out badly… They could figure out that if his blood type weren’t Drew’s or mine, the child would be his! That would be suspicious…”

Robert shook his head. “Everything will be fine.”

Darla nodded, unsure.

Back downstairs, Kassie got up off the floor, flustered. He pressed her hands against her face, trying to bring her temperature down.

“My legs…” Patrick said, hopefully. “There are some tingles… I think the feeling might be coming back!”

“You sure?” Kassie asked, kneeling beside him on the floor.

Patrick nodded furiously. “I’m sure… But it could be in my mind…”

Kassie reached over and touched his leg. Patrick reached down and touched her hand.

“Can you feel this?” Kassie asked.

Nodding, Patrick carried her hand up his leg. “There are certain… points where I can feel some tingling… And some parts need some more… exercise…”

Kassie stared into his eyes, practically melting on the spot. She moved her hand on his thigh, and shifted herself over him. She moistened her lips, and brought her face up to his and…

The phone rang.

It broke the mood instantly, and Patrick coughed, scratching his neck. Kassie got up, “I was expecting a call…”

She hoped into the kitchen, and answered the phone on the fourth ring.

Patrick waited, patting his legs. He had never felt that way about a woman before, and he just realized how excited he had been by being there on the floor.

“Oh my God!” Kassie called out happily. “Thanks very much!” She hung up the phone, and popped into the living room. “Good news!”

“What?” Patrick asked. Dragging himself to his chair.

“The job,” Kassie announced proudly. “I got the job at ‘Natural Exposure’!”