HANLEY HOME

"I need you to do me a favor," Matt Holden said, turning to his cousin, Ariel Hanley. Not that Matt was entirely sure Ariel was his cousin. It was more than likely that she had been possessed by something, or someone was posing as Ariel, because Matt knew what this Ariel was capable of and he was fairly certain that any offspring of his uncle wouldn't possess those type of abilities.

"Anything," Ariel said, approaching Matt and taking his hand. "As long as you'll help me stay here."

"Get rid of Blake and Vince," Matt said. "Can you do that for me?"

"Hey!" Vincent Moore cried. "You son of a bitch! What do you think you're —"

"Kill them," Matt continued. "If you kill Vince and Blake for me…I'll help you."

Vince turned to Blake Thomas, who was also standing in the living room. Both teenagers had shocked looks on their faces — they had no idea if Matt was really working with Ariel, or if he was attempting to help them.

"He's kidding, right?" Blake asked.

"I don't know, but I can't afford to find out," Vince said, gesturing at Matt. Concentrating on moving him with his mind, Vince was able to send Matt flying across the room and into the wall. "Remember that other thing I didn't tell you about, Blake? Well, that's it."

"Um…yay?"

Vince rushed at Ariel, attempting to choke her, but she opened her mouth and blew her breath into his face. It quickly formed into icesicles, which soon froze Vince's entire head and then his body. Before Blake had a chance to react, he too was turned into an icy statue.

"Ow…what the hell was that?!" Matt cried, climbing to his feet. "Since when did Vince become Carrie?"

"I don't know what you're referencing," Ariel said. "But they are ready to be killed."

"Let me be the one to kill them," Matt offered.

"No," Ariel snapped. "You will not kill them yet. There is a man after me, he is going by an odd name of Curly."

"What about him?" Matt demanded.

"We must kill him," Ariel said. "When we kill him, I will be safe. Then I may let you kill your friends."

Matt sighed heavily. "Sounds like a plan."



KEVIN HANLEY'S MANSION

Michael Hanley's private helicopter landed in the backyard of a large, Victorian mansion that was located atop a hill near the outskirts of Fordham Bay. Michael frowned as the helicopter was turned off completely, and turned to look at Robert Bale. While both men hated each other, they were currently unified in their mission to confront Kevin Hanley — Michael's father.

Both agreed that Kevin's endless mind games that he had been playing with his children had gone too far with the reveal that Felicia Bale was Michael's daughter, a secret he had forced her to keep for years. Much like a secret that Sean Moore had been forced to keep from his own children when he received the news that he had been legally adopted by Kevin as a child.

Only Michael, Robert, Felicia, Valerie, and Sean's wife Leslie were given the information that he was legally Kevin Hanley's son. Michael and Valerie discovered the news by overhearing Kevin telling Sean the truth, while Robert found out as he became best friends with Sean and Leslie. Naturally, Leslie also shared the news with her neighbor and close friend Felicia, since the Bales had been connected to the Hanleys for years.

Now, it appeared they had been more connected to Kevin Hanley than they imagined — all because Kevin had forced his children to keep his secrets until he was ready to reveal his endgame. They had waited for years, but now they were ending it.

"Are you ready to confront your daddy?" Robert asked, snidely smirking at Michael.

Michael ignored Robert and climbed out of the helicopter. Robert followed him toward the house, where one of Kevin's servants was now waiting with the patio door open. Once they reached the house, Robert was amazed at how well kept the house appeared to be, especially with what he knew about Kevin's current situation.

But Robert supposed that the situation might make someone work even harder to keep up appearances, and so he shrugged off initial surprise and continued to follow Michael and the servant as they walked down a long corridor that led to a flight of stairs.

The three ascended the stairs that led to Kevin's room, the mansion's master bedroom. The servant opened the bedroom door and stepped aside for Robert and Michael to enter. Once they did, Robert had his first glance at Kevin since the car accident that nearly killed the man.

Kevin was sitting up in his bed with his back against the headrest, wearing a red silk robe. He was also hooked up to a life support system that was resting next to the bed. Kevin turned his head slightly to face Robert and Michael.

Kevin smiled. "Hello, son…I see you've brought a guest."

"Father," Michael said. "I assume you've been expecting us."

"I have," Kevin answered. "I most definitely have."



KINCAID HOME

Duncan Kincaid approached the front door of his brother, Detective Joel Kincaid's, house and rang the doorbell. He waited a few moments for Joel to answer the door, but there was no response. Duncan began to wonder if Joel was gone or if he knew that Duncan was at the door and was choosing to ignore him.

"This can't go on," Duncan decided. "Joel is going to have to listen to me and get over the idea that I killed his wife."

He reached for the doorknob and turned it, and by chance, the door was unlocked. Narrowing his eyes, Duncan pushed open the door and stepped inside the house. Duncan called out to his brother, but there was no response once more.

He slowly walked toward Joel's bedroom, where a strong odor of vodka seemed to be. Duncan opened the bedroom door where he found Joel lying on the bed unconscious. Duncan was concerned at first until he saw Joel roll over in the bed.

He was asleep and obviously drunk, since there were two bottles of vodka lying on the floor next to the bed. Joel's cell phone was also vibrating on the dresser next to him.

"Maybe I should come back later," Duncan decided.

He exited the bedroom and returned to the living room, but before Duncan could leave, he saw someone standing near the door. Someone he recognized all too well…Joel's first wife, Kelly Crane.

"Oh my God," Duncan gasped. "Kelly?"

"Hello, Duncan," Kelly said. "It's so good to see you again after all these years."

Inside the house, someone kept a close watch on Duncan. They peered through a window and smiled as Duncan spoke with Kelly, whom they could see as well. The stranger was wearing dark black gloves and hiding next to the doorway to Joel's bedroom.

"And so it begins…"



ABANDONED CHURCH

Ryan Phillips approached Alexis Lopez, reaching out to take Eamon from her. But before he could touch the child, Alexis kicked him in the groin and shoved him to the ground.

"I'm tired, Ryan," Alexis said. "But I'm not stupid."

"Alexis, what are you —"

"I know you've been carrying on with that whore!" Alexis cried. "But it's going to end right now. You'll never touch Vanessa again."

Ryan tried to reason with Alexis while squirming on the ground in pain, next to the open sewer hole. Still holding Eamon, Alexis loomed over Ryan as a devilish grin formed on her face.

"I'll see to it that you never touch anyone ever again," Alexis finished.

"Alexis, please!" Ryan cried. "I just wanted to help you!"

Alexis blinked, realizing that she had just hurt Ryan, the love of her life. She set Eamon down on the ground and rushed to Ryan's side, to see if she could help him. Ryan took advantage of the situation and punched Alexis in the face, knocking her unconscious.

Ryan stood up, picking up Eamon as he did. Once Ryan regained his composure, a group of police officers rushed into the building with Officer Jamie Grady behind them. Also with Officer Grady were Vanessa Phillips, Ryan's wife, and Marcus and Nikki Vicman.

"I got our son back, Vanessa!" Ryan cried. "I got our son back!"

"Mom, I don't think you should be leaving," Alec Bale said, standing next to his mother, Felicia's, hospital bed. "The doctor hasn't discharged you yet."

"I need to get out of here," Felicia insisted. "I need to rest in my own bed."

Once Alec Bale and his cousin, Sara Reynolds, received word of Felicia's accident, they had hurried to the hospital to see how she was. Though she had been brought in earlier in the day, Felicia wanted to leave. Mostly because she had learned earlier that she would no longer be able to have children due to her accident at the Hanley mansion.

"You're staying put," Sara agreed. "At least until the doctor can run some more tests on you."

"I agree with Sara, Mrs. Bale," Erin Maddock, Sara's girlfriend, said as she took Sara's hand and smiled at Felicia. "We all want you to get better."

"Well, thank you," Felicia said. "I just…I hate hospitals."

"Are you going to tell us what happened?" Alec asked.

"I fell down the stairs at the Hanley mansion," Felicia said. "It's not a big deal, honey."

"I hate that place," Alec said. "Why do you keep going there?"

Felicia frowned. "Alec…this isn't the time or the place."

"You were there to see Michael, weren't you?" Alec demanded. "Just like dad kept saying you were?"

"Alec, shut up," Sara said.

"Sara, don't —"

"Listen to your cousin, Alec," Valerie Hanley-Holden said, entering the hospital room with her husband, Dr. Simon Holden. "Felicia doesn't need you upsetting her right now."

Alec rolled his eyes and walked over to the window, while Simon approached the bed.

"How are you doing, Felicia?" Simon asked.

"I want to leave," Felicia said.

"That's out of the question," Simon said. "You've just had surgery, you're not going anywhere."

"I need to get out of here," Felicia said.

"She can stay with us," Valerie said. "She shouldn't have to go back home with Robert…he's probably shacking up with that tramp of his right now."

Erin flinched at Valerie's comment, causing Sara to squeeze her hand. She turned to Valerie and shot her a dirty look.

"I'm sorry, honey," Valerie said. "But it's about time everyone in Marquette Cove learned the truth about the prestigious attorney Melissa Maddock."

"And what would that be?" Melissa asked, entering the room.



EMERALD MALL

Timothy Black sat down across from Akilah Moore in the food court at Emerald Mall. He placed a tray of pizza in front of them and smiled at her, while Akilah stared off into the distance. Tim frowned and waved a slice of pizza in front of Akilah to get her attention.

"You promised to eat something, remember?" Tim asked.

"I know," Akilah said. "I'm just…I'm thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"How I'm eating pizza with a guy I just met not twenty minutes ago," Akilah replied. "It's kind of weird."

"I'm a spur of the moment kid of guy," Tim said.

"Is that why you were out trolling Emerald Square tonight?"

"No," Tim said. "Well…sort of. It's a very long story."

"I've got time," Akilah said, lifting a piece of pizza and taking a bite. "Oh my God!"

"What's wrong?" Tim demanded.

"This pizza is really good!" Akilah cried, smiling. "Thank you, so much. This is really kind of you."

"You won't think that when I leave you to foot the bill," Tim said.

Akilah narrowed her eyes at him.

"That was a joke," Tim reassured her.

"Good to know…because I would have cut you with my plastic knife," Akilah countered.

"That's also good to know."



HANLEY HOME

Matt nervously sat next to Ariel in the living room, while they waited for Curly's arrival. As he sat, Matt couldn't help staring at the frozen figures of Vince and Blake that were still in the living room. They weren't dead yet…but they might be soon. It was enough to make Matt sick, but he knew what he had to do if he wanted to stay alive.

He rose to his feet and walked over to the fireplace, where he began to touch one of the pokers lying next to it. He might be using the same poker to shatter Vince into pieces soon. While it was morbid, Matt couldn't also help feeling a sense of power of Vince at the moment. It was something he hadn't felt since Vince apparently won the favor of Matt's own uncle over him.

"When's that Curly guy going to get here?" Matt demanded.

As if in response, a flash of light erupted into the living room. Within seconds, the light dissipated and a man dressed in black and a leather jacket was standing in the living room. Matt figured this was Curly.

Matt raised the poker and approached Curly. "Is this him?"

"Yes, it is," Ariel said. "Help me kill him."

"Princess, you must return home," Curly spoke. "You know that your presence is creating tears in this reality."

"No!" Ariel cried. "I won't leave! Kill him, Matthew!"

Matt raised the poker, but instead of swinging at Curly, Matt turned and hit Ariel in the head, knocking her unconscious. Ariel's eyes rolled back in her head as she crumpled to the floor. Matt dropped the poker and turned to face Curly.

"She's not my cousin, is she?"

"No, she is not," Curly said. "You have done the right thing in apprehending her."

"Yeah, thanks," Matt said. "Would you mind unfreezing those two losers over there?"

Matt gestured to Vince and Blake. Curly reached into his pocket and removed a crystal, and then he handed it to Matt.

"This will only work for the next fifteen minutes of your time," Curly said. "Use it with haste."

Curly picked up Ariel by her arm and raised her into the air. Frowning, he reached into his pocket to touch another crystal. A few moments later, he and Ariel disappeared into a bright ray of white light.

Relieved, Matt turned to face Vince and Blake. He held the crystal in his hand, wondering exactly how he was supposed to use it. "Although…it's not like it would be that bad if they froze to death."

While Matt pondered how to use the crystal, he didn't notice the lamp on the desk behind him was flickering slightly. Also, the poker he had used to hit Ariel was crackling with an electrical current.

However, in a few seconds, both occurrences stopped.



ABANDONED CHURCH

As Alexis was led off in handcuffs, screaming at Ryan that he was betraying her, Ryan presented Eamon to his mother, Vanessa. Vanessa smiled, thanking Ryan as she took her son back. Whatever anger she had felt toward Ryan earlier had vanished, now that her son was back in our arms.

"Are you okay, honey?" Vanessa asked Eamon. "Mommy is just happy to have you back, honey. That's all."

"Looks like I saved the day," Ryan said, turning to Officer Grady.

"You're lucky that's all you did," Officer Grady said. "I should arrest you for something or other, but I'm too tired right now."

"That's a good thing," Ryan said. "Since the charges against me will probably be dropped now."

"What?" Nikki demanded.

"Alexis is nuts," Ryan reminded her. "She was making up all of that stuff about me sleeping with her and getting her pregnant."

Nikki rolled her eyes. "You're a damn liar, Ryan."

"You can't prove that," Ryan said. "It's up to whether or not Vanessa believes me."

"I don't know what to believe," Vanessa said. "I just want to go home."

"Then let's go home," Ryan said.

"She'll stay with us," Marcus insisted, wrapping his arm around Vanessa and leading her toward the exit. Nikki glared at Ryan once more before following them.

"Looks like you caught yourself a break," Officer Grady said.

Ryan frowned. "We'll see."



KINCAID HOME

"What the…how is this possible?" Duncan demanded.

"I'm sorry," Kelly said. "I know this must be startling, but I'm only here to help you."

"No, you're not," Duncan said. "I'm imagining this."

"I'm afraid not. I'm really here."

"But…you're dead," Duncan said. "Everyone thinks I killed you."

"I know, but you didn't," Kelly said. "You have to tell everyone."

"Believe me, I've tried," Duncan said, still shocked that he was talking to someone that had died over twelve years ago. He started pacing back and forth in the living room. "But it's very…Joel doesn't believe me."

"Then you need to make him believe you," Kelly insisted. "You need to search for the truth, Duncan. You have to find out who really murdered me."

"Wait…why can't you just tell me?"

She vanished from the room just as quickly as she appeared in it, and once she was gone, Duncan was still wondering if he hadn't imagined it all.



HANLEY HOME

"So, that's what happened," Matt said, explaining everything to Vince and Blake who were now sitting on the couch in the living room wrapped in blankets with heating packs resting on their heads. "I pretended to be on Ariel's side so I could get rid of her."

"And she's really gone?" Blake asked.

"Yeah," Matt said.

"You didn't have to fucking freeze me," Vince snapped.

"You didn't have to send me flying across the room, Merlin!" Matt cried. "When the hell did that happen?"

"It's a long story," Vince said. "But I can move stuff with my mind."

"You say that like it's a footnote," Matt muttered.

"In this town…it really is," Blake said.

"Yeah, I'm beginning to see that," Matt said. "But as far as I can tell, this Ariel crisis has been averted. I'll tell Michael that Ariel decided to go back to London, and we'll never speak of this again. I'll tell Akilah the same."

"No, I'll tell her," Vince insisted. "I want you to stay away from my sister. This little dating thing you two have going on is not going to work."

"Didn't I just save your life?" Matt demanded.

"Didn't I just send you flying across the room?"

"Noted," Matt said, rising to his feet. "Besides…it's over between me and Akilah. She's only got her eyes set on one man…and it's not me."

"Good," Vince said.

Matt started toward the door, almost turning back to say something else to Vince and Blake, but he decided against it and left the mansion. As he closed the door, he didn't hear Vince call out a thank you to him.

Once he was on the sidewalk, Matt reached into his jacket pocket and removed a small bag of coke that he had meant to sell earlier in the day. But after the night he had just had, Matt didn't mind using it himself.



MARQUETTE COVE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

"Get the hell out of here," Valerie snapped.

"I came to see how Felicia was doing," Melissa said.

"That's a surprise," Valerie muttered.

"Mom…were you there when Felicia fell?" Erin asked.

"No, Erin," Melissa said. "I was —"

"Melissa, please leave," Felicia said, cutting in. "I don't have the strength to talk to you right now."

"Felicia, please," Melissa said. "I'm trying to apologize."

"She doesn't want your apology, mom," Erin said, turning away from Melissa. "Just leave."

Taken aback, Melissa started toward the door. Once she left, everyone remained silent until Felicia mentioned again that she wanted to go home. As everyone in the room began to argue with Felicia once more, Melissa closed the door and walked over to a pay phone.

Robert was no longer in the hospital, and she wanted to know where he was. She couldn't believe that he had left so soon after she announced her pregnancy, but there was a chance that something had come up at work.

Before she could reach for the payphone, a hand grabbed Melissa by her arm and dragged her into an adjacent hallway.

"Let me —" Melissa's mouth was covered with a hand before she could react. As her assailant pressed her against a wall, she saw that she was being attacked by Hugh Rogers. Melissa tried to squirm out of Hugh's grasp, but he held her firmly in place.

"Melissa, my dear," Hugh said. "I believe you owe me money."

Melissa tried to speak, but her response only came out a mumble.

"I know you've already paid me, but you still have a balance due," Hugh snapped. "I'm giving you a final deadline, and I suggest you meet it, otherwise there will be consequences."

Hugh punched Melissa in the stomach, causing tears to swell in her eyes. He laughed as he released her from his grip and allowed her to fall to her knees on the floor.

"Back on your knees? That's how I liked you best," Hugh said. "I just hope I didn't hurt your baby."



KEVIN HANLEY'S MANSION

"It figures you'd be keeping tabs on us," Michael said. "You never were able to let go, were you?"

"So much for respect for your elders," Kevin said. "May I help you two with something?"

"You can own up to ruining our lives," Michael continued. "My life, Sean's life, everyone —"

"I have been secluded in this mansion for years," Kevin reminded Michael. "How exactly am I responsible for my children ruining their own lives? Am I one of the fates now?"

"You know what he means," Robert interjected.

Kevin smiled. "Robert Bale. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"My wife," Robert said. "How long did you make her hide the fact that she was your daughter?"

"It appears the secret is out, then."

"You're damn right it's out," Michael snapped. "I dated Felicia in high school, father. How could you do this to me?"

"I had no idea you two were related until your slut of a mother decided to reveal all of her secrets on her deathbed," Kevin answered, causing his breathing apparatus to beep slightly. "Which is when I told Felicia the truth and made her leave town to attend school with Robert...oh, I'm sorry. Does that shatter some views of your lovely marriage, Robert?"

"You bastard," Robert accused. "Felicia married me because she loves me."

"Because she couldn't very well shack up with her brother," Kevin corrected. "Of course, you had to go and ruin that by moving back to Marquette Cove to throw your relationship in your former best friend's face."

"Wait…you said something about my mother," Michael said. "I thought Felicia was your daughter."

"She is," Kevin responded.

"Then why did you…" Michael frowned, realizing that his father had made a slight error and was talking about something that Robert didn't need to be informed about. "Of course. Never mind."

"I told Felicia not to tell anyone," Kevin said. "For my own personal reasons, of course. But then you decided to push her back into the arms of her half-brother. Well done, Robert."

"Go to hell," Robert snarled.

"I should kill you for what you've done to this family," Michael said.

"You'll do no such thing," Kevin said. "In fact, you're both going to leave before I call the police and have you thrown in jail for trespassing. The past is over and done with, boys. Whatever happens between you all is no longer any of my concern, nor is it my fault."

"That's a lie, and you know it."

"Leave," Kevin repeated. "Let me rest in peace."

Michael wanted to say more, but Robert grabbed his arm to stop him. Robert took Michael out into the hallway to calm him down. The servant who led them into the room followed the two men into the hallway and closed the door to Kevin's bedroom.

"We can see our way out," Robert said.

"No, sir," the servant said. "I don't think I will allow that."

Robert sighed and started toward the stairs with Michael, as the servant kept a close watch on them both.

As Kevin heard the helicopter outside start up once more, he began to laugh. At first it was a mere chuckle, but it eventually Kevin could barely control his laughter. He removed the tubes that he had been breathing into while his visitors were present, and tossed them onto the floor.

Kevin turned to stare out his window, pleased that Robert and Michael had bought his act. He wanted everyone to believe that he was still weak after the accident that nearly took his life years earlier.

"It appears I'm going to have to teach my children another lesson," Kevin said. "Michael's insolence has become unbearable…Valerie, my little arsonist, is becoming a thorn in my side…and now Felicia."

As far as Kevin was concerned, Sean Moore had it the easiest — he was already dead. But once Kevin Hanley was done with his other children, they'd be wishing they had been blown up by a car bomb too.