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."