3

Three days later, was the memorial for both Lucky and Elizabeth. Nikolas sat with Stefan,staring straight ahead. He still didn’t believe that Lucky and Elizabeth was dead. Something told him that things weren’t as they appeared and somehow he had to find out what really happened and set it right. But he couldn’t do it alone. Who would help him? He looks at Stefan who stares straight ahead, his face emotionless. Did he trust his new found father enough to help him find his brother and best friend? No. As much as he loved Stefan, he didn’t trust him fully enough. He looks over at Emily, who had tears pouring from her eyes. She’d believe him. She had to believe him. She was Lucky’s best friend forever.

"Son? Are you alright?" Stefan catches his gaze.

"Fine," Nikolas nods, turning his attention back to the memorial service.

He wondered, why was it so easy for everyone to believe Lucky was gone? Even Luke Spencer, Lucky’s father. The man used to be pretty perceptive, but now…he was willing to buy into the fact that Lucky was gone forever, which meant that it was up to Nikolas to find his brother and bring who ever was responsible for this to justice.

Elizabeth awakes from her drug induced sleep to find herself in a small white sterilized room. She groans as the headache hits her and so does her memory. She gasps in horror as she remembers Lucky being dragged away and then the rag being pressed against her noise and mouth forcing her to breathe in the chlorafoam. Looking around the room, she notices that she’s alone. She sets up, panicked. Where was Lucky? What have they done to him? Where did they put him? Was he hurt? Who was responsible for this?

"I see you’ve awakened young Miss. Webber," a elegant, yet formal voice speaks as the door opens and in walks Nikolas’s grandmother…Helena Cassadine.

"You? You were behind this?"
"Oh yes. Quite genius on my part. Of course you were a bonus. I only wanted to take Lucky. But you were there, so I had to take you both. Good thing I prepared for such a unexpected event. Pity. You’ve made two terrible mistakes. Falling in love with a Spencer…then deciding to spend the night with your boyfriend. To think, if you had just gone home like a good little girl, you would be back in your own room sleeping safe and sound," Helena grins evilly.

"What did you do with Lucky?"

"Oh you’ll be seeing your dear boyfriend soon. Right now he’s resting quite comfortably across the hall from you. For now, it’ll just be us women. I just came in to introduce myself and to let you know there will be no escape attempts. If you try to escape, your dear little boyfriend will pay for it. Do I make myself clear?"

"Luke and Laura will find us."

Helena laughs gleefully. "Andreas! Go turn on the tv for our dear Miss. Webber. Show her what’s been going on in Port Charles since her unfortunate departure."

Andreas does as he’s told. Elizabeth gasps when the scene flashes on to the church her and Lucky had made their vows in that Feburary. People were gathered around the podium and a picture of both her and Lucky were setting on a stand covered with white roses. Her grandmother was on the podium and up front sat Luke and Laura, in the middle on the right was Stefan and Nikolas, on the left in the middle was Emily and her family, all five were crying. Everyone was dressed in black.

"Are you getting the picture now Miss. Webber? Everyone thinks you two are dead. No one will be coming for you."

"But we’re not there. There’s no bodies."

"It’s called planning ahead. I had planted two bodies, one a teenaged male, the other, a teenaged female. I switched your dental records, giving your loved ones no choice but admit that their dear children were gone," Helena grinned in satisfaction. "I was very thorough. Luckily I had a body and records available for you as well…just in case. I made sure nothing would interfere with my plans."

Elizabeth is in tears. She had given up hope. No one was going to come for them. They were trapped. "Why? Why are you doing this to us?"

"Easy. Lucky is the son of Luke Spencer, my most hated advisary. You can say it’s a son for a son. You were just a unexpected arrival, but a arrival I prepared for. Plus, you’re the one thing that will keep young Spencer in line. He would never do anything that would jeopordize his precious girlfriend…like trying to escape."

"But that wasn’t Lucky’s fault. He had nothing to do with Mr. Spencer killing your son," Elizabeth sobs. "He’s innocent."

"It’s always the innocent that pays for the father’s sins dear Miss. Webber. Now I suggest you lay down and get some rest. So you can look your prettiest for young Mr. Spencer when I allow you two to visit one another. Don’t look so surprised dear. I may be evil incarnate, but I’m not heartless. If you two behave yourselves, I may find it wise to keep you two in the same room with one another. Good evening Miss. Webber," Helena has Andreas turn off the television and leaves Elizabeth locked in her room.

Hot tears run from her eyes. She wonders if her and Lucky will ever see their family and friends again.

"Come on! Show yourself you coward!" Lucky yells at the door for a thousandth time. He had awaken the day before with a killer headache. Ever since he’s been yelling at the door, daring the man who had kidnapped him to show himself. For a while he had stopped and layed on the bed staring up at the ceiling, thinking of what had just happened, and what he could do to get out. Then he had to remind himself that all he had to do was wait and his father would come rescue him. Because Elizabeth had woke up, she had seen everything…surely the men didn’t want her. They probably just let her go, thinking she’d be too scared to say anything. He was counting on her to tell…but in the meantime he wasn’t going to make keeping him captive easy.

"Come on! Show yourself!"

He’s surprised when the door to his room swings oopen and in walks a middle aged man with long hair and a forgien accent.

"Think you can yell any louder young Spencer?" The man asked.

"Who are you?" Lucky asked, taking a step back.

"Cesar Faison," The man bows. "Why do I have you? Well your father has cheated me out of my diamonds…so this is my revenge. He took something precious from me, so I take something precious from him."

"You’re not going to get away with this. My father will come for me."

Faison laughs. "I don’t think so. You see, everyone thinks you’re dead. No one suspects nothing, especially your buffoon father!"

Lucky smiles cockily. "That’s what you think. Your men made the mistake of taking me when my girlfriend was there. She saw everything. She’ll tell my father what happened."

Faison gasps, his eyes widen in horror. "What? Your girlfriend witnessed my brillant plan? She was right there? You don’t mean this girl friend do you?" Faison takes a remote control and turns on the television. Lucky’s eyes widen in horror when he sees Elizabeth curled up on her bed in a room identical to his. Tears stream down her face and she sets with her knees to her chest. Faison laughs again, doubling over. "You mean this girlfriend?"

"You bastard!" Lucky lounges at him, but Faison quickly grabs Lucky and holds him in a chokehold.

"Behave yourself young Spencer and not only will you get to be in the same room as your lovely Elizabeth, but no harm will come to her. Cross me, like trying to escape or harm me in anyway, like just now, and she’ll pay for your actions. Do I make myself clear."

Lucky nods, not having a choice as he’s forced to stare at Elizabeth sobbing into her hands. He wished he was in the same room with him, holding her, protecting her…

"Good." Faison lets Lucky go. "Your friend in there has realized that life as she knew it was over. I suggest you do the same," Faison exits the room, not bothering to turn off the television. Being able to see his girlfriend should pacify the boy for a while at least.

"You spoil the boy," Helena waits in the hall for her partner in crime.

"What?" Faison asked.

"Leaving the television on Faison? We want to control the boy, how are you going to do that giving him a no bars view of his girlfriend?"

"Young men Helena are curious animals. Give them a room with a view of a beautiful female, they’ll do anything. Taking the girl was pure genius Helena. When he saw that she was here, he was all too submissive."

Helena grins. "We’ll let Miss. Webber visit with her Lucky tomorrow afternoon. Maybe she’ll be good use to us. We’ll see," Helena pats Faison’s head as she walks to the entrance of the compound.

Nikolas sets at the table on the patio at Kelly’s. He nervously taps his fingers on the table as he waits for Emily to meet him. He had to get this off his chest and soon. The feeling of danger just wouldn’t leave him. He jumps when he feels Emily’s hand on his shoulder.

"Whoa Nikolas. It’s just me," Emily takes a seat.

"Sorry. I’m a little on edge."

"Tell me. What was the big reason you wanted to talk to me?"

"Sixteen years ago Em, I began to feel this tug at the back of my mind, and a part of me felt…incomplete….like I was connected to someone somehow but I didn’t know where that feeling was coming from. Three years ago, that tug became even stronger. At first , when I found out I had a little sister, I thought the tug was her…partially I was right. When I came to port charles that tug disappeared and I felt connected, I thought to my sister and I was right. In a way. But now…I also know it was to Lucky as well."

"Oh Nikolas…"

"Let me finish before I lose my nerve," Nikolas holds up his hand for silence. "Three days ago that tug returned, stronger than before, and a sense of danger. Of course I was in denial, but now…as this connection I have with Lucky…it’s weird Em. I can still feel him here on this earth with us. He’s not dead. But he’s in trouble, bad trouble and Elizabeth is with him somewhere, I’m sure of it."
Emily sighed, squeezing her friend’s hand symphaticly. "I miss him too Nikolas."

"I know you do. That’s why I’m telling you this. Plus you were Lucky’s oldest friend. You have a right to know my suspicions."

"What suspicions?"

"Em! Lucky and Liz! They’re not dead! The fire was a set up! By who I don’t know yet but it was a set up! Those bodies were not Lucky and Liz!"

"Nikolas…"

"Listen one thing Lucky has taught me was always follow your gut instincts, no matter what and things are not always as they seem. It may seem like Lucky and Liz died in that fire, but my gut Em! My gut says otherwise and it’s imperative that I find them!"

Emily gasps in horror at Nikolas realizations. "Nikolas no! Lucky and Liz…they’re gone. Gone! We buried them today!"

Nikolas shakes his head. "No we didn’t. I don’t know who those people were, but they weren’t my brother and his girlfriend. Listen, Em, I told you this because I trust you…plus you care about Lucky and Liz. I thought you had a right to know. But if you don’t want to help me find them, that’s okay too cause it may be dangerous and you don’t need to be put in anymore danger. So forget I said anything," Nikolas stands to leave.

"Nikolas wait! I’ll help. I think you’re going on a wild goose chase, but if it puts your mind at ease…I’ll help you look for Lucky and Liz. I’ll do whatever you want."
"Thank you," Nikolas hugs her tightly and looks up at the sky, wondering if Lucky and Liz were looking at the sky as well. ‘Don’t worry you guys…I’m coming.’ He silently sent his message out to his brother. Hoping that whereever he was that thought reached him and comforted him."

Lucky bolts awake as he thinks he hears someone speaking to him. "Don’t worry you guys. I’m coming." The voice strangely sounded like Nikolas, but that was impossible. Nikolas wasn’t here too was He? No of course not, but somehow that thought calmed him, made him feel less desparate. Less scared. For some reason he felt like no matter what happened, him and Liz would be rescued eventually.

He gets out of bed and places a shaky hand on the television screen which showed Liz sleeping restly on her bed, obviously in the throes of a nightmare.

"It’s okay Liz. Help is coming. I’m sure of it," He whispered before going back to his bed, falling asleep himself.

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