Subj: Consequences of Falling ch. 59
Date: 8/13/01 3:50:36 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Nicole

January 8, 2001, The Old House, 3:30 PM

Cameron could hear music streaming up from the ground floor. He did not understand how anyone could sleep in such an environment. But as far as he knew, no one was home. Angelique had told him that she would be staying with her boyfriend and Barnabas...well, Barnabas was never home. He assumed that Astrid had returned.

Cameron rolled out of bed and strolled to the window. As he had expected, the man was staring into his window. He had been there every morning since he had arrived. Cameron tried talking to the man but the man never responded. The man would look away and walk off. Usually Cameron would run down the stairs and begin to search the grounds, hoping to find the man. This day, he refused to look. Cameron threw on his last clean outfit and wandered downstairs to investigate the music.

The closer he came to the source, the clearer the music became, "White Album" era Beatles rolling through the mansion. Cameron could hear two distinct voices: one cool and sumptuous and the other soft and calm. Both voices were familiar although he could not pinpoint to whom they belonged. Once he made it to the ground floor he understood. He could clearly see Astrid sitting on the sofa, her smile smoothly spread across her face as she handed her guest a photograph. The woman's clear, tinkling confirmed her identity. "Keelie!"

Kelene turned to face him, her broad smile beckoning him to join her. "Come over here," she cooed. "It's been too long."

Cameron could not speak. He silently took a seat on the floor at Kelene's feet, leaning against her knees as she slipped her hands into his hair. "How did you find me here?"

"Well, you told me that you were coming to Collinsport. I asked around town about you and no none knew who you were. I would've left but someone mentioned the Collins Estate. I snuck onto the grounds and happened to run into Astrid. We came here hoping to find you. Since we didn't, we've been talking and listening to music. Where were you? I didn't here you come in."

"I was walking the grounds last night. I'm surprised you didn't see me." Cameron guided Kelene's hand to his shoulders, stroking her fingers intently before he realized that Astrid was staring at them. She did not seem to be doing this maliciously. She was only curious. Astrid quickly looked away and began rummaging through the small wooden box in her lap. She accepted the photograph back from Kelene and slipped it to the bottom of the box. Out of the corner of his eye, Cameron noticed a small metallic glint from the bottom of the box. "What's that?"

Astrid pilfered through the box and pulled out a silver chain with two silver bands attached. Her eyes glassed over as she crumpled the chain into her hand and pressed it to her heart. "I've not seen this in so long. God, where did this get to?"

"What is it?"

Astrid turned through the pictures until she found the correct one. She handed it to Cameron and turned away. Cameron took one look at it and realized the problem. "These belonged to your parents, didn't they?" Astrid nodded as she fumbled with the thicker silver band. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." Astrid glanced at Kelene and began to put her things back into the box. "Listen, I'm going to leave you two alone. Use the CD player. Do whatever you like."

Cameron did not watch as Astrid leapt from the sofa and ran up the stairs. He felt Kelene shift, her knees brushing together as she reached for the CD case. She changed the disk and stood, her hand extended to Cameron. The bass slowly began to thud, the familiar beat of "Protection" bringing him to his feet. He wrapped her in his arms, loving the feel of her close to him once more. "Why did you find me?"

"I said I'd find you," murmured Kelene. Her face became solemn, her bottom lip trembling as she said, "I have something to tell you."

"What?" She did not answer. "Come on, Keelie! If it's important, I want to know about it."

"Oh, it's important." Kelene stood on her toes and whispered, "I'm pregnant and I know it's yours. I've been with no one else since I was with you in November."

Cameron did not know what to say. Thirty seconds before he had been a wayward man with no direction. Now he had more responsibility than he had ever expected to have. How could he care for a family if he could not find a job? How could he be an adequate father if he never had one? But Cameron cold tell none of this to Kelene. He had always hated to hurt her. It was harder now as she beamed. "Oh Keelie," he whispered, pressing his lips to her cheek, "that's amazing. I don't know what to say."

"Don't leave me." Kelene buried her face into his body and wailed, "I couldn't take it if you leave me."

Cameron slipped his hand beneath her chin and shifted Kelene's gaze to his. She was crying, her light coffee skin blotched red. He looked away into the foyer. Astrid was staring at them. She knew; she had to. Her hands gripped the bannister as she looked at them. She was not angry, only sympathetic. Cameron turned back to Kelene, whispering, "I can't leave you. I love you, Keelie. I don't want you to go through this on your own."

"Oh thank God. I was so afraid."

"There's no need for you to be afraid." Cameron kissed her and pressed her into his body. He had not lied to Kelene: he could not leave her now. Yet he did not know what he was going to do with her or how he would be able to care for her and their child. He looked back into the foyer to see Astrid sitting on the steps, her head pressing into the banister and her eyes shielded from view. He thought he could see her lips moving, but he decided that she was singing along with the song. He started to become worried when what had to be wind slipped through her hair and she leaned into an imaginary buffer. Cameron turned away and stared ahead, slightly afraid to look down on Kelene. As they turned near the metal door, Cameron saw Astrid's silver chain catch the light. "What the...? I though she took her chain with her."

"She did," murmured Kelene.

"Then what is it doing by the door?"

Astrid ran into the room, swiping up the chain and pressing it to her chest. She looked from the door to Cameron--more specifically, behind him. "How did this happen? What does it mean?" she whispered.

"Should it mean anything?" asked Kelene.

"No," murmured Astrid, shoving the silver chain into the pocket of her slim black coat. "It shouldn't mean anything."

Cameron wandered toward the metal door, lacing his hands through the bars as he peaked inside. He could see nothing through the darkness. "Do you know what's down there?"

Astrid pulled him away gently and stood in front of the door. Her eyes met Cameron's with instant intensity. "It's a basement. God only knows what Barnabas keeps down there. It's best we didn't investigate, okay?"

Cameron nodded in complacent agreement. The contents of a basement did not seem important enough to argue about. He blinked twice and glanced back to Kelene. She looked confused as she cautiously approached the door. When Kelene touched it, Astrid did not stop her, her eyes focused on some unseen object. "What is it?" asked Cameron.

"It's nothing," whispered Kelene. "This door just doesn't seem to go with the house. It belongs in a prison, possibly even a crypt."

"Yes," agreed Astrid, "it should be guarding...a...mausoleum. Oh God! That's it."

"What's it?" asked Cameron.

"Not now!" Astrid ran to the loveseat and began fumbling through the bag next to the CD player. She retrieved a small phone and ran to the window, her eyes focused on the sky. "Angelique? Good! Listen: I think I know where he is. Eagle Hill Cemetery. Yeah! We'll search tonight."

"Find him?" Cameron grabbed Astrid's arm, forcing her to look up at him. "I've seen a man outside my window. He doesn't listen to me."

Astrid's face instantly lit up. "You've seen the man?" Cameron nodded. "Is he tall with dark hair?" He nodded. "Have you seen his eyes?" He shook his head. "No matter. That's good enough." Astrid gave a few brief directions to Angelique and rang off the phone. "You're going to help me," she said solemnly.

"With what?" Astrid acted as if she would answer, but her attention soon turned to the man who had burst through the door. Cameron could not believe his eyes. It was the other man from his dream, the man who had looked so much like him. They stared at one another until Astrid grabbed the man's arm and pulled him into the drawing room. "Who is this?" asked Cameron.

"Not now!" snapped Astrid. She turned to the man and said, "You won't believe with I've discovered!"

"I think I can top it no matter what it is," purred the man. "Guess who I saw driving out of Eagle Hill Cemetery?"

Astrid thought only a moment before she snarled, "Josef!" The man smiled. "Jeeze. You were right."

"I won't gloat."

"Then don't start," laughed Astrid. She hugged the man tightly and he seemed to enjoy it too much. "You're coming with us, aren't you?"

"I wouldn't miss this for the world." The man glanced at the new faces and mumbled, "I don't think we've been properly introduced."

Astrid nodded and said, "This is Cameron Stuart and that is Kelene Sheridan." She looked solemnly at Cameron and said, "This is Chris Jennings."

"Am I missing something?" asked Cameron.

Astrid looked from Chris, who shook his head and looked away. "Not yet, but trust me," she said softly, "this will all make since in a little while."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.