The MST, Ch. 6

Back in the Cafe, the subject of Carlo's interest was sitting stunned after Tomas's announcement.

"His name is Samuel? Now I'm really confused. I used to know a Sam, but he died tragically. In fact, he died in the same year as my painting. I don't know any other Sams or Samuels. This is getting more puzzling and creepier every time I learn something new about this artist. This Samuel seems to know all about me and I know nothing about him. Just who has been telling him about me and describing me. I have to find this man. He's hiding something, it's impossible for him to paint as he's been doing. Somehow, he has got a lock on my past that is scary." Blair turned to Christian, "What do we do next?"

Christian looked at Blair. He'd been listening intently to everything that Tomas was telling them and trying to picture this man described by Tomas. "Blair, I have an idea. Perhaps I can draw a sketch of this man using whatever descriptions Tomas can give me. Then at least we'll have something to start showing around. Someone else has seen this man. He's been living here for seven years, he has to exist."

"What an excellent suggestion, Mr. Vega. After we’ve completed our breakfast we'll return to my Gallery. I have supplies there that you can use. Perhaps once we have his likeness we'll be closer to finding him." Tomas turned his eyes once more to Blair. " And my dear Blair perhaps you would allow me some time to show you a little of my beautiful Paris...To come all this way and not see my City of Lights would, in itself, be a tragedy." he smiled.

Blair smiled at the two men sitting opposite her. "Christian I knew you would come up with an idea. A sketch is ideal. But as soon as you complete it, you should give some time to the other reason you made this trip with me. You need to resolve things with Layla." Her eyes focussed on Tomas. “Tomas, you've been so good to give us your valuable time helping us. I think I would like to see Paris, I really need a diversion right now. "

"Good, then we have a plan. Although many questions still remain, I have a feeling we're moving in the right direction. And a little diversion is always welcomed when stress gets you down." Tomas smiled warmly at Blair. He and Christian exchanged knowing glances, and together they all continued their breakfast, content in the realization that they were making progress toward finding their mysterious artist.

***

Samuel felt an inner calm come over him. He knew that someone had been keeping an eye on him ever since he got to France, and except for that one night in the restaurant, they had taken a back seat as if they made the decision to watch only. It had been unnerving to know there were eyes on him constantly, but the feeling of menace had lessened over the years until yesterday. Why had he felt that sudden dread last night? Was it because he was starting to feel like those long lost memories might indeed be surfacing? Did the menace have something to do with those forgotten memories? Samuel cleared his head. One thing that was certain, he had a breakthrough this morning. He had a memory and what a memory. " My God, I have a child out there somewhere." Was it a boy or a girl? Where was this child and who was the mother? "Could my beautiful Muse be the mother of my child?" If she was, then all these years he had been painting someone real. It was imperative that he find out if she was in fact real. "I'm not sure where to start."

He sighed as reality set in. First things first. "I need to go to the bank and exchange some of the money I got last night. I must still eat and pay everyday bills." Samuel got up and going to the table he picked up the several thousand dollars he had separated last night. He grabbed his coat reached for the mask and secured it to his face again. It had become second nature to cover the side of his face. He didn't like to look at the scars, they stirred up feelings of panic, remorse, and revulsion whenever he looked at them. The mask made it easier to face people one on one, without encountering that same revulsion on someone else's face. Leaving the apartment, he headed in the direction of the Gallery. He was not going that far today. He had found a small bank not far from the Gallery and it was there that he usually exchanged the dollars into Euros.  Smiling to himself, he recalled that first encounter at the bank.

It had been a foggy wet morning when he went to the bank for the first time. He walked into the bank and suddenly found himself surrounded by guards. He was stunned but quickly put his hands up. They began asking him questions in French and he tried to tell them he only spoke English. He was finally aided by a young mademoiselle who stopped the guards long enough to ask him some questions, "Monsieur, they believe you are trying to rob us."

 "What? No, I'm trying to exchange currency. Please explain that to them." 

"They wish to know why you are wearing a mask." 

"Oh, I didn't even think.  I wear it all the time.  If they'll let me.  I'll show the reason for the mask."

 The young lady turned to the guards and explained what he had told her, then at their nods she turned and said. "Monsieur, they will allow you to remove it but carefully."

 Samuel remembered how embarrassed he felt when he removed the mask. Wincing he had listened to the collective gasps that went up and watched the falling gazes of the guards. The young woman very gently told him he could replace the mask and asked if she could help him with his exchange. The guards had quietly turned and walked away. He had followed her to her station and had noted her name. It was a pleasant name for a pleasant young lady. Mademoiselle Jessica. She helped him that day, and from then on she took it upon herself to help him with all of his exchanges. He was looking forward to seeing her this morning.  It had been a while since he had been to the bank.

Reaching the bank, Samuel entered and silently nodded to the guards, and made his way to Jessica. As she saw him enter, she gave a small wave. Finishing with her customer. she turned toward him and smiled her endearing smile. "Monsieur Samuel, it has been quite a while. I feared you had left Paris."

"My darling Jessica, only you would miss me. I'm sorry it's been so long. I just need to exchange several thousand today." Samuel filled out the necessary paperwork and handed Jessica the money. In turn, she handed him the comparable Euros.

  "Monsieur Samuel, you need to get out more. Do you only venture out when you need money? This is not good for such a man as yourself. Surely there is a woman to keep you company." Jessica inquired.

With a slight smile Samuel replied " Oh my dear, I have three very lovely ladies who keep me company." and then he turned and exited the bank
.
Samuel felt pretty good as he left the bank. Jessica always made him feel like someone worth something. Samuel looked around, there wasn't too much pedestrian traffic. Maybe it was a good day to try and put himself out among a few more people and see if it would bother him like it had when he first arrived in Paris. Squaring his shoulders, he decided to continue towards the Gallery. No one in the Gallery knew him except for Tomas.  Perhaps he could go in and just enjoy the artwork. Yes, he thought, I can see what some of the other artists in the area are painting. As he walked, he thought of the previous night when he had given Tomas his name. He still couldn't understand why he revealed his name to Tomas. For seven long years, he had kept the anonymity. He had just felt safer. By keeping quiet about his name, he'd felt like he was keeping that menace at bay. Of course, he had only told his first name, Tomas couldn't track him down just by his first name.  Boy, now that's a paranoid thought. Just who would be tracking me down.  In his heart, he knew where that thought had come from. It all stemmed back to those initial feelings of urgency he had felt on leaving the hospital. The feeling that he had to go and hide, that he had to keep someone safe. He had never figured out who he was keeping safe because he couldn't remember anyone from his past.  That was in his past. Today he was going to take a chance.  He was nearing the Gallery, maybe Tomas would be there and he could talk to him about the previous night.

As he rounded the corner, he saw the Gallery ahead. He was about to go to the door when a cab pulled up in front and three people alighted. He recognized the first gentleman as Tomas then there was a second gentleman. The second gentleman was helping a woman out of the cab. Samuel didn't see her face it was turned away from him but as he watched his heart started beating faster. She seemed so familiar and he was just looking at her back. Samuel felt dizzy, everything was spinning. He tried to focus on the woman but suddenly a sharp stabbing pain went through his head. The pain was so excruciating that Samuel was forced to his knees.

Grabbing his head, Samuel tried to stand back up but then nothing, darkness filled his vision.

This wasn't right had he gone blind. No, there was light filtering in from somewhere. As his eyes focused once more, he saw that he wasn't on the street, in fact, this didn't look like any place he had ever seen, all-round him was this half-darkness, no tangible items to touch or see but he could hear someone talking yet couldn't see anyone. Where was he? What was going on? Ahead of him, he noticed a figure walking towards him. A very unusual-looking woman, if you could call her that, was nearing him. She/he was saying something, then the words began to make sense.

" Samuel, you must calm down. I need you to close your eyes and take some deep breaths. It's going to be okay, but you must do what I tell you."

Who was this person?' Samuel didn't feel any panic just bewilderment. How did this person know him? Even as he was thinking these thoughts, Samuel felt the pain begin to lessen in his head.

Ms.Perkins spoke again. "Samuel, close your eyes and reach to your side."

Not really understanding why Samuel did as instructed.

Suddenly he felt something substantial, he opened his eyes and the street slowly came back into focus. Samuel straightened up and leaned against the wall of the building. The pain in his head had gone away, but he felt his heart beating very fast and he could hardly catch his breath. He looked toward the Gallery. The cab had left and there were no signs of Tomas and the two other people. What had just happened?

Samuel slowly pulled himself together. Whatever just happened, it was obvious that this wasn't the time to see Tomas. He moved to the edge of the street and flagged down another cab. Getting in, he told the cabbie to take him #19 Rue Morgue, he knew he was no longer up to the walk. Paying for the cab he went up to his apartment.

He needed to think. Samuel walked into his sitting room and removed his coat and mask. He then headed to the kitchen and pulled down a bottle of wine from his cabinet. It was only a little after one, but he felt in need of something stronger than water. Pouring himself some wine he grabbed the wineglass and walked back into the sitting room. His heart was just now getting back to normal. He sat there and replayed what had transpired earlier. What was it about that woman that grabbed his attention, and where had he gone? The dizziness and the pain were something new. He really needed to see a doctor, but he also hated doctors.

 His thoughts kept going back to the darkness and the person who had talked to him. It had seemed so strange and yet safe, he really wanted to know who else had been in that darkness with him. He had felt somebody else there besides the person who came to him. Wherever and whoever they were, Samuel began to realize that they were very important to him.

Samuel sat there drinking his wine and thinking of the things that had happened since he had awakened that morning. Deep in the recesses of his consciousness, a different scene was unfolding.

"Well, this is just great! Now we have to deal with her again! God! He can't let the tramp go." furious Pete again attempted to break his bonds. "I thought it was bad enough having to sit here and watch him moon over those damn paintings but if he comes in contact with her again I don't think even I can save him."

" Ahh Pete, but he loves her or Todd loves her. Even I'm getting confused" sighs Tom.

" You! Eh, You were born confused. You don't even really know 'what' love is. You're just a kid." Pete laughed cruelly.

"But ah Pete, You also have no idea of Love. Love, she is wonderful, and our Darling Blair. mmmmwhah" Rodd blew a kiss into the air, "She'sa truly magnificent!"

"Oh my God, don't you both understand.  That woman is Trouble with a capital T." Pete rolled his eyes at his two companions and struggled even harder to get free. "She's the one who brought this whole situation to a head. If Todd hadn't been so hung up on her, he wouldn't have tangled with Mitch and he wouldn't have been pushed so far even we couldn't help. Nooo, now we have Samuel. He's so clueless. I don't understand why Todd won't come to. We've had to endure this existence for seven years. Why can't we get through to him?"

 "Well, Ms. Perkins says everything is coming to a head. She says Todd is coming around and that when he does we'll be able to come out again." Tom looks at Pete. "Don't you believe her?"

"Hmm" sniffed Pete. "That old bat doesn't know any more than we do, she's just keeping a tight rein on us because she thinks we'll do more damage if we're loose."

Ms. Perkins walked up behind them."You are quite right, Pete. 'You' especially will draw attention to Todd. Several years ago, someone hurt us all.  It's been a struggle to finally find the means to think and decide.  Now we have to discover a way to break down the barrier surrounding the room with Todd's memories. We've been making dents and small holes, but we haven't been able to make anything sizable until today. While you boys were talking, I discovered a huge crack had formed in the barrier. It was just before Samuel came here. That's why I sent him back.  Something is happening and Blair might indeed be the one needed to open the barrier and let the memories free." Ms. Perkins looked at the "boys" in front of her. "Samuel is just going to have to stay in play until we can free those memories. Do you understand, Pete?" At that, she gave Pete another look and walk away.

Samuel blinked and rubbed his forehead. It was getting hard to think, everything seemed a little fuzzy. That woman with Tomas had certainly stirred up something, she looked like someone he knew, but the memory was being elusive. Once again, the more he tried to remember the more his head began to pound and it was getting worse. That pain this morning had been more than the usual pounding, he had never felt anything like it before. Samuel again reached for his head he needed to do something about the pain or it was going to knock him out again. Taking his time he got unsteadily to his feet and moved to the bathroom. He reached the sink and stared for a few moments at his reflection.

As always his eyes were drawn to his scars. They were so ugly and he felt they were there to remind him of something equally ugly. The doctor who had stitched up the newer scar had inquired why the first one hadn't been removed and Samuel remembered saying it couldn't be removed. He didn't even know why he said it but deep in his heart, he had known it was the truth. And just like the old scar, the new scar was something he needed to have, it was a clue to his past. Samuel opened the cabinet door and took out some aspirin, swallowed a couple, and headed toward the loft. He had to get back to work, headache, or no headache.