Subj: Death is Only the Beginning
Date: 4/14/02 7:27:30 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Melissa

Roger Collins rubbed his eyes. He had been driving for the last four hours. He should have found a hotel two hours ago, but he wanted to get home. And by the looks of it that wouldn't be for another three hours.

The rain beat down. He had only seen it this bad once before, that was the night that he had killed that man. It still haunted his dreams. That was ten years ago, and that was all behind him. Burke had returned bent on revenge, but somehow they managed to find some kind of friendship.

The windshield wipers went back and forth, as Roger watched the road before him they began to hypnotize him. Then a figure came out of nowhere on the road. Roger, breaking free of the hypnotic trance that he seemed to have fallen into swerved away from the figure. He stopped the car quickly and turned his head to see the figure.

The figure turned and looked towards the car. Roger could barely make out anything, but it seemed as if it were a woman. He put the car in reverse and pulled back next to the figure, he rolled down the window.

"Can I give you a lift," he asked.

"Thank you," the figure said, and got into the car.

Once she was in the car Roger got a good look at the stranger. She was more a girl than a woman. She could not be any older than 22 years old, he thought.

"What are you doing out in this weather?" he asked.

She was silent for several minutes before she spoke. "I'm trying to get home."

"Where are you going?" Roger asked.

"I don't know," the girl said.

"I'm going to Collinsport," he said.

"That's fine," the girl said, then she looked straight ahead of her. Roger looked at her profile, some how she seemed familiar to him, but he figured it was just that she reminded him of Carolyn.

"What's your name," he asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Averil," she replied.

"I'm Roger Collins," he said, "there's a blanket in the back, you must be cold. How long were you out there?"

"Not long," she said as she pulled the blanket around her. She leaned her head against the window, and it seemed as if she had fallen asleep. Roger thought it best to let her sleep, she seemed to have had a rough time. She was wearing jeans and a sweater. He had to get gas for the car soon, so he'd look for something for her to put on.

At midnight Roger pulled into a gas station. He put his hand on the girl's shoulder. "Averil?" She jumped and looked at him. "Sorry. I had to stop for gas, I got a shirt, do you want to change into it?"

"Thanks," she said taking the shirt. She got out of the car and went into the gas station. Roger filled up the gas tank, then went inside. He bought two cups of coffee, and some snacks, and paid for it all.

As he walked away from the counter, Averil left the bathroom. She had changed and had brushed her hair, which was completely dried.

"Ready to go," Roger asked handing her a cup of coffee.

"Yeah, thanks," she said.

Once they were back on the road Roger turned to her and said, "The rain seems to be letting up."

"Yeah, I'm glad," she said.

"So why were you out on the road in the rain?" he asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

Averil looked at him, "I really don't remember," she said. "Where are you going again?" she asked.

"Collinsport," he replied.

"I don't think I've ever heard of it," she said.

Roger fought back the urge to remark on this, seeing that he believed that Collinsport was the center of all Maine, and that everyone should know about it. "It's a small town, but one of the oldest in Maine."

"I haven't been here long," she explained.

"Where are you from?"

"California," she said. "But my family moved to Maine about twelve years ago."

"So you live with your parents?" he asked.

"No not anymore, my father died about ten years ago."

"Oh I'm sorry. I hope you don't mind me asking so many personal questions."

"It's all right," Averil said. "You stopped and helped me out, so I guess I owe you something."

Roger smiled, "So how old are you?" he asked. "I mean you must have been pretty young when you moved."

"I'm twenty-seven. I was fifteen when we moved here."

"I thought you were younger than that," Roger said.

"How old are you?" she asked.

"Thirty-eight," he replied.

"You're not as old as I thought," she said with a smile.

"Oh yeah? I'm I an old man?"

"No not at all," she said laughing and Roger joined in.

As Roger drove they talked about themselves.

"Why don't you get some sleep," Roger said.

"Are you sure," Averil asked, "if you want to get some sleep I could drive for awhile?"

"No, we don't have much longer to go, so go on and get some sleep."

"If your sure," she said uncertainly.

"Yes, I'll wake you when we get into town."

"All right," she said leaning back in the seat. She closed her eyes and was asleep in a matter of moments.

Roger looked at her sleeping. She was pretty. Her hair was honey-colored. He remembered her eyes; they were a soft green. It had been a long time since he had been in a relationship. And to tell the truth, he was lonely. Sure he had his son David, and his sister and her daughter, but he wanted something more. But how likely was he going to find what he was looking for in a hitchhiker?

He decided to bring her back to Collinwood instead of taking her to Collinsport Inn. She didn't look like she had that much money. Liz wouldn't mind, she took in practically everyone that walked into the house. Julia Hoffman had been staying with them for years now.

"Where are we?" Averil asked sitting up.

"This is my home, Collinwood. I hope you don't mind I didn't want to leave you at the inn," Roger said.

Averil smiled, "Thank you I guess you figured out that I don't have a lot of money. I hope I won't be in the way. I won't stay long I promise."

"Don't worry, you won't be in the way, believe me. Collinwood is home to many people."

"Thank you Roger," Averil said she leaned in and kissed him softly. She pulled back quickly, "I'm sorry."

"It's all right," Roger said. "Come on," he said. He got out of the car and went around and opened the passanger door.

"You really live here?" she asked.

"Yeah it's been in the family for over two hundred years."

"Your family founded the town?"

"Yeah," he said.

"I didn't put it together," Averil said as they walked up to the house.

To be continued. . .

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production