The Melaswen Paradox (Read 329,161 times)

[André DiMera]

Monday - 3/7

SALEM P.D.
For the first minute or so, the screen showed an empty hallway in the girls’ dorms at Salem U. Roman pressed a button on a remote and sped up the tape. Images of girls, either single or in groups, wearing costumes filed out of their rooms and down the hallway. The crowd eventually left, and they were back to an empty hallway.
RAFE: Put it back at normal speed. I think this is about where the tape got corrupted the first time.
Roman nodded and pressed another button. The playback of the tape slowed back down. A figure walked down the hallway. Though neither of them knew it yet, this was Charlie. He walked down the hall until he came to a door, then knocked on it. The door opened and after a moment, he walked inside.
RAFE: That is certainly Meadow Cole’s dorm room, and the time signature fits for when the video got corrupted.
ROMAN: There any way we can get a better look at the person who knocked on the door?
RAFE: Should be. Let’s see if we can zoom in a bit.
Roman handed Rafe the remote. He rewound the tape to when Charlie was still walking down the hall, then paused it. Rafe pressed another button on the remote, and it zoomed in slightly. It took a few seconds for the picture to clear, but when it did, they had a better look at Charlie’s face.
RAFE: No one I recognize.
ROMAN: Me either.
RAFE: Well, let’s take a screenshot of it.
Rafe had his laptop connected to the DVD player. He clicked a button on the keyboard, and a still shot of the paused video popped up onscreen.
RAFE: And now to put it through facial recognition.
Rafe dragged the picture into an app on the home screen. Several faces popped up in quick succession, before slowing down and showing a school picture of Charlie.
RAFE: Looks like we have our suspect. Charlie Dale.
ROMAN: We’ll need a bit more proof than a black-and-white picture if we’re gonna prove it.
RAFE: You’ve got that right. Hopefully forensics will uncover something. Let’s hope our friend Mr. Dale got sloppy this time.

SALEM UNIVERSITY
Charlie sat at his computer, scrolling through a suspicious-looking website. He stopped scrolling and smiled at what was onscreen, and thought back to the events of the previous Halloween.

It was early in the evening. Meadow Cole was getting her costume out and laying it on the bed when a knock came to the door.
COLE: Just a second.
She opened the door. Charlie was on the other side.
COLE: Hi.
CHARLIE: Hi, you called for a taxi.
COLE: Yeah, I did. Sorry, you’re a little early. I’m not quite ready to go just yet.
CHARLIE: It’s a surprisingly slow night. I could wait a few minutes, if you want.
COLE: Really? That would be great!
CHARLIE: It’s no problem. Mind if I come in?
She hesitated.
COLE: I mean, I kinda need to get changed into my costume, but I suppose I could do that in the bathroom. And since you volunteered to wait for me, sure, cone on in.
CHARLIE: Thanks.
Charlie walked in. Meadow Cole turned to shut the door, but Charlie grabbed her from behind. She screamed.
CHARLIE: Shut up!
He put his hand over her mouth.
CHARLIE (whispering): You make one more sound, and this’ll be a lot worse for you.
Charlie pressed a knife up to her throat. She whimpered slightly.
CHARLIE: One. Sound.

[heroicmuse]

Charlie is so creepy. I hope the cops can get the proof they need to put him away.

Great chapter André DiMera

[tghca]

Even if the Salem PD have enough on Charlie, I'm sure his lawyer whoever he or she is would be able to argue circumstantial evidence because that's what it is...because I'm sure Charlie has built in alibis for the murders even though we all know that they are lies.

A picture on a computer screen and facial recognition is not enough to arrest him. Even I know that. You need to have actual DNA evidence of him committing these murders to make it stick. Or at the very least a witness to his crimes and there are none.

[Kpatch]

That is horrific. At least the police have got Charlie on their radar.

[mae00]

I'm sooooo glad they have finally gotten a name and a face. I sure hope they get the evidence they need and get Charlie soon.

[André DiMera]

Tuesday - 3/8

LOFT
The next morning, Jade woke up to something poking her. It took her a moment to fully wake up.
EMMY (whispering): Mommy?
Jade opened her eyes and saw Emmy sitting up next to her on the bed. It was Emmy that had been poking her.
JADE: Hey, sweetheart.
EMMY: Good morning!
Jade chuckled slightly.
JADE: Good morning.
She lifted her head up and looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was 6 in the morning.
JADE: You’re up a little early today, aren’t you?
EMMY: Yep! You know what today is, Mommy?
Jade sat up in bed and put on a thoughtful expression.
JADE: Do I know what today is? Let’s see…we just had Valentine’s Day, so it’s not that. It’s not Christmas or Halloween or Easter. I know St. Patrick’s Day is this month, but I don’t think that’s for another week or two…
EMMY: Mommy!
JADE: Hang on, don’t tell me.
Jade snapped her fingers.
JADE: A-ha! I’ve got it. It’s your birthday!
EMMY: Yep!
JADE: Happy birthday, kiddo! Come here!
Emmy jumped onto Jade’s lap. Jade wrapped her arms around her, gave her a big hug and kissed the top of her head.
JADE: Tell me how old you are today.
Emmy put up an outstretched hand.
EMMY: Five!
JADE: You got it! You are my big five-year-old girl, and the best person in my life. I love you so much, baby girl!
EMMY: I love you, too! What are we gonna do today?
JADE: Well, let’s see. In a little bit, we’re gonna have breakfast. Then later today, we’re gonna have your birthday party.
EMMY: Is Auntie Nic coming?
JADE: Yeah, Auntie Nic and a few other people. We’re gonna do all kinds of fun stuff.
EMMY: Yay!
JADE: But, do you know what comes before any of that?
EMMY: What?
JADE: The tickle monster!
Jade began to tickle Emmy. Quite quickly, it broke out into a tickle fight, which ended with both Jade and Emmy lying on the bed laughing. After catching her breath, Emmy sat up.
EMMY: Can we have breakfast now?
JADE: Sure we can. You go get dressed, and then I will make you some birthday pancakes.
EMMY: Yay!
Emmy practically jumped off of the bed and ran out of the room. Jade chuckled as she watched her.

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Elle was sitting in the break room, eating an egg sandwich. Sarah walked in carrying two cups.
SARAH: Morning.
ELLE: Morning, sissy!
Sarah handed Elle one of the cups.
SARAH: For you.
ELLE: Aw, thanks!
SARAH: You’re welcome. I figured you could use a pick-me-up since you had the late night shift.
ELLE: I appreciate it. Still got a couple hours to go, but it was getting time for me to check myself, so I took my break.
SARAH: Gotcha. How’s that going, by the way?
ELLE: A lot better. I don’t know if it was the stress from the move or what it was, but when I first came to Salem, I wasn’t taking as good of care of myself as I should have and usually do. Thanks again for recommending that endocrinologist for me. It’s really helped!
SARAH: Of course. You’re my little sister, I’ve got your back.
ELLE: And if you ever need anything, I’ve got yours.
SARAH: I know you would. So, I’m gonna be starting my shift in the next little bit. Any patient updates from overnight?

SALEM UNIVERSITY
Allie sat in the cafeteria, picking at her food. Meadow, carrying her own plate of food, walked over.
MEADOW: Hi, Allie.
She looked up.
ALLIE: Hey.
MEADOW: Is it okay if I join you?
ALLIE: Sure.
Meadow sat down and began eating.
MEADOW: I didn’t expect to see you here this early.
Allie shrugged.
ALLIE: Couldn’t sleep.
MEADOW: You too, huh? I know what that’s like.
ALLIE: Because of Meadow? The other Meadow, I mean.
MEADOW: There’s a little bit of that still, sure. But also, I have insomnia, so I’m kind of a regular at this time.
ALLIE: Gotcha. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be insensitive or anything, I’m just…
MEADOW: You’re okay. Hey, I’m sorry about your friend.
Allie looked down at her food.
ALLIE: Thanks.
MEADOW: I don’t want to compare situations or anything, but when Meadow died…well, I guess what I’m getting at is, I’m here if you ever want to talk. And I’d like for us to get to know each other better.
She looked back up.
ALLIE: Thanks. I might take you up on that sometime.

[Kpatch]

It's good to see Allie and Meadow supporting each other. Sadly, they have a lot in common right now.

[heroicmuse]

Happy birthday Emmy!

I'm glad Sarah and Elle are close and Sarah is supportive of Elle.

This is so heartbreaking for Allie and Meadow. I'm glad they have each other.

Great chapter André DiMera

[tghca]

Allie and Meadow do have a lot in common because both of their best friends were killed. Meadow Cole was killed and then Manny. But also I'm surprised that Allie and Meadow are not more close because isn't Meadow dating Allie's twin brother Johnny? So I would have thought for that reason alone they would be interacting a lot more.

Love that Jade is such a hands on mother with Emmy, such a great young mother to her daughter considering who Jade's biological parents are, it is a wonder how Jade and or Emmy aren't so screwed up given that her mother is Jan Spears and her father is Paul Mendez. Thank God Jade is nothing like them and thank God Emmy isn't either. But then they still have to worry about Jan getting out of prison. If Jan gets out somehow, she is going to want a relationship with her daughter Jade and her granddaughter Emmy. Here is hoping Don can shut Jan down quickly.

Seeing Sarah interact with Elle, I'm surprised these sisters are so close much less that they even have a relationship. Because Sarah to my knowledge never had much of a relationship with her biological father Neil Curtis because she was raised by and had a relationship with her adopted father Mickey Horton.

Great episode André DiMera

[mae00]

Little Emmy is so cute. Happy Birthday to her!

Poor Allie. I'm glad Meadow reached out to her. While their situations aren't exactly the same, they are still similar. I think they could be a good fit for helping each other heal after these tragedies. Of course having Charlie imprisoned (or dead) will help that process as well. Can we put Charlie in front of a firing squad? Or take him behind a woodshed? I'd like to see him suffer for this.

[André DiMera]

Wednesday - 3/9

SALEM UNIVERSITY
ALLIE: I also agree with what you said, about how we should get to know each other better. I mean, you are dating my brother.
MEADOW: Yeah. Hey, can I ask you something?
ALLIE: Sure.
MEADOW: Is something up with him?
ALLIE: Not that I know of. Then again, when we’re in college, we don’t see each other all that often, since we both have classes. When he’s not in class, I assume he’s either studying or hanging out with you, and when I’m not in class, I’m studying, taking care of my cat or hanging out with…
Allie stopped herself. A tear came to her eye. Meadow put a hand on Allie’s.
MEADOW: Hey, it’s okay.
Allie blinked hard and drew a shaky breath.
ALLIE (hoarsely): I’m fine.
She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes.
ALLIE: Anyway, what makes you ask?
MEADOW: The other day, he and I were hanging out, watching this TV show, and right as we were about to start the movie that follows it, he got this weird phone call.
ALLIE: Weird how?

DIMERA MANSION - FLASHBACK
Johnny looked at his phone, which was ringing, and frowned.
MEADOW: Everything okay?
JOHNNY: Yeah, I just don’t recognize this number. It’s probably just a telemarketer or something.
He pressed a button on his phone and put it back in his pocket. A moment later, it started ringing again.
MEADOW: That’s one persistent telemarketer!
Johnny rolled his eye and answered the phone this time.
JOHNNY: Hello?
He went pale.
JOHNNY: Y-your back. No, no, of course not. I’m just surprised. It’s great to hear from you! Yeah, just one second.
Johnny put his hand over the phone’s speaker.
JOHNNY: I’ll be right back.
MEADOW; Okay.
Johnny left the room. Meadow sat down on the bed. After a few minutes, Johnny returned, putting his phone in his pocket as he walked in.
MEADOW: All good?
JOHNNY: Yeah, totally. Sorry about that. That was just my buddy Tristan. It’s been ages since I heard from him.
MEADOW: Oh, that’s nice.
JOHNNY: Yeah. So, where were we?
MEADOW: I’m pretty sure you said lunch, then the movie.
JOHNNY: Right you are. This way, m’lady.
Johnny held out his hand, which Meadow took, and the two walked out.

SALEM UNIVERSITY
ALLIE: Okay, that’s a bit strange.
MEADOW: You’re telling me.
ALLIE: And you’re sure it wasn’t really Tristan?
MEADOW: Oh, I’m sure. When She Who Must Not Be Named was still my friend, I got to know Tristan fairly well, seeing as they’re half-siblings. The way Johnny reacted when he first answered the phone, it wasn’t Tristan.
ALLIE: Any idea who it was?
MEADOW: Nope. I was wondering if you might have an idea.
ALLIE: Not at all. It might have been his dad, but if you were at the Mansion, E.J. could have just come up to his room rather than call him.
MEADOW: That’s what I was thinking, too. I guess it could be one of his uncles, maybe.
ALLIE: I doubt it. Johnny’s not that close to any of our uncles on my side of the family, and on his, the only one he’s actually close to is…oh no!
MEADOW: What?
ALLIE: André.

[tghca]

Meadow and Allie put it together that Andre was calling Johnny but I wonder how long it will take for them to figure out Johnny is in deep with Andre and EJ? I mean if they can put that together that quickly, then they are definitely smarter than the Salem PD and that is saying a lot

I wonder if Meadow and Allie realize that Johnny is connected to the videotapes or that he's the videographer

I wonder if Meadow breaks up with Johnny for lying to her all this time? Or for the fact that he's connected to Andre?

Love that Meadow and Allie are developing a friendship especially since Meadow is dating Allie's twin brother Johnny

[Kpatch]

Well, Johnny's allowed to have secrets and if he wanted Meadow to know, he'd tell her. I don't think she should be asking his sister for information. I hope she drops it.

[heroicmuse]

I'm glad Allie and Meadow have figured out that Andre was behind that weird phone call. Now what are they going to do about it?

[mae00]

I'm glad that Allie put two and two together so quickly to figure out it was Andre. I hope this realization doesn't come back to harm them tho.