The Obsession of Maggie Evans -- 4 (Adult)
Date: 6/26/98
From: Beverly LaCroix

Maggie's Secret

Dr. Julia Hoffman was driving at a dangerously high rate of speed along the darkened road that led from Collinwood to Collinsport. Noticing very little of her surroundings, other than the road in front of her, she was still uncertain as to how Maggie Evans had escaped from Wyndcliff. The story that Barnabas had told her, as far as she was concerned was the product of an active imagination. A little girl that no one had seen but Maggie. She would call Wyndcliff later on, and have them check all of the security to make sure this didn't happen again. The problem now was to make sure that Maggie didn't talk and expose Barnabas Collins' secret. That would be disastrous, not only to Barnabas, but it would ruin her as well. That could not happen, she had come too far. Assuring Barnabas she could handle Maggie she had left Collinwood.

Julia finally noticed that the rain had completely stopped, and was grateful for that, because she was having a hard time concentrating on her driving.

Recalling the telephone conversation with Dave Woodard earlier had not surprised her, however what had thrown her for a complete tailspin was while on the phone, Barnabas Collins had totally acted out of character with his erotic caresses, and teasing her breasts, then shockingly ripping off her blouse and undergarments with one movement. She had been in such a state of arousal she couldn't thin clearly. She remembered begging him not stop, as she was at the brink of orgasmic release. She heard a low laugh, and then he was gone. The humiliation of that was unbearable. Julia made up her mind to never think of it again. This sort of behavior could not be tolerated, she knew that now. It would ruin everything she had worked for, strived for. To Barnabas Collins such behavior meant nothing. thought Julia bitterly. Her experiment and cure of Barnabas Collins was going to put her at the pinnacle of the world of medicine,. The recognition which she had struggled, and sought so long would be hers, and any romantic involvement with Barnabas Collins would bring nothing but heartache and tragedy. Realistically Julia knew this, and for now she believed it. Julia Hoffman was in control again. Julia noticed she had arrived at Dave Woodard's office.

Inside, Dr. Dave Woodard, Sam Evans, and Joe Haskell were talking quietly waiting for Dr. Julia Hoffman to arrive. Maggie was waiting quietly in a patient's room, the door opened where she could see her father, and friends.

Dave had been excited, when he had placed the call to Dr. Hoffman, thinking she should be here as Maggie's treating psychologist. Before he had placed the call to her, his questioning of Maggie was to the point she was remembering, and was going to name her kidnapper. Dr. Hoffman had instructed him to keep Maggie completely quiet until her arrival. It made sense, because they weren't sure what Maggie's reaction would be to the mention of certain people, places events, things of that nature. Julia Hoffman arrived and went in to talk to her patient alone.

Entering the patient's room, Dr. Hoffman put Maggie through a very short memory drill establishing that Maggie knew her name, where she was, where she had been -- then Maggie startled her by telling her in a quiet, calm voice "I know who my kidnapper was. I know what he is." Julia listened to her inwardly panicking. Dr. Hoffman's calm exterior denied the fact of the rising panic that was threatening to grow out of control, as she heard Maggie say "we've got to all the police and destroy that monster. He's not human. He's dead.." Julia pulled the small green medallion out of her purse, and had Maggie look at it, to calm her down. She had her look at the center, the light.. "You will remember nothing..."

The three men stood to their feet when the two ladies entered the waiting room.

"Dave, I need to talk to you and Mr. Evans alone.
Maybe Mr. Haskell could wait here with Maggie for a moment." I can't think of anything better I would like to do," said Joe Haskell with an impish grin on his face."

"I don't believe you are serious about this, Julia, Dave Woodard replied incredulously at what Dr. Hoffman had just relayed to him and Sam. He was astounded at Maggie's request, and according to Julia Maggie had gotten almost hysterical at the idea of refusal of her request. It wasn't that the request couldn't be fulfilled, it could and probably would, it was just so unusual.

"I know it sounds a little odd" -- Julia's tone had taken on a cajoling tone by this time when Sam Evans interrupted her in a loud tone of voice. "A LITTLE odd! Doctor, I call it insane, my daughter requesting to have her therapy sessions at the Old House every evening. Number one, if I can get past the very idea of it, Maggie only has a passing acquaintance with Mr. Barnabas Collins, now, you're telling me she wants to spend every evening at his house. "Mr. Evans, I believe Maggie recalls good things about the house, concerning you and the portrait that you painted of Mr. Collins. It's a lovely house, very peaceful. Actually she could be my assistant for my work as a historian. I use the library there, and am there almost every evening anyway, it wouldn't seem unusual, Mr. Evans."

"Julia, what about Barnabas Collins? Doesn't he have any say so in this? After all, it is his house, asked Dave."

"Yes, I know, and I explained that to Maggie. She said she understood that Mr. Collins would have to okay it, and she started to get a little upset. So I told her it would be perfectly okay I was sure Mr. Collins wouldn't mind for a little while," said Julia.

"Julia, I need a minute alone, said Dave." "Yes, Dave, what is it?" asked Julia. "I was noticing you keep grabbing at your abdominal area and wincing as if in pain. Are you all right?" asked Dr. Woodard with a concerned look on his face. "Oh, that. I'd almost forgotten about it. When the storm was at its peak this evening, and the lights went out at Collinwood, I was all alone, and was getting some candles, and walked right into the sharp edge of the sideboard in the drawing room. It got me right here. (indicating abdomen.) "Well, I hope you're okay," said Dave. "Of course, I am," replied Julia. "It will be gone in a couple of days."

Having said good night, reassuring Maggie that she would tell Barnabas that she was going to be using her as an assistant at the Old House, Julia left to go back to Collinwood.

Subconsciously, Julia would remember certain events in the ordinary course of living. Her recall or actions wouldn't be of the nature that anyone would question or even notice. Dr. Julia Hoffman had blocked out the terrors of her evening at Collinwood. The display of the awesome and terrible powers of the Vampire, Barnabas Collins, literally all at once, with the face of his anger felt at each and every level of his powers. Anger, unrestrained, and unleashed, looking for its victim, and finding its victim, acting out its rage, a victim surviving such an assault, cannot face the horror, and not go mad, or suffer a total or partial state of amnesia, such was the case of Dr. Julia Hoffman. the human, while being able to comprehend all sorts of complexities throughout a day, is not equipped to handle and deal with the horrors that the creatures of the night unleash with all their madness for the terrified souls. The victim's mind will shut out the horrors, and remember only selective moments of the events, or it will let the soul retreat, and hide in a world of fairy princesses, beautiful castles, handsome princes, and make believe. Maggie Evans, however, suffered none of the madness that a victim of horror experiences.

Maggie Evans, followed by her father, walked inside the cottage, seemingly happy to be home. Maggie told her father she was tired and wanted to go to bed.

Maggie could still feel his arms around her. She knew he wanted her. He could feel her desire. Her joy had been delirious when she had saw him at the Blue Whale earlier that evening. Maggie had learned one important truth this evening, and that was Dr. Julia Hoffman was her enemy. The fact that Julia knew about Barnabas did not surprise her, it was her part in the whole affair, her covering up for Barnabas. "I wonder why. Maybe he's doing to her what he did to me -- No, thought Maggie sharply. She felt anger and hatred for the doctor. Revenge for Dr. Julia Hoffman was forming in Maggie's mind, but not solidified, it was replace with the thought of seeing Barnabas Collins the following night. Softly Maggie said, "Maybe if I leave my window open..."

The lone figure of a woman with auburn-colored Grecian curls, could be seen on the docks, as if waiting for someone. The figure of a tall man with a cape emerged from the shadows, and the woman inclined her head towards him, when he uttered one word, "Josette."