OTHER WORLDS #5: HAUNTED BY THE PAST, PART ONE

We do not live in this world alone, but in a thousand other worlds ...

Rachel had not intended to make a big entrance to the Lumina Ball, but when she stepped off the elevator, she found herself standing in a spotlight. Everyone stopped what they were doing and applauded.

"Rachel! Where have you been? I thought you weren't coming!" said Paulina.

"I almost didn't." said Rachel, "I'm not in a party mood."

Suddenly she saw Matthew, having a heated discussion with Lila. She hurried over to them.

"Lila, what are you doing here?" she demanded, "You were told to stay at home!"

"Ah guess Ah must be costumed as Cinderella!" said Lila, sharply.

"Where did you get that costume, anyway?"

"From Zack! He also sent a limousine to bring me heah. Some people wawnt me to enjoy ma'self!"

"I'm taking you home, right now!" said Matthew.

"No, I'll do it." said Rachel, "You stay and have a good time with Sofia."

"It's my responsibility, Mom."

"I've had enough of this party already," said Rachel, gazing around the room, "No doubt it's supposed to be some sort of magical evening, but to me it just seems dreary - and the costumes are tacky. What is Cindy supposed to be - The Bride of Buck Rogers? And poor Marley - that Star Trek hairdo and hooker makeup don't make her any more attractive."

"Your costume is very nice, Rachel." said Paulina.

Rachel gave a thin smile. "The cloak is exactly the same as the robe Carl wore for Hallowe'en, two years ago."

(Note: It was. I guess Wardrobe recycled the material :-D)

"Oh - I didn't realize!"

"Why should you? You don't have my encyclopedic memory for everything Carl ever did, or said, or wore."

"Carl's dead, Mom!" said Matthew, "It's time you got on with your life."

"What 'life'?" said Rachel, "Carl was my life. Lila, either you get on that elevator with me of your own free will - or I drag you! Let's go!"

****

No sooner had the elevator started, than it stopped.

"Weah stuck!" cried Lila.

"Oh no!" said Rachel, "I don't like this one bit!"

She fought back a rising tide of panic. Even since she had been kidnapped and buried alive by Alexander Nikos, Rachel had been claustrophobic. She didn't enjoy elevators at the best of times; being trapped inside one made her feel as though she was back in that stone coffin.

Suddenly, Lila screamed: "AAAHHH! Ah - Ah thank Ahm in labour!"

"Just what I needed!" groaned Rachel.

****

Jordan Stark and Zack Wilder were watching on the closed-circuit tv. Zack was in awe of his boss.

"You've induced Lila's labour? With magic?"

"No - by having her drink fruit punch laced with ergot."

****

"Ah'm gonna have ma baby raight heah!" Lila said.

"We'll be out of here before that happens." said Rachel, pushing the alarm button, "A first baby always takes ages to arrive." She pushed the button again. "Why doesn't somebody do something?" she muttered.

****

Meanwhile, back at the Lumina Ball, Cindy had played the tape of Grant confessing to having drugged Paulina and set fire to her house, over the sound system. Everyone looked at Grant.

"That tape is fake!" he blustered.

"Oh yeah? Let's discuss it down at Headquarters." said Joe.

"See you on visiting day, Pumpkin!" Cindy chortled.

"What's holdin' up the elevator?" Joe punched the buttons impatiently.

"Joe, listen! Do you hear something?" said Paulina.

They listened: "help!"

"That sounds like Rachel!"

"Rachel!" Paulina cried, as Joe forced the outer doors.

"Paulina! We need help! The elevator is stuck, and Lila is having her baby!"

"I'm going down there!" said Cass.

"Oh no you don't! That's my baby!" said Matthew.

The two men might have come to blows, if the elevator had not started moving again.

When it reached the top floor, Matthew elbowed Cass aside and swept Lila up into his arms. The elevator doors closed; when they opened again, Rachel was gone!

"Rachel! Where's Rachel?" cried Paulina.

Matthew was too caught up in glaring at Cass and trying to remember what he had learned in Lamaze class to pay attention.

"Mom can't have gone far." he said, "Breathe, Lila! 1-2-3-4 -"

But she had; Rachel had gone very far indeed.

To be continued