Lucky’s Return Chapters 11-14

 

Chapter 11

 

 

The darkness that Lucky had come to fear was engulfing him again. He sat with his head in his hands, wondering how everything had gone so wrong, wondering what he could have done differently to change the outcome of the past twenty-four hours. He had never felt so hopeless, so desolate as he did now.

He and Elizabeth had spent most of the previous day in the bedroom at Sonny's penthouse, talking, laughing, planning their future and making love. The more time he spent with Elizabeth, the more her optimism for the future became infectious. He had begun to think that perhaps he would finally be free of Faison and his hold over him. He realized now how dangerous it was to let his guard down, to entertain, even for a moment, the thought that he had won over such an evil and demonic force as Cesar Faison.

He thought back to the earlier events of the day and tried to make sense of all that had happened. He had awakened early from a nightmare of being imprisoned, disappointed that the weather had returned to the gloomy rain and wind of the previous days. He had an unsettling feeling in his gut, something he could not define, but when he had turned to look at Elizabeth sleeping so peacefully beside him, those feelings vanished. She looked so beautiful as she slept, it nearly took his breath away. He wished they could stay in this room forever, and block out the rest of the world.

He remembered watching as Elizabeth stirred and awoke, smiling as she saw him propped up on his elbow watching her. "Lucky, what are you doing?"

"Just watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful and so beautiful."

She put her hand on his face. "Are you okay? You look so pale. Did you sleep at all?"

He nodded. "I had a dream, that's all. I was back in that horrible room with no windows."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head, "I can't right now, Elizabeth. It may be awhile before I can talk about any of it."

"What can I do to make you feel better?"

He smiled. "Just being here with me makes it better." He leaned down to kiss her. "We probably should get up, although I'd like to stay here forever. I need to go talk to my Dad about some things and pick up his car and I need to go pick up my clothes. Why don't I meet you back here in about three hours and we'll head up to the cabin."

She nodded and started to get out of bed. "Wait." Lucky grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him, reluctant to let her go. She laughed and kissed him softly on the lips. "I'm just going to take a shower. Why don't you join me?"

He smiled, "Now there is a plan that has some merit."

They had dressed and gone downstairs to find that Sonny had returned. He turned when he saw them. "Hey you two. You get along okay without me here?"

Lucky smiled. "We got along just fine, Sonny."

"Yea, I can see that. You going somewhere?"

Lucky explained that they were going to the cabin for a few days and Sonny told him he would have three of his best men go with them, and promised that they would stay out of sight unless needed. Lucky had kissed Elizabeth lingeringly before he left, coming back a few minutes later to thank Sonny again for all he had done for them, and to tell Elizabeth that he loved her and to kiss her again. She had laughed and said, "Lucky, it's only for a few hours. You'll be back before we know it."

He had gone to Luke's to pick up the car, to talk to him briefly about his future, and to borrow some money. He knew that when he returned from the cabin he would have to find a job and Luke told him he had some ideas for him that they would talk about when he returned. He also needed to find an apartment, one large enough for both him and Elizabeth. He never wanted to be away from her again, not even overnight.

He had gone to get the few belongings from the room he had been staying in outside Port Charles and picked up food and supplies to take to the cabin. As he drove back to Sonny's penthouse, he had felt a sense of peace for the first time in a long time. He was going to try to put all thoughts of Faison from his mind while he spent these next few days with Elizabeth.

As he parked the car across the street from the penthouse, he saw Elizabeth and Sonny standing in front of the door. Elizabeth had her overnight bag on her shoulder and Sonny held a larger suitcase. Lucky got out of the car, waiting for the traffic to slow so he could cross the street.

He watched as she smiled and waved to him, looking radiant, happier than he had ever seen her look, and he swore there seemed to be a halo around her, an aura of incredibly beautiful light. She looked like an angel. He watched as she reached up to hug Sonny and kiss him on the cheek, then step off the curb to cross the street to meet him. The next few minutes seemed to happen in slow motion, and would be ingrained in his memory forever.

At the very moment he saw Sonny smile and wave to him, he also saw Sonny's expression suddenly turn to horror, saw the man step from the shadows and saw the glint of the gun in his hand as he approached Elizabeth. He felt his heart beating wildly in his chest, as he screamed, "Elizabeth, NO!"

As he stepped off the curb to rush to her, he felt the pair strong arms grab him from behind and felt his heart turn cold in his chest. He watched as Sonny caught Elizabeth in his arms as she fell to the ground, yelling for help, yelling for him, for Lucky. He felt the hot breath on his neck as Faison hissed at him and said, "Take a long hard, last look at her, Mr. Spencer. I promise it will be your last."

Chapter 12

The image would not leave him. Lying in the dark he saw the scene repeated over and over again in his mind. Elizabeth smiling, waving at him, happy. He always hoped for a better ending, but always it was the same. He watched in horror as Sonny caught her as she fell to the ground, heard Sonny's voice as he screamed for someone to call for help, heard him yelling his name, Lucky's name. The scene played over and over again, unrelenting.

The room was completely dark now. When he had been held prisoner in this very room nearly three years before, it had been well equipped with clothes, books, music, a computer, a soft, comfortable bed with pillows and blankets. Now there was only the small, hard cot he was lying on, with no sheets, no pillow, and no blankets. It was cold in the room, and unbearably dark. Where once there had been a light switch there was none. The lights were controlled from an outside source now and had been turned off soon after Faison had thrown him into the room without speaking a word.

He didn't know how long he had been in the room, only that it was unbearable to be there again, not being able to go to Elizabeth, not knowing where she was, or even if she was still alive. He remembered Faison's words as he watched the nighmare unfold, as he repeatedly called Elizabeth's name.

His cruel, hissing voice, the thick Dutch accent. "So sad isn't it, tragic really, for one so beautiful to die so young. Oh, her injuries will be fatal, Mr. Spencer, I've made certain of that."

Lucky had been desperate. "Why her? Why not me?"

"Why not you? Now that is an excellent question. I warned you of the severe consequences should you betray me. Pretty severe don't you think? And you still have many lessons to learn and important work to do for me."

Lucky had continued to fight to free himself of Faison's grasp but he was no match for his strength. Faison continued to taunt him. "Isn't it touching how Mr. Corinthos tends to the poor fallen Ms. Webber. He is in love with her you know. Or did you know? I think not. Foolish boy. Come, we must go, and leave her to Mr. Corinthos. She will live for awhile, just long enough to be heartbroken that she will never be able to see you again. Just long enough to suffer dearly for your mistakes. It really is so tragic." With that, Faison had opened the car door and thrown him in the back seat, which was barricaded so there was no chance of escape. The windows were blackened so he was unable to see out. As they pulled away Lucky could hear the sounds of the sirens approaching, could hear the sounds of his own mournful sobbing as he prayed for Elizabeth's life.

~~~~~~

Luke felt exhilarated after his visit from Lucky. He had stopped by to pick up Luke's car and to borrow money from him, promising him to pay it back when he returned from the cabin and found a job. Luke had told him he wasn't worried about the money, and that he may have an idea for a job for him when he returned. Luke felt, for the first time in four years, that he and Lucky were finally on their way back to each other. He used to tell people that Lucky was the sum of the best parts of both he and Laura and it seemed even truer now that he was older and more mature. He could see in his eyes and the worn, tired look on his face the toll the years away had taken on him. But he believed that the years had also given Lucky much time to think and he was finally able to put the past behind him.

The past. Luke knew he would never forget the pain of losing Lucky, something that happened long before Faison kidnapped him. It had happened the day Lucky found out that he, Luke, had raped Laura, long before they were married, long before he was born. He remembered too well the look on Lucky's face when Luke asked him what he knew, and he remembered the words Lucky had spit at him that day. He had said, "I want to hear the words. If you can't look me in the eye and tell me the truth, man, then we have nothing, we have less than nothing." And so he had told him the sordid details of that fateful night, and he remembered the look on Lucky's face when he had finished, and the sadness in his voice as he said, "That's a nice story, Dad. It makes me really proud." And with those words, Lucky had left his house for good.

Those words had hurt Luke to the core of his being, and a terrible darkness had engulfed him, a darkness that nearly cost him his life, his daughter, and his marriage. His son, his best friend, his co-hort, his co-conspirator, the one person in his life who kept him honest, had told him he was finished with him. The fact that Lucky had always thought of him as his hero had always bothered Luke; hell, he certainly was no role model. But he never realized until that day how much he counted on that unconditional love from Lucky, how much he needed it..

But now it seemed that things were going to work out for them, that he was going to really get his son back. He and Lucky had sparred as they had always done, with an easy banter that felt so familiar, so right, to Luke. It was as if no time had passed and all was right with the world again. Lucky had hugged him tightly and told him that he loved him before he left, and Luke's heart had soared. He had told Laura of the visit, and said, "I feel like we finally have our boy back, Laura. And damn, it feels good."

As he was preparing to leave for the club the doorbell rang, bringing him back to the present. When he opened the door he saw Sonny, and the look on his face told Luke all he needed to know.

"What's happened, Sonny?"

"Luke, you need to get Laura and Lulu and get out of here. There's no time."

"Sonny, I need to know what I'm up against here."

"Liz has been shot. Faison. Luke, he took Lucky again. There's no telling what this bastard will do next."

"Elizabeth? How bad?"

"She's at the hospital now. Jason is with her. We can't leave her alone, not even for a minute."

He nodded, feeling numb from the shock of losing Lucky once again. He turned as he heard Laura come into the room. She was smiling, "Sonny, what brings you…." She stopped when she saw the looks on his and Luke's faces and began shaking her head back and forth whispering the word "no" over and over again. Luke put his hands on her shoulders.

"Laura, you need to get Lulu and we need to get out of here. We need to do it now."

"No, not again, Luke, please, not again." Her knees buckled and he caught her as she started to go down, helping her to sit down on the couch. She cried for a moment, then finally looked into his eyes, holding on to his arms tightly. "Tell me."

"It's Lucky. Faison has him, and Liz has been shot."

She wailed. "Oh God, I can't. I can't go through this again."

"I know, Baby, I know, but I need you to keep it together for me here. We don't know what this guy will do."

She straightened suddenly and he could see her regaining her strength and he knew that this time would be different. This time they would face it together and offer each other the support they denied each other, or were just unable to give, the first time Lucky was taken. "How bad is it, Luke?"

"It's bad, darlin' and time is not on our side."

She was quiet for just a moment. "I'll get Lulu now."

He smiled sadly and brushed her hair back from her face, kissing her on the forehead.. "That's my girl."

~~~~~~~

Lucky heard the sound of the door opening, and a light came on in the room. He blinked to adjust his eyes to the light after being in the darkness for so long.

"Enjoying the accommodations, Mr. Spencer? I think we've done an exemplary job this time." His laugh was evil, sinister. "This will be your home for awhile. Might as well get used to it. Oh, and the darkness…you'll be enjoying that special added perk quite frequently…perhaps it will enable you to learn how to go to the deepest, darkest places in your soul and learn just what you are capable of doing. I have such plans for you, my boy. But you need to be ready. This will help prepare you."

"Where is Elizabeth?"

"You seem to forget the rules. Have you really been gone so long that you forget that the only answers come from you? I do not entertain questions.

"Tell me what you've done with her!"

"I believe you saw with your own eyes what I did with her. But, just in case you've forgotten, I'm going to show you again."

With that he pulled out the remote control that he had used to taunt Lucky with before, by showing him scenes of Elizabeth's life, his mother, his father, Lulu. This had only occurred in the beginning of his captivity and was done as a means of torture. He remembered watching Elizabeth after the memorial service they had for him, thinking he was dead. He watched as she talked with Nikolas outside Kelly's and Faison attempted to convince Lucky that she had forgotten him, had gotten on with her life. Lucky knew better, though. He knew that no matter what, Elizabeth would never have forgotten him. He hoped that she was thinking of him now, hoped that his love for her was strong enough to sustain her and keep her alive until he could get to her. And he would get back to her, of that he was certain.

Faison clicked the remote toward the screen on the wall and at first Lucky was not sure what he was showing him. On the screen he only saw what appeared to be cars driving down a street. But then, the camera pulled back and he saw Elizabeth in front of the penthouse, smiling, waving and then saw again in horrible slow motion her fall into Sonny's arms, and something else.

Something he had been unable to see from across the street. He saw the look of surprise and confusion, and then sheer terror in Elizabeth's eyes as they wildly darted, looking for him, and calling his name. He leaned over and placed his hands on his knees, taking deep breaths, certain that he would be sick. This very scene had been playing over and over in his head, but to see it again as it really happened, and to see the panic on Elizabeth's face, sent him reeling, and his head began to spin.

"You sick son of a bitch…you taped it????"

"Ingenious, yes? I can show you over and over again. She really was so beautiful. She had such a promising future ahead of her, as an art student, I believe? It could almost make me weep myself to think of such a young, vital woman being cut down in the prime of her life."

Lucky looked up at him, tears spilling from his eyes and down his face, feeling that he was losing control. His voice was desperate. "Tell me how she is. I'll do anything you ask. Anything. Just tell me if she's still alive and I'll do whatever you ask."

Faison laughed, an evil laugh, then his face turned dark, serious. When he spoke it was in a graveled whisper. "Don't be so desperate, Mr. Spencer. It is quite unbecoming."

Lucky glared at him, and in that moment he understood what he needed to do to beat Faison. It was his vulnerability that Faison preyed on, and the more emotion Lucky showed, the more Faison taunted him. He straightened then, looking him square in the eyes, pursing his lips together as he fought the onslaught of tears. He saw a look in Faison's eyes, one of surprise, perhaps shock, at the sudden change in his demeanor. He seemed to be in deep thought for a moment before he spoke again.

"Perhaps I should tell you Ms. Webber's fate. Perhaps that will help you to understand how important it is for you to do exactly as I say. The girl is still alive, Mr. Spencer, though certainly not for long. But I know you, and as long as you know she is alive, you'll have hope. Such a noble young man you are, thinking your love is going to save her." His expression turned wistful for a moment. "I thought that once myself in my idealistic youth."

Lucky fought to keep control. He could not afford to let him see any emotion. "Tell me what you want me to do."

"Oh, I have quite a delicious plan for you. It will give me such pleasure to see my plans come to fruition at your hands. It will be the moment I have lived for all these years." Lucky could see the look of maniacal delight dancing in his eyes. "You're going to do something for me that will hurt you beyond comprehension, and will ensure that you live with unspeakable heartache the rest of your life. Quite a fitting punishment, I think, for betraying me. How do I know for certain that you'll do it? Because so many other lives will be saved by doing it."

"What? What could you possibly have me do that will hurt me more than I've already been hurt?"

Faison's eyes turned dark as he turned from Lucky for a moment, and it seemed that he wanted to savor the moment before revealing his plan to Lucky. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, almost a whisper.

"You're going to kill my greatest enemy. You're going to kill Luke Spencer."

Chapter 13

Cold. She was so cold. And where was Lucky? She knew he could make her feel warm again, if only he was here with her. He would wrap his arms around her and hold her close, and make her feel safe and warm. She remembered how happy she felt when she had seen Lucky pull up across the street from the penthouse. She remembered waving to him and smiling, reaching up to give Sonny a quick kiss, and stepping off the curb to meet Lucky. And then it happened. She heard Sonny call her name, felt him reach for her, heard Lucky's voice from a distance, yelling her name. She sensed the presence behind her, knew it was not Sonny, and in a swift movement she felt the hard metal object as it was shoved in her side. She heard the muffled sound as the gun fired, and felt the warm, sticky blood as it began to run down her body.

She turned to find Lucky, trying to call to him, but no words would come. She remembered Sonny's arms catching her as she fell, just as they had the night of the fire, the night she thought she had lost Lucky forever. This can't be happening she screamed, but she could not hear her own voice and no one was listening. She was so confused. Where was Lucky? She tried to find him, her eyes darting everywhere, but all she could see was Sonny, holding her, trying to comfort her while yelling for someone to help, yelling for Lucky..

She didn't remember anything else until they were lifting her into the ambulance. Sonny was right there, holding her hand, telling her everything would be all right. But how could everything be all right? Lucky wasn't there. Where was he? She tried to ask Sonny, but he wouldn't answer her. Lucky had just been there, where could he have gone? He would never leave knowing she was hurt, not willingly. Maybe he had gone to get help. That was it. She tried to tell Sonny, grabbing at his arms frantically, pleading, "Sonny, they have to wait for Lucky to get here. He's just gone for help. He'll be here. I know he will. He won't know where I am if they don't wait. Please Sonny!!" But she knew he couldn't hear her because she couldn't hear her own voice, and Sonny kept whispering that everything would be all right, to just hang on.

Now she seemed to be floating above a hospital room, looking down on herself lying in the hospital bed. It was such a strange sensation. She saw Bobbie come in and take her pulse and her blood pressure, and make some adjustments to the tubes in her arms. She saw Jason sitting by her bed, and saw Bobbie touch his arm briefly and shake her head as she left the room. Jason looked so sad, sitting with his head in his hands, occasionally glancing up to look at her. Why was he here? She didn't understand what was going on. Sonny and Luke had been there earlier; they seemed to be taking turns staying with her, and she could hear them whispering, but she could not understand what they were saying.

She had read about this in books, seen it in movies, how a person sometimes leaves his body and becomes an observer. They said it sometimes happened before people died. Oh God, was she going to die? She couldn't die without seeing Lucky again. She had to live, to get better, so she could find him, so she could help him, so she could tell him how much she loved him. Something had to have happened to him and she knew it had to be Faison. She had to fight, she had to will herself to live so she could find Lucky.

In the nearly constant darkness, Lucky had developed a keen sense of smell. At first he had smelled only the sterile, antiseptic smell of the stark, metal room and not much else. He had been in the room for several days by his calculations, although he could not be sure since Faison had taken his watch from him the first day. But he based the passage of time on how often he was brought food, food that he was mostly unable to eat. He ate only enough to keep up his strength. He would need his strength to escape, which he had every intention of doing. He knew, unlike the last time Faison had him in this room, that he would escape this time. He had to get to Elizabeth. He also knew that he was still in Port Charles, and had been in Port Charles most of the time Faison had him imprisoned before. They had only driven a short distance before he blindfolded him and led him to this room. It had been a long walk, and he knew that had to be a clue. He just had to think.

He was lying on the cot, in the dark, dozing reluctantly, feeling colder than he had ever felt in his life. He dreamt of Elizabeth and the time they had spent in Sonny's penthouse, but his dreams always ended with the scene in front of the penthouse, watching her fall to the ground. He always awoke with a start, wishing Faison would return and give him news about Elizabeth. He needed to know that she was still all right. He needed her to make him feel warm again.

As he awoke, he realized that he had identified a new smell, one that seemed strangely familiar, yet he could not define it. It reminded him of something, but he could not put his finger on it.

He had not seen Faison for several days, not since he had given him his assignment…to kill his father. Lucky laughed bitterly at the notion. Kill my father? Did Faison think he was as insane? As insane as he himself was? He had to know thta Lucky would never kill his father. He would kill Faison first, if it meant saving his father's life. If it meant saving his own life. But he was no longer afraid of Faison.

Lucky heard the familiar sound of the door to the room sliding open as the lights came on. He smiled to himself at the thought that Faison would not be prepared for the Lucky he was about to meet.

Chapter 14

Lucky stood up from the bed and blinked a few times to adjust his eyes to the sudden light, anticipating the chance to make Faison nervous, to make him aware that he was no longer going to be controlled by him. Faison strolled in nonchalantly and sat down on the cot. Lucky noticed he was carrying the infamous remote control.

Faison observed Lucky for several moments before speaking. "Well, young Mr. Spencer, have you had ample time to think about the assignment I have given you?"

Lucky laughed. "And which assignment would that be? Oh, and by the way, why don't you just call me Lucky like everyone else does?"

Faison seemed confused by Lucky's attitude. In the past he had always been compliant though he did have a tendency to let his temper get the better of him. He had learned that from his father, in fact, had learned much from his father.

"You know perfectly well which assignment I am speaking of."

Lucky thought for a minute and clicked his fingers. "Oh yea, now I remember. You mean that crazy notion you have that I'm actually going to kill my father? You know what? If you want my father dead you'll have to kill him yourself. But you'll never succeed. See, my father is so much better at this game than you are."

"Is he? If he is so good, why didn't he find you three years ago? Why hasn't he found you this time?"

"You were too careful last time, but you've gotten way too sloppy over the years. This time you kidnapped me in broad daylight. What the hell was that about anyway? Sonny had men all over the place, you know, more than you could even imagine. So it's just a matter of time before they figure out where I am. And the other thing you seem to forget….we didn't travel very far to get to where we are so I know I'm still in Port Charles. That's a big advantage for me once I figure out exactly where I am."

Faison was growing angry as he stood up and glared at Lucky. "I assure you, you will never figure out where you are. No one would ever guess. And as for your father, I would be more than happy to kill Luke Spencer myself. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than watching the life drain from his body, slowly and painfully. You see, I have this problem when I kill, Mr. Spencer, it just makes me want to kill more. It's that bloodlust in my veins. And there are so many more I could kill. Let's see, there is your mother, and that beautiful, precious little sister of yours."

Lucky lunged at Faison, shoving him against the door, his hand at his throat, choking him. "If you ever lay a hand on my mother or my little sister, I will kill you, do you get that?" He was astounded by his own strength.

Faison did not like this Lucky. He had definitely become a force to be reckoned with. He tried to pry Lucky's hands from him.

"Oh, I get it Mr. Spencer. Now get your hands off me or you will be very sorry."

"Why? What are you going to do me, huh? Kill me? I don't think so. I think if you were going to kill me you would have done it a long time ago. You need me for something. Why don't you just tell me what this is all about, what it's always been about, because I've been wracking my brain for four years and I can't figure it out."

Faison spoke finally in what was barely a whisper, his voice hoarse from Lucky's hand against his throat..

"You're more like your father than I thought. Perhaps I have misjudged you."

"Let's just say I learned from the master. Like father, like son."

"Your father has something I want, and I am willing to go to any means to get it. As you have seen I am a very patient man. But my patience is wearing thin."

"Tell me what he has that is so precious to you."

"That is a story for another day. But suffice it to say it is the most beautiful thing in the world. And it will soon be mine."

Lucky began to laugh uncontrollably. "That's what this has all been about? You held me captive for nearly three years, you shot Elizabeth, and now you want me to kill my father just so you can have some….some possession of my father's? You are insane!! You could have saved everyone a lot of heartache if you had told me that in the beginning."

"And how is that, Mr. Spencer?"

"My dad would have gladly given you anything he owned, no matter how valuable, in exchange for me. It could have been so simple."

"You're so certain of that?"

"I know it."

"I am not so certain. This thing he has is a highly coveted item, and I don't think even you or your precious life are enough to make Luke Spencer give it up. I suggest that you reconsider your thoughts on killing him. Because you see, there is no other option for you."

"We'll see about that. But there is one thing you aren't getting…Faison…I'm not afraid of you anymore. And I'm sick to death of your threats and your demands. In fact, you bore me senseless. You can leave now. I have nothing more to say to you and you certainly don't have anything to say that I want to hear."

Faison looked at him. Was he really letting Lucky Spencer get the upper hand? He seemed so confident, so sure of himself and he certainly saw no hint of fear in his eyes. He had changed over the years. He had become colder, and that could be a great advantage to him once he got him to see things his way. He sighed, having grown impatient with Lucky's insolence. "Very well, we will talk again when you have come to your senses. And I promise you that will happen. But before I go, I want you to see your precious Elizabeth again."

Lucky's heart pounded in his chest. That meant she was still alive. He thought he had held his own with Faison, but his stomach was in knots and his head began to swim. He pressed his fingertips to his temples as Faison made a quick call and pointed the remote at the screen. Lucky saw only the back of someone's head. As the camera panned the room, he realized it was a hospital room and the person whose head he was seeing was Sonny's. He was sitting by Elizabeth's bed, holding her hand. She was sleeping, with tubes and monitors hooked up to her. He fought desperately to keep the tears from welling in his eyes. His heart ached to see her lying there so helpless. He had to find a way out of this room and get to her. Faison's men were everywhere and he wasn't sure Sonny could keep her safe indefinitely.

Faison saw his tears, and gloated. "She is your weakness, Mr. Spencer, and I know exactly how to prey on that weakness."

Faison turned and opened the sliding door. Lucky called out to him. "I do have one more thing to say to you, Faison. I'm going to escape and you won't be able to stop me."

"There is no way out of this room."

"Oh, but there is. And I'm on the verge of discovering it. It will happen when you least expect it. So be looking forward to the day you come back and I'm not here. Man, I wish I could see the look on your face when that happens. You're not going to control my life or the lives of the people I love anymore."

"Oh, you are so young and idealistic, young….Lucky."

"We'll see about that, won't we?"

Faison left the room and the lights went out again. Lucky sat on the cot, his head in his shaking hands. He had wanted Faison to know that he was no longer afraid of him, that he would no longer be intimidated by him, but seeing Elizabeth in that hospital bed had undone all that he had accomplished. Still, he knew there had to be a way out of this God forsaken room and he intended to find it. He could not let Elizabeth be out there alone, without him to protect her. Oh, he knew that Luke and Sonny and Jason would be taking turns guarding her, and that Luke had taken his mother and Lulu somewhere safe. But Elizabeth was in the hospital and anyone could get to her. He could only pray that the only people allowed in her room were people his father and Sonny knew and trusted.

He laid back on the bed, thinking about Elizabeth, about how vulnerable she was lying in that bed, thinking about how much he needed to be with her. He dozed reluctantly, the familiar, almost sickening smell that he still could not define growing stronger and stronger. He dreamt first of Elizabeth, but soon he was dreaming of himself when he was younger, and then his cousin Sly was in the dream. They had spent a lot of time together when they were younger, exploring the twisting and winding tunnels that stretched for miles beneath the city. They were back there now in his dream. He had stayed in those tunnels for awhile when he had first arrived in Port Charles and was on his own, waiting for Luke and Laura to join him. In fact, his parents had told him tales of hiding out there in the past, before he was born.

The dream felt so real, and he could see every detail, could see the corner where he had stashed his backpack and sleeping bag, in the cleanest area he had been able to find, the one that allowed a bit of light to come in from the outside. He was lying on his sleeping bag in the dream, aware of the musty, dirty, moldy smell, the one thing he had found nearly unbearable about being there. In the dream Sly was shaking him, trying to wake him, but it was as if he were there in the room with him. Lucky awoke suddenly, a cold sweat drenching his body, his heart pounding at the euphoria he felt as the words Sly had spoken in the dream echoed in his head.

"Wake up, Lucky, wake up! You know how to get out of here! You're in the catacombs!!"