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Recap
from Part 1:
She could hardly believe what she was seeing. That couldn't be a man. She couldn't have possibly hit a human being! Greta von Amburg aimed the flashlight's dim beam closer to where the outline of the man had been. She had seen him plain as day when the lightening flashed, hadn't she? Maybe she was losing her mind and the image of the man was just that... an image. The inky darkness consumed her confidence as well as the remaining light. "Hello?" she sputtered. "Is anyone there?" Her fear factor jumped up a few notches in the total darkness. She didn't know why she was scared, maybe it was the night and the frightening images it invokes, but she was certain there was more than thunder and lightening to greet here out here. Greta aimed the light where she had seen the man once more, but there was nothing more than damp leaves and wet earth to greet her. "Are you trying to scare me?" she asked. "Because it's working." She paused to listen. "Anyone there?" The sound of the environment around her was loud, noisy. Water dripped down her face and into her eyes. She attempted to wipe away the moisture but more replaced it. A dark shadow behind her clasped a hand over her mouth and pulled her to the ground. She was so taken by surprise the flashlight clattered to the ground dousing the only illumination on the stretch of abandoned highway. In the beak darkness, Greta knew fear. *** The past is a dangerous thing. Carrie had greeted many people arriving for Sami's wedding. One person she didn't see was lying in wait, hiding in the shadows, watching and waiting for her opportunity. Craig Wesley approaced Carrie. He still had that air of smug self-confidence. He came up from behind and looked her over briefly. She hadn't seen him yet, but Craig had definitely noticed her. Ali McIntyre watched as Craig admired Carrie from afar. She had known all along that Craig had a certain affection for Mike's girlfriend, well, wife, for now. But she promised herself to change that fact very soon. One theory confirmed. On to step two.
The deserted highway was dark, wet and deadly. Never before had Greta von Amburg been so scared. The hand clamped over her mouth bit into her skin. She could hear the shallow, rapid breathing of the man behind her. And she was positive it was a man, because he not only smelled like one, he felt like one -- with her back plastered up to his front. He was taller than she was and could easily overpower her. But that didn't seem to be his intention. The man dragged her to the ditch where the darkest shadows made everything around them seem to disappear. "Please, don't scream," the gentle voice pleaded. "If you do, we'll both be dead." That voice. Greta knew that voice. She wrenched the hand away from her mouth. "Mike?" she whispered. "Mike Horton? Is that you?" Mike murmered a quiet, "yes," into her ear. She could feel herself relax, but the man behind her did not. She then knew something was terribly wrong. "We have to get out of here, Greta. And we have to do it, now!" Footsteps pounded closer and closer as the rain pelted them harder. Mike grabbed Greta's hand and the two of them fled into the dark night. ***
"I have a hard time believing you had the nerve to show up at Sami and Austin's wedding considering how you betrayed Austin and your marriage by fooling around with Saint Mike..." Craig Wesley let the insulting thought linger. Carrie spun around, her eyes glittering with anger. "I came here, Craig, to wish my sister and Austin the best." Craig laughed. "What? No snappy come back? No explaination about how it wasn't really your fault?" Carrie sighed. "Is there a reason for this conversation? I've moved on, Craig. Maybe you should too." *** "Mimi? Hello, earth to Mimi." Belle Black shook her hand in front of her best friend's face and was greeted with a blank stare. "You look like you just lost your best friend. And I am right here. So we know that's not it." Belle grew concerned when her long-time friend and confideant remained quiet. "You have to tell me what's going on. That's what best friend's do. I mean, you were one of the first people I told about my dad and Shawn's mom. And *could* there be a bigger secret than that?" Belle watched as a slight smile played on Mimi's face. "You have a secret and now I have a secret. And if I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone!" "OH! A secret! You have to tell me!" Belle plopped down on the bed next to the brown haired beauty. "I can't believe you've been holding out on me this long." Belle waited a beat. "So spill already!" "Yesterday," she said starting into the long story. "I had the ratty job of cleaning the garage out. Me and my dumb luck, huh? Well, while I was moving some big boxes away from a water puddle on the floor, one box tipped over and fell on my head." "Oh, my gosh," Belle shrieked. "Are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine. Anyway, I went down and papers went flying everywhere. When I was cleaning them up, I found this." Mimi handed Belle a folded piece of paper. "What is it?" "They're adoption papers, Belle. Why would my parents never tell me I was adopted?" *** John Black checked his watch for the fifth time. "Okay, ladies, is everyone about ready?" Brady looked up at his father from the couch. "If Sami calls again, I'm not going to answer it. There is only so much torment I can take from psycho sister." "We'll let Marlena and Belle do the explaining for the delay if we're late for the wedding." John said, seriously. "I heard that," Belle chanted from upstairs. "Me and Mimi and Mom are almost ready. It was almost five minutes before Belle appeared. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she said running down the stairs with Mimi and Marlena not far behind. She looked around the front room for signs of her brother. "Where's Brady?" "He left to pick up Chloe. He'll meet us at the church." John helped Marlena on with her coat. "How is Philip taking Chloe's decision to date Brady," Marlena asked. "He's surprisingly mature about it." Belle and Mimi followed her parents out to the limo. "I've noticed you and Philip have been spending a lot of time together lately." "That's because..." Mimi started to say, but Belle stepped on her foot to quiet her. "Hey, that hurt!" Belle knew her parents and Mimi meant well, but ever since discovering JT was really her brother, she felt an uncharted distance between herself anf Shawn. It didn't feel that way with Philip. She could talk to him. Ever since Puerto Rico, Philip had proven to be a real friend. "Nothing is going on between me and Philip," she said. "I didn't say there was. I was just wondering why we haven't seen Shawn as much as we used to." Marlena could be very direct in an indirect way. But Belle was used to it. Belle was quiet for a moment as she considered what to say. "Finding out about JT and how he's my little brother and he's Shawn's little brother... well, it's just been a bit too weird for words." Mimi interjected, "I'm sure they'll be back and all lovey-dovey in no time." "I hope you're right, Mimi." Marlena turned to John as Mimi leaned over and whispered to Belle. "You're brother looked so amazingly hot. I can't believe he would stoop to dating someone like Chloe." "I don't know what it is between you and Chloe, but I'm getting tired of it. Either say something nice, or don't say anything at all." "SORRY! I just get all..." Mimi couldn't think of the word. "Jealous?" Belle supplied. Mimi sighed. "Okay, yes, jealous. He's so fine and she's so... not!" Belle gave Mimi a stern look. "Sorry, but she's not!" Belle watched out of the window as they approached the church. "Hey, there's Austin." She pointed to the sedan coming up quickly on the side street. "Isn't he going a little fast?" Mimi asked. Mr. Black, you might want to tell your driver to..." Belle screamed. "OH, MY GOD! He's not going to stop! Dad, he's not going to stop!" *** Brady and Chloe pulled into the parking area outside the church just as a sickening screech and crash sounded. They ran toward the road to see if they could assist anyone. "Brady," Chloe whispered. "Isn't that your parent's limo?" The limo was severely crumpled and smoking. It was lying on its hood with the wheels still spinning. Before Brady ran to the wreck, he yelled to Chloe, "Call 911!" The windows were broken and glass was everywhere. Brady hoped that didn't mean the same for his family. As he peered into the limo's windows, he called out his family's names. "Dad? Mom? Belle?" Brady got down on his hands and knees and could see Belle and Mimi. They were unconscious and bleeding in the back seat. Marlena was awake, but looked shocked. "Marlena? Can you get out? I'm smelling gas and I don't think that's a good sign." "Help John and Belle, please." "I will, don't worry." Brady could see that his father was severely injured. Bo Brady showed up over the young man's shoulder. "What can I do?" "Get Dad. I'll get Belle and Mimi." Bo stood and yelled toward Roman who was already shedding his tuxedo jacket. "Help the other driver." Roman gave him a thumbs up signal. As he ran to the other cae, he wasn't sure if he would find a pretty picture waiting for him. He wrenched the door open and found what he wasn't expecting. "Oh, my God, Austin." Before anyone knew what was happening an explosion ripped through the sedan throwing Roman backward into the church's parking lot. People scrambled to get away from the smoke and fire. But no one could stop the second explosion as the limosine burst into flames as well.
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