Lucky shouted an obscenity at himself and at the door in front of him. A door that was not about to give an inch as he kicked it once again. The impact sending a searing pain through his entire body.

It wasn't getting him anywhere. It was an exercise in futility. One that only lead to more frustration - he knew that. The door wouldn't budge under the force of his foot, or hands, or any other tool he had in his useless emergency backpack. Yet, at that second he didn't care. He just knew he had to hit something or someone. Hard

A rattling sound behind him, caused his head to turn. He blinked several times, trying to clear an image that could not be real. Was he already succumbing to his surroundings or was the stainless steel grating on the vent near the top of the wall really moving? Shaking even?

Lucky crossed over to the wall slowly, looking up just as a pair of fingers curled through the small holes in the covering. A familiar tone of voice whispered his name, and his feet moved forward on their own volition.

It couldn't be.

Dear God, it was. "Nikolas?!" Lucky whispered harshly, moving closer still. A scowl instantly shot across his features. "Nikolas, what the Hell are you doing in there?! - In HERE?!"

Nikolas shushed him loudly and shoved a small screwdriver through an equally small opening and into Lucky's hand. "Would you shut up, and just get the screws out of this thing." He demanded pulling on the rectangular barrier between them. "I'm getting pretty damn claustrophobic in here."

Lucky shook his head. Disbelief registering in his eyes. "Nikolas! Do you have any idea how STUPID this is?! You're gonna get us all killed! As soon as you step foot in here, Helena will know you're - "

Nikolas glanced down at his watch. The seconds ticking away. "5-4-3..."

"What are you doing? Why are you counting like the Village Idio - "

Lucky's voice halted, and he looked up towards the ceiling. Total darkness falling upon them at the very moment Nikolas hit number one.

No light. Anywhere. Aside from the flashlight that clicked on in front of him.

"Now, would you open the damn vent, please?" Nikolas, asked holding the beam of light just under his face. He directed it at Lucky as he began to work on the screws.

"How'd you know that was gonna happen?" Lucky asked, his fingers making quick work of the tiny metal rivets.

Something resembling a cross between a sigh and a groan escaped Nikolas lips. "Right on schedule," He grinned. Heaven help him, he was actually kind of diggin' this whole adventure thing.

One side of Lucky's mouth tilted upwards at Nikolas' words. "The calvary's here?"

Lucky grabbed hold of Nikolas hands and pulled him out of the vent with all his strength a split second later. They both landed in a heap on the floor. Lucky quickly got to his feet, brushing off his pants and looking at the man in front of him. His brother. Even in the darkness he could tell he was wearing some stupid grin.

Why the Hell WAS he here? Certainly he hadn't come to help. 'Elizabeth,' Lucky thought suddenly. 'He's here because Elizabeth is here. Because Elizabeth is in danger,' he thought, shaking his head.

Nikolas moaned and stretched, his joints feeling as if he'd spent the better part of a year in someone's bureau drawer. "Yeah," he finally answered. "Your dad, Sonny...Jason...they're all here."

Lucky closed his eyes and turned around, bitterness suddenly crisping his voice. "I thought I told those guys to go home."

Nikolas huffed. "No offense Lucky, but you look like you could use some help."

It didn't take any light to tell that Lucky was livid. 'Once again you've stuck your foot in your mouth, Prince.'

"You know what Nikolas," Lucky began, his voice lowered in a harsh, nasty whisper. "Nobody asked you to come here! Why the Hell ARE you here anyway?! You come to see if maybe you could get to Elizabeth first? Maybe earn some brownie points that way?"

"I'm here for you!" Nikolas retorted. "Look Lucky...I know I've been a total jackass, and you may never ever forgive me. I know that. Believe me -

"But, I also know that my family put you in this position. My grandmother...and - I'm beginning to think my uncle may have had something to do with it as well."

Lucky shook his head and sighed. "And let me guess. The littlest Cassidine has come all this way just to right all the wrongs of his family."

"No Lucky. I've come here to right my OWN wrongs. I've come here to help my brother."

Lucky licked his lips and looked down. "What if I don't want your help?"

Nikolas cocked his head to the side. "Well, then I'd have to say 'I apologize, but you're gonna get it anyway."

Lucky scratched the back of his head and turned around. "Yeah, well in case you haven't noticed, the only thing you've accomplished is getting us BOTH stuck in here. I really didn't need to worry about you too."

Nikolas tried not to pay too much attention to the admission that his brother had just made. That he would worry about him. They didn't have time to get bogged down in the 'issues' between them now.

"In a matter of seconds, you shouldn't be stuck in here at all anymore."

Lucky turned towards him. "What do y - "

His words trailed off into oblivion as the sound of the God awful door began to penetrate the blackness that cloaked them both. It was beginning to slide back into the wall.

"Jason must've just gotten to the backup generator," Nikolas whispered, walking towards the door himself. Lucky wasn't moving. Why the Heck wasn't he running to the door? Out of the door? Down the Hall and closer to freedom?

"Hey...Lucky," Nikolas called, moving closer to him.

He was frozen. Staring blankly at the wide open space in front of him. Seemingly confused by things going on in front of his own eyes.

Lucky's mind reeled. Knowing everything he saw before him was false. 'Your mind is already playing tricks on you Spencer....'

The very thing he was afraid of happening, was actually beginning now. It was the onset of insanity. That door wasn't open. It couldn't be. How long had he tried to open that damn thing? He'd been trying for months....

Nikolas waved a hand. "Hey...I know it's dark in here, but you see what I see right?...Get the Hell out of here."

Lucky suddenly snapped out of the haze that dimmed his senses. Where the Hell was he?...The lights were out?...Nikolas?...When had Nikolas?.......

No. He hadn't been here for months...this was....Elizabeth was here...and.......The door - the door was really open.

The electricity may have been squelched within the compound, but something suddenly clicked on inside of Lucky's head. He rubbed his hands together and stepped forward. "Ok..how is this supposed to go down? I mean, I'm sure Jason can keep that generator from kicking in for about an hour or so, but it won't matter once the sun comes up. Helena's gonna know you guys are here. She's gonna know that I'm NOT."

Nikolas nodded. "You're right, but it won't matter as long as she THINKS you ARE."

Lucky's eyes narrowed, and then a small grin tugged at his lips. "That bed is pretty lumpy. Not sure it's up to your princely standards." He added, walking to the door and glancing both ways down the corridor, as Nikolas started towards the bed.

It was completely barren. Desolate. A real life ghost town.

Nikolas pointed in Lucky's direction as he turned to face him once again. "That's cute..."

He sat down, removing his tennis shoes. Hopefully this night wouldn't be as long as he suspected it would. This room was already giving him the creeps. How the Hell had Lucky put up with it for 8 months?

The question made him shiver from somewhere deep in his core. In a place near the center of his heart that had gone dark for quite some time. The small ray of light that shown on that part now, only succeeded in making him feel more like an asshole.

Nikolas quickly pulled the covers back. "So...is there anything I need to know? Feeding schedule? When Helena likes to visit?"

"With any luck you won't need any of that. I don't plan on being in this damn place a second longer than necessary....But, if Helena gets an inkling that my dad is here - she'll be here in a second, just....Gloating," he added sarcastically. "So, be on the look out."

"Don't worry, I'll come up with something."

Lucky nodded and took a deep breath. Was he really about to trust Nikolas? When everything was at stake. His life, Elizabeth's life, his father's life?

He was going to have to. It looked like this was their best chance at getting out of this place alive.

"You sure you can handle this...because if - "

"Yes," Nikolas answered soberly, leaning back in bed. "Get out of here Lucky. Like you said - we don't have much time. Eliza - Liz....is waiting for you. Get a move on."

Lucky let out a breath and headed towards the door. He halted when his brother's voice broke through the darkness once again.

"What?" Lucky answered, his hand braced against the door frame.

"Be careful."

A simple nod denoted understanding...and maybe a little something more.

 ~~~~~~~

Alexis clicked the flap of her cellphone back into place and leaned against the bars that blocked her from her client: Her brother.

God only knew how she'd rationalize defending him to herself when she turned out the lights and went to sleep tonight. 'Family,' she thought silently to herself. Wishing that excuse could cover all the guilt she'd felt when she'd looked into Laura's blue eyes not moments before.

"He's not at home. He's not at work. None of his friends have heard from him in few days," she rattled off calmly. "Nikolas went to Cairo, Stephan. Face facts."

Stephan paced the tiny cage that held him. He ran a hand over his goatee in worry. "Alexis...you MUST find a way to get him home. There is no telling what will happen to him if he gets mixed up in this feud that my mother has created."

"You're mother?" Alexis asked, incredulously. "Oh, so SHE is completely to blame for this?"

She lowered her voice and moved closer to the bars, wrapping her fingers around them in a way in which she wished she could do to her brother's neck. Though the bruises Laura had inflicted did provide her with some relief.

"You withhold vital information as to the whereabouts of a child for MONTHS. You participate in what can only be the cruelest 'trick' that Helena has ever played, and you call it 'your mother's feud'?!

"I should be pleading you guilty and lobbying for the death penalty right now. I cannot even fathom what kept Laura from strangling you to death."

"Alexis!" Stephan shouted, his voice rising in frustration. "No matter what you think of me. You cannot wish ill on your nephew. I don't believe you'd want him anywhere near what is going on in Cairo."

Alexis bit down on her bottom lip and slowly released it. "Are there any maps of that compound in the piles of crap you had stashed in the attic?...If there is, you should tell me. The police are rummaging through all of it now and it could help your case. The DA may decide to take pity on you - cut you a deal of some kind, if you volunteer any information that you might have."

Stephan shook his head. Documents and pictures, swimming through his brain one after another. He sighed. "I don't know. Helena sent me all kinds of things. Pictures of the kidnapping. Notes on Lucky's behavior, even things as trivial as his playing chess....

"Things that AREN'T trivial, Stephan!" Alexis snapped. "Now!"

Flustered by her outburst, he continued. "Lucky in his cell. Pictures of his punishment - "

"Punishment?" Alexis winced. Not sure she wanted further explanation, but knowing she had to ask. "What kind of punishment?"

"Ugh...as far as I know it was some type of solitary confinement. I mean, the room they usually had him in was fairly isolated...but he did have access to music...media of different kinds. He also got to go for walks in reward for good behavior, etc.

"This other room....it was more like a dungeon. Dark...dreary."

Alexis closed her eyes imagining what it must have been like for Lucky, and imagining the equally dark and dreary space that had taken up residence in the spot in which her brother's heart had once beat.

Her brother. A man she had grown up loving and admiring on certain days was currently making her physically ill. "And you let this go on....Well, maybe if you're a good little boy you'll get some solitary confinement of your own - Maybe I'll even request it."

Stephan continued, his brain bypassing any response to her comments. A memory suddenly dawned on him. "Yes, there's a map. There is. It's a lay out of the ground floor - like a sort of blueprint of the compound.

"I remember because it sort of looked like a maze. A large....maze. Yes."

"Where?" Alexis asked, searching his eyes. "Where is it? Do you remember what box? What file?"

"Dear God, there were so many..."

"THINK! Stephan!...Start thinkin' or start compiling a reading list of books you might want to read during your stay at Pentenville."

~~~~~~~

Lucky shined the small pen light along the floor, following the beam this way and that. Wracking his brain for the correct turns. For the whens and wheres of direction. Where to make a left, when to keep straight. Was it a right at this corner?

It was like trying to work a maze, with a blindfold on. A maze you weren't all that familiar with in the first place. Only a complete psycho could have built such an architectural phenomenon. A complete and total psycho indeed: Fasion.

Lucky remembered being led to...to the place he was now trying to find - the dungeon, on several occasions. He recalled figuring out the path during his 3rd trek there. The time he'd stolen a knife from the dinner tray.....

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, not wanting to go back there. Not allowing the prickly, bony fingers that tapped him on the shoulder, to get his attention. Or to pull him backwards into that abyss. 'Shake it off...shake it off,' he thought silently, moving forward along the wall.

If his memory was right, he was more than halfway there. Almost to Elizabeth.

'Dear God, please let her be ok...She looked ok, right? On the monitor...Yeah, she looked.....Stop thinking about it and move. You can't afford to do this now. Get to her, and get -

"Shit!"

The word escaped his mouth, as he ran smack dab into something tall and solid. Something tall, solid, and pointing a .45 at his head. "Jeez! Dad!"

Luke stepped back, catching his breath in the darkness. "Lucky! Damnit! Warn someone before you go skulking around corners, ok!"

He withdrew his gun, placing it in his waistband. Lucky ran a nervous hand through his hair. "Hey."

"Hey," Luke greeted, feeling the intense need to hug his son. Feeling the need to wrap his arms around the man in front of him and hold on for dear life, but he didn't.

Lucky broke the silence. "So...Nikolas huh? You brought Nikolas?"

Luke shook his head. "Look, now...I told him not to come. Don't go blaming this on me. The kid just showed up out of nowhere while I was hijacking his family's pilot."

Lucky's mouth dropped open. "You and Nikolas stole Stephan's jet?"

"Yeah, well don't look so surprised. Your old dad's still got a few tricks up his sleeve.....as for Nikolas. Well, I gather he's got something to prove huh?"

Lucky bit his lip and looked down. "Yeah...I gather, he thinks so."

"Did everything go ok there," Luke asked, hesitantly. "He got into the cell with no problem?...He's in there now?"

"Yeah," Lucky answered, distractedly. "It went - it went fine."

"Hey," Luke asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You doin' ok?"

"Fine," Lucky answered, a bit too quickly.

Luke nodded just as quickly. Although the look in his son's baby blues was anything but fine. He was fighting it, but there some part of him that was getting pulled under the tide. Starting to drown.

Lucky looked up, and breathed deeply through his nose. "Mom's not here is she?"

"No," Luke stated. Counting his lucky stars.

"Good," Lucky sighed. "Helena's got something...something big up her sleeve. I don't know the plan exactly...but, I'd say it's something pretty quick - maybe painFUL instead of painLESS...

"She wants to get rid of all of us Dad."

Luke grinned sardonically. "Well, she's been trying to do that for years...She ain't gonna succeed in a matter of minutes."

He looked down at his watch and then back up again, knowing that Lucky needed to focus. As long as he kept his mind on one thing, he'd be fine.

That one thing was Elizabeth.

"We've got about 40 minutes before the generator kicks in," he stated, watching as his son returned from wherever he'd just gone. "You packin?"

Lucky nodded, the weight of the steel weapon in his backpack apparent.

"Good. I'm gonna keep an eye on things on my end, while you go get Elizabeth. I want us to meet at the end of the first corridor in 35 minutes. You got me?"

Lucky nodded. "Yeah...35."

"Lucky, if you're not here I'm coming to find you...so be here."

The young man tilted his head to the side in annoyance. "I said I got it. I'll be there."

Luke nodded, knowing his son didn't truly need or want his advice right now. He'd wanted to do this on his own, but Luke, being the man that he was - wouldn't allow it. He refused to lose Lucky to Helena again. No matter what.

Even if it cost him his own relationship with his son. Again.

He'd lived without his son's love before, that he could deal with. But he'd never take another breath if son didn't make it out of this place alive.

He looked up as Lucky flicked on the small pen light once again. "Good luck son."

"You too Dad."

~~~~~~~

Helena shot up in bed, a sound somewhere in the distance. Somewhere beneath her, startling her out of a blissful, Spencerless sleep. She swung her legs across the wine colored satin sheets and picked up the phone extension next to her.

"Julius...has there been any movement around the perimeter?" she questioned without preamble as her servant picked up the phone. His own voice thick with sleep.

"No madam, I don't think so."

"I don't pay you to think! Get up and check!"

Helena waited impatiently while Julius checked the screens next to him and retrieved the phone once again. His voice was shaky and fearful when he returned.

"Madam...I'm afraid the electricity has gone out."

"Excuse me?" Helena snapped, sitting even farther up.

"I don't know how it happened. I can have Madam's electricity repaired immedi - "

"Shut up Julius!," she shouted. Instant silence ensuing on the other end of the line. She immediately knew what was happening.

"The electricity is the least of our problems...the Spencers have managed to get in without us knowing."

"I'm sorry madam," Julius hurried apologetically.

"Don't be sorry." Helena said coldly. "Check to see that Lucky Spencer is still in his room and then report back to me immediately...He mustn't be allowed to get to Miss Webber before I do."

~~~~~~~

Elizabeth looked up suddenly in the darkness, footsteps echoing off the cement floor beneath her. The echoes pounded in harmony with the incessant throbbing within her head. She pressed her fingertips against her temples in an effort to make it stop. She knew it wouldn't work.

The footsteps were getting closer. She no longer had much concept of time or space, but she knew she couldn't be due for another visit from Helena...it was too soon. Unless...

Oh God, unless she'd done something terrible to Lucky, and she'd come to gloat. Come to brag about her 'win.'

"Elizabeth."

Her breath caught in her throat and she scrambled to her knees. The voice completely unmistakable. "Oh my God," she whispered. Her eyes not allowing her ears any gratification. Oh please, oh please, oh please let it be...let it be...

"Lucky!" She screamed his name, as he came into view. As he appeared out of the shadows like the God sent angel that she knew he was. "Oh my God," she cried. Her voice breaking under the stress of some long awaited miracle.

His excited fingers fumbled with the lock that held her in. "Hold on sweetie...hold on," he said, his own voice shaky. A smile already trying to work it's way against his perfect mouth.

He stuck the pin into the tiny metal lock once again, turning this way and that in his haste. "Damnit!" He cursed, pulling at it.

A huge grin spread across her chapped lips and she jumped up from her feet, moving towards the bars that separated them. Trying to touch the soft fingers that worked to free her.

She prayed to all that was good in the universe to hurry. Dear God, she wanted nothing more than to hold him. To be held by him.

Ask and ye shall receive.

His arms encircled her trembling, sobbing form at that very moment. Holding her for all she was worth, whispering and whimpering unexplainable words of love into her ear. Against her cheek and into her neck as he lifted her up.

"Oh God..." Lucky cried, his own tears running furious paths down his cheeks, as he squeezed her tight around the waist. Did she feel different or was it simply the fact that he hadn't held her in so long? Touched her beautiful face.

He pulled back just a bit, needing to see the face he'd dreamt about. The face that had gotten him through so many nights in this hell hole. He brushed her tousled hair away from her forehead. The eyes of an angel stared back at him, and his heart stopped beating.

"You're beautiful," he sighed pressing his lips to hers for the first time in what seemed an eternity. It felt like falling into salvation one small caress at a time.

Elizabeth moaned in acceptance, in love, in gratitude, in a newfound strength that seemed to radiate through her entire body like a sudden burst of energy. Like a shining ray of hope, letting her know that everything would indeed be ok.

Lucky was here and she finally knew that she wasn't going to die. It was knowledge reborn of another time.

They would both be fine.

Chapter 58

Elizabeth felt his thumb slide against her cheek, with a gentle pressure. Their kiss intensifying by the second, as they stumbled backwards into the cell. The darkness beckoning them into it's depths. The only presence to be felt in the absence of light- each other. The only sounds - their own breathing.

The panting of two souls, starved for each other. Aching to reacquaint themselves with one another. The stillness, no longer a mysterious monster, but a welcoming reminder of beautiful things to do in the dark. Wonderful sensations that took away pain, and gave birth to unspeakable pleasure.

Their hands continued the search that their hearts had ended just moments ago. As their lips moved against each other, dancing to the fierce beat of one another's pulse.

Lucky heard her moan from somewhere deep inside as his hands moved up her sides, grasping his own soft flannel shirt between his fingers. Knowing that the flesh beneath put it to shame. Knowing that he'd do anything to feel that tenderness again. Knowing they needed to stop before he gave into his body's wishes...Her body's blissful temptation.

"'Lizbeth...Elizabeth," he sighed. His breath shallow as she continued to kiss him. Unwilling to let go. Unwilling to give up what felt and tasted like nourishment to her famished soul.

Her fingers laced tightly behind his head as she kissed his deeply, wanting him to give in to the force that threatened to swallow them whole. Wanting desperately to be consumed by it herself.

To have him - right here. Right now. Giving no thought to where they were. No thought of who was watching. Suddenly she didn't care about anything anymore.

All she wanted was to show him how much she loved him. How much she needed him. How much she couldn't stand to be another minute without him. Touching him. Loving him. Being everything he ever needed her to be.

Never being anything other than the love of his life - forever and ever. From here - to eternity - and back.

She heard him say her name again and felt him try to push her away. A longing whimper escaped her lips and he cupped her face tenderly in his hands. Tears beginning their descent down her soft cheeks.

Lucky brushed his thumbs gently against her damp skin, and leaned in. Pressing his forehead to hers. "We can't," he sighed, trying to catch his breath. "Sweetie...the cameras...I mean, they're down...but the power could come back at any time...."

Elizabeth grimaced and ran a hand through her tangled hair, her voice thick with emotion and fatigue. "I don't care...I don't care." She groaned, pulling at him once again.

It took every bit of strength he could muster to hold her at bay. When all he really wanted to do was take her. Take her body. Take her soul. Take her away from here. Talk all she had to give.

'You've already taken too much,' his inner voice whispered in disdain. 'It's your fault she's in here in the first place.'

Lucky shut his eyes tightly and grasped both of her small, trembling hands in his. When he opened them, she was still staring back at him with those eyes. Ocean blue eyes that he never had learned how to say no to. He'd have to now. Even as every other part of him protested - his brain knew they didn't have much time. The clock was ticking.

His hands rested easily on her hips, and he bent his knees to get a better look at her face. "You don't really want to do this here...not here...do you?"

He remembered the last time they'd come close to making love. And how it had ended wrong that time as well. How his own paranoia had gotten in the way of the most important thing in his life - loving Elizabeth. He'd never make that mistake again.

Elizabeth shut her eyes again. Shaking her head slowly. Not trusting her voice to give the right answer.

He pulled back looking at her. His fingers noticing how small she felt beneath his shirt. How the fabric seemed to swallow her whole. She hadn't been eating.

She looked pale in contrast to the print, in contrast to the dark blood...

"Oh my God...Elizabeth," he gasped, his hands flying to her midsection. "Oh my God...Elizabeth, are you ok? What the Hell...."

A scarlet image of blood spreading underneath his feet, played before his eyes. He remembered the liquid sliding over the surface like the all consuming, crimson colored evil that inhabited this place. Helena had sworn she hadn't been hurt. That it had been the blood of some guard. A guard that Elizabeth had attacked.

"Sweetie are you hurt?!" He asked frantically, his fingers moving to the buttons at the bottom of her shirt.

Elizabeth wrapped her hands around his. Stilling their movements as he looked up into her eyes. "I'm fine...I'm ok," she smiled weakly. Knowing that she was far from ok, but there would be no long standing physical scars to speak of. "It's not my blood."

Lucky's hands brushed the hair away from her face slowly. He brought her small form to him again, holding on for dear life. "What happened?...Helena mentioned something about a guard?" He pulled away slightly, to gaze into her eyes. "What the Hell happened Elizabeth, did he touch you?"

She shook her head quickly, closing her eyes. "No...I just. I couldn't be there anymore. I had to try and get out you know?"

Lucky nodded, and Elizabeth felt a fist clench tightly around her heart. 'Of course he 'knows' you idiot. He spent the better part of a year in the very same room!'

"I understand," Lucky said. His words hushed.

Elizabeth watched as his eyes began to darken. Going blank. A glassy stare rapidly taking residence where an excited luster had just been. He suddenly wasn't with her anymore.

Silence thickened in the blackness of the room as he looked down towards his feet. Elizabeth searched for words to say. Anything to stop what was happening here. His breathing had halted midway in his chest. She could literally feel the room closing in around him.

"Lucky..." she began quietly. Watching for a response that did not come. "Lucky," she repeated, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Her touch brought his head up. His eyes back to hers. She knew he had to get out of there at that very moment. They couldn't waste anymore time. She remembered all the times he'd pulled her back from the dark recesses of her minds' memory, and she silently vowed to help him do the same.

"Hey," she whispered, smoothing a hand against his cheek. Watching as life slowly dawned in his beautiful eyes again. "I'm ready to get out of here. How 'bout you?"

Lucky nodded. "Yeah - definitely ready for that," he said, moving back towards the gate that had caged her in. Had caged him in many times before.

Elizabeth moved behind him quickly and took his hand. Eager to see the daylight. Desperate to keep him with her. Not just in body, but in mind.

"So what's the plan?"

"Well, Luke Spencer and Company are on the case," Lucky sighed. "So, with any luck, we should be out of here before Helena even gets wind that anything is up...Nikolas is here too."

"Nikolas?" Elizabeth asked, watching him push open the gate and look down at his watch.

"Yeah...I guess guilt inspires him."

Elizabeth bit her lip, at the bitterness and resentment she heard in Lucky's tone. Anger towards his father...and Nikolas. She hoped she wouldn't evoke the same emotion with her next words.

"I can't say that I'm not happy they're here...Lucky...Whatever helps us get out of here..." Her voice trailed off into oblivion as he turned to stare at her.

"I'm - I'm sorry," she apologized. Shaking her head. "I shou - "

His lips suddenly descended on hers. Silence filling the small space once again. This time with the softness of his lips, tenderly explaining that he understood. That he didn't blame her for wanting to be out of the Hell hole that surrounded them. No matter if it meant that they had to accept help from unwelcome or - unlikely sources. He pulled back after a few moments.

"You don't have be sorry for wanting out of here Elizabeth...You don't have to explain that.....

"I know that you love me...Only me. I was a fool for doubting that. It's that doubt that put you in here in the first place. If I wouldn't have been an idiot...If I wouldn't have left you that night -

"Ssh," she commanded gently. Taking his face in her hands as she stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his. "It's nobody's fault, but Helena's.

"Promise me that once we get out of here, we'll never let her hurt us again?"

He looked into her eyes, and then past her as she walked out of the cell. His eyes sweeping over the iron bars one last time. This was it. Finally the last time he'd ever be here. The last time he'd feel this dampness in the air. The last time he'd smell the musty aroma of the underground pit. The last time he'd ever step foot in this prison again. The last time.

"I promise..."

~~~~~~~

Helena tapped her fingers together lightly as the air conditioner in her bedroom began to whir in response to the returning electricity. A buzz of the intercom, caused her to jump in response. She moved quickly over to the receiver.

"Madam, Master Spencer is still in his room. I just checked. He's sleeping...It's funny actually. The door was wide open...and there he was - asleep." He chuckled at the irony.

Helena's brow furrowed in concern. It wasn't like Lucky to miss an opportunity to escape. Yet, he could have thought it a trap.

'Not if he knew his father was on the premises,' Helena thought.

Something wasn't right.

"Madam...it should be only a few minutes before the power is fully restored. I haven't caught site of Spencer yet. I haven't found any evidence of tampering with the interior controls either. The power had to have been dismantled from outside the compound."

Helena nodded silently. Of course Luke had come with reinforcement. He wouldn't be fool enough to come alone when it came to his son's life. Even the great Luke Spencer knew when and when NOT to take a gamble.

Julius' next words finally shook Helena from her thoughts. "Shall I wake Master Spencer, Madam? I know it's almost time - "

"No, " Helena smiled wickedly. "I'll check on Lucky myself. I wouldn't want him to miss the opportunity to see his parents before that wonderful little toxin that Faison cooked up, starts wafting through the rafters...Besides, their good-bye scenes should be nothing if not Oscarworthy."

"But Madam, isn't it time to get Miss Webber. You'll have to be off the premi - "

"Julius!" Helena snapped, tightening her grip on the receiver. "Do not be as presumptuous as to tell me how to carry out my own plan...I will, free Miss Webber in my own time."

"Yes Madam."

"Good then," she said finally, smiling again. "Make certain that the timer is set forward as soon as possible. I want no time wasted once the power is restored."

If Luke was wondering around the compound, chances were he knew how much time he had left to get to his son. She smiled widely at the prospect of throwing him off that time table. What Luke Spencer didn't know - would indeed hurt him.

Julius quickly disconnected, leaving Helena to hurry over to her closet. Picking out her favorite black ensemble. An elegant, dress that swept softly against the floor. This was afterall, a special occasion. ~~~~~~~ Jason pointed the beam of his flashlight at the dark switchboard, searching for a way to completely dismantle the system before the generator kicked back on. He lowered his hand a second later.

"What the..."

The fluorescent lights above him flickered for a moment and lit completely a split-second later. "Shit," he muttered, switching off his flashlight and glancing back down at the switchboard, that hummed and clicked into effect in an instant.

He crossed over to it swiftly, taking in the various buttons and dials. It would be an illuminated series of numbers that caught his eye, however. That caused his stomach to leap into his throat.

The glowing red numbers couldn't be right. Nor could the cliched drawing of a skull and crossbones below them. Or the six syllable word that indicated a poison that he couldn't even pronounce.

It didn't take long to process the information. To understand that all of those facts were indeed true...and that in a matter of 20 minutes they were all going to be poisoned. Dead.

~~~~~~~

Luke watched as Helena strode down the corridor. A blissful expression lacing her features as she undoubtedly headed for "Lucky's room." That damned steel cell. He wanted to wipe the self satisfied smirk off of her face with his bare hands.

He quickly, moved from the shadows and slithered stealthily against the wall. Reminding himself of the plan, and that not even his intense desire to kill the old witch could take precedence over that.

Luke glanced down at his watch. Time was indeed ticking by. He crossed his fingers that Lucky had made it to Elizabeth, that Nikolas didn't foul up the entire operation.

And that whatever Jason found in the control room wouldn't be the end of them all.

 ~~~~~~~

Helena sauntered slowly into the small room, and looked up towards the bright light that suddenly radiated throughout the room. She sighed contentedly. The electricity was slowly returning.

Nikolas pulled the comforter a bit tighter around him, cursing inwardly at the timing of the lights. Hadn't there been more time? What the Hell had just happened?

'Think quick Cassidine...No time to clam up...'

"Lucky," she called, moving slowly towards his still form on the tiny bed. "It's time to rise and shine dear...Guess who's arrived? Your mother and father...I knew you'd want to see them before their untimely demise."

Nikolas smiled at his grandmother as he sat up before her. The old woman's face turning whiter than the sheets in front of her.

"You look surprised to see me Grandmother. Who else were you expecting?"

~~~~~~~

"Luke!" Jason shouted, running up behind him.

A firm hand pressed against his shoulder and caused Luke to whirl around. His gun aimed and ready to fire. "Jason!" He groaned, lowering his weapon. "Damn it...What is it, man?! You can't just go sneaking up on people like this. Don't you and Lucky know anything?!"

Jason waved off the remark, trying to catch his breath. "All I know is that we've got exactly 15 minutes to get out of this place!"

Luke's eyes widened in horror. "What did you find?"

"It's bad Luke...a poison gas of some kind. Set to go off any minute - "

"That can't be right!" Luke exclaimed, checking his watch. "I just watched Helena go into that damned steel room! If she were really planning on poisoning us in 15 minutes, she wouldn't be walkin' around as if she were on some kinda of Russian holiday!"

Jason shrugged. "Then what the Hell is she still doing here?"

Luke nodded, understanding going off like a light bulb in his head. "It's gotta mean there's a secret entrance out of this place. One that she's planning on using....I say we get to it first.

"Let's get Lucky, and get the Hell out of here..."

Jason threw a glance down the corridor. "Yeah, well what are we gonna do about Nikolas."

"Hope he knows how to improvise."

~~~~~~~

"Fuck!"

"What?!" Elizabeth asked, her eyes widening in horror as Lucky kicked the large, metal door in front of them.

He backed away from it, running two frustrated hands through his hair. "The door just locked," he sighed, stoically. Calmly backing away from it.

Elizabeth shook her head. "What do you mean it locked? You mean somebody just locked us in here?"

Lucky licked his lips, and swallowed. "It's an electric door Elizabeth...the power just came back on."