Blake Thomas stares down at his body. Cold, lifeless. A shovel sticking out his chest, blood slowly spilling out onto the dirt. The real world seems to move in slow motion when you stand outside it.

"Is this what you wanted? To watch yourself die?" Ronarr asks, stepping forward and watching as Darren Reynolds sobs over Blake's corpse.

"I wanted to take you out of the game," Blake says. "It's over. Go back to your island. Leave us alone."

"Oh, if it were only that easy. So, you took me out of your body. Who's to say I can't just take another one? Just destroy this town another way? Drag you all there?"

"Because we will always fight. People in this town have been maimed. Murdered. Raped. Strangled. Killed in fires and explosions. But somehow, it's all worth it because in the end? We cross over. We find peace. Finally, we rest in peace. Except, you took that away from us. No one who has ever called this town their home, even briefly, has had a minute of peace after death. And when people find out, they'll fight back."

Ronarr laughs. "They can try. I made a deal."

"I know..."

They turn, startled to find Zaliphyr standing amongst the dead bodies. "These people... I've murdered them all."

"So you can be with the mother of your children. Your tribe," Ronarr says.

"But they are all dead and gone to the skies! And I am here! Killing more and more people! I want this to end," Zaliphyr says.

"We made a pact."

"End it. End my life. Please."

"Do you think it will matter? I have plenty of other demons. Plenty of other cities!"

"I don't think you do. Otherwise you wouldn't be here. You wouldn't be afraid," Blake says.

Ronarr's eyes light up in anger. "You think I'm afraid of you?! Fine. I will rescind your deal. I grow tired of this goddamn town anyway." He reaches out, grabs Zaliphyr by the throat. "I'll release you from our pact. But just remember, I always go for the pain."

Zaliphyr screams as he feels something burning within him. It's as if his entire body is being torn apart from the inside out. As he falls to the ground, he is completely naked. But darker than he was. He has returned to who he was before the pact.

"You are now human again," Ronarr says. "And you'll die like one. On that island you wanted to escape so much? You'll stay there until it becomes so unbearable and lonely you'll fling yourself to sweet death on a patch of jagged rocks." He snaps his fingers, and in an instant, Zaliphyr vanishes from sight.

Ronarr casts a glance toward Blake. "You'll all get your peace."

Blake looks toward his body. To Darren, grieving. To Alexis and Mary Carolina standing on the side, watching. "I'm ready for it."

"No, not you," Ronarr says, smiling. "I exist because weak people always ask for power in their darkest moments. And I can see you have dark moments ahead. I'm betting you'll be the same sniveling little brat who begged a demon to bring his brother back to life."

"I'm not the same boy anymore."

"We'll see," Ronarr says, shoving Blake back toward his body.

All Blake sees is a flash of light, then the sound of crying as his eyes fly open. He starts coughing wildly. "Darren..."

"Blake!" Darren gasps. "You're alive!"

"I think... I think I need to get to a hospital," Blake says.

"Don't worry, everything will be okay, we'll get you there now," Darren promises.

Blake struggles to smile amidst the pain. "I know. Everything... everything will be okay..."

Vincent Moore sits in the backseat, running his fingers through his mother's hair. Leslie, still fast asleep after she was awoken in the apartment. She was slightly confused and agitated before passing out again after seeing Derek Moore's face.

"There's a lot we'll have to explain to her," Vince says softly.

"A lot we'll have to explain to everyone. How do we do that? Just announce that some doppelganger was running around town, pretending to be her?" Derek asks, behind the wheel of the car.

"Well, it didn't seem like one of those movies where an evil twin was actively trying to piss everyone in my mom's life off," Vince says. "Maybe we can just explain it all away. Michael did kidnap her. Or, sorry, that's what everyone things. Herald actually kidnapped her. We can explain that... then anything else after that was just... post-traumatic stress, I don't know. But I feel like everything will be okay."

As Vince feels his mother's warm forehead, he catches a glimpse of someone in the front seat. "Aunt Yolanda?"

She turns around, smiling at them. Then she leans into the backseat and kisses Leslie on the forehead. "Take good care of my sister, okay?"

Vince nods. "It's good to know that you're okay, at least. Whatever happened to you."

"You say something?" Derek asks, just as Yolanda vanishes from the car.

"No, I didn't," Vince says, a smile finally coming to his face after an incredibly long night. "I was just... wondering about Samantha. You said that she ran off somewhere?"

"Yeah, I have an idea," Derek says. "But I don't think she's coming back..."

Samantha Clark rode on the bus for what seemed like hours. She wasn't uncomfortable. She knew that she would soon finally be reunited with Ryan Phillips. He would know everything that happened to her when Alexis put her into that coma. He'd know everything that she fought through to get to him. To save him.

She knew the compound's location from having lived in the Hanley mansion with Herald. Only she never knew that Ryan was being held there. Held prisoner by Marcus, her brother-in-law. All of it, right under her nose.

She stands at the door, waiting nervously for someone to answer. Finally, Marcus is at the door.

"Leslie..." he says softly.

"Not Leslie," Samantha snaps. "Tell me where they are."

She marches inside, glancing about wildly.

"I'm afraid you need to leave."

"Your boss is dead. You know he had a heart attack tonight. That's why you haven't heard from him. He's dead. So just tell me where Ryan and Vanessa are."

Marcus frowns. "Them? Gone. Let em go after the whole Herald thing. Who cares what they tell people now, huh? Can't ruin anything now that he's dead."

"You let them go?!" Samantha demands. "I am not going to let her march around with my man!"

"Your man? They got pretty cozy while they were locked up here."

Samantha slaps him across the face. "You're lying!"

Marcus grabs her to calm her down. "I got a gun on me. Want me to shoot you?"

She shakes her head.

"I'll show you. Plenty of security footage here."

He leads her into a small room in the basement, set up with a large amount of surveillance equipment. As he turns on one of the films, she can clearly see Ryan and Vanessa kissing tenderly in a bedroom, then giving in to the throes of passion.

"Love in chains, huh? Guess that's what captivity does to people," Marcus says, laughing.

"No," Samantha whimpers. "He's... he's mine..."

She hurries out the basement, running into the living room. Marcus pursues her, trying to calm her down. "Hey, miss! You can't be freaking out in here!"

"No, no, he's mine. He's... I'll never have him," Samantha realizes.

"Miss, you alright?"

She hurriedly grabs the gun on his waist. Without warning, she raises it to her lips and pulls the trigger. Marcus is stunned as a bullet explodes into her skull, piercing it and sending blood splattering across the front door. He stares in shock as Samantha's lifeless body falls to the floor.

"What the hell's going on in here?" Denise Robertson asks, pushing open the front door and carrying a large bundle underneath her arms.

"Who are you?" Marcus demands.

"You worked for my father, didn't you?"

Marcus nods.

"Then you work for me now. And you can help me take care of my sweet little boy," Denise says, revealing the bundle under her arms to be a baby. "Some people will tell you he's Julian. But I'm going to name him Simon. The man I thought his father was."

Something about this woman's eyes look utterly insane to him, but Marcus realizes that if this is Herald's daughter, she is definitely his new boss.

"It's been a long trip, we're going to take a nap," Denise says, glancing down at Samantha's body. "Clean up that mess, will you?" She steps over the body heading toward the stairs, smiling at the sight of the woman she knows as Leslie Moore on the ground dead.

She finally won.

"Dad, will you call me back?" Alec Bale says, speaking into his cell phone while sitting in his family's expansive living room. "I haven't heard from you or Alexis since mom. And... well, I just really wanna hear your voice."

As Alec sets his phone down on the coffee table, he leans back on the couch and shuts his eyes. This night. It should have begun and ended with his parents' wedding... but instead it ended in a complete nightmare. One that he knows won't just be part of his imagination when he finally awakes.

He finally feels himself drifting off to sleep when he hears the doorbell ring. Groaning and wondering who would be at the door at this time of night, he forces himself to stand and go to the door.

"Who the hell is..." Alec stops when he flings the door open. "Oh my God."

"Hey Alec," Jessica says, smiling at him from the doorstep. "I brought someone to see you." She raises their son, Phillip, up to Alec's arms. "Want to hold him?"

Michael was really gone. There was no way anyone could survive a fall like that. Even on some strange, mysterious island with dead people running around. And even with all he'd done to them, Felicia Bale still felt as if a large part of her was now missing.

"Are you okay?" Robert asks, taking her hand in his.

"I'm fine," Felicia says. "I just... he's dead."

Robert knows better than to bring up the fact that Michael tried to kill him, tried to kill her and was going to hold her prisoner here. He was her brother.

"I'm sorry," Robert says. "I know this is a shock right now, but... it'll get easier, trust me."

"I know," Felicia says. "We've lost a lot of people, haven't we?"

Robert nods. "We have. But... oh God."

"What?"

"Alec still thinks you're dead," Robert says, groaning.

"And we might as well be!" Felicia cries. "How the hell are we going to get off this island?!"

"Hey! You two!"

Felicia and Robert turn to see someone wildly waving at them. It's the pilot from Michael's jet.

"Hey! I thought you all were dead," he says, holding a cold compress to his head.

"Thank God," Felicia says, hugging him when he approaches. "Is the plane working?"

"No," the pilot says, shaking his head.

"Damn," Robert grumbles.

"But we do have a working satellite phone, so I can call for help."

Felicia and Robert excitedly smile, hugging one another. Felicia kisses her husband. "We're safe!"

"You know, we did just get married," Robert says.

"What are you saying?"

"Well, we could make a call on that phone to Alec, let him know we're on a vacation..." Robert looks toward her expectantly.

"A honeymoon," Felicia agrees.



Off in the trees, two people stand and watch as Felicia and Robert embrace. Two people who know the married couple very well.

"They look happy," Melissa Bale says.

Simon Holden smiles, resting his arm on her shoulder. "I agree. They do."

"I'm glad they didn't see us. It wouldn't have been..."

"I kind of wish I could see Felicia one last time. Say goodbye to her, but you're right. It wouldn't be good for any of us," Simon says. "I can feel us... pulling off somewhere that's not here. Maybe we're finally passing on."

"I thought I had once. I was there... with my brother. My real brother, not the thing that's been pretending to be him. But I was ripped from that place violently and washed up on this shore."

"I'm glad they found each other. If it couldn't have been with us..."

Simon turns to Melissa, but she's no longer there. Sighing, he shuts his eyes and waits to pass on himself.

"My offer still stands for you and Akilah to recuperate in New Martin," Caleb Holden says, resting his hand on Matt's shoulders. "I'm very sorry, son. About all of this. But trust me, the hospital will pay for this incident dearly."

"Thanks, granddad," Matt says, millions of miles away even as he stands there and listens to him. "I ought check on Akilah in..."

His voice trails off as he sees a stretcher being hurried past them into the emergency room. A stretcher carrying Blake.

"Blake?" Matt calls out, moving toward the paramedics.

"Matt, it's okay," Darren says, holding him back. "He's going to be fine. I promise. He'll be fine."

As Darren goes off in the direction of Blake, Matt notices Mary Carolina slowly lurching toward them. She's covered from head to toe in dirt and looks more than a little worse for wear.

"Mary Carolina?"

"Lord, all you people up here keep calling me that," Mary Carolina says, brushing dirty strands of hair out her face. "Call me Carly, alright Matt?"

"You know I dislike that name," Caleb says. "Well, I dislike this town. Let's shower and get the hell out of here," Mary Carolina says. "Where's Akilah? I want to say goodbye."

Matt lowers his head. Caleb wraps his arm around him. "Actually honey, that's something we need to talk about."

Alexis hears laughing as she unlocks the front door and hurries inside. She was hoping to make a beeline for the shower before anyone could find her, then make her way to the hospital with everyone else, but it looked like that might be impossible.

"Dad? Is that you?"

"No, it's just me Alec," Alexis says, rounding into the living room.

When she enters, she stops, stunned to find Jessica hovering near the couch watching Alec and Phillip playing together with Alec's younger brother, Hunter.

"Jessica?"

"Alexis!" Jessica hurries over to her friend, wrapping her arms around her. "It's so good to see you! Why do you smell like a sewer?" She quickly recoils from her friend.

"You know, digging up dead bodies," Alexis offers.

Jessica shakes her head. "This town never changes. Definitely glad I got away for a while."

Alexis looks off at Alec and smiles. "You listened to me."

"Of course I did," Jessica says. "And for what's it worth, I think you were right. He seems different. Completely different. Sort of like the man I married, you know?"

"Yeah. Alec is... he's great."

Jessica laughs. "Maybe I should give things another go, huh?"

"I'm gonna... be upstairs," Alexis says quickly.

As she turns to go out, Alec notices her hurrying away. "Hey Phil, why don't you play dinosaurs with Hunter for a bit, huh?"

"Okay, daddy!" Phillip shouts excitedly.

Alec hops out his seat and goes into the foyer, stopping Alexis before she can get up the stairs. "Hey. You okay?"

"I'm fine," Alexis says. "I just need a shower, is all. And by the way, you guys look like a real family in there. I hope everything works out for you."

"For me and Jessica?"

"Yeah, that's what you wanted, right?"

"I thought guys were supposed to be the stupid ones," Alec says, grabbing Alexis and kissing her. "I don't want Jessica. I want you. If you can deal with someone more fucked up in the head than most of the people in this town combined."

Alexis grins. "Ditto. On the fucked up part."

She kisses him back, sweetly. Both of them, wrapped up in one another, fail to notice as Jessica steps into the doorway and watches them. Her face twists into an expression of surprise, and the slightest bit of jealousy.

"The end's not near, it's here," Valerie Holden says as she rips up Hanley Enterprises stationery and tosses it into the trash.

"Valerie?"

She looks up and finds Joel Kincaid hobbling toward her on crutches. "Joel? What the hell are you doing in town?"

"It's a long story," Joel says. "I was sorry to hear about Felicia. And your grandson."

"Thanks," Valerie says, forcing a smile. "Is that spitfire of a daughter here with you?"

Joel laughs. "That may be the nicest thing either of you have said about one another."

"Well, you know, new year and all," Valerie mutters.

"What's all this?" Joel asks, looking at the stationery in her hands.

"Just getting rid of some old crap. And making way for Valerie Enterprises," she says.

"Wow. Well, uh, good luck."

"You sticking around town?"

"I wasn't planning on it, but my brother and Kimberly are getting back from their honeymoon and I don't want to crowd their place. So, maybe. I think things may finally start turning normal around this place, or so Julia reassures me."

"Kimberly? That crazy girl who used to be the nurse here? When the hell did they get married?"

"That's a whole other story entirely," Joel says. "I'm sure it'll get to paper someday."

"Well, if you're looking for work... I seem to remember you got fired from the police department, but I could always use a head of security," Valerie says. "I want to make sure there's nobody left still secretly on my brother's damn payroll."

"Thanks. I don't know if I'll stick around that long, but we'll see," Joel says.

"The offer stands," Valerie says, moving closer to him. She kisses him on the cheek. "That and a few other offers."

Completely taken aback, Joel's mouth drops open as Valerie goes of. He tells himself he'd never hook up with Valerie in a million years, but as she leaves, he can't help but watch the way that ass sashays.

"You know, I really hate this fucking hospital," Darren says, taking Blake's hand and pressing it against his cheek. "We've clocked a lot of hours here."

"I know," Blake groans.

"Oh! You're awake! Let me get a nurse."

"No, stop," Blake says. "I don't want a nurse. I just want to talk to you. My hero."

"Alright, now I know you're delirious," Darren says. "I didn't do anything."

"You believed in me when it mattered the most. You've always believed in me when it mattered most. And I've done nothing but lie to you. Keep secrets from you. I don't want to be that person anymore."

"Aaron raped you. You were entitled to keep that to yourself," Darren insists.

"I should've told the person I trust more than anyone else."

"You did, you told Vince."

Blake shakes his head, sitting up. "No. That's you. And I'm gonna tell you everything. If you still want to be with me after that, then..."

"Just shut up, alright?" Darren leans forward and kisses Blake. "You're always trying to find ways to get right of me. But I'm not letting you go ever again, alright?"

"Deal."

"Is everyone gone?" Akilah asks, finally stirring in her bed. She can feel Matt's strong arms wrapped around her, feel the warmth from his body as he lies next to her in the bed.

"Yeah," Matt says. "It's just us now."

"Good," Akilah says. "There's just... been so much to deal with. I just wish my mom was here. My real mom. She hasn't been acting the same ever since Michael did that stuff to her."

"It's okay, we don't need them, we've got each other," Matt whispers, kissing her neck.

They sit with one another in silence briefly, until the door creaks open. Akilah looks toward the light, first noticing as Vince follows through the door. Then her uncle Curtis, then her dad, followed by her mother.

"Akilah, I'm so sorry," Vince says, going to his sister's side. "If I'd known..."

"Where were you?" Akilah demands.

"Finding mom."

"What?"

"The woman who was with us... she wasn't really our mom. After the kidnapping she was..."

"Different," Akilah says, realizing the sentiment behind what Vince is saying if not necessarily exactly what he's saying. "I know."

Leslie joins them. "Oh baby. I'm here, okay? I was gone. I was so lost... but I'm here. I am here."

"I can leave you all alone for a bit," Matt says.

Vince shakes his head. "No. You stay. We have a lot to talk about. As a family." He glances around the room, at Sean, at Derek, then returns his gaze to Matt, Leslie and Akilah. "Because that's what we are. We're a family. Every single person in this room."

Sean, grateful to have his family back together and all in one room no matter the circumstances, goes to the door. He shuts it and then closes the blinds. Almost as if he's afraid this moment might slip away. But he knows it won't.

There would always be dark moments in their lives. But when push comes to shove, when they get over all of the bullshit heaped on them by life and the even worse shit they've pulled with one another over the years...

They're family. Not dead things, or guasti cose as his Italian professor in college used to say. They're living. Living and breathing. And very much alive.

Zaliphala sits on the edge of the beach, gazing at the sunset. He has no idea how long he's been there. The days... the nights... they all bleed together. But he knows that for once in his life, he is peaceful.

He puts out the fire he started on the beach, then prepares to retire to his tent. But as he douses the flames, he notices a man lying on the edge of the beach, as if he'd been washed in from the ocean.

Zaliphala goes to the strange white man, dressed in clothing he's never seen before. And yet, something about this man seems incredibly familiar. He speaks to the man, but isn't sure he will even understand the language he's speaking.

Finally, the man coughs up water and manages to open his eyes. He stares up at Zaliphala. "Where... am I?"

Zaliphala has no response for him.

"I just remember hanging from a cliff... I think? I remember a city, and a plane and then... the cliff... but nothing after that," the white man says.

Zaliphala understands not a single thing he says.

"I wished I remembered where that was," the man says, staring off at the sunset. "And what's more... I wish I remembered who I am."