The MST, Ch. 29

Starr glared at Samuel. "You can't do it. You know you're not strong enough. My god Dad, you had a heart attack several days ago and I know you're still having problems. If you try to face your secret now, you'll kill yourself. Why don't you just wait a few more days at least? Dad, you don't have to be Todd Manning anymore. Let Walker be him. Just be Samuel. I love all of you and I'd rather have you as Samuel then not at all. You know you can survive just the way you are, Dad. Do that, and be happy. I'm not going anywhere and Mom's right here too. Please?"

"I can't just be me anymore Starr, I don't feel all here. With each memory that has returned, I realize I'm missing something. I'm here to help Todd and he should be here. Don't you see, Todd made me keep his place so he wouldn't be lost forever. I can't usurp his life, I'd be just as guilty as Carlo Hesser." Samuel walked over and gave his daughter a hug. "It's going to be alright. I'm not the only one who'll be helping Todd. We'll put up as much of a united front as we can. I need you and your mom and Hope to be here. You will be our lifeline. I'm counting on it. Now I have to go out. There are a few matters I need to take care of before this evening. I hear Hope. You go check on your daughter, I'll be back later." Samuel smiled and left.

Starr watched him leave, feeling helpless. She started up the stairs to Hope when her cell phone rang, it was Dani. Starr debated answering but couldn't. Dani wanted to talk about Walker and Starr just wasn't ready to face him yet, much less be reminded of how different he and her dad really were.

Samuel got down to the garage level and got his car. He wanted to see a few people today and let them get a glimpse of him. If everything worked out tonight Todd would be back. Samuel wanted some of the people who knew him, to get used to the idea he might still be around. It was time he got everyone questioning who Todd Manning really was. It had been eight years since his face had been seen in Llanview. Well, today it was going to be seen again. Might as well start at the papers. Let's see how observant some people are. Samuel parked his car down at the end of the block from the entrance to the Sun. He got out and took a stroll to the front entrance. Good, the security guard was still the guard Briggs had hired long ago. Now to have some fun. "Hey, Phil everything quiet today. You're looking good. Have you been working out?" asked Samuel. The guard looked at him and replied "Everything's great, Mr. Manning. Thanks for noticing. I have been working out." Samuel nodded his head and sauntered off. He wondered how long it would take the guard to realize what he had seen. It didn't matter right now but a few days from now it would.

Next, Samuel decided for old time's sake to check out Todd's old haunt, the police station. If he got lucky maybe he could give Nora and Bo a quick look. He walked in, thinking of all the times he had been brought in by the cops, Samuel was amused when he remembered all the times Todd had been turned loose for lack of evidence.

An officer came up to him. "Sir, is there something we can do for you?”

“Yes, I was wondering if Commissioner Buchanan or his wife might be in. Oh yes, they are, but they look busy.  I'll just wave and try and catch them later when they are free. Thank you, Officer." It was perfect, they were both in Bo's office. Samuel moved to stand in front of the window to the office. He stood there for just a moment staring, then he caught Bo's eyes. He smiled and gave a little wave. Then he quickly turned and exited the room before the shock had worn off. It was delightful, Nora had seen Bo's expression and turned to see what Bo had been looking at. Samuel had given her a quick wink also. He quickly disappeared into the mass of people going to and fro in the hallway. He knew Bo wouldn't be able to move that fast.

He still had to give Vicki and Tea a glimpse before tonight. Especially Vicki since he was headed into the cemetery tonight. He just had this feeling, if Vicki knew he was around, she might come looking for him. He was hoping that would be the case. First, though, he'd check on Tea. He got out to Manning's home. There were a couple cars there, so they appeared to be home. They were coming out together. This was perfect. He could get in another jab at Manning and let Tea see him at the same time. He pulled up behind their cars and rolled down his window. They had started coming toward the car as he said "I just wanted to say what a couple you make. Have a good day." The whole time he was talking to them he kept his eyes on Tea. He made sure she got a look at him before he drove away.

Llanfair wasn't far from Manning's house. Samuel got out at the back of the estate and headed for the back patio one last time. Vicki was working with her roses. He stopped and watched her. Should he say something or not? Samuel wanted to step forward and let her see him.  He wanted to be able to touch her gentle face and hear her scold him.  She, above everyone else, deserved to know he was alive. He stood in the shadows ."Vicki," he said.

Vicki turned to see who had spoken, the voice had sounded familiar. She saw him standing under the tree, she couldn't see his face. “Excuse me, but if you wish to talk to me, could you please come out of the shadows." Vicki started to walk closer.

"Stop Vicki."  Samuel stepped from the shadow and let her see him.

"Todd?" Vicki whispered. She wasn't sure what she was seeing. "Todd is that you?"

"No, Vicki, I'm Samuel, Todd isn't here right now. Yes, you heard correctly. Todd isn't here with us at this moment. I need you to just listen. I am your brother, your real brother. I'm here with Rodd and Tom and Pete and Ms. Perkins, and yes, Todd. Something happened and we've been lost. Tonight we hope to come home. I had to see you, I needed to tell you how much a part of me you are. You've been by my side these last years keeping me sane. I know you don't understand anything I've been saying. If the worst happens tonight, I don't want it to be like the last time I disappeared. I wanted you to know I love you. If after tonight I'm unable to come and explain fully, you can talk to Blair or Starr. They know everything. Take care." Samuel turned and left quickly before Vicki could say or do anything to stop him. If she knew what he was going to attempt. She would try to stop him and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to say no to her.

Samuel was definitely feeling the pressure. Blair and Starr had been on his case since he had gotten home. Starr had called Blair and told her his plans. Talk about a united front. Samuel recalled how Todd must have felt when they had ganged up on him. Still, he had to stick to the Plan. "I've heard what you're saying, but this has to be done. "Wait for me, I hope to be home by midnight. If I'm not, then come looking for me." He held open his arms and took Blair and Starr in. "I want to come back. You've given me hope that there is a life for me here. Trust me." Samuel grabbed the flashlight and left.

Blair and Starr followed close behind. They dropped Hope off at Dorian's and headed for the Cemetery. Blair knew he was headed there because he had disappeared there. She was sure the trauma had occurred the night he disappeared. Whether he wanted help or not, she and Starr were going to be close by. His brain and the alters might be ready for this encounter, but both she and Starr felt his body wasn't. If it gave out they wanted to be there to save him.

Night had fallen, Vicki was pacing back and forth still trying to take in what had occurred earlier. She had seen Todd, she was sure of it. Not the man she had thought was Todd all these years but the original. She had seen his face and heard his voice. She recalled the last time he had said goodbye to her. It had been after she had chastised him for using her illness to get out of jail. She had been so hurt and so mad that he would do that to her. She remembered how his voice had cracked when he had said he was sorry. His voice had cracked today when he told her he loved her. Try as she might she had never heard him say that before. Todd had always kept his feelings well hidden. But it wasn't Todd who had said it, was it. He said his name was Samuel and that he was one of Todd's alters. Surprisingly, that hadn't been a shock. She had always suspected that Todd did indeed have DID.

Samuel had spoken of something that was taking place tonight, he had sounded so ominous. He had sounded like he was saying goodbye again. Why had he shown himself if he was just going to leave again? Something Samuel said reminded Vicki of his disappearance eight years ago. He had said they had gotten lost and then he had mentioned the time he last disappeared. That was the time of Sam's death. Todd had been the one they all had thought killed Sam, but it had turned out to be Lindsay. Father's ring had been found at the scene, but she knew Todd had been the last one wearing it. How had Todd lost the ring? Blair had been sure Todd had been taken by Mitch and it wasn't until Walker came that they found out that was the truth. She couldn't think of the current Todd right now.

All her thoughts were on Samuel.  So the new alter was named after Todd's good friend. Vicki wondered if Samuel or Todd knew that Sam was dead. If he didn't that was going to be a shock. Samuel had told her that Blair and Starr knew what was going on. She had been trying to get a hold of Blair, but her phone was turned off and she hadn't had any luck with Starr either. Vicki stopped as a thought occurred to her. Whenever Todd had needed to think, he had always ended up at Victor's crypt. Was it possible he had gone to the cemetery tonight? That would be easy enough to check.

It was already dark by the time Blair and Starr arrived at the cemetery. Samuel had already been here for a while. They didn't see him among the headstones. They would have to go in deeper. Blair looked at Starr. "I think I know where he might be. I think he's at your grandfather's crypt."

"Mom, why would he go there?" asked Starr

"Because that is where Mitch held him long ago. Whatever happened that night must have been horrible," said Blair. "Here it's this way. I hope he's alright."

The sun was setting when Samuel arrived at the cemetery. They were all present, Todd and the other alters. This was something they would all face together up to a point and then it would be he and Todd. He walked through the gates of the cemetery and began moving among the headstones. A cold chill had settled around him.  As he went through the headstones, he found himself having to watch his step the ground was uneven, suddenly he tripped. Samuel went sprawling on top of a grave. His flashlight was beaming at the name on the stone. Samuel went very still. "No! It couldn't be. He couldn't be dead. Sam!  Please tell me I'm reading this wrong!" Samuel saw the date, March 14th, 2003. “NO!!!!!” Samuel screamed in despair. He staggered off the grave. Running away, he had to get away. Samuel and Todd were both reeling and it was all he could do to catch his breath. Why hadn't he remembered? What else was ahead? He kept running, then falling to his knees he started to cry. Through his tears, he looked up and realized what was in front of him. Suddenly his very breath seemed to turn frosty, he was at Victor's tomb.

Todd stared at the scene in front of him, that tomb beckoning to him.  It seemed to be welcoming him.  Samuel no longer had control, he watched as Todd got slowly to his feet. Todd took slow unsteady steps toward the door. Something was waiting on the other side. He had no choice. He had to know what awaited him. Pushing open the door Todd stumbled into the crypt. He remembered Mitch taunting him, telling him that Sam was dead. He had thought his heart was breaking. The only man who had ever treated him like a son was dead. He had wanted to kill Mitch three times over, but he couldn't, he was bound. Todd stumbled to the floor staring at the tomb that held his father, then he wasn't on the floor any longer, he was laying next to his father watching the lid drop down.  “No, don't!"

He tried to scream, but he was gagged. Darkness, Mitch's taunting voice then silence but it wasn't silent for long. 'He' was laughing, that hated voice was laughing at him again. No, he had to get away. Father was laughing, he was coming, he was going to hurt him again. Todd couldn't move.

"You miserable excuse for a son, can't you ever do anything right. You're weak, I'll teach you some strength. You can't hide from me." Todd could see him grinning as he pulled his belt free. More laughter coming from across the room Todd couldn't see who it was.

"Bravo Peter, he's a disrespectful whelp.  Hmmph, Lord heart. He doesn't deserve it. Let me have the heart. I know what to do with it, he's not worthy." 

The gag was gone, but he couldn't breathe it was so hard to breathe, the old man, the pervert was leaning over him, he wanted to gag, the smell so overwhelming, he had to get out of here. “Can’t breathe.”  That dead smell, what was it?  There was that laughter again, fingers grabbing at him holding him down.

"Victor I hear you like them young, he might be a little long in the tooth for you but he's such a girl. Here I'll hold him have some fun." Those hands tearing at him

"No don't touch me!! LEAVE ME ALONE!! " He couldn't breathe, so cold, so dark.. Wait, a light.  Someone coming toward him, "Help!, Someone help," Sam, it's Sam, He'll help, he always helps. "Sam Help me!"

" I can't Pal, I'm dead, You're on your own with this one."

"NO, WHERE DID HE GO? SAM!!!!!" CAN'T BREATHE, GOT TO GET SOME AIR! Hands grabbing him holding him down, that hated voice, "Get away..leave me alone... please let me be... I'll be good..let me be...can't ...breathe......too hard to breathe...hurt everywhere got to breathe”   What's that?  A knife, no he wants my heart. “GOD DON'T LET HIM TAKE MY HEART!” utter Darkness…

Samuel looked up that knife inching closer, the voice taunting "I'm going to mark you so you'll never forget me. L FOR LAURENCE, " Samuel felt the knife touch below his eye then carving down his cheek, then no more pain just silence..

Todd's eyes flew opened, agony shooting through his chest! God not again! Can't breathe! "Blair..Starr ...Someone help"..There she was. He knew he could count on her.." Vicki, help me! Please!" and he passed out.

“TODD! My god, what's the matter?" Vicki knelt down. She tried to feel for a pulse. She heard footsteps behind her. Turning she saw Blair and Starr enter the tomb. "Something's wrong, I can hardly find a pulse. What is it?"

"Aunt Vicki call 911. Mom, he's having another attack. You have to do something." said Starr.

" Starr, help me lay him down. You breathe for him and I'll do the chest compressions. Ok, now, that's it ..again...again...wait .let me check, no keep going...again... Come on Todd, I'm not going to lose you a third time. Again Starr...again..." Blair prayed the ambulance would get there soon.

Vicki knelt beside her brother. Looking at Blair she asked, " The ambulance is on the way. What did Starr mean by another attack? When was the last one ?"

Blair looked over, "He had an attack several days ago. He wouldn't go to the hospital, you know how he hates them. Samuel insisted on coming here tonight, he said he had to free Todd. Was he successful? Did he talk to you before he passed out? Was he Todd?"

"I believe he was. Oh god, what has he been through? Where has he been? Keep him alive, Blair. I think I hear the EMTs. I'll get them." Vicki got up. 

Todd was in bad shape, but they managed to get his heart going again. Blair had Starr go with her father. She offered a ride to Vicki and headed to her car.

Vicki took a look around shaking her head and sobbing. "You ruin all of us. Now you might have taken your son too. Will it never end?" she closed the door and left the dead where he belonged.