Chapter 1
Martha and Frank Evans stood beside their child’s crib. Beside them were Anna and Anthony Black and their son John. John was four. They all looked at the little girl.
“Look John”, his mother said, ” there is your future bride Marlena.”
John looked into the crib at the little girl. He didn’t understand how he could marry her.
“Mommy, I can’t marry her. She can’t even speak.”
“Of course not now, when you both get older.”
John looked back at the little girl. He took her tiny little hand in his and when she looked at him John turned to his mom and dad with a smile.
“Look mom, she is looking at me.”
“Yes, she is”, Anna said and smiled. Anthony, Martha and Frank also smiled and they could all picture those two married when they got older.
That night Anna had a hard time sleeping. She didn’t know why, but she just turned in bed. Suddenly she heard a scream. It was John. She woke Anthony up and they went to his room. When they got there the room was empty. They saw that the window was open. They ran there just in time to see a car leave their backyard.
“JOHN”, Anna screamed and fell to the floor. Anthony sat down next to her and gathered her into his arms. They both started to cry and realized that they might never see their son again.
Chapter 2
27 years later….
“Okay ladies, this is the last tuxedo I’m trying on so you better like it”, Bo said from the dressing room.
Bo, Hope and Marlena were out to buy a tux for Bo. They were celebrating Bo and Hope’s third anniversary the same night.
“Yeah, yeah. Just come out here so we can look at you.”
“Okay here I come. So what do you think of this?”
“Well”, both of them said.
“Well what?”
“Well…it’s perfect.”
“Phu…thank god. I hate doing this. I have tried twenty tuxes and the last one I try on it’s perfect.”
Marlena and Hope both laughed.
“Alright sorry honey. But now we are done. You go change so we can get out of here.”
“I be back in a second”, Bo said and went back into the dressing room.
They paid for the tux and then went to get a cup of coffee at Salem Place. There they ran into Lexie and Abe.
“Hey guys, where have you been?”
“Well, those two have chosen a tux for me to wear tonight.”
“Sound….well…fun.”
“Not if you have to try on a hundred before they find the perfect one.”
Abe laughed. Then his beeper went off and so did Bo’s.
“Damn, looks like we have to get to the station.”
Bo nodded and then they hugged the women and went off.
When they had gotten to the car Abe realized that Lexie had his car keys.
“Shit.”
“What?”
“Lexie has the keys. You just wait here, I’ll be back in a few seconds.”
“Okay.”
Abe ran off and Bo stood there waiting. Suddenly a man came up to him.
“Hi, excuse me.”
“Yeah.”
“Could you tell me how to get to the police?”
“Well, I am the police. Detective Bo Brady. Can I help you?”
“Yeah, well, my car has been stolen.”
“Okay, well why don’t you come with us. My partner will be right back with the car keys.”
“Thanks.”
“What’s your name?”
“John Black.”
Chapter 3
Marlena, Hope and Lexie were still sitting drinking coffee. They talked about all kind off things. Mostly Abe and Bo. Suddenly Martha showed up.
“Hello ladies.”
“Oh, hi mom. What are you doing here. I thought that you were going home.”
“We are on our way to the airport now.”
“That’s right. We wanted to see you before we left and we just happened to see you here when we were driving by.”
Marlena laughed a little.
“Okay. Well, goodbye then”, she said and hugged her parents.
“Bye sweetie. We’ll call you when we get home.”
“Yeah do that.”
Martha and Frank hugged Lexie and Hope too and then they left. First they were going to the police station. They wanted to say goodbye to Bo and Abe before they left.
“So they are leaving. It’s about time huh”, Hope said with a big smile.
“Well, it’s not that I don’t like having them here, but you know not all them time.”
“Hey Marlena. Your mom said something about a story that she was about to tell us and it was about someone named John. She must have forgotten in, but we are really curious. Can’t you tell us?”
“Why do you want me to tell you that?”
“Come on Marlena. We just want to know. Please?”
“Okay. Mom and dad’s best friends Anna and Anthony also lives in Colorado. They were best friends before I was born. They had a son who was four when I was born. They decided from day one that he and I were getting married when we grew up.”
Marlena laughed a little when she thought off that.
“Anyway, one night John just disappeared. He was kidnapped from his room and no one has seen him since.”
“Wow, poor people. They called the police didn’t they?”
“Of course they did. But he was never found. They searched for him for years without results. They told me this when I was 14. I started to cry. I didn’t even know him, but still. I have seen him on pictures and he was so cute.”
Hope and Lexie smiled to.
“Well, that was the story.”
“And it was quite some story.”
At the police station…
Martha and Frank got to the station and asked for Bo.
“Hi, where can we find Bo Brady?”
“Oh, he is in his office. Right there”, the officer said and pointed towards Bo and Abe’s office.
“Thank you.”
Martha knocked on the door and when they heard Bo say come in they went in. They only saw Bo and Abe because John was sitting with his back against them.
“Martha, Frank, what brings you here?”
“Well, we are going home to Colorado now and we came to say goodbye.”
They hugged Bo and Abe and then Bo realized that he should introduce John.
“Oh, John, this is Martha and Frank. They are parents to one off my best friends. Martha, Frank, this is John Black.”
John turned the chair around and was faced with a very shocked Martha and Frank.
Chapter 4
Martha and Frank just stared at John, they couldn’t believe that he was here. John just stared back. He knew them.
“Martha? Frank? Is that really you?”
“Yes, that’s us. Are you really John Black?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Martha was relieved. She ran into his arms and they hugged. Frank came up and patted him on the back.
“Where have you been? What happened to you? Who took you?”
“Woaw, slow down. It’s a long story and I have been trying to find my parents for as long as I can remember. I can’t believe that I’m seeing you guys.”
Just then Bo’s cell phone started to ring.
“Excuse me. Brady here.”
“Honey, it’s me.”
“Hi, what’s up?”
“Well, I was just wondering if you had a lot to do at the station.”
“Actually we are just finished. Why?”
“Well, we miss you guys. Maybe you can come back to Salem place?”
Bo looked at John and realized that he hadn’t seen Marlena since she was in a crib.
“We’ll be right over. And Hope, tell Marlena that we have a surprise for her.”
Then he hung up the phone and went back to the others.
“That was Hope. She wanted us back at Salem place.”
“Oh my. Marlena is there”, Martha said,” she just have to see John.”
“Yeah, I thought so, but you guys have a plane to catch.”
“Oh yes. Well, John, when we get home we’ll tell your parents about you. They will never believe me. Then we can take them here so they can meet you.”
“That sounds perfect. I miss them so much.”
Martha nodded. Then she and Frank left and Bo and Abe took John to Salem place where he was about to meet Marlena. John was really nervous. The last time he saw her she was a little tiny girl who was lying in a crib. And he was just a little kid. Now they were both adults and so much has happened since that time.
“A surprise? What kind of surprise?”
“Marlena, I have no idea. All Bo said before he hung up was to tell you that he had a surprise for you.”
After she said that Bo, John and Abe came up to them.
“Hello again beautiful ladies.”
“Hello boys.”
“Bo, you told Hope that you had a surprise for me. What is it?”
“Well, here it is”, he said pointing at John.
Marlena looked at him. Sure he was familiar, somehow, but still she didn’t know who he was.
“Bo, what do you mean? Do I know him?”
Bo laughed and so did John. Bo was just about to speak but John stopped him.
“No, maybe I should explain this. Marlena, I’m John. Anna and Anthony’s son.”
Marlena couldn’t say anything. She couldn’t believe that he was here. Right in front of her.
“You’re John?”
“Yes. You sure have changed”, he said and laughed.
She laughed to.
“Well, last time you saw me I was in a crib, so I guess I have changed quite a lot. Where have you been all those years?”
“Well”, he started and then he looked at Bo.
Bo understood what he meant.
“Guys, maybe we should leave them alone for a while huh?”
“Yeah, you’re right. See you later Marlena.”
Then they left. John took a deep breath. He had a lot to tell Marlena.
Chapter 5
“So, where have you been for the last…well…27 years?”
“Well, it’s a long story. I hope that you have time.”
“I have all time in the world.”
“Okay. Well, that night when I went to bed I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking of you actually. I was just four years old and they told me that they wanted me to get married to you. Still I found that idea funny. Suddenly I heard a noise, it was coming from my window. I went over to it to look out. When I looked out I saw a man. He took me out off the window and carried me down. I screamed and hoped that my parents would hear me. He carried me to a car and pushed me inside. Then he said to the man in the front seat to drive. I remember that I was so scared and that I just wanted to get home to mom and dad…”
“You don’t have to look so frightened kid. Everything will be just fine.”
“Can I see my mommy and daddy?”, John said crying.
“I’m sorry, but you won’t be seeing them ever again. But you will get a new family. A better family.”
“I remember that I had a hard time breathing. I was so young and I didn’t understand why I couldn’t see my parents.”
Marlena wanted to say something, but John continued.
“After a while in the car it stopped and the man opened the door. He told me to get out. I did that and saw that we were at the airport. He took me into a plane and then it took off. We were in that plane for a really long time and then we landed. We were welcomed by another car. After a couple of minutes the car stopped. The man opened the door and took me out. When I got out I saw a big house in front of me. He took my hand and dragged me into the house. We got into a large room and there he told me to sit down.”
“Sit down kid. You will have company in a few minutes. If you want something to drink there is water on the table.”
John nodded and the man left the room. John was so scared that he couldn’t even move. He just sat there on the couch and looked around. After a while another man came in through the door. He was bigger than the other man.
“Hello John. My name is Stefano.”
John didn’t dare to say anything.
“You don’t have to be scared of me. I just want the best for you.”
“I want to be with mommy and daddy”, John said quietly.
Stefano just smiled.
“Then I remember that he took me to a room where I could sleep. Then the days just flew by. I learned to live there and he brought home teacher so I could learn some things. And everyday he told me: Just wait until you are 20. I have a big surprise for you. And then he would make an evil smile. That’s why I didn’t stay there until I was 20.”
“You got away?”
“Yes, I managed to get away from there one night. But I had no idea where I was and why. I just started to walk. It was dark and cold and I walked for hours until I got out to a big road where I saw a car. I waved for the car and they stopped. Inside were a woman and a man. They looked nice. My mom always told me never to go with strangers, but I was 14 now and I really didn’t have much choice.”
“So you went with them? Who were they?”
Chapter 6
“Well, their names were Jack and Melanie. They took me to their place and I could eat some food and have something to drink. They wanted to help me. I looked for my parents, but it was hard. I didn’t know my address, since I was too little when I was taken away. And I wasn’t even sure that we were anywhere near my parents. Since they used an airplane I guessed that I was far away. I decided to finish school and then go and look for them. I stayed with those people and they took care of me like I was their son. When I was 24 I left them. I knew that I was in New Orleans, now all I had to do was to find my way back home. I was so mentally hurt of everything that I didn’t even remember that I lived in Colorado.”
“But that means that you searched for about 7 years.”
“Yeah, I looked with help from a lot of people, but I didn’t have anything to go on. I disappeared as a 4-year-old boy. I didn’t know my address and I wasn’t a missing person anymore. I went back to Melanie and Jack and asked them if I could stay there for a little while longer. They said that I was always welcomed there.”
“But how did you end up in Salem?”
“Well, one day there was a knock on the door. Melanie opened and the next thing I heard was shot. Then I heard footsteps and then another shot. I realized that both Melanie and Jack were killed and I knew that they were after me. Then I heard them yell my name. It was someone that worked for Stefano. They had found me somehow. I went out the back way and took a car and left. He of course heard me and went after. There was a long car chase, but it ended when he drove straight into a wall. That was pretty recently. I drove for days and nights and I stayed at different hotels. Then I got here. And I was just getting something to eat. But when I got back to the car it was gone. Stolen probably. That’s when I went up and asked your friend Bo for directions. He helped me and now I’m here.”
“Wow, that was a long and amazing story. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I know that this is a shock to you.”
“You can say that again.”
They just sat there in silence for a while. Marlena looked up at John. He was looking down on the table, biting his lip.
“You know. This is like the first time that I see you. I was so little the last time so I can’t remember. But it feels like we have known each other forever.”
John looked up and met Marlena’s eyes.
“I know. It’s weird. I feel the same way about you.”
Then the silence started again and both of them looked down. Suddenly Marlena’s cell phone started to ring.
“Marlena Evans.”
“Marlena, this is Anna Black. I just talked to you mom. She called from the plane. Is it true? Is John with you?”
“Yes, it’s true Anna. He is here.”
John realized that it was his mom on the phone and made a gesture to Marlena that he wanted to talk to her.
“Oh, he wants to talk to you. Hold on.”
She gave John the phone.
“Mom?”
Chapter 7
“Mom?”
“Oh my god. Are you really my son?”
“Yes, I am. Are you okay?”
“I am now. God, I haven’t seen you in over 25 years. I can’t believe that it’s true.”
“I don’t either. But it is. I’m here.”
“Thank god. Your father and I will be over in Salem tomorrow. We can’t wait to see you.”
“Same here. I love you mom, and tell that to dad to.”
“Why don’t you say that yourself…”
John listens to how his mom gives the phone over to his dad.
“Son?”
“Hi dad. How are you?”
“Oh, my son. I’m just fine. We have missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Neither can we. Well, tell Marlena to give you a sightseeing tour, alright?”
“I will. I love you dad. See you tomorrow.”
“Love you too son. Bye.”
“Bye.”
John gave the phone back to Marlena and she saw that he had tears in his eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I guess it’s a lot to deal with that’s all.”
“I understand that. If you need to talk, you know I’m here.”
“Yeah, thanks. You know my dad said something that sounded like a great idea.”
“What was that?”
“Well, he said that I should ask you to take me on a sightseeing tour. What do you say?”
Marlena looked at him and smiled.
“It sounds like a really great idea. What do you want to see?”
“I don’t know. Just take me out of here. I want to have fun. And I know that we can have that.”
“Okay, but if you let me decide you have to do everything that I take you to.”
“I’m scared…but deal.”
“Deal.”
Then they shook hands and Marlena dragged John to her car and they took of for their first adventure.
Chapter 8
Marlena drove for a long time until she suddenly stopped. They were down by the water and John could see boats and all that kind of stuff.
“What are we doing here?”
“You’ll see”, Marlena said and smiled.
They went out of the car and Marlena took John’s hand and dragged him towards a guy standing by a boat.
“You wait here, I have to fix something.”
Then she left John alone and went over to the guy. She talked to him and he nodded. Then he went away. Marlena came over to John again.
“What’s going on here?”
“Don’t ask so many questions. Come with me.”
She dragged John into a house. There he saw the man with a bikini and shorts in his hand. He handed the bikini over to Marlena and the shorts to John.
“Have you ever Water skied before?”
“You must be joking?”
“Absolutely not. And with that I take it you never had done that before.”
“Never in my life.”
“Well, sometime has to be the first. You go change and we can meet outside.”
John nodded and went to change. When he came out Marlena was standing next to the guy and she was wearing the bikini. He couldn’t help but stare at her. She was so beautiful and that body…it was just so perfect. Marlena noticed that John was ready and she called for him.
“So, we’ll let Marlena start since she has done this before. You can watch her and then it’s your turn.”
John sat in the boat watching Marlena water ski. She was really good at it. She only fell once. Then they stopped and placed John on the skies. Then they went off again. Marlena couldn’t stop laughing when she saw John on the skies. He was really bad.
“Stop laughing”, he screamed before he fell for the hundred time.
She just couldn’t stop. After a while they decided to give up and went back. John and Marlena changed into their normal clothes and went to the car.
“So, how was the first adventure?”
“Well, as you saw…wet. But it was fun…thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I had a great time too.”
Their eyes met and no one said anything. They just looked at each other. Suddenly John decided to break it.
“So, where are we going now?”
“I have a great idea, but you’ll see what when we get there.”
“Not another surprise. I hope it’s something I’m good at.”
“Maybe it is”, she said with an evil smile.
John saw her evil smile.
“Oh my. If you show me a smile like that I guess I should be prepared for the worst.”
Chapter 10
John held Marlena tight when he looked at the person who shot her. Stefano. Stefano had found him, after all this time. John turned to Marlena and saw that the bullet hit her in the belly.
“Hello John. Nice to see you again.”
“I can’t say the same thing about you”, he answered with tears in his eyes.
“Oh, come on John. You belong to me, not to this family life that you are going in to.”
“I don’t belong to you. I never did and I never will. You kidnapped me from my parents and then you killed my other parents. I couldn’t hate anyone as much as I hate you.”
Then he looked at Marlena again. He tried to put pressure on her wound and he hoped with all his heart that she would make it. Stefano saw that John cried over Marlena.
“Oh, come on John. You look pathetic.”
John didn’t respond to Stefano. He just looked at Marlena’s lifeless body in his arms.
“I can finish her off you know. If you don’t come with me.”
Now Stefano got John’s attention.
“She might already be dead. Why Stefano? Why shoot her? She is so innocent.”
Stefano didn’t respond. He took up his gun and pointed it to John and Marlena.
“Let her go and come with me now.”
John didn’t want to let her go, but when he saw the gun he realized that he had to. But not until he knew that she was safe.
“I have to call for an ambulance.”
“All right. All right. But do it quick.”
John raced to a phone booth and called 911. Then he ran back to Marlena. But just when he was about to grab her Stefano pointed his gun towards him.
“No John. Come with me now. They will take care off her.”
John looked at Marlena and cried. Then he followed Stefano to the car. He got in and all he thought about was Marlena. When they did all the adventures that day. How happy they were. How much he cared foe her. He decided that he just couldn’t leave her.
“I can’t let you do this Stefano.”
He fought Stefano for the wheel. Then he made Stefano press the gas pedal down and they raced down a hill and the car crashed towards the rocks.
The Jarlena Journal 