Summer Breeze (Read 12,227 times)

[sportsgirl]

I hope that Rhiannon doesn't get upset that JJ wanted her sister first though and it seems like JJ is sort of settling...

[Kpatch]

Aw, JJ really wants a girlfriend. I hope Rhiannon will be the right girl for him. I love him serenading her outside the Kiriakis apartment. Also going to see the movie Carrie is kind of a flashback to the Last Blast dance when Philip got a bucket of blood spilled all over him. I wonder if he'll tell them the story. Thanks for the chapter Andre!

[Trey]

Andre, you continue to be sweet (Rhiannon/JJ) and creepy (EJ/Sydney) all in the same chapter. Bravo!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 22

PENTHOUSE
SYDNEY: What do you mean there's three of me?
MARLENA: There isn't exactly three of you, but there are, technically, three people inhabiting your body.
SYDNEY: But, how can there be three people in my body? It only feels like there's me.
MARLENA: Your conscious mind is not aware of the two others. It's one of the most common symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder. The main personality, the original, goes through a great deal of trauma. That person's mind is unable to cope with the trauma, so they create separate personalities, ones that can deal with the trauma. Sometimes, the personalities give themselves names.
SYDNEY: Do mine have names?
MARLENA: Yes.
SYDNEY: What are they?
MARLENA: Well, there is, of course, you, the main personality.
SYDNEY: Yeah, I know that. How many others are there and what are their names?
MARLENA: There are two. The most prominent of those two is a teenage boy named Stryker.
SYDNEY: Stryker?
MARLENA: Yes. Why?
SYDNEY: There's something familiar about that name. I think he's the one that's been cutting me.
MARLENA: So, you know?
SYDNEY: No, I'm just guessing.
MARLENA: Well, you are correct. He has been cutting you. Stryker is known as the protector. In cases of DID, one of the personalities is the protector. The protector almost always takes on the form of a man. He will go to any lengths to make sure that nobody hurts the host. However, often, he is so good at protecting the host from anything that he inadvertantly hurts the host in the process. In this case, in trying to protect you from certain truths, Stryker has been cutting you, hoping that the pain will distract you from figuring out the truth.
SYDNEY: What truth?

PENTHOUSE – FLASHBACK
SYDNEY (Stryker): Sami didn't murder E.J. But, I did.

PENTHOUSE
MARLENA: I can't tell you. Mainly because I don't know.
SYDNEY: Okay. So, who's the other one?
MARLENA: The other one's name is Grace.
SYDNEY: Grace?
Sydney sighed.
SYDNEY: I remember that name. I've heard it. But, that was a long time ago.
MARLENA: I'm assuming that somebody has told you the whole story behind Grace?
Sydney nodded. A tear rolled down her cheek. More tears followed.
SYDNEY: I'm sorry.
MARLENA: Sweetheart, you don't have anything to be sorry for.
Sydney's breathing got heavier as she was crying harder. She started rocking back and forth.
SYDNEY (crying): I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please, don't hurt me.
MARLENA (to herself): She's having a flashback.
Marlena knelt down in front of Sydney. She wiped a tear from her granddaughter's cheek.
MARLENA: Sydney, it's okay. It's all right. It's just me. It's just Grandma Marlena.
Marlena put her hand on Sydney's cheek and looked into her eyes.
MARLENA: Sydney, it's Grandma Marlena. Sweetheart, you're at the Penthouse. It's okay. You're fine. You're not in any trouble. It's okay. It's all right. You're okay.
Marlena started rubbing Sydney's back. Sydney stopped rocking back and forth. Slowly, her breathing returned to normal.
SYDNEY: Grandma?
MARLENA: Yes, it's me, Sydney. It's Grandma.
Marlena sat down on the couch next to Sydney.
SYDNEY: Grandma, I'm so scared!
Sydney hid her face in Marlena's shoulder and started crying again. Marlena put her arms around Sydney.
MARLENA: It's okay, sweetheart. It's okay. I know you're scared. You were just having a flashback. But, sweetie, your daddy's never gonna hurt you again. Lucas, your mother, Grandpa John, and I are gonna make sure that nobody ever hurts you again.

[fluffysmom]

Poor Sydney. She's so troubled. I think Marlena needs to bring in another doctor. She really shouldn't be trying to treat her own granddaughter.

[Minako98]

OMG, Andre... way to make me cry while I'm at work! Wow, powerful.

[MrsM]

Poor Sydney!

[Trey]

Poor baby...

[sportsgirl]

Big big hugs for Sydney.....

[krw627]

OMG, get her another doctor so Marlena can be her Grandmother and the support she needs. It will be hard for Sami to be that support in prison!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 23

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This chapter includes clips from the 1976 version of "Carrie". As such, there may be violence and some language. Watch the clips at your own risk.

MELANIE & PHILIP'S APARTMENT
J.J. walked in the door. Rhiannon was already there, waiting for him. Philip, Melanie, and Nicholas were sitting on the couch.
J.J.: Hey.
RHIANNON: Hey.
J.J.: You look really pretty.
RHIANNON: You're not so bad yourself.
MELANIE: What movie did you guys say you were gonna go see?
J.J.: The 1976 version of “Carrie”. The one with Sissy Spacek and Amy Irving.
PHILIP: Oh, yeah! The one with the blood. You know, in high school, at the Last Blast Dance, when Chloe and I were still dating, some girls tried to play the same prank on Chloe that the girls in the movie did to Carrie. It almost worked. Except, I was standing where she was supposed to be, so I was the one who got drenched in pig's blood. Ah, good times.
There was a long, awkward silence.
NICHOLAS: Well, have a good time, you two.
RHIANNON: Thanks, daddy.
NICHOLAS: Hey, J.J., you take care of my baby girl.
J.J.: Yes, sir. I will.
J.J. and Rhiannon left.

HORTON TOWN SQUARE
J.J. and Rhiannon were walking through the Square on their way to the movie theater.
J.J.: So, I'm guessing you know what this movie's about, right?
RHIANNON: Well, I don't know the whole story, but I've seen the trailers and other people have told me about bits of it. Like, I know that Carrie's in high school and she gets picked on by everybody and she develops telekinetic powers. But, I don't really know what happens.
J.J.: I love this movie! It's great!
Rhiannon started playing with her hair.
RHIANNON: So, this is supposed to be a horror movie, right?
J.J.: Yep. The first movie to be based on a Stephen King novel.
RHIANNON: I've never actually seen a horror movie before. What if I get kinda scared?
J.J.: Well, you won't need to worry. I'll be right next to you during the whole thing. I'll protect you from creepy Carrie.
Rhiannon giggled. J.J. held out his hand. Rhiannon put her hand in his, and they continued walking towards the theater.

THEATER
A little while later, J.J. and Rhiannon were sitting in the dark theater. The movie was just reaching one of its climactic scenes. (Watch from 12:15 to 14:30: . J.J. had his arms on the armrests. At the part where Carrie starts hearing voices/hallucinating, Rhiannon put her hand on his. J.J. looked over and took Rhiannon's hand in his. A little while later, another climactic scene came. (Watch from 2:33 to 3:05: . When the car got set on fire, Rhiannon hid her face in J.J.'s shoulder. J.J. looked at over at her again. He put his arm around her and held her. (Continue the clip at 9:50 and watch until 11:47). After a few minutes, Rhiannon took her head off of J.J.'s shoulder. However, J.J. still kept his arm around her. Finally, we reach the film's ending. (Watch from 1:46 to 2:41: . When the hand reached out and grabbed Sue, both Rhiannon and J.J. jumped. Rhiannon went back to hiding her face on J.J.'s shoulder. After the credits, they walked out.

LOBBY
J.J. and Rhiannon walked into the main lobby of the theater.
RHIANNON: I'll be back in a minute.

BATHROOM
Rhiannon went into the bathroom. After doing her business and washing her hands, she was just about to walk out. Then, her cell phone rang. She answered it.
RHIANNON: Hello?
Pause.
RHIANNON: What?
Pause.
RHIANNON: You're sure?
Pause.
RHIANNON: Okay. Yeah. I'm just coming out of the movie. I'll be back in a little bit.
Pause.
RHIANNON: Love you too. Bye.

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad that JJ and Rhiannon finally had their date. I guess no one knew quite how to respond to Philip's memory. I wonder what the phone call is all about.

[sportsgirl]

Having a 1st date to see a movie like Carrie is maybe not a great idea... I wonder who Rhiannon is talkng to...

[MrsM]

Hmmm. Wonder who was on the other end of the phone.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 24

SALEM PLACE
J.J. and Rhiannon were making their way back to Philip & Melanie's Apartment. Rhiannon had been strangely quiet since they left the movie theater.
J.J.: Hey, are you okay?
Rhiannon nodded.
J.J.: I hope the movie didn't creep you out too much.
RHIANNON: It didn't. I had a great time tonight.
J.J.: That's good. So did I. Would you ever be interested in going out again?
Rhiannon nodded.
J.J.: Cool.
They walked in silence for a few more moments until they reached the apartment complex where Melanie and Philip lived.
RHIANNON: Thanks again for taking me to see the movie. I had a great time.
J.J.: You're welcome.
The two stared into each other's eyes for a moment. J.J. noticed that Rhiannon looked sad.
J.J.: Are you sure you're all right?
Rhiannon nodded. However, this was a lie. A tear rolled down her cheek and more quickly followed.
J.J.: No, you're not. You're crying. What's wrong?
Rhiannon tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
RHIANNON: Um...nothing.
J.J.: Well, something must be wrong. Rhiannon, I want you to know that you can tell me anything. So, what is it? What's wrong?
RHIANNON: I, um...I just really need to be held right now.
J.J. put his arms out.
J.J.: Okay, come here. Come here.
Rhiannon walked into J.J.'s arms. She started crying harder and J.J. held her tight.

SALEM WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
SAMI: How dare you bring that name up to me!
Sami was having another visit from Marlena.
SAMI: Do you have any idea, any concept, of what that name reminds me of? What it does to me?
MARLENA: Sami, I'm not doing this to hurt you.
SAMI: How could you even bring Grace up? After everything I've been through.
MARLENA: I know. And, I wish I was wrong. I wish I could forget what I heard. But, that's the name that one of Sydney's others has.
SAMI: So, not only is my daughter my daughter, but she's also a teenage boy and a reincarnation of Mia's dead baby. Do you have any idea how sick this is?
MARLENA: Unfortunately, I do.
SAMI: So, what now?
MARLENA: I'm going to bring in a specialist.
Marlena got out her cell phone and dialed.
MARLENA: Hello, this is Dr. Marlena Evans. Is Dr. Jonas in?