Scenario for TM's Return to Llanview # 5

It was nearing sunset, TM found himself walking the grounds at the cemetery. He had spent the day trying to recall more and more memories. One image kept popping up in his mind and it had led him to the cemetery.
There it was, that god awful mausoleum, he got to the door but could go no further. The day came back to him with blinding clarity. Waking up to find himself handcuffed to the wall. Then Mitch's taunting about Blair and Sam and how his own family was no longer safe, because Mitch was going to show him the errors of his ways. He would have to pay for not heeding the Messenger. When Mitch had returned he had hinted that someone had died and he had let him think for a moment that Blair was dead. Then Mitch had dropped the bombshell that Sam was dead. Todd's world had crumbled around him and then Mitch had ordered the unthinkable. Todd was bound and gagged and laid in the tomb with his dead father Victor. Todd looked on horrified as the lid to the vault was lowered and then darkness and then oblivion.

For eight long years Todd had existed in oblivion. For him the year felt like 2003, but he had been told and now realized it to be true, that it was 2011. Mitch had taken eight years of his life.  Todd slid to the ground against the door sobbing as the enormity of all that had passed hit him.

Vicki had been setting flowers at the graves of her three husbands and stopping to talk to them but with the sun setting it was time to return home. She had to walk past her father's mausoleum on her way to Llanfair, as she rounded the corner she spotted him sitting there sobbing. She walked up to see if she could offer some comfort. "Excuse me, are you alright."

At her voice, Todd raised his head and saw his sister standing above him.

Vicki found herself staring into the face she thought she would never see again. Her brother was staring up at her looking for all the world like some lost soul. She stooped and reached out "Todd, what is it? What has happened?" It didn't even occur to her that she shouldn't be saying those words. All thoughts of the Todd she had known for the last eight years were forgotten the moment she touched the face of the man in front of her. His look was so anguished that she couldn't help herself and she embraced him to give him the comfort he obviously needed at that moment. After a few moments she felt him pulling back so she released him. She took a good look at the man in front of her. He was older but seemed okay.  His eyes were haunted by something and then he started to stand up. Vicki reached for the wall of the mausoleum to stand back up when she felt his hand come out to support her.

Todd helped his sister regain her feet. Then he just looked at her. The years have been kind, but she seemed to have a sense of sorrow about her. "Are you okay Sis?" All the thoughts and feelings that had hit him were drifting away as he took in the picture of his sister in front of him. "Long time no see, huh."

Vicki laughed "That's an understatement" Even as she said the words she suddenly realized that not only was it an understatement there was definitely a problem here. She looked at the man in front of her and felt that she was indeed looking at Todd but if this is Todd standing in front of her then who was the man they all believed to be Todd. "Where have you been all this time?"

Todd ran his hand through his hair and tried to think of an answer that would make sense. " I'm not sure. They told me when I woke up that they had been taking care of me for eight years. I'm not even sure how I got there. My last memory before I woke up was Mitch putting me into Victor's vault. I thought they were lying to me. No way could I have been out of it for eight years. But, My God! Vicki, it's true. It is 2011, I've lost eight years."

Vicki was stunned. Todd was telling her he had been catatonic for eight years. Eight long years he had been trapped in his head. Thirteen years before he had been lost in a catatonic state when Sam had tried to bring to light Todd's past with Peter Manning. She turned and stared at her father's tomb as Todd's other words sunk in. She had know Mitch had been responsible for Todd's disappearance in 2003. But Walker had never told them about the circumstances around his disappearance. "Dear Lord, Todd, you're telling me Mitch actually placed you in with Father!"

Todd looked at the crypt. Suddenly he just wanted to get away from it.
"It doesn't matter, I... I need to get away from here. It's done, I can't get any of it back. I... I've got to go."

"But wait, where are you going? You can't just leave. You show up after eight years and you're just going to go again? Why would you do that?" Vicki grabbed his arm. "Don't leave, we need to talk. I need to know everything you can tell me. Let me help."

Todd stopped, nodded and held out his hand. Vicki took it and they left the cemetery.