This Man (Read 5,534 times)

[André DiMera]

Chapter 16

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
JACK: What does that mean?
MARLENA: It means that people are dreaming about him because they're told that people have dreamed about him.
BEN: Explain, please.
MARLENA: There are some people whose minds are susceptible to suggestion. Or, at least, moreso than others. Though you, Jack, as well as many of my other patients, have claimed never to have seen him before the dreams started, it is possible that, at some point, you may have seen his picture online. Maybe even seen the story. You might not have read it in full, you may have just seen it. In short, you, as well as many others, have dreamed about This Man, because you think other people have dreamed about This Man.
JACK: Don't give me that Inception garbage.
MARLENA: It's the most reasonable explanation there is.
JACK: Well, now that you mention it, I think I have seen the story once before, a long time ago. It was when I had just come back from...over there. I was looking for a new story and I saw posting about This Man. I found it intriguing, but i didn't think much more of it. Then J.J. came home, and we started having trouble with him and all that. And thn the dreams started.

SALEM CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Marlena soon told everybody who had been having the dreams.
STEPHANIE: You mean I'm not crazy?
MARLENA: Well, I wouldn't go THAT far. But, you're not as crazy as we thought.
STEPHANIE: Well, that's good.

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
JEANNIE: Thank you.
MARLENA: No trouble, Theresa.
JEANNIE: Actually, I'm back to going by Jeannie again.
MARLENA: Oh?
JEANNIE: Yeah. I was going by Theresa because I was working on an undercover job with the ISA.
MARLENA: You're an ISA agent?
JEANNIE: Only a junior agent right now. I'm hoping to be promoted.
There was a knock at the door.

[MrsM]

I wonder what will happen next.

[gapeach]

Well that explains why people are dreaming about This Man, but it doesn't explain why Marlena's student looks like him.

[André DiMera]

Listen to this during this chapter:

Chapter 17

SALEM COUNTY JAIL
J.J, sat in his cell. He was reflecting on the events of the last few weeks.

JACK & JENNIFER'S HOUSE - FLASHBACK
J.J.: What the hell are you doing?
JEANNIE: Arresting a wanted drug dealer and repeat offender.
J.J.: Okay, Theresa, this joke has gone far enough.
JEANNIE: Oh, it's no joke.
Jeannie showed him her badge.
J.J.: You're a cop?
JEANNIE: Not just a cop, a junior ISA agent. And you, Jack Deveraux, Jr., you are under arrest for multiple counts of possession, use, and sale of illegal substances.
***
Jeannie brought the now handcuffed J.J. down the stairs.
J.J.: I keep telling you, this is all just a big misunderstanding.
JEANNIE: That right to remain silent, you might wanna think about using it.
Shane and Kimberly, who had come with a search warrant, had looked over the house and found several pieces of evidence of J.J.'s drugs.
JENNIFER: There must be some mistake.
SHANE: I'm sorry, Jenn. I can imagine this must be hard.
JACK: We'll figure something out.

SALEM COUNTY JAIL - FLASHBACK
J.J.: This is all your fault anyway. Your's and dad's. If he hadn't abandoned me, then we wouldn't be in this mess. And what's the point of letting me out of jail if my room is gonna be a prison?
Jennifer slapped J.J.
JENNIFER: Get back in the cell.
***
J.J.: Mom, no...I was...
JENNIFER: I don't wanna hear it. Ever since you came back from school, you've been an absolute brat. Your father and I have tried to help you, but it just isn't working. I'm sorry to have to do this, son, but I guess I have to. Maybe this will teach you not to be such a little smartalek.
J.J.: Mom...no..please, I was...
Jeannie closed the cell door.


SALEM COUNTY JAIL
J.J. (to himself): How did I mess up this badly? I mean, I thought I could blame Mom and Dad and Abby all I want. But, in the end, I guess I've always known that the only one who's at fault here is me. And now I'm stuck here. For a year. I should've just stopped while I had the chance. And I shouldn't have been such a brat.

[MrsM]

Glad JJ his behavior is his responsibility.

[fluffysmom]

I wonder how he will do in jail for a year. Glad he realized he made the poor choices that led to his arrest.

[gapeach]

So glad that he finally admitted that he was being a brat.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 18

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
There was a knock at the door.
MARLENA: Come in.
Shane walked in.
MARLENA: Hello, Shane.
SHANE: Marlena. Jeannie, I've been looking for you.
JEANNIE: Hi, Dad. How did you know I was here?
SHANE: I didn't. It was just a lucky guess. Anyway, I've been wanting to talk to you. This came in the mail for you today.
Shane handed Jeannie a package. She opened it and pulled out a letter and began reading.
JEANNIE (reading): Dear Ms. Jeannie Donovan, your request has been successful! After seeing your cunning, your bravery, and your ability to hide your true intentions from almost anybody, as well as your ability not o break character until the moment it is needed, you have passed the test. You are hereby promoted to the official rank of agent! Enclosed is your badge, gun, and papers! We know you will do well in this position! Signed, Director of the International Security Agency!
Jeannie put the paper down.
JEANNIE: I don't believe it! I finally made agent!
Jeannie and Shane hugged.
JEANNIE: Thank you so much, Dad!
SHANE: Hey, I didn't do anything. I just gave you a bit of guidance when you needed it. You earned this on your own merits, Jeannie.
MARLENA: Congratulations!
JEANNIE: Thank you!
SHANE: Come on. Let's go pick up your mother and celebrate. Would you like to come as well, Marlena?
MARLENA: Well, that's very nice of you, but I must decline. Jeannie should celebrate this with her family, I know she's missed you two while she was here in Salem by herself. Anyway, I have another patient coming in soon.
SHANE: All right. We'll see you later, then.
JEANNIE: Bye.
MARLENA: Bye, Shane. Goodbye, Jeannie.
Shane and Jeannie, envelope in hand, left. A minute or to later, Ben entered.
MARLENA: Ah, Ben. How are you today?
BEN: A bit confused, actually.
MARLENA: I see. Confused about what?
BEN: This Man. Why is it that This Man looks so much like me? And why are people having dreams about him?

[MrsM]

Congrats Jeannie!!

[Kpatch]

Good for Jeannie! I'm glad JJ is starting to understand his part in all this rather than playing the victim and blaming everyone else.

[gapeach]

Finally we are going to find out. About Ben and This Nan! Oh yeah congrats Jeannie way to go girl.

[fluffysmom]

Hope Ben figures out what is going on with the website and everyone's dreams.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 19

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
MARLENA: Why does This Man look like you?
BEN: That's my question.
MARLENA: Well, actually, I found out yesterday that it was a hoax. A film company distributed the pictures. They're for their newest movie. This Man was never meant to look like you. The artist thought he was drawing just a generic male face. And as you can see, there are some noticeable difference, particularly the eyebrows.
BEN: So, me looking like him...is a fluke?
MARLENA: I would say coincidence, but yes, if you like.
BEN: You say that it's a hoax, but what about Jack and those other people who really are dreaming about This Man?
MARLENA: Ah, now this is where it gets interesting. The people who have dreamed about This Man have subconscious minds that are susceptible to suggestion. They saw a picture of This Man, possibly even read the tory, and didn't even think about it. Or at least, consciously, they didn't. Their subconscious minds kept that thought going. And he manifested in a dream.
BEN: So, basically, they've dreamed about him...because they've been told that people dream about him?
MARLENA: Precisely. And that is just what the creators of the film were hoping for.
BEN: I see. Well, thank you, Dr. Evans.
MARLENA: You're welcome, Ben. I'll be seeing you tomorrow, I hope?
BEN: Definitely. I want yo find out what happened to Genie once the Riglers adopted her.
MARLENA: The story does take several turns from that point on. See you tomorrow.
Ben got up to leave.
BEN: See you.
Ben left. Marlena closed the door, happy that she had finally solved the mystery behind This Man.

15 Years Later...

MEADOW
Sydney was standing in the middle of a meadow. Standing in front of her was This Man.
SYDNEY: Who are you?
THIS MAN: When the question is asked, the answer shall bring you joy.
SYDNEY: What? What does that mean?
This Man suddenly grew wings and flew away.

SAMI AND LUCAS' HOUSE
Sydney, who was lying in bed sat up.
SYDNEY: Who's that guy?

THE END?

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Though an answer is given in this story, the true creators of This Man are unknown (to this author, at least). It has, indeed been confirmed that This Man is a hoax, though his creators have made many attempts to prove these claims false. Check out ThisMan.org for details.

Look out for a rather different type of story, URBAN LEGENDS, to start Monday, September 23rd.

[MrsM]

Hmmmmm

[gapeach]

Can't wait!!!!