MITCHELL HOME

Anna Mitchell unlocked the door to her house and stepped inside, calling out to her daughter. When there was no response, Anna carried the bag of groceries she had in her arms to the kitchen. She set the bag on the counter and returned to her car to pick up the last of the bags.

"Julia, are you here?" Anna called out once more. "I'm sorry I'm home from work late, but I brought food!"

Still unable to get a response from Julia, Anna realized that her daughter probably wasn't at home. She closed the front door and walked over to the phone to dial Julia's cell phone. After a few rings, Anna realized that Julia had left her cell phone on the couch.

The television was also on, but since the door was locked, Anna figured Julia left to visit her father and forgot to bring her phone. Anna dialed Joel's number next and waited for someone to pick up. There was no answer at his house either, so Anna hung up the phone.

Anna shrugged. "Well, then I guess I'll talk to her later."

She returned to the kitchen the finish putting away her groceries, and put thoughts about her missing daughter in the back of her mind.



EMERALD HEART

"Thank you," Valerie Hanley-Holden said, as Hugh Rogers took her coat and placed it on the rack next to the door. She smiled and closed the door behind herself before taking a seat in the chair next to his bed. "I'm glad we've gotten together again to finalize our plans."

"I'm not quite sure what you believe those plans to be," Hugh said, sitting across from her.

"I told you that I would make Melissa Maddock's life a living hell," Valerie said. "And you agreed to help me."

"I don't need your help, I've realized," Hugh said. "I've changed my mind."

"It wouldn't be a wise idea to go back on a promise with a Hanley," Valerie said. "When I overheard you telling Melissa all about her hooker past, I told you that I would take things from here. I don't need you in Marquette Cove complicating things."

"I don't —"

"I've already transferred the funds I promised into your account," Valerie continued. "It should be more than enough to warrant you returning to wherever it is you're from."

Hugh sighed. "Fine...so be it."

"Thank you," Valerie said, rising to her feet. "I believe you have something for me?"

Hugh nodded. He stood up and walked over to his suitcase, which was lying open on the floor. He bent over to pick up a large envelope resting on the top of a folded pile of clothes. He then handed the folder to Valerie and grimaced.

"The key to Melissa's past," Hugh said.

Valerie quickly opened the envelope and removed one of the photographs inside. Valerie smirked as she gazed at the picture. "This should do just fine."

Valerie shoved the photograph back into the envelope and set it on the table next to the door. She placed her coat back on and picked up the envelope. She opened the door and turned back to Hugh. "Goodbye, Mr. Rogers."

"I'll see you around," Hugh replied.

"No, you won't," Valerie said, exiting and slamming the door shut. Once Valerie was outside, she clutched the envelope and smiled. Valerie placed the envelope into her purse and headed for her car. "Looks like I'll be giving Felicia an early Christmas present…and giving Melissa a lump of coal big enough to knock her off her pedestal."



ABANDONED CHURCH

"I want to know what's going on with Julia," Blake said, pacing back and forth. "What if they kill her?"

"I doubt it," Vince said. "If they were going to kill her, they'd have done it by now."

"Why do people always say stupid things like that?" Blake demanded. "What if they want to kill her in some type of ritualistic way? Or maybe they're waiting for this Discourse guy, or whoever the hell he is, to kill her himself!"

"I was trying to be positive," Vince snapped.

"Oh, well there's a first," Blake said.

"Shut up," Vince said, turning away from Blake as the sewer hole opened up once more. Vince cautiously leapt back, wondering if the three women who had taken Julia away were there again to grab one of them.

Instead, it was Alistair, the only male that appeared to be working for Discourse. "Come with me."

Alistair extended his hand and took Vince's, allowing him to climb out of the sewer. Once Vince was out, he saw that Discourse was standing next to him. He grinned and waved his hand to bring Blake floating out of the sewer.

"You and I are alike," Discourse explained. "I would like to speak with you alone."

Vince turned back to Blake. "Stay here, I'll be fine."

"Not arguing with Carrie here," Blake said.

Vince nodded and turned back around. He followed Discourse toward the pulpit, where they were able to talk without being overheard by Blake and Alistair.

"You're me," Vince said. "But I can't…I can't use my powers, so not exactly."

"This is not your world," Discourse said. "They've told me so."

"Oh, well then that makes sense," Vince said. "Because…wait…what are you talking about? Who is 'they'?"

"The angel and the demon," Discourse answered.

"Are they…are they voices in your head?" Vince asked, realizing how silly his question sounded but ignoring that fact because it was an entirely valid question.

"Yes," Discourse replied. "They are a part of me."

Vince's face fell. "Oh…shit."



ANDERSON HOME

Chris Server knocked on the front door at Kelli Anderson's house, hoping to find his boyfriend, Blake Thomas, there. After a few moments, Kelli answered the door and smiled at Chris. She gave him a hug and invited him inside the house.

"What's up?" Kelli asked, closing the door behind him.

"I have to get over to work, but I'm looking for Blake first," Chris said. "Have you seen him?"

"No, he's not here," Kelli replied. "Though I don't really blame him."

Chris frowned. "What's wrong?"

"It's the anniversary of Thomas's death," Kelli reminded him. "He died three years ago today."

"Oh," Chris said. "Of course! How could I forget? I should be there for him."

"Maybe you can call him and find him," Kelli said.

"No, I can't…I have to get going," Chris said. "I was just stopping by. I'll try and visit him later…maybe he's at his old home."

"Chris, is something wrong?" Kelli asked, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

"Nothing's wrong," Chris insisted.

"You just seem nervous," Kelli said. "That's all."

"I'm fine," Chris snapped. "I just have to —"

Chris was interrupted when his cell phone rang. He reached into his pocket and removed the phone to answer it.

"Ric, what's up?" Chris demanded. "I know what he told us, I was there too. No, I'm on my way."

Chris hung up the phone.

"Ricard Branch?" Kelli demanded. "What are you doing hanging out with me?"

"He works with me," Chris said. "Detective Kincaid got us the jobs."

"You know, you never told me where you were working," Kelli said.

"Didn't I?" Chris asked, ignoring Kelli. "I have to go."

Chris leaned forward and kissed Kelli on the cheek, and then he turned around and left the house. Once he was gone, Kelli stood in the doorway and watched him leave.

"I thought we were talking about Blake," Chris said. "Then we were going to watch a movie. That really long musical you like — Camelot? Even though I really don't like musicals. Especially those that seem like they just slapped in a couple of dance numbers on a Saturday morning to make it seem —"

"I really have to go," Kelli said. "I'll talk to you later."

Kelli walked out of the house, clutching her purse, and stepped out onto the front steps. Chris followed her to the door, said goodbye, and closed it behind her. Once the door was closed, Kelli breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against the door.

What the hell was Chris still doing with a gun? He was supposed to be out of the gang he used to be in, but now Kelli was finding guns hidden in his drawer. And now she was even more suspicious of what was in the metal box under Chris's bed.

She didn't want to be anywhere near Chris or that gun right now, but she did know that she was going to have to go back and find out what was in the box. She had to find out what Chris was hiding from her.

Suddenly becoming suspicious of Chris again, Kelli reached for her jacket on the coat rack and tossed it on. She checked to make sure she had her phone in her pocket, and then she stepped outside and locked the door behind her.

Kelli could still see Chris in the distance, but he couldn't see her. Taking a deep breath, Kelli hurried after Chris to find out what he was up to.

Marcia smiled at Julia Mitchell, who was sitting in one of the few remaining rooms left in the church that hadn't crumbled to pieces. Marcia was combing Julia's hair, while looking at both of them in a mirror.

"You look beautiful," Marcia cooed.

"Oh, boy," Julia said. "Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee."

"Huh?" Marcia asked.

"Nothing," Julia said. "Faulty reference anyway. Look…I'm wondering where the other girls disappeared to."

"They went to find you something to wear," Marcia said.

"There are just clothes lying around?"

"No, we will have to create them," Marcia answered.

As if in response, Tanya and Vanessa entered the room carrying a long dress for Julia to wear. Although, both girls were dressed in their black cloaks still, so Julia had no idea why she was getting dressed up…unless…

"Oh God, am I going to have to mate with someone?" Julia demanded.

"No, of course not," Marcia said. "Discourse doesn't need sex to lead a fulfilling life!"

"Joy," Julia muttered.

Vince rejoined Blake near the sewer hole, and took his arm to pull him away from Alistair. Alistair didn't react because he was focusing his attention on Discourse for the time being. "Blake, we've got a serious problem."

"Thanks for stating the obvious?" Blake asked.

"A new problem," Vince snapped.

"What's up?"

"Remember Antonio and Zaliphyr?" Vince asked.

"No…I don't think I remember the two people who tried killing us in a cave yesterday…or however many days ago that was."

"When did you become such a sarcastic bastard?"

"Since I've been repeatedly kidnapped and held against my will, so…about as of yesterday?" Blake offered.

"Fine," Vince said. "But there's something I need to — Julia?"

"Huh?"

"Julia," Vince said. "She's not dead! And she's..."

"Kind of hot," Blake said, upon turning around to see Julia approaching them in an ankle-length black sequined dress. "Which means a lot coming from me."

"Hey guys," Julia said. "Did you miss me?"

"What happened to you?" Vince demanded.

"I joined Discourse," Julia replied. "Which you should both think of doing, immediately."

"And why's that?" Blake asked.

Julia frowned. "Because otherwise, your only option is a slow, painful death."



GEMINI DESIGNS

Robert Bale took the hand of his girlfriend, Melissa Maddock, and stepped inside Gemini Designs. She had no idea why Robert had brought her to a place that for the most part, was a bridal shop. The shop did also sell jewelry and other clothes designed by Kristin Mendez, the owner, so maybe he was going to get her something else.

Either way, spending an afternoon with Robert was enough to clear her mind of everything horrible that had been happening in her life lately. From the death of her daughter Erin, to confronting Hugh Rogers with a gun to make him leave town, Melissa's summer had turned out to be a horrifying experience.

"Why are we here, exactly?" Melissa asked.

"I want to show you something," Robert said. "Maybe we could try on a wedding dress."

"Are you serious?" Melissa demanded.

Robert laughed. "No, I'm kidding. But I did come here to show you something related to that."

Robert led Melissa to the front desk, where Kristin was seated. When she noticed Robert, she reached under the desk and removed the item he had asked for. Kristin opened a small box, revealing a diamond engagement ring.

"Oh my God," Melissa gasped. "Are you asking me to marry you?"

"Not yet, but I will be," Robert said. "I'm still dealing with this whole divorce thing, but I want to promise you that once it's over, I'm putting this ring on your finger."

"Oh, Robert!" Melissa cried. "You don't know what this means to me."

Robert pulled Melissa into a kiss. "You don't know what this means to me."

Felicia Bale walked through Emerald Square, attempting to move around on her new crutches since she had finally gotten out of her wheelchair. She decided that the best place to move around would be on a Tuesday, when there wouldn't be as many people wandering around for her to bump into.

"Boy, this is fun," Felicia muttered. "Hobbling around on crutches."

She paused next to Gemini Designs to catch her breath, and then she decided that she'd had enough of wandering around. As she started back toward her car, Felicia noticed two familiar faces inside the shop.

She noticed Robert and Melissa kissing, while standing next to a rack of wedding dresses. Felicia couldn't believe her eyes. They couldn't be getting married, could they?

"I wish I had a gun right now," Felicia said, holding back tears that were forming in her eyes. "Then I could put myself out of my misery."



ABANDONED CHURCH

"She's absolutely correct," Discourse said, approaching the three teenagers with Alistair at his side. His other three followers, for lack of a better word, followed suit and surrounded Vince, Julia, and Blake.

"Julia, what the hell is wrong with you?" Vince demanded.

"Vincent, Discourse is the new…revolution," Julia said. "And I think you should join, or you know, you'll be dead."

"I'm not joining a goddamn cult," Vince snapped.

Julia rolled her eyes. "Vince, for God's sake. Or…um, for Discourse's sake. Join us, or die."

Blake elbowed Vince. "Vince, what are we supposed to do?"

Vince waved his hand to see if his powers were working now, but they turned out to be, which made him look like a confused idiot. Discourse ignored Vince's failed attempts to seem powerful and stepped forward.

"I am going to venture into this town you call Marquette Cove," Discourse said.

"You told them the name of our town?" Vince demanded.

"Well, I'm sort of wearing a Marquette Cove Baseball T-shirt," Blake reminded him.

"Oh, yeah," Vince said. "You don't even play baseball."

"It's my brother's shirt," Blake insisted.

"Stop bickering," Discourse commanded. "I will venture into this town, and perhaps I will be able to unlock the secrets of you…Vincent Moore. But before I depart, I will give you both one last chance to join me."

"Go to hell," Vince snarled.

"No, you both will," Discourse said, turning to Alistair. "Feel free to kill them both."



BALE HOME

Felicia stepped inside her house and slammed the door shut. She dropped her crutches onto the floor and staggered into the kitchen, using the wall to keep her balance. Once she reached the fridge, she pulled it open and began searching inside for something.

She couldn't find it at first, which caused her to cry out in anger. Felicia yanked open the freezer and finally found what she wanted. A bottle of vodka was resting in the back of the freezer. She reached for the bottle and pulled it out.

Unscrewing the cap, Felicia raised the bottle to her lips and took a long swig from it. She lowered the bottle and swallowed the vodka in her mouth. Her body shook quickly in reaction to it, but she continued to drink anyway.

If she couldn't kill herself, she would at least find some way to forget about Robert and Melissa.