Forgive Me, Father (Read 12,826 times)

[André DiMera]

Previews

Theresa makes her confession.
THERESA: I just don't know what to do anymore.

John and Eric get ready.
ERIC: She's still in there. I know it.
JOHN: We've gotta get that thing out of her.

And someone else returns.
ERIC: He's back!

All this and more next week on FORGIVE ME, FATHER!

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for the previews. Sounds like a great week ahead.

[gapeach]

Never thought I would be saying this on a Saturday, but Can't wait till Monday!!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 44

ST. LUKE'S
ERIC: Say whatever's on your mind.
THERESA: That could be dangerous.
ERIC: I don't believe that.
THERESA: You will soon.
Theresa took a deep breath.
THERESA: Okay, here it goes. I've been a brat lately. I have...issues, let's say. And I've been blaming everyone else for these issues when, really, they're my own doing. I've been acting like the whole world's against me, when it's really not. Also, I've been really judgmental, but I expect people not to judge me.
ERIC: Okay. I ask this only for purposes of clarification: you have, in the recent past, falsely accused people of passing judgement on you, while you have been passing judgement on them. Is that correct.
THERESA: Yeah, that's it.
ERIC: I see. Continue, please.
THERESA: Well, there is one other thing, but you can't tell anyone about it.
ERIC: I won't. Anything you say in here is between you, me and God.
THERESA: Okay.
Theresa took another deep breath.
THERESA: I'm a drug addict. Cocaine, mostly. Although, sometimes I mix ecstasy and stronger drugs with alcohol.
ERIC: I see
THERESA: I just don't know what to do anymore. I thought I did, but now I have no idea. I feel lost. What should I do.
ERIC: In order to properly answer that, I must first ask you some questions: Do you recognize that you have sinned?
THERESA: Yes.
ERIC: Are you sorry for those sins?
THERESA: Yes.
ERIC: Do you also recognize that we are all sinners, and that the only way to be saved is through Jesus Christ, the son of God?
THERESA: Yes.
ERIC: Okay. I would suggest that you get help for your addiction. I can also suggest a few prayers to say for that. As for being judgmental, Say two "Our Father"s and a "Hail Zmary". You know those two prayers, right?
THERESA: Not the Hail Mary, no.
ERIC: All right. I'll teach you that one as well as a prayer about addiction and the Act of Contrition. Repeat after me: Hail Mary,
THERESA: Hail Mary,
ERIC: Full of grace.
THERESA: Full of grace.
ERIC: The Lord is with thee.

[fluffysmom]

Glad Teresa is admitting she's to blame for her problems.

[sportsgirl]

Looks like Theresa has taken the 1st step towards getting better.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 45

BRADY PUB
It is now a few weeks later. Eric sat at a table in the Brady Pub. He was waiting for John and Marlena. He was lost in thought, remembering a further encounter with the Devil that had occurred only a day or two ago.

ST. LUKE'S - FLASHBACK
NicDevil was levitating in front of Eric, who was on the ground.
NICDEVIL: It's over, priest. I've won.
NicDevil laughed.
ERIC: Not yet, you haven't. We defeated you once, we'll do it again.
NicDevil scoffed.
NICDEVIL: This isn't a Charlie Daniels song. You can't just challenge me to a fiddle competition and expect to win.
ERIC: But, I will win. Because I have God on my side. And I've been back at this church for weeks now, speaking the good news, spreading the Word to people. And His Word never comes back void.
NICDEVIL: Stop saying His name!
ERIC: Whose? God's? You don't like that, do you, Satan? What about when I mention His Son, Jesus?
NICDEVIL: You will be silent!
ERIC: I don't think so.
Eric stood up.
ERIC: Nicole! I know you can hear me! I know you're in there!
NicDevil's face softened. It was the real Nicole.
NICOLE: Eric?
ERIC: You have to fight this, Nicole. No matter how hard it gets, fight it!
NICOLE: Eric...help me...
Her face went dark again. The Devil was back in charge.
NICDEVIL: I said keep silent!
NicDevil floated higher.
NICDEVIL: Mark my words, priest, I shall get you! Very soon, you shall be mine!
NicDevil burst out of the church.

BRADY PUB
John and Marlena walked up. Eric stood up and hugged them.
ERIC: Thanks for meeting me out here.
MARLENA: Of course, honey.
JOHN: What's going on?
ERIC: It's about Nicole. I think she's starting to fight.

[gapeach]

Great chapter Andre'. Fight Nicole Fight!!!!!

[fluffysmom]

Keep fighting Nicole and Eric.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 46

BRADY PUB
ERIC: She's fighting it.
JOHN: You sure?
ERIC: Definitely. There was a moment last week. I was at St. Luke's and the Devil was confronting me. But, for a second, his hold over her slipped. She called out to me for help.
MARLENA: Now that you mention it, I saw something similar the night she masqueraded as Belle.
ERIC: What happened?
MARLENA: It wasn't anything like what you saw. But, there was a moment where her hand started shaking. But, then she balled it into a fist. And she seemed angry at the hand, as if it had done something.
ERIC: That was her. That's the real Nicole. She's still in there, I know it. And the Devil's grasp is weakening.
JOHN: If what you two have seen is evidence, then she definitely still is in there. And we've gotta get that thing out of her.

NICOLE'S APARTMENT
NicDevil was going through pictures on Nicole's phone. She stopped when she saw one of Eric. Her hand began trembling.

NICOLE'S MIND
The interior of Nicole's mind. Nicole is tied down to a chair. It is very foggy. Though the Devil cannot be seen, his presence can be felt.
DEVIL: Such a handsome man, isn't he, Nicole?
NICOLE: Leave him alone!
DEVIL: Why would I do that? Don't you want him to suffer?
NICOLE: No, no like this. Besides, he's suffered enough.
DEVIL: I don't think he has.
NICOLE: Leave him alone, Satan!
DEVIL: What about Dr. Daniel? Or even your pretty little sister, Taylor? I bet they'd be fun to play with next.
NICOLE: Get out of my head!
DEVIL: Hey, don't yell at me. It's not my fault. You invited me in here.
NICOLE: I was vulnerable! I was numb! I had shut my emotions off to the outside world!
DEVIL: Leaving just enough room for me to come in.
NICOLE: Had I known then what I know now...
DEVIL: But, you didn't. Such is the beauty of hindsight. Face it, Nicole, you'll never beat me. I have enslaved thousands of men. You couldn't beat me if you tried.
NICOLE: Maybe not alone. But, I'll have help.
DEVIL: From who? Your ex-friend, the priest and his saintly mother?
NICOLE: Oe way or the other, I'll get out of this prison you've put me in. You've trapped me in my own mind, but God will show me the way out.
Unnoticed to the Devil, one of the ropes holding Nicole down loosened slightly.

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad Nicole is fighting. It looks like it's starting to work.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 47

NICOLE'S APARTMENT
NicDevil looked down at her still trembling hand.
NICDEVIL: What are you doing?
NicDevil balled her hand into a fist, but it continued to shake.
NICDEVIL: You will never be free. Stop trying to fight me.

BRADY PUB
ERIC: The only question is, when do we do it?
JOHN: We'll have to lure the Devil to a hidden location. Make sure to bring something to immobilize Nicole's body.
Eric's phone rang.
ERIC: Excuse me.
He picked it up.
ERIC: Father Brady.
KAYLA (over phone): Eric? It's your aunt.
ERIC: Hi, Aunt Kayla. What's going on?

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
KAYLA: Listen, I'm gonna need you to come down to the hospital.
ERIC (over phone): Why? What's going on?
KAYLA: It's about a patient. You'll want to be here.

BRADY PUB
ERIC: What patient?
Pause.
ERIC: Are you sure?
Pause.
ERIC: Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can. Thanks.
Eric hung up.
MARLENA: What was that all about?
ERIC: He's back.

[fluffysmom]

I wonder if the call was about Father Matt.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 48

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Eric rushed in.
ERIC: Where is he?
KAYLA: Room 333.
Kayla led the way to a hospital room. There, sitting up on the bed, was Father Matt.
ERIC: Father Matt!
MATT: Hello, Eric.
ERIC: I am so glad you're back! We prayed for you every day.
MATT: We?
ERIC: The congregation. I took over as interim priest while you were in a coma.
MATT: I am glad to hear it. I had prayed that God would lead you back to the right path.
ERIC: He certainly did.
MATT: Very good. And now, we must speak about Nicole.
ERIC: You know about Nicole?
MATT: I suspected for a while. And you have just confirmed my suspicions.
ERIC: She's possessed. The Devil has trapped Nicole. She's the one that did all of those attacks. But, it wasn't really her, it was the Devil using her.
MATT: I know. She's the one that put me in this coma.
KAYLA: Before Nicole visited him, Father Matt was healthy, apart from a head injury when he was attacked at the church. We were only keeping him for observation. Then, Nicole came in one afternoon and he went into a coma for no reason.
MATT: But, God has seen me through.
ERIC: Father, we have to help Nicole. John's been teaching me to perform an exorcism. But, I still need help. Can you help?
KAYLA: We can't leave Father Matt leave yet. He only just woke up an hour ago.
MATT: But, if they were to lure Nicole here, I could still help. Is that correct, Dr. Brady?
KAYLA: I don't see why not.
ERIC: We'd need to restrain her, plus bring in people who care about her.
KAYLA: The room's big enough for two hospital beds, machinery, two doctors, six nurses, ten guests and two dogs, with a little room left over.
ERIC: Excellent. Now, we need to make a plan.
MATT: At last, the tide is turning.

[fluffysmom]

So glad Father Matt will be able to help.