ON THE RUN:

CHAPTER ONE

It’s been two months since the discovery of Lucky’s brainwashing and things still weren’t back to normal. Lucky and Elizabeth both lived in fear of what Helena had planned for Lucky. Pushing Elizabeth away couldn’t be all of it. Not to mention Nikolas had fallen in love with Gia, Emily’s blackmailer much to Helena’s obvious displeasure. She had already made several threats against Gia if Nikolas didn’t end the relationship. Then there was Emily, who has fallen in love with her kidnapper! Zander was out on bail now but both worried about the mob and when Sorel would strike out next at Zander. The small group of friends certainly had their hands full of problems.

It was an unusually slow day at Kelly’s. Elizabeth Webber sighed forlornly as she once again went over the past few months from Lucky’s return, Emily’s situation, Lucky pushing her away, Lucky’s brainwashing, and their reunion and the frightening news she had just received from London where her sister Sarah was going to school. Sarah had written her telling her that she was almost attacked in one of the city’s parks. If it wasn’t for a cop passing by, there was no telling what might have happened. Then earlier a mysterious message showed up on the counter stating that next time her sister won’t be so lucky. Stay away from the Spencers.

Elizabeth had dropped a plate when she had read that note. She knew who was behind it and the attack. Helena Cassadine. Ever since she had confronted her about brainwashing Lucky, the old woman had made it clear that Elizabeth and her family was going to be put on her hit list if she tried to get in the way. Lucky had wanted to break up with her when she told him what Helena had said. He didn’t want to put Elizabeth in needless danger, but Elizabeth would have none of it.

"Don’t you see that’s what she wants. She almost came between us once Lucky. Don’t let her do it again. Like I told her, I’m not going anywhere."

So they remained together, determined not to let Helena win. Looking at the note, she knew she couldn’t let Lucky see it. He would only get worried and want to end their relationship to keep her safe, and Elizabeth knew there would be no talking him out of it.

"Hey look, it’s the golden girl," Gia smiled nastily at Liz, for a moment forgetting her own problems.

"What do you want now Gia?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She was trying to be nice to Gia for Nikolas’s sake, knowing how he felt about her, but she was finding it harder and harder.

"A double cheeseburger with everything on it and a large chocolate shake," Gia takes a seat on one of the stools, noticing the note Elizabeth had actually left on the counter.

"Ok. Just set there and don’t be too much trouble," Elizabeth disappeared into the back.

Her curiosity getting the best of her, Gia took the folded piece of stationary and read. Her eyes widen with shock. So she wasn’t the only one getting threatening messages from a Mrs. Cassadine. She knew this had to do with Lucky's brainwashing.

"What do you think you’re doing!" Elizabeth comes back in and grabs the note away from Gia.

"So are you going to tell Lucky?" Gia looks Elizabeth straight on.

"What?"

"Are you going to tell your boyfriend about psychogrannie’s threat? Or pretend it never happened."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Elizabeth adjusts her apron.

"The note Elizabeth that we both know Helena left here for you. Hey don’t be ashamed. You’re not the only one she has it in for."

"What?"

"She left me a message too telling me to leave Nikolas or else. Attached to a beheaded dog. She left on the doorstep after Nikolas had left. She doesn’t think I know who left it, but it’s obvious it was her."

"Oh my God. What are you going to do?"

"Not leave Nikolas. That crazy witch doesn’t scare me. But I think she scares you plenty. So are you going to tell Lucky?"

"Tell Lucky what?" Lucky walks up behind Gia, Nikolas right behind him.

"Hey baby," Gia smiles as Nikolas kissed her cheek.

"So what are you two talking about? It’s a relief to see that you’re not throwing insults at one another for a change," Nikolas squeezed her shoulder.

"Elizabeth received a note from your grandmother," Gia nonchalantly replied.

"What!" Lucky practically yelled. "Let me see."

"Lucky it’s nothing, really. Nothing to worry about," Elizabeth stammered, hiding the note in her apron pocket.

"Elizabeth, no secrets remember? Now let me see what that note says," Lucky held out his hand.

"Hey guys," Emily greets her friends, holding Zander’s hand tightly. Zander just stood behind his girlfriend, not saying a word. He was always a nervous wreck around Emily’s friends.

"Emily," Gia nods.

"Here," Elizabeth gave Lucky the note his eyes widen when he read it. "Lucky don’t jump to conclusions. It’s nothing."

"What happened to Sarah?" Lucky asked.

"She was almost raped in one of London’s parks. A cop came by just in time," Elizabeth bowed her head. "Helena probably heard about what happened and is using it to try to scare me."

"What? Sarah was attacked," Nikolas’s hand tightens on Gia’s shoulder.

Noticing that Gia wasn’t mentioning her own threat, Elizabeth decided to take it upon herself to do so. "Not to mention Gia had received a gift on her front doorstep courtesy of Helena."

"What?" Nikolas stared at his girlfriend. "What present?"

"It was nothing," Gia nervously shrugged. "Really."

"I don’t call a note attached to a beheaded dog, telling you to stay away from Nikolas nothing," Elizabeth crossed her arms. Two could play at this game.

"When were you going to tell me?" Nikolas asked.

"When I saw you," Gia glared openly at Elizabeth who was glaring back.

"We have to talk," Lucky sighed, folding up the note.

"No Lucky. We don’t have to talk," Elizabeth jumped back to attention. "It was just a threat. That’s all. I’m not going to let her get to me like this."

"It’s not safe Elizabeth."

"So what? Nothing’s safe. Heck I thought setting on a park bench in the middle of the night was safe but it wasn’t but I survived. Lucky I’m not going to let her break us apart," Elizabeth pleaded with her boyfriend. "For goodness sake, take a look at Gia and Nikolas! They’re not letting Helena get in the way of their relationship!"

"Elizabeth’s right," Emily nodded. "There has to be something that will make Helena leave you alone."

"Lucky is right though. It’s too dangerous. If Katherine’s death taught me nothing it was to not underestimate Helena," Nikolas took a step away from Gia who whirled around angrily.

"Oh not you too!" Gia growled.

"You two, we’re sorry. But we can’t let Helena hurt you. Believe me, this is for the best," Lucky sighed, turning and walking out of Kelly’s.

"Gia…your clothes will be waiting for you when you return to the cottage," Nikolas looked away from her.

"Nikolas no!" Gia protested.

"I’m sorry. I wish things could be different…but they’re not," Nikolas rushed out the door after his brother.

"Nikolas!" Gia cried after him, tears flowing from her eyes. She angrily whirls on Elizabeth. "See what you’ve done?! You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut could you!"

"Oh don’t blame me for this! I wasn’t even going to mention that note to Lucky but you just had to open your big mouth and now we’ve lost them both! I hope you’re happy!" Elizabeth bursts into her tears, she rushed upstairs to her room and locks the door.

"Elizabeth!" Emily goes after her friend.

"She’s right," Gia began to sob herself. "It is my fault. Why did I have to mention that stupid letter?"

"Who is this Helena person anyway?" Zander asked, taking the seat next to Gia.

"I don’t know much about her. All I know is that she’s Nikolas’s psycho grandmother and that she had kidnapped and brainwashed Lucky. She makes that Sorel guy look like Peter Pan."

"And she’s after you and Liz?"

"No. Just Nikolas and Lucky. But she knows the way to them is through me and Liz," Gia wiped away her tears.

"Why Mr. Smith hello," Sorel enters Kelly’s and approached Zander and Gia. "And is this the lovely Miss. Quartermaine?"

"No it isn’t. I suggest you leave," Zander stand in front of Gia.

"Well I can’t wait to meet the young lady responsible for turning you against me. It’s best to know who you’re aiming for."

"Stay away from her Sorel," Zander growled.

The older man just laughed. "Of course you can make sure that I never find her by not being with her. But why would I break up two young lovers such as yourselves."

"Why don’t you get out of here and leave them alone!" Gia hops off her stool.

"Oh a pretty girl with a big mouth," Sorel growled.

"Careful Sorel. Her big brother is Lieutenant Taggert," one of Sorel’s bodyguards warn.

"Watch your back Zander," Sorel glared at the young man and followed his bodyguards out of the diner.

"That was a stupid thing to do," Zander scalds her.

"So what? I’m so sick and tired of people like that throwing around threats and ruining peoples lives!" Gia crossed her arms. "They need to learn they can’t push everyone around."

"What’s going on down here?" Emily asked, coming back downstairs.

"Sorel was just here," Zander sighed. Looking at Emily, he knew what he had to do. He hated to do it, but it was the right thing to do. The only true way he could protect Emily. "Emily…listen…I think we ought to cool it for a while…at least until the trial is over."

Emily’s mouth drops open in horror. Oh no, not Zander too.

"It must be something in the water," Gia sighed, crossing her arms.

"Gia why don’t you go and collect your things instead of staying here to cause trouble," Emily growled. "You’ve already done enough damage."
"Are you saying that all this is my fault?"

"Just leave," Emily glared at her former black mailer.

"Ok. Fine. I’m out of here," Gia storms out of the diner.

"There was no mean to be mean to her Em. She’s going through a tough time right now."

"She’s a skank ok. I’m so glad Nikolas broke up with her."

"That was only because she was being threatened. That’s why we’re breaking up too. Sorel was just here and he made it very clear that if he ever found out how important you are to me…he’ll harm you. I can’t let that happen Em."

"Zander no," Emily gasped. "You can’t do this. We need each other right now."

"Emily please, don’t make this any harder than it already is. We can’t be together right now. Maybe after Sorel is in jail, but right now it’s too dangerous. I’m sorry."

"Zander…"

"Good-bye Emily," Zander kissed her cheek, then walks out the door, leaving Emily standing at the counter as confused as ever.

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