Salvation
By San aka Humbuggie
 2001 
san@sv-tales.com
http://www.sv-tales.com
 
Disclaimer: Don't shoot me for borrowing these characters! All
copyright belongs  to people that I don't know personally. 
 
Type of story: Lots and lots of MTA, UST and MSR, no rating required
other than  this J
 
Story: When a desperate mother contacts Mulder to find her daughter
who ran away  to join a cult, Mulder gets an unforeseen chance to deal
with his past. But when  he infiltrates in the cult, Scully must do
everything in her power to save her  partner from his 'salvation'.  
 
Spoilers: Lots of spoilers for 'The Field Where I Died', a few for
'The X-Files  Movie' and smaller ones for other episodes like
'Pusher', 'Little Green Men',  the whole Samantha-abduction thing and
'Anasazi'.   
Timeline: The story takes place about two years after the events in
'TFWID',  thus somewhere in the sixth season timeline. The events
occur before 'Closure'  with Mulder still looking for his missing
sister.  
All lyrics are copyrighted, written and sung by Roxette 
They were my inspiration for this story, and I thank them deeply!
 
 
Prologue
 
Her blood was on his hands when he carried her outside towards the man
waiting  with his car. He would take over her body and make sure she
got her final  resting place. But he was the one that killed her. He
saw the blood and realized  what he had done. 
 
Before, it had all seemed strange. Unreal. Out of this world. But he
saw clearly  now that he had done that what he had feared others to do
for so long now.   
He stared at her slim forms and the shadows on her face. She looked so
pale, so  innocent and so sweet. And now she lay in his arms and she
was dead.   
'Put her in the backseat of the car,' the man ordered, opening the
door for him  so that he could carefully put her in. 
 
The man closed the door, satisfied with what he saw. Then he turned
towards him  and said, 'Now join Dominique and the others.' 
 
He nodded and left, like a puppet following the pulled lines. 
 
But everything inside of him screamed for her. And he knew he would
not get the  salvation that Dominique had preached for so long now.
For him, nothing would  matter ever again. 
 
Because he, Mulder, had killed Scully. 
 
 
 
Part I: Seeking
 
You crashed by the gate 
Captured my fate 
Salvation 
My eyes couldn't see 
I hardly breathed 
I was diving so deep 
Salvation 


-1-


He touched her skin, just barely. His finger lingered underneath her
chin,  raising her face so that she was forced to look at him. Her
eyes met his and she  found the faith she had lost so many weeks
before. He smiled, giving her the  strength and qualities the others
had all so admired in him. She nodded  slightly, as if to tell him she
was going for it.   
He knew she would. They always did. He wrapped them around his finger
and they  all obeyed his every wish. That was the only power he had 
the only power he  wanted to use in this godforsaken world.
 
'Are you ready to take the step to salvation, Vickie?' he said softly,
using the  timbre of his voice that had overwhelmed so many others
before her. Again she nodded, this time smiling with that one gesture,
full of expectation. 'I need to hear you say it,' he whispered. 
 
'Yes,' she said, hardly recognizing her own voice. 'I am.' 
He opened his hand, allowing her a look at the white tablets that lay
on the  palm of his hand. 'You've been feeling under the weather
lately,' he softly  said. 'You don't know what's wrong with you. You
don't feel like you deserve to  be here anymore. You just know that
you want something else in your life than  what's been given to you.
And therefore you came to me, and told me that you  wanted to be with
me. Is that what you want, Vickie?'   
'Yes.' 
 
'You say that you put all of your trust in me. You claim that I am the
one that  will be the most important person in your life from now on.
Are you ready for  that, Vickie? Are you willing to give it all up for
me? Are you willing to  neglect your mother from now on? Are you
willing to ignore your friends should  they beckon you?
 
'Yes.' 
 
'Take this tablet and show me that you care.' 
 
Her hand didn't tremble when she took one of the tablets from the palm
of his  hand and put it in her mouth. It felt dry and seemed to stick
to her tongue but  she swallowed it without complaining and opened her
mouth again. He looked  inside of her mouth, then at her and smiled as
he leaned forward and kissed her  on the lips. Then his tongue
explored her mouth and she closed her eyes as she  felt his grip on
her. He had already decided that she would be his next. He 
loved her slim figure and the way the forms of her perfect body
reacted to his  touch. She was perfect and would suit him just fine. 
 
The fact that she didn't like him to stick his tongue in her mouth
didn't  matter. The moment she swallowed the first tablet, she had
taken the plunge.   
He pulled himself away from her and smiled as she closed her eyes and
let  herself drift away into the land of oblivion. He moved his hand
just slightly  and immediately two of his followers appeared and took
her away to her new  resting place. She had a room next to his. He had
decided it to be that way  until she would move in with him. They
would all feel when the time was right.   
But he had to be careful with this one. She was under aged. If they
found out,  he might be in trouble. And the others didn't like him
fooling around with her.  In fact, they dreaded that she was here,
fearing that the cops or Feds would now  have a reason to invade their
shelter.  
He had ignored their protests, claiming that no one could stand up to
him. He  was stronger than them all and if they were honest with
themselves, they knew  this was true. 
 
He could be patient though. In three weeks her birthday came up. She
would turn  eighteen. After that, they would not go after her any
longer. She would be an  adult with a mind of her own. By then she
would have signed all rights over to  him. She would be able to tell
them what she wanted and what she desired. By  then she would be in
his grip forever, and she would not even think about going 
back. He had decided that it would be it this way. 
 
He walked to the window of the white painted building and looked
outside over  the gardens that he kept so well. He saw them work. They
all loved this place.  They loved the everlasting sun and the fabulous
smelling flowers. They didn't  want to return to the real world with
bills, payments and problems. They all had  their own reason to be
here  as did Vickie. He never chose one that didn't have 
a problem or a reason to run away. He checked them out carefully, and
selected  them one by one himself. 
 
He walked over to the locked cabinet behind him, and pulled out the
file on the  girl with the chain of keys he carried on his belt. The
other set of keys were  in the hands of Dennis, his most trusted
watcher. In a few weeks her mother  would suffer a grave accident. The
girl would inherit it all. By then she  wouldn't mind donating her
income to keep this place up and about. And then he  would take off,
after plucking the last of them.   
He smiled. If there was one thing he liked more than a beautiful girl,
it was a  beautiful girl with money. And with Vickie Moss, he had
both.   
-2-
 
Fox Mulder couldn't help but smile as he noticed the plastic alien on
the night  table. 'Cute,' he said. 

The woman in her late forties stared at him first as if she didn't
understand  what he was on about. Then she looked down at the alien
and sighed, 'Oh yeah.  She's always been nuts about aliens. I never
quite understood why. These rubbish  things cost quite a bit of
money.'   
'Does she believe in aliens?' 
 
'What?' The woman looked up strange at the redhead agent that stood in
the  doorway and had asked the question. 'I guess so. She loved shows
like Star Trek  and The Outer Limits. I guess she must have believed
in them. I'm sorry, but  what has that got to do with her
disappearance?'  
'Nothing,' Mulder said, throwing questioning glances at his partner as
if  wondering why in the world she would start talking about aliens at
a time like  this. Scully just glanced back and raised her shoulders
slightly for only him to  see. 
 
In thoughts Mulder's finger touched the plastic alien and his eyes
explored the  room to track down what was missing. There was nothing
here to indicate that the  young woman had ran away from home, yet
everything in him said that this was the  case. There were many young
women who couldn't find their place at home, and  just took off. 
 
But here Vickie Moss had just left with nothing on her. Her clothes
were all in  the closet, her shoes were all there except for the pair
of boots that she wore,  and all of her bags were still present. Her
diary lay on top of the night table,  and her make-up was all there.
Nothing indicated that she had ran away.    
'I don't understand why she took off,' Mrs. Moss said. 'She had a good
home. We  got along even though there was a lot of discussion about
her father. She never  told me she was in trouble. As far as I know
she didn't get herself knocked up.  But she chose another sort of
life. Why in the world would she do that?'  
'Teenagers often have a strange look to life, Mrs. Moss,' Scully said
politely.  'Vickie might have seem perfectly happy in your eyes but in
truth be a very  unhappy young woman. Can I ask you why you are so
sure she ran away and wasn't  kidnapped?' 
 
'She has taken money out of her bank account yesterday afternoon. The
bank  called me this morning because it was a large amount. They
didn't know of course  she ran away.'
 
'Couldn't she have been forced to take off this money? Can it not be
that you  will still be contacted for ransom? You are a wealthy widow,
Mrs. Moss. People  have done stranger things for lesser money.'
 
'I'm not that rich,' Elaine Moss protested. 'Sure, my parents left me
some money  but most of it has been spent when I bought this house
after my husband took  off. Whoever took her, might not know this.
Still, I would have heard something  by now, wouldn't I? It's been two
days. No, I know where she is.'   
Mulder and Scully glanced at each other again, both expecting Elaine
to come up  with the truth soon enough. The woman sighed and sat down,
rubbing her face. 'I  cannot believe this is happening again,' she
whispered numb. 'I thought Vickie  would be wiser. But no  she had to
do it.'   
'Do what, Mrs. Moss?' Mulder asked gently as he sat down beside her on
the bed.  Elaine took a picture from the night table. It showed three
happy people with no  care in the world. 
 
'That picture was taken right before her father died and left me with
her,'  Elaine Moss said. 'Of course I should mention that two days
before he croaked,  he ran off with a blonde bimbo and dropped our
daughter off at my place after  picking her up from school. Since
then, I saw a change in my girl that terrifies  me.'
 
'Why did you wait this long to contact the FBI, Mrs. Moss?' Scully
asked.   
'To be honest,' Elaine sighed, 'my daughter is not the easiest of
girls. She's  been into some problem a few years ago, and she's got a
reputation of being  difficult to handle. But I don't blame her for
that. I blame Henry.'   
'Is she on medication or drugs?' Scully asked.
 
'Not that I know of, but I'm not sure.' Elaine Moss sunk on her
daughter's bed  and stared at the picture in Mulder's hand. 'I know
you must think I'm crazy,  but I knew she's living with the wrong
crowd at this moment. I know where she is   at least I think I know
where she is.'   
'Then why did you contact us?' Mulder asked. 'Instead of warning the
police, you  called the Bureau and asked for me specifically. I don't
recall us meeting. How  did you get my name?'
 
This time Elaine Moss looked up and said calmly, 'we have a mutual 
acquaintance.' 
'Who?' 
 
She stood up and left the room, going to a small closet in her own
bedroom where  she dug out a photo album that seemed to have been
gathering dust for some time  now. She took out two articles and a set
of photos and handed the set to him.   
'Your name was all over this case,' she said, as he read the articles
about the  case they handled a few years ago. The Temple of the Seven
Stars. The name  brought back a lot of memories for Mulder. They were
memories he had never dealt  with. And now he stared at Melissa's
photo as it had appeared in the newspapers  as one of the many
casualties of a mass suicide.   
Mulder couldn't help but swallow away the pain and guilt he had felt
for so long  now as he stared at the photos of Melissa and Ephesian.
It all seemed so long  ago, yet it felt like it had happened
yesterday. He looked up at the woman,  knowing he couldn't hide his
pain.   
'Melissa was my niece,' she said softly as she gave him a picture of
the woman  he had shared so many lives with. The one he couldn't save.
'My sister is ten  years older than I am. She had a daughter way
before I did. Melissa took off to  a cult, just like I am sure Vickie
did.'  
'I can't help you,' he said, handing her the pictures back. 'Melissa
died and  that case was closed two years ago. Cults is not my
jurisdiction. I cannot do  this.'
 
'But you were there. I read about it in the papers. You tried to help
her and  the others but couldn't. Now I fear that my daughter has
fallen into the same  trap. I don't just fear it. I know it. I read
about it.'   
Elaine Moss pointed at the diary on her daughter's night table that
had been  left as evidence of her whereabouts. During the past few
days Elaine had  wondered if her daughter had left it especially for
her to read, so that she  could know where she was if she needed help.
 
'I remember so much about Melissa,' Elaine said softly. 'She was
everyone's  favourite because she was the oldest. She used to come
here when she was little,  long before my daughter was born. She
changed. She met Ephesian and she got  hooked. He was like a drug to
her. He wheeled her in and kept her in that cage  that he called a
Temple. It destroyed my sister. She had to watch in pain as 
Melissa changed and eventually disappeared out of sight. When the
Bureau called  her to say that Melissa was dead, she collapsed. I
don't want that sort of phone  call, Agent Mulder.' 
 
'What cult are you talking about, Mrs. Moss?' Scully asked gently.  
 
'They call themselves Salvation Awaits and claim that they're a help
group for  people with problems, issues, whatever. They hand out
flyers and promote their  so-called yoga-sessions. You can read the
diary. She wrote about it. She met  this man who calls himself
Dominique and got hooked instantly. She skipped  school to attend one
of the sessions. Then they recruited her. And the last 
passage in her diary says that she went to see them. She hasn't come
back since.  Should I draw further conclusions here?'
 
Elaine continued as her eyes stared outside to the streets with people
that had  no cares in the world. 'I know that she has changed. I know
she used to come  home on time every night and now sometimes stayed
away for hours. I know she's  been skipping classes. One of my friends
saw her wondering around the Square,  talking with those people. He
warned me about them, and said that there was a  large group of people
 mostly women  already living in an old school that they 
renovated right outside of town.'
 
Mrs. Moss turned to Mulder and said, 'I heard rumours that there was
something  going on between you and Melissa. I informed myself about
this case. I know you  tried to help here and persuade her not to go
back to that ... nut. What I want  from you now, is to stop this from
happening to my daughter as well. If and when  she's in a cult, I want
her out of there before they decide to kill themselves 
too.' 
 
Mulder nodded slowly. Scully glanced at him. It was his call to make.
Then he  simply nodded and said, 'We'll talk to our superior and see
what we can.'   
Scully glanced at Mulder, speaking for the two of them as she said,
'Cults fall  under the FBI's field of expertise. I'm sure we will have
no problem assigning  ourselves to this case.' 
 
'Thank you,' Elaine sighed. 'Thank you so much.' 
She turned and left the room, leaving the two of them inside. Scully
looked at  Mulder, walked over to him and put her hand on his arm.
'Mulder,' she said  softly, forcing her partner to look at her. 'You
don't have to do this if you  don't want to. There are enough
colleagues that can take over. I know how  sensitive this lies '
 
'You know,' Mulder said, interrupting her before she could finish her
excuses,  'when Melissa died, I felt like I owed it to her to go to
the funeral, but I  didn't. We didn't go. I know that to most of us
thought she was just a victim in  a case that we couldn't help. So I
didn't go, and I felt regret afterwards that  I let her be buried
without saying goodbye to her. But I knew we would meet 
again  not in this life but in our next. It seemed useless to mourn
her death.'  
'I know ' Scully began, but Mulder raised his hand and looked at her.
 
'There's always been something missing in my life, Scully. It's like a
gap that  only she could fill in. I know that now. She was supposed to
be part of my life.  If only we had met under different circumstances,
she might still be alive and I  might ' 
 
'- No, Mulder,' Scully interrupted. 'Melissa fell into the wrong hands
but that  happened long before you met. Everyone makes his or her
choices early in life.  You met, probably because you believe it was
destined. But you couldn't have  saved her. For that, it was already
too late.'   
Mulder sighed, looking aside. 'I shouldn't talk about this,' he said
quickly.  'It's been so long ago.' 
 
'No,' she said, 'I want you to talk about it. You mourn her. You have
every  right to.'
'It's been too long. I can hardly remember her face.'
'No, you remember every feature of it. But she rests in your heart,
Mulder. Like  everyone that is dear to you, rests in your heart. She's
there with your sister   with Samantha.' 
 
He smiled. 'Thank you.' 
She smiled back as her fingers lingered on the back of his hand and
they both  felt the connection that had been established so long ago.
 
 
- 3 - 
 
Dominique Durant stood before the window of his small office and
looked outside.  He had chosen this room as his office because it gave
him a clear view of  everything that went on in his gardens. Despite
the fact that everything seemed  to be going its own way, there was
something that drew his attention. The  tension hung in the air when
two women started arguing with each other and a few  of the children
were sitting on the lawn watching it.   
He knew both women by heart and by body. They held no secrets for him.
But the  jealousy hung so thick that it became a danger to all of
them. He didn't  interfere though. He liked it when they argued about
him. At least then he could  feel that they still would do anything
for him.   
Gretl especially was one of his most special women. Several times she
had sworn  that she would do anything for him. She was even prepared
to kill her own father  for him of she had to.
 
The catfight slowly came to an end. It worried him in a way that they
weren't  drugged enough to avoid this argument. But he had reduced the
amount a bit on  his senior followers. Now it seemed that they were
too much in control. He would  have to deal with that later. 
 
Now he had more urgent things to deal with. In a few days the cult
would inherit  a million or so when Gretl's father would die from a
failing heart. The doctor  was already taken care of. The coroner went
for his usual amount. The amount  paid to keep these people in his
pocket was nothing compared to what he would  have left. He would have
to switch his MO though. Soon enough someone would pick 
up the connection and start asking questions. That was one thing he
couldn't  afford.
 
But in a few weeks they would believe he was dead anyhow, and no one
would look  for him. It would resolve itself pretty soon.
 
He left the office and used the hidden door to gain access to his
locked  apartment. In the bedroom he put his hand against the far
wall. On the other  side rested the girl that would soon be in his
bed. If only he could be patient  enough ...
 
- 4 - 
 
The FBI-offices seemed nearly empty when they knocked on the door of
Skinner's  office. It was already late but Skinner didn't mind seeing
them this late. It  had been a busy day going through all the
documents and information they had on  Dominique Durant, the leader of
'Salvation Awaits'.   
'Come in,' Skinner said, offering them a seat and coffee. Mulder
declined the  coffee and put a file on the table with the information
they had gathered in the  course of the afternoon. Skinner drank his
coffee, leaned more comfortably in  his chair and said, 'Tell me about
this case.'   
Mulder sat down and started explaining about the phone call they had
received  from Elaine Moss. He opened the file and dug out the photo
of Vickie they had  been given by Elaine. 
 
'We've been talking to the local PD about this cult that Mrs. Moss
claims  exists,' Scully said. 'In truth, we cannot be sure at this
moment that it is a  cult we're talking about, but it sure sounds like
this is the case.'   
'The cult where Vickie could be in, calls itself 'SA', or 'Salvation
Awaits','  Mulder started. 'They distribute leaflets all over town,
promoting their yoga  and self-knowledge exercises. They lure people
to a former high school outside  of town that has been transformed
into a secluded home for its members. It's  been renovated about three
years ago and is very strictly guarded. No one gets  in without an
invitation. 'Salvation Awaits' focuses on a particular target of 
people. They only recruit those with money and not many relatives, and
preferably those with problems or issues. In short  people that are
in need of  a bit of attention and comfort.'
 
'How do they find these people?' Skinner asked, glancing at a list of
people  that had their official residency at the former Henderson
Institute.  
"By chance,' Scully said. 'They are invited to join an introduction
class.  Dominique who calls himself the chairman selects the members
personally. No one  gets in without passing him. Every single of them
was recruited on the streets.' 

 
Skinner glanced at his agents, returning his attention to the file
they had  carefully put together with the help of the PD and
'Salvation Awaits'-Website.  Mulder didn't seem to be paying attention
to what Scully said, but just looked  tense at the file in Skinner's
hands.   
Skinner couldn't help but remember what had happened a few years
before. He too  was reliving the events. Finding those bodies in that
secluded room was one of  the most gruesome things he had ever seen.
He didn't want to look back at it.    
'What do you know about this Dominique?' he asked.
 
'He's an American citizen with French roots,' Mulder said, handing a
newspaper  clipping about the man. 'Dominique Durant is a man in his
late thirties who has  been convicted for fraud about ten years ago.
He spent three years in jail.  After his release he secluded himself
in the south of France at first, and then  returned to the US where he
bought the old school and started renovating it.  There have always
been doubts about where he got the money to do so. Rumours 
have it that he married a rich French girl who drowned mysteriously,
leaving him  her fortune. Her parents had filed a complaint against
Durant but that never  made it to court.' 
 
'And he uses this building as his haven?' 
 
'Yes, sir,' Scully said. 'It seems that Durant has a way with
persuading his  members to donate large amounts of money to him. With
the money coming from  France he renovated one wing, but with their
cash he did the other wing as well.  In total, according to the
information that we have, there are twenty-three  members living in
that building right now. We don't know how many guards he has. 
There are a few men that stand out. One of them is Dennis Withers, a
ex-convict  Durant met in jail. They were roommates.'
 
'How can we get this guy?' Skinner said. 'Looking at this file I would
say that  there is nothing out of the ordinary to this guy. He hides
himself behind this  yoga-movement he started, and everything seems
legally in order.'  
'It's true that we cannot get him back on the financial side of his
business,  sir,' Scully said. 'But we do believe that there is
something wrong there.  Several members inherited shortly before or
after they joined the cult. Almost  all of them donated their entire
inheritance to the group. That's their means of  income. We believe
that despite the sober lifestyle Dominique called into life, 
he in fact is saving up for a rainy day.'
 
'So money is his motive,' Skinner said, 'that's not really noble, is
it?'  
'Unlike other leaders of cults, Dominique doesn't claim to be guided
by God or  any other power,' Mulder said. 'That perhaps makes him more
dangerous than all  the others. He's prepared and willing to do
anything for money. The police have  reason to believe that he's a
murderer, but there's no evidence. All they have  are the names of a
doctor and coroner who have signed the death certificates for 
these sudden deaths. That alone is not proof enough to arrest
Dominique or the  people he works with. There has to be reasonable
doubt to exhume the bodies.'   
'What can you do then?' Skinner asked. 'Arrest him and question him?
The moment  you walk in that home of his, he'll get rid of all the
evidence. He won't  succumb to your questioning. There's no way you
can prevent this working from  the outside. You need proof from the
inside.'  
'First of all,' Scully said, 'we need to find out if Vickie Moss is in
that cult.  She's underage so we have the authority to get her out of
there. However, if he  sees us coming, he'll make sure she's out of
sight. She's not on his  registration list yet. He'll probably claim
she's vacationing there or  something. However, in about three weeks
she turns eighteen. When she's legally  an adult, we won't be able to
get her out.'  
'What do you propose then?' Skinner said. 
 
'I'm afraid,' Scully began, 'that we will have to '
 
'- I want to try to get in there,' Mulder interrupted her. 'Get in
that cult and  win his trust. If we become a member of his cult, we'll
have a way of watching  what happens from the inside.' 
 
Scully looked at her partner. 'You can't do that. He'll figure you out
from the  start. You'll only endanger yourself and the others.'
'Not if he thinks I've got nothing to loose.' Mulder looked aside.
'I'll just  have to persuade him that I mean what I say. And we can do
it, basing the lies  on top of the truths. Sir, if I can get in there
and let him believe that I've  burned all my bridges, he'll take me
in.'  'He'll distrust you from day one!' 
'I'll make him trust me.' 
'No,' Scully said hard, 'you're only doing this because of Melissa.
But Vickie  Moss is not Melissa, Mulder. You don't have to do this.' 
 
Mulder looked at Skinner and said, 'you know I'll do it one way or
another. If  you think about it rationally, you know that we will
never be able to prevent a  disaster from happening when we're
standing on the outside looking in. If you go  to that cult and arrest
him, he'll have gotten rid of every piece of evidence. 
He's able to kill them all just like Ephesian has done and so many
others before  him. They all believed that they were divine. This man
only believes in one god:  Money. So let's give him what he wants.'
 
'You don't know what he does to get these people to believe him,'
Scully  protested hard. 'They might be on drugs or medication to keep
them calm. They  might not be able to take care of themselves. How are
you going to protect  yourself against this?' 
 
'You are going to protect me,' Mulder said quietly. 'We'll be in
constant  contact. But I need your support on this or it's not going
to work and you know  it. I need you to trust me, Scully.'
 
Scully sank down on her chair, feeling angry with herself and her
partner. She  knew he was right but she wasn't willing to give in just
yet. She turned to  Skinner, ready to use her boss against her
partner. But Skinner had already  agreed to the idea. She saw it in
his eyes. Mulder had been undercover before  and it had worked out in
some way. He could take care of himself.   
'All right,' Skinner said. 'You have three days in there. If you are
in trouble,  we need you to get in touch with us. We'll smuggle a cell
phone in that compound  if necessary. And don't do anything stupid,
Mulder. Your job is to get Vickie  Moss out of there, and find
evidence to murder or fraud. Don't be a hero and  face Dominique by
yourself.'  
'No sir,' Mulder said. 
 
Scully already feared that he would be taking too many risks. 'Know
thy  partner,' she mumbled, as they left the office.
 
 
- 5 - 
 
The square was crowded with people, but it wasn't too difficult to
find the  members of 'Salvation Awaits'. They were all dressed the
same way, acting  similar. They all seemed to be in their own place in
time and space, as if they  didn't have a care in the world.
 
Mulder walked over to one of them, passing the woman carelessly.
'Salvation  Awaits, sir?' she asked. 
'What?' he turned and looked at her as she offered a flyer with words
written in  bold letters. 
'Are you interested in finding out more about relaxation techniques
and  yoga-exercises? We have an excellent program for stressed out
people that are  seeking a bit of relaxation after office hours. You
look like you need it.'   
He smiled vaguely. 'Really?' and accepted the folder. 'Thanks.'
Quickly he  glanced over the leaflet and returned to look at the young
woman. She was a  pretty looking blonde. In fact, all the men and
woman that were members of the  cult seemed to be attractive and
appealing. Besides money, they also had looks.  
'What exactly is this 'Salvation Awaits'?' he asked, getting her
attention. She  smiled, expecting this question from him. 
 
'Why don't you find out for yourself and come to our meeting tomorrow?
Our  introduction session is for free and right outside of town.
You'll love it.'  'I'm not so sure that this is my cup of tea. I'm
always very busy and ' '- The more reason to come over. Why don't you
give it a try? I promise that  you'll be taken care of. Just ask for
Gretl when you get there. I'll guide you.' 

 
Mulder nodded and smiled as he walked further, nodding at the other
members of  the cult that stared at him. At ease he walked over this
car, pretending to be  reading the folder. He could feel their eyes
pierce in his back.   
When he drove off, an attractive man clad in a business suit walked
over to  Gretl and said, 'Who was that?' 
 
'I have no idea but he's coming tomorrow to our meeting,' Gretl said
pleased.  'Dominique, he might become one of your new followers.' 
 
The man in the suit nodded and smiled as he kissed Gretl. 'You did
well, my  love.' 
 
Gretl smiled back and returned to her spot, pleased with the attention
he gave  her. It was always hard struggling for a spot in his good
books and now that she  had it, she would do anything to stay there.
It was where she belonged.  
 
- 6 -
 
The newspaper article received a special place on the front page,
drawing the  attention of anyone that read the paper. FBI
investigating disappearance of  agent's sister again, the headline
read, with a subline saying, Argument around  case-investigation still
ongoing. The article referred the reader to an article 
on the second page. 
 
Dominique glanced over it as he drank his coffee; more interested in
the stocks  he had bought a few weeks ago. All was going perfectly. In
about a month or so  he would be able to leave the country with enough
money to spend the rest of his  life in luxury. Everything he had set
up during his time in prison was coming to  a close. 
 
The new recruitment session would start in about half an hour.
Dominique was  especially interested in the man that had been talking
to Gretl. He had seemed  interested enough. From the way he came over,
he might do anything for a living,  Dominique thought. But he wore
expensive shoes and an Armani-suit. Money would  be no problem. 
 
Gretl had seemed eager enough to talk to him. She told Dominique that
she was in  need for some fresh blood in the house. It had been too
long since she had met  someone interesting enough to stop her from
feeling bored.  
He sighed as he rubbed his temple. Sometimes he really got fed up with
all the  women in this place. If he didn't keep them under control
with the tablets, they  would have taken off instantly. 
 
He glanced at his watch, looking outside. The first cars were already
arriving.  They were early. A tall man got out and looked around him,
insecure. It was the  same man he had seen the day before. He seemed
to be even more nervous when he  walked up to the front gate and was
allowed in by one of the guards. Then he  stood in the middle of the
driveway until Gretl walked over to him and he seemed  relieved to
meet a familiar face.   
Dominique put his newspaper aside, suddenly catching the picture of
the  FBI-agent that was featured on the second page. It was the same
face he was  looking at outside. He was the one whose sister had
disappeared over twenty  years ago and had not stopped searching for
her. He was the one reopening the  investigation to her disappearance,
causing arguments within the FBI.   
And now he was here.
 
Dominique felt a shiver run down his spine. Somehow the fact that
there was an  FBI-agent on his premises, didn't appeal to him. But
when he sent the man away,  he would immediately become suspicious. 
 
But this was an outcast. And he had money. 
 
Dominique straightened his shoulders, glanced at his features in the
mirror and  used the regular stairs down. By the time he reached the
lawn, the six invited  guests had arrived, and his game could begin. 
 
 
- 7 - 
 
'What do you do, Mr. Mulder?' Dominique asked as he sat on the bench
before the  man. 
 
Mulder looked him straight in the eyes and said, 'I'm an FBI-agent.
Well, I was  an FBI-agent until yesterday.' 
'Really?' Dominique said soothingly, folding his hands over each
other. 'What  happened to you yesterday?' 
 
Mulder's eyes darkened and he didn't seem to be willing to talk about
it first.  But Dominique's soft voice seemed so charming and honest it
felt difficult not  to respond. There was something in his voice that
appealed to people. He was  able to get the deepest secrets out of
them. Slowly Mulder realized that he too  would be able to become a
victim of this man, hadn't he realized beforehand that 
all of it was just a way to get to him.
 
'Mr. Mulder,' Dominique said friendly, 'in this house we tell each
other the  truth. You are here for relaxation techniques. But those
techniques do not help  unless you confide in me. I cannot help you
until I know what bothers you. What  drives you. What brings you here.
Without those answers, you are not eligible to  become a member of our
selected group.  
'My sister,' Mulder said as his eyes drifted off, refusing to look at
the  others. 'She disappeared when I was twelve years old and she was
eight. Everyone  always blamed me for it: my parents, the community
and our friends. I was at  home and had to watch her. But I couldn't
stop her from disappearing. I spent my  entire life looking for her.
My fellow colleagues have tried to stop me. Even my  partner didn't
support me when I followed a lead into my sister's disappearance. 
I finally got so fed up that I left. I decided that I can only find
her on my  own terms. I don't need their resources to help me.'
 
'So you just packed your bags and quit the FBI?'
 
'That's what basically happened, yeah. I didn't need to be there for
the money.  My father left me a large inheritance. I'm planning on
investigating her  disappearance on my own terms from now on. She's
very dear to me and I want to  find her. It's been my life's goal and
it will stay that way until I finally  track her down.'
 
'Do you believe that she's still alive?'
 
'I know that she is. I've seen evidence that she's out there, waiting
for me.  When I find her, I'll tell the world that they were all
wrong. I don't need my  so-called friends to tell me that.'
 
Dominique looked very serious when he moved away from the wooden bench
he sat  on, and put his hand on Mulder's shoulder, forcing the agent
to look at him.  'You haven't had a second's peace in your life, have
you, Fox?'   
Mulder winced at the use of his first name but nodded slowly. 'No, I
haven't.'  'And you came here to find that peace. You want
confirmation that what you did  was right.' 
'I don't know why I'm here. When I talked to that woman yesterday, she
sounded  so happy. I just ' 
'- You just want to be happy yourself, don't you? That's what anyone
wants.  That's why you are here.' 
 
'But I'm not allowed to be happy. I lost her.' 
'You were just a child. You couldn't be held responsible. If anyone's
responsible, it's your parents for leaving you alone.' Dominique
started walking  and took place behind Mulder who still sat down and
stared before him. 'Why are  you really here, Fox?' 
 
Mulder straightened his shoulders. 'I want another life,' he said
firmly. 'I  want to live with people that don't blame me for my
sister's abduction and don't  push me back when I want to find out
what happened to her.'   
'Do you believe you'll find that here?'
'I don't know what I'll find here. I don't know anything about this
place. I  just came here because that woman told me I could find some
peace and rest here.  I should be out there, looking for her, but
right now I can't. I'm just  exhausted. I want some rest.' 
 
Mulder hid his face between his hands. His shoulders shook as he
leaned forward.  The other guests looked at him and nodded in
compassion. Dominique leaned  forward and put his hand on his back.
'You're going to be fine, Fox. We all are.  I promise you that you'll
get through this and that you will never have to be  alone again. I
guarantee it.'   
Mulder looked up, staring gratefully at Dominique who smiled and
nodded just as  compassionately as the others had done. A few moments
later the group parted.  Dominique walked his guests to their cars,
and looked at the group of people  that glanced at him hopefully. All
of them expected a resolution to their  problems and he was able to
give it to them. But resolution had its price and he  already knew
whom he was going to select.   
The FBI-agent would be among them soon. His first test would be a test
of faith.  After that, it would become clear if he was telling the
truth or not. And then  it would be very simple to wheel him in. The
risks he took for granted. Life was  full of risks. This was no
exception.   
It just made everything more fun.
 
- 8 -
 
She watched as he packed his bag, staring in despair at his moves. She
didn't  want him to go. She could sense that it would all come to a
dramatic end if he  did. But he had made his decision and she knew
better than anyone that he was  unstoppable. 
 
When he put his cell phone in his bag, she stopped him. 'Don't,' she
said,  'they'll check and take it out. You should hide it. I'm pretty
sure they won't  strip you down to the bone.' Her hand lingered on
his, and they both looked at  it.
 
'I'm sure stripping is not a part of their agenda,' he grinned back,
shoving the  cell phone in the pocket of his jeans. 'But you're right
of course. I should be  careful.'
 
'And check the room they give you for bugs. You can never be sure
enough. And '  
'Scully, I know what I'm doing,' he said, stopping her before she
could finish.  He took her in his arms, forcing her suddenly to lean
into him. Her first  reaction was to shove him away, but then she
embraced him and put her head  against his chest. 
 
'I have this feeling I won't see you again,' she whispered, looking up
at him.  He didn't respond at first. Then he smiled and made sure she
saw him. 'You don't  think you're getting rid of me that easily? I
promise you that we will stay in  touch constantly. The moment it gets
rough, you get me out of there.'   
'I'm just afraid he's going to prevent us being in touch.' 
 
Mulder sighed and moved away from her, closing his bag. 'I don't want
to go  through this again, Scully. You know I have to do this. If I
don't, I'll regret  it for the rest of my life. We've never backed out
of a rough spot before. Why  should I start now?'
 
'You're leading yourself by your emotions, Mulder. That's what I fear
the most.  You're not doing this because you believe it's the best way
to act. You do this  because you don't want Vickie to become another
Melissa. But you said it  yourself; Dominique is a more dangerous
Ephesian. As soon as he figures out that  you're there for a purpose,
he'll kill you and you'll have no defence. You can't  take your gun in
there. You'll be an easy target to him.'  
'Then I'll just have to make sure he doesn't figure it out,' Mulder
said,  putting his bag on the floor. 'I'm not afraid of him, Scully. I
just don't want  you to panic on this. I need you now more than ever.
You need to pull yourself  together and be there when I need you.' 
 
'I'll always be there for you,' she responded. 'I just don't like the
idea of  you being locked up in there. I dread the idea that you might
be fed medication  or drugs. It's the rational side of me speaking, I
know. I wish I could come  with you.' 
 
'I know.' He smiled reassuringly. 'The fact that you'll be around to
cover my  back, is enough to keep me up and about in there. Trust on
that.'   
'I only trust in you,' she responded seriously. 
He didn't need her to say that. From all the doubts in the world that
he had  ever had, there was one that had been resolved a long time
ago. There was just  one person he trusted and she stood right in
front of him, ready to do anything  to help him. 
 
That alone, was more than enough to take this dangerous step.
 
Scully knew that. When they said their goodbyes, she took the back
door,  allowing her to leave in the darkness and unseen. They both
knew that her  presence in his apartment could mean his end, yet they
couldn't deny that they  needed to say goodbye in a proper way. 
 
And so she left, as if she had no right to be there any longer. And he
spent the  last night in his apartment by himself, staring into the
darkness while the VCR  played one of his favourite movies. But for
the first time, he didn't watch it.   
 
Part II: Finding
 
You crashed by the gate 
Captured my fate 
Salvation 
My eyes couldn't see 
I hardly breathed 
My heart was asleep 
Salvation 


- 1 - 
 
The room was filled with people clad in light colours. Their faces
were bright  and happy, yet showed signs of a strange sort of
numbness, as if they weren't  able to think for themselves. They loved
being in this room, surrounded by the  ones they loved. They had
chosen to be here. Yet, some of them seemed to be out  of place and
out of time  waiting for something that they couldn't grasp.
 
Amongst them was a young woman that by far seemed to be the one most
out of  place. She had entered the group last, and was still adjusting
to this new pace  in her life. Everything had come to a stop,
including her thoughts, dreams and  ideas. She felt that something was
wrong. Yet she too wore that same expression  that they all had to the
bone. She was a part of them. And she didn't want to be 
anywhere else. Even if she had wanted to, she could not leave.
 
'Today,' Dominique started with the voice that spoke of trust and
faith to his  followers. 'Today, I have found what I have been looking
for. I searched for  people that were in search of me. We encountered
and discovered each other, and  now they are here because they chose
to be. They're standing before you as they  have come. They will live
here amongst you and share their belongings with you.  They will love
you and take care of you, as they love and take care of me.' 
 
Dominique stretched out his finger and pointed at the three people
standing  before all the other members on a small podium. They looked
nervous and out of  place. But the ones that stood on the podium
smiled and nodded, as if to assure  them that they had made the right
choice.  
'These newcomers still seek their place in society. They have chosen
to be  excluded from their own worlds to live with us. They want to be
a part of our  family. I expect you all to give them the friendship
that they deserve.'   
Dominique looked at the woman in her late forties he had selected. She
was  standing beside Mulder and seemed to be the most nervous one. She
was a widow.  Her family had deserted her when she married her late
husband, making her choose  between them and the man she loved. After
their marriage he had made himself a  small fortune that now belonged
to her. Dominique had chosen her after running  an thorough background
check. Even though she was one of the oldest women  around, she would
also be one of the easiest targets he'd ever had. If she died, 
no one would investigate. She had no one that would care. 
 
The woman, Renata Lowe, glanced at the two people beside her that were
newcomers, like her. She felt like she was standing on a stage, acting
in a  play. This seemed all so unreal that she was already dreading
the choice she had  made. She didn't have to be here, yet she was.
 
Beside her stood a young lady in her early twenties that had been keen
on being  part of the group instantly. He didn't want to have her at
first, because she  wouldn't bring in enough money. But she was able
to pay the entry-money and  would make for a nice extra to the fortune
he was gathering. Plus, she had a  great body. If he were lucky, he
would still enjoy that for a while before the  grand finale he was
preparing.   
The one he worried about the most was Mulder. The ex-FBI-agent seemed
to be  standing there expecting a huge change in his life yet there
was something in  his eyes Dominique couldn't read and didn't like.
The background check had shown  that the agent had been telling the
truth. He had quit the FBI, leaving behind  everything. He had handed
over his badge and gun.   
An insider he had used before confirmed that the FBI-agent had always
been an  outcast and was nicknamed 'Spooky Mulder'. He was a joke to a
lot of his  colleagues because he investigated cases of the
paranormal. He had also insisted  for years that aliens had abducted
his sister. When he resigned, a lot of  high-ranking officers had been
quite pleased. It seemed that they had been  trying to get him out for
years.   
Dominique had no idea why he took in Mulder that easily. Dennis had
asked him  bluntly why he took the risk, and he couldn't answer. There
was something in the  man that appealed to him. During the short time
he had been followed by one of  his men, he had not sought out contact
with his friends or former colleagues. He  had lived in seclusion in
his apartment, not even going out for food. He had  lived on junk food
all the time, delivered at home. He acted as they had all 
acted before the final decision. Waiting. Expecting. Wanting more from
life than  what was given to them right now.
 
During the three conversations before the selection, Mulder had come
across as a  self-assured man on the outside with a lot of issues on
the inside. It took  Dominique some time to force some personal
information out of him. The only time  he had watched the agent
collapse was during the very first session, where he  had told them
about the one issue in his life that had never been resolved. 
 
But finally the agent did seem to give in and talked about his past
and the one  woman that had deserted him: his partner, Agent Scully.
He had called her a  traitor that worked for the FBI and was sent to
debunk his work. He had worked  for years with her, yet always doubted
her loyalties.   
He told him that Scully had sought him out a couple of times, trying
to get in  touch with him. Her description matched with that of a
redhead woman that had  been seen walking in and out of Mulder's
building a few times but who had left  almost instantly, as if she had
been sent away.   
But Dominique was still careful. He needed to make sure it was true.
And there  was only one way to find that out. It would be Mulder's
first test, and the one  that mattered the most.
 
And so the test of faith began as the newcomers were welcomed by their
'family'  and invited to join them for lunch. A large, bright dining
room was set for a  group of thirty people. There were no children on
the premises. Dominique  refused mothers or fathers with children,
even when they had a fortune to spend.  He didn't want marital or
legal issues in his little world.   
There were twenty-six followers now, counting the three newcomers.
From the six  guards that walked around on the compound, three were
invited to join lunch.  Dennis, Dominique's most trusted right-hand
sat at one side of the table,  glancing occasionally at Mulder.
Dominique took a seat at the head of the table.  The two other guards
took place between the very quiet groups of followers.  
All guests were invited to sit at the simple lunch table. All the
plates were  white and plain. The table was not decorated. Everything
breathed simplicity.  Besides each plate stood a very small white cup
with a white tablet on it.  Mulder was seated next to Gretl, the woman
he had met on the square, and Denise,  a young woman who didn't seem
older than fifteen but was in fact twenty-eight.  Vickie Moss sat at
the far end of the table. There was no way he could speak to 
her now without acting suspicious. 
 
He watched them all, trying to read something of their faces. Their
expressions  were blank and they hardly spoke a word, even though they
didn't seem unhappy.  They simply sat still, waiting for a move from
Dominique, who looked them over,  crossing his hands under his chin.
 
Only when he moved to take the white tablet out of his cup, the others
did the  same. The newcomers watched as the followers took the tablet
and put it in their  mouth, swallowing it with the glass of water that
was foreseen for everyone. The  three new ones didn't have a tablet. 
 
Mulder glanced at Dominique who stood at the top of the table and
watched his  followers. But he didn't take his tablet. He brought his
hand to his mouth and  put the tablet in, but with a very quick move
that was hardly noticeable, he  spit it out again in the palm of his
hand.   
Then his hand moved towards the napkin and shoved it underneath. And
no one saw   except for Mulder, who tried to not to look too openly
at the man that  deceived his people.
 
Lunch followed, as it would have done everywhere. The food was
prepared simple  but good. There was only water to drink. There was no
selection possible.  Everyone received the same food. Everyone emptied
their plate; despite the fact  there was more than enough. 
 
At first Mulder was tempted to leave a bit on the plate, but didn't.
He didn't  want to arouse suspicion. He was a good, little boy after
all.   
Everyone ate in silence. Not a single word was uttered until the
plates were  empty. Then a few people spoke to each other but the
conversations were  whispered in silence. 
 
Then Dominique rose and asked the three newcomers to follow him.
Surprised the  three rose and followed the man up the stairs to the
third floor, and through a  large corridor into separately locked
quarters. The leader used a key to unlock  two French doors and asked
them to take a seat on white chairs in a small  waiting area. The
three took a seat and waited in silence until he returned and 
invited the shy young woman in. 
 
The woman seemed surprised that she was the first one to go in, but
followed  without questioning. The second pair of doors locked behind
her. Mulder leaned  his head against the wall and closed his eyes. It
all seemed to so unreal and  strange, and far from a good idea. 
 
'What is all this?' Renata suddenly whispered beside him. 'I thought
this would  be some sort of resting place, but I feel like I'm in a
cult or something.'  
'I don't know,' Mulder responded, liking the woman instantly. Her
bright eyes  seemed to be as sceptic as Scully's. 
'I'm not so sure that I like what's going on here,' the woman
continued. 'Do you  think it would be too late to tell them I changed
my mind?'  
'I don't know,' Mulder responded, wondering why an attractive woman
like her  would be in a place like this. Little did he know that she
was wondering the  same thing about him. 'I think I'm going to hang
around to see what happens  next.' 
 
She smiled and offered her hand. 'Renata Lowe.' 
'Fox Mulder.' 
'Just promise me one thing, Fox,' she said with a conspiracy look in
her eyes,  'the moment I start acting strange, tell me so I can work
on it.'   
He laughed, surprised that it felt so good to have a bit of humour in
this  place. It was something to cling onto. 
 
A few moments later the meek woman came out and walked past them. She
didn't  seem to notice them. Dominique came out and asked Renata to
follow him. The  woman winked at Mulder and walked after the leader
into his quarters.   
Mulder rose up from his seat and walked over to the barred window. As
he looked  outside he saw the others on the lawn. They seemed to be
part of a Victorian  novel. They all sat or walked over the lawn. Some
of them were reading. Others  just sat there in silence to enjoy the
sun. He watched as the meek woman joined  them and sat down as well. 
 
They all reminded him of zombies. Whatever that tablet did or didn't
do, it was  probably one of the most dangerous drugs out there to
cause this result. And he  knew that soon enough they would be forced
to go the same way.   
Mulder thought of the cell phone he had hidden in his room. Before
lunch, they  had been given the chance to unpack their belongings. He
hadn't dared to leave  the phone in the pocket of his pants. Instead
he had hidden it in a pair of  socks in the bottom drawer of the small
closet he received.   
Before entering the compound, they had received instructions on how
much stuff  they could take with them. One of the specific conditions
had been not to bring  books or music. Books were available in a huge
library in the main building, and  music played from the stereo system
that could be heard all over the building.  Of course modern music
wasn't allowed. All that played was selected, classical 
music. 
 
There was no television available in the rooms, but one of the main
halls had a  small television room that was open between specific
hours. There would always  be a guard available to monitor the program
selection. No violence was allowed.   
All of these conditions just added to the sense of seclusion and
isolation.  There were no newspapers or means of finding out what was
happening in the  outside world. There were no telephones, except for
one in Dominique's office.  And the guards all had cell phones to be
in constant touch with each other.   
Several times that morning and during lunch, Mulder had wanted to call
Scully  and tell her that he was pulling back on his decisions. But he
wasn't a quitter.  Looking at the people in this place, it seemed that
they could use a bit of  help. At least now he would be able to find
out for himself what was going on in  this place.
 
Dominique most definitely had the best of views on the garden. From
this spot he  could watch any activity and see any intruders coming
from afar. Mulder wondered  why he had chosen the third floor though.
It would take him some time to go from  one end of the building to the
other.  
The door opened again. This time Mulder was asked to come in. Renata
Lowe, the  woman he had spoken to just a few moments before, now
ignored him as if he  didn't exist. She had changed ina few minutes
time.   
Dominique waited for him in a white room with a large desk, a cupboard
behind  that desk and a table with two chairs. Against the back wall a
white couch was  supposed to bring a bit of comfort to the room, but
in fact it just added to the  coldness of the room. With the light
furniture and lack of decoration, it seemed  to be a doctor's office.
 
'Fox,' Dominique sat, inviting the man to sit down on one of the
chairs.  'Welcome to 'Salvation Awaits'. I am very happy that you
decided to join us and  take this time to get your life in order. I
was doubting for a bit that you  would take the step, but I'm glad
that you did.'  
'I am happy,' Mulder said with steady voice. 'But it feels strange.
I've never  lived with this many people together. I'm not so sure that
I'll be able to fit  in.'
 
'You will get used to that soon enough. Remember that you always still
have your  own room left if you want to be alone. You are free to go
wherever you want  except for my offices. The doors will always remain
locked. My quarters are on  the second floor, just like yours, but
again  you are not allowed to go there.  That goes for all the rooms.
When in private, everyone should respect everyone's  decision to be
alone.'   
'I understand that,' Mulder nodded. 
 
'The grounds are large and appealing for strolls. You can compare it
with a  small park. Our garden is one of the most beautiful in the
country. You can do  whatever you want to feel at home. We support
hobbies and pastimes. If you like  to paint or sculpt, we will provide
the materials. And if you want to go in  search of one your talents,
we will help you as much as we can.'  
Dominique smiled. 'I'm sorry; it sounds like I'm laying down the rules
here. I  don't want to chase you away. You are free to go whenever you
want. You are not  a prisoner here. If you feel like you don't belong
here anymore, you can leave.  But I can guarantee you that no one has
done that ever since I started 'SA'.  There's never been a desire to
leave us. I'm very proud of that.'  
'I understand,' Mulder said as he relaxed a little bit. 
Dominique leaned against the desk and placed a hand on the man's
shoulder. 'You  needed help, Fox, and you found it with us.' 
 
Dominique stood up, leaving the desk as he walked to the barred window
and  glanced outside at his people. 'As you know, our income exists of
yoga-classes  and relaxation techniques. My advice is that you follow
those classes. Soon you  will be asked to recruit new people, like you
have been recruited on the square.  But that's for the future. Right
now I want you to relax and enjoy.'  
Mulder smiled, thinking that this was the end of it. But of course it
wasn't.  Dominique put his hand in his pocket and stretched it out
before him, opening it  so that Mulder could see a tablet on the palm
of his hand. 'There's one last  thing that you need to do before
becoming a member of our community. You need to  show me that you mean
what you say.'   
'What is this?' Mulder asked, looking at the tablet. 
 
'You already know. Your friends already take these tablets. They're
not drugs,  Fox. They're homeopathic products that will help you to
relax a little bit.  Everyone that comes in here is so tense and
stressed out that we need to help  you a bit when you start out. These
tablets will do that for you. You will feel  a lot better.'
 
'I don't want to feel numb or out of control,' Mulder objected weakly.
'You won't. You've seen all the others. They take those tablets
voluntarily. It  makes them feel good about themselves and that's what
they need right now. Every  single person out there has been in
trouble one way or another. They all  suffered for something that was
beyond their power. I help them as I will help  you forget about your
sister's disappearance.'   
'I don't want to forget.'
'Yes, you do. Otherwise you wouldn't be here.'
'No, I came here to find peace, not oblivion.' 
 
'The only way you can find peace is by forgetting what has driven you
to this  point in time. I know what pushed you in the past, Fox. You
haven't had a life  since the day your sister disappeared. You put
your life at stake so many times  to find her. Isn't it time that you
stop doing that and start living your own  life? Don't you deserve
that much?'   
'I do,' Mulder said quietly, 'but I refuse to take these tablets. I
want to be  in control.' 
 
Dominique sighed deeply and said, 'Then I'm afraid we don't have
nothing more to  talk about, Fox. I ask you to do one thing for me and
you refuse. I cannot help  you any longer if you don't scratch my back
for once. But I understand. I'll  have Dennis help you pack and
leave.'   
'No, wait,' Mulder said weakly, stopping Dominique before he could
open the  door. 'Is this the only way I can stay?'
 
'I'm afraid it is.'
'And they're not drugs?'
'I guarantee it. Why don't you try it out and see what it tells you?
You'll feel  fantastic, I swear.' 
 
Mulder took one of the tablets from Dominique's palm. The leader
handed him a  glass of water and said, 'Show me your faith, Fox.' 
 
Mulder closed his eyes as he swallowed the pill, knowing what it would
do. But  he had no choice. Dominique watched as he drank the water.
Then Mulder opened  his eyes again, staring at the cult leader. The
effect was noticeable instantly  as the drug entered his bloodstream
and did its job.   
Mulder smiled, as the world seemed to become a new place suddenly. The
change  was so clear, deep inside of him. He wanted to fight off the
drugs but couldn't.  Every worry seemed to be far away; every reason
for existence unimportant. There  was just this place and no worry in
the world. Everything outside of this room  was another man's worry.
 
 Dominique leaned over, patting him gently on the shoulder. 'I'll take
care of  you from now on, Fox,' he whispered, using that voice he had
learned to use so  well over the past few years. 'You're mine now and
I'll never let you go.'  
Mulder nodded and stood up. Dominique grabbed his arm and guided him
out of the  room. 'Why don't you join the others?' the leader said,
leading Mulder to the  staircase. 
 
The FBI-agent quietly made his way down. His footsteps were noticeable
on the  wooden staircase that had been restored two years ago.
Downstairs he joined the  others in the garden, taking a seat on one
of the benches. There was a  comfortable silence amongst them. 
 
Dominique glanced through the window at his three new kids. They acted
like they  all did. Tomorrow he would know how they would react to the
drugs. Some of them  couldn't stand them and became ill. Most of them
went through the motions  without too many hassles. 
 
But one thing the drug did for all them of: It never lost its grip on
them. It  unwound the toughest of people, and delivered them in his
hands like lambs to  the slaughterhouse. And he could do with any of
them whatever he wanted to do.  This drug not only controlled them; it
also set their minds open to him. And  when he ordered them to do
something for him, they did. Not one of them had ever  refused. 
 
The agent had passed the test of faith for now. But it had only just
begun, and  the coming days he would keep a strict eye on him. He
would have never let the  agent go. Even if he had decided to refuse
those tablets, he would have forced  the drugs upon him. He couldn't
allow any of them to leave. For that it was  already too late the
moment they walked into his house.   
 
In the middle of the night Mulder woke up with a splitting headache,
lying on  the bed in his small, private room. It took him a while to
realize he was at the  secluded compound. Before long he realized what
had happened. But he had no  recollection of anything that happened
after he had taken the tablet in  Dominique's office. 
 
He couldn't remember having dinner. He couldn't remember talking to
any of the  others. And he didn't know how he had gotten to his room.
There was just the  realization that somehow he had lost half a day of
his life and there was no way  of getting that back. 
 
And the worst part was that he would not know if he had betrayed
himself.   
 
- 2 - 
 
In the middle of the night Mulder sat on his bed with his cell phone
in his  trembling hands. It had taken him some time to gather his wits
and to explore  the room for bugs or cameras. There didn't seem to be
any. Dominique probably  thought everyone was so under the influence
of drugs that they would cause no  harm. And the doors were locked. He
couldn't get out even if he wanted to.   
He had difficulty dialling her number. In fact, it just seemed
outright  impossible to talk to her in a normal way. She seemed to be
part of another  world that he couldn't reach anymore, and that after
spending just one day and  night in this place. 
 
She picked up the phone instantly, despite the fact it was nearly
three a.m.  'Mulder,' she said with worry in her voice that sounded
like heaven to him. He  wanted to be with her right now and feel
secure in her presence. Instead, his  seclusion only seemed to become
worse by the minute.   
'Yeah,' he said hoarse, 'I'm here.' 
 
'Why didn't you call me sooner? Are you okay?' 
 
He wanted to tell her he was fine but he couldn't lie. She would
figure it out  instantly. She knew him too well. Quickly he explained
what had happened. She  listened in shock when he told her he couldn't
remember a single moment after  leaving Dominique's office. 
 
'You have to get out of there, Mulder,' she insisted, 'this is getting
way over  your head. You're no use to anyone if you walk around
drugged in there.'  
'No,' he said firmly, 'I need evidence. I haven't been able to talk to
Vickie  yet, but I will in the morning. I'll try to get through to
her.'  
'How can you, when they feed you drugs?'
 
'They only fed them to us during lunch. My guess is that they believe
the  effects last a full day. But I woke up in the middle of the
night. What if those  drugs have more influence to your system after a
while, numbing you completely  after more exposure? That buys me a bit
of time.'   
'Don't you think they see through you?'
 
'I can play a druggie,' he joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere a
bit.  'Scully, I need to steal a few of those tablets. If they are
drugs, we can get  him on that. I need to talk to Vickie Moss and a
few of the others first before I  get out of here. If I leave now,
he'll know and destroy all evidence. You know  what he's able to do.'
 
'That's what worries me the worst,' she said. 'Have it your way,
Mulder. I'll  give you one more day. But I'm getting you out of here
after that, you hear?'  
'Okay.' 
 
Reluctantly she hung up, more worried than angry because he had waited
so long  to call her. But the fact that he was slowly losing control
scared the wits out  of her. She resisted the urge to call Skinner and
ask for his permission to  fetch Mulder. Instead, she slid out of bed
and turned on the lights. She had not  been able to sleep. Now she
couldn't even if she wanted to.   
So at four a.m. she found herself in her kitchen, drinking instant
coffee,  wondering what her partner was doing right now. 
 
After the call Mulder laid awake on the bed, staring at the cracked
ceiling. The  floor squeaked outside of his room. They were doing
their rounds, probably  checking up on their victims. Mulder couldn't
help but wonder about Renata Lowe  and the other young woman that had
joined with him. Had they woken up in the  middle of the night as
well? Had they wondered about this place too?   
He was glad when the morning came and the bell rang for breakfast. At
breakfast  the same ritual followed. Everyone sat down quietly but
there was no tablet.  That would come during lunch. He didn't dare to
look at the others and ate his  croissants quietly. But when his eyes
shifted restlessly, they met Renata's who  sat opposite him. 
 
From the clear look in her eyes, he knew she was her normal self as
well. He  nodded slowly, unnoticeable to the others. They would talk
during breakfast.  Somehow there was something different about Renata.
She had a secret that she  wasn't telling. 
 
Mulder drank his coffee, trying to glance at Dominique, who was
occupied with  Vickie Moss sitting next to him. He spoke softly to
her. The girl's eyes seemed  meek yet her gesture spoke of tension.
Then the girl turned away from Dominique  and drank her tea. Her eyes
glanced at Mulder, and then shifted again, ignoring  all of them. 
 
After the group parted, a number of them returned to their quarters.
Everyone  had received strict orders to keep their room clean. There
was no housekeeping,  except for two women who came once a week to
scrub the floors. Everyone made  their own beds. There was a daily
check-up in every room.   
It was already rather warm for the time of year. Mulder waited to see
what Vickie  and Renata would do, and then walked after Vickie who
left, apparently for a  stroll down the artificial park. 
 
He walked after her, taking a slow pace. There was a gardener at work
who  ignored him. One of the guards that usually watched the gates,
talked to one of  the women. They were on the other side of the pond.
 
'Vickie,' he said softly so that she alone could hear. She stopped and
turned to  look at him. Instantly he knew she wasn't under the
influence of the pills. Her  eyes were bright and alive, unlike those
of the others. He knew she noticed the  same thing. 
 
'Who are you?' she asked, refusing to look him straight in the eyes.
'You know who I am.'
 
'No,' she said, shaking her head. 'I know who you pretend to be. Now
tell me who  you really are.'
'Can't you guess?'
 
'You didn't quit the FBI, did you?'
'No.'
'Did my mother send you?'
'Yes.'
 
She frowned, exploring his face. 'I know you,' she said. 'I've seen
your face  before, but ' 
Suddenly she seemed to recognize him. 'You worked on Melissa's case,
didn't you?  My mother kept articles and pictures of her death. You
were in them. I remember  now. Is that how she got in contact with
you?'   
He nodded slowly. 'She worries about you. She contacted me. It was my
idea to do  this.'
'What exactly are you doing?'
'I'm trying to gather evidence that our friend Dominique Durant is a
liar, a  drug-dealer and a murderer.'
 
Vickie smiled, baring her white teeth. She was a beautiful young woman
that had  everything going for her. By far she seemed the brightest of
them all, having  somehow overcome the effects of the drug. 
 
'You're right,' she said. 'He is all that. But you cannot prove it.' 
'Can't I? I've got you, haven't I?'
'Who says I'm willing to testify?'
 
Mulder sat down on one of the wooden benches near the pond. She
hesitated for a  moment and then sat down beside him. Both glanced at
the guard on the other side  of the pond. He didn't seem to find it
strange that they were talking.   
'If you weren't willing, we wouldn't be sitting here,' Mulder said.
'You're not  under the influence. Care to explain?'
She raised her shoulders. 'I didn't want to feel so numb. I don't take
those  tablets anymore.' 
'But you are willing to stay and be put in constant danger.' 
 
She sighed. 'I came here for seclusion and peace of mind. That's what
I found.' 'At the cost of what? You obviously don't feel at home here,
or you wouldn't  question Dominique like you're doing by refusing to
take those pills. There is  something bugging you and you know it,
Vickie.'  
The girl glanced angry aside. 'My mother had no right to send you.
I'll be  eighteen in a few weeks. I can do whatever I want then. If
you take me home now,  I'll cause hassles and expose you.'
 
'You know that they'll kill me.'
'Like I care.'
'Of course you do. Don't act like a tough girl, Vickie. We both know
it's just a  faade.'
 
The girl seemed worried by his words. 'I can't go home. We haven't had
a good  contact for ages. At least here I'll be able to think things
through. But '  Suddenly Vickie stopped talking when Gretl walked
over to them and asked to be  seated beside them. Vickie nodded and
changed. Instantly she became a meek woman  without a mind of her own.
Mulder realized instantly that Gretl was not to be  trusted. 
 
The other woman smiled at Mulder and asked, 'Do you like it here?'
 
Mulder nodded and smiled back. 'I love it.' 
A few moments later Vickie got up and walked back to the house. His
chance to  discuss matters with her was gone. 
 
The remainder of that morning Mulder didn't have a chance to talk to
Vickie, and  there was no chance to see Renata. 
 
At lunch Mulder felt eyes of Dominique rest upon him when the cup with
the  tablet waited for him. He couldn't take the chance of dumping the
tablet.  Dominique knew all the tricks in the book. If he acted
suspicious now, he could  forget his investigation. 
 
He sighed as he took the pill and then startled when Gretl put her
hand on his  wrist and said, 'It gets better. After a while you don't
feel so numbed anymore.  Your body will get used to it and adapt.' 
 
Mulder nodded, dreading the effects that would start as soon as the
effects of  the drug entered his system. Within a few moments his body
seemed to turn into  the zombie state that they were all in. He could
feel the change come over him.  

 
Later on, he would not remember that they had taken him to the gardens
where he  sat down for several hours, just staring into nothingness as
if he was a  psychiatric patient that had been tranquillised for his
own good. Only after  dinner he could slowly feel some of his senses
return.   
By that time he was already starting to feel sick as a dog.  
 
When he woke up around two a.m. he felt nauseated and sick, puking out
his guts  as he rushed to the toilet of his small private bathroom.
His dinner was already  digested and nothing but bile came out. With
that bitter taste in his mouth and  feeling like crap, Mulder leaned
his head against the cool wall and tried to  gather his wits. 
 
After a while the pain started to succumb. He splashed cold water in
his face  and washed his neck, face and wrists, regretting the moment
he had decided to  infiltrate this place. After drinking another cup
of cold water, he returned to  the room. 
 
Lying on the bed he called Scully. He wasn't even able to rest his
head against  the board. He just wanted to lie down, trying to deal
with the dizziness. He  knew his body was resisting the invader in his
bloodstream. Dominique had said  that some had difficulty adapting. He
had hardly ever taken painkillers in his  life. Even at the worst of
times, fighting for his life at some hospital, he had  mostly refused
to take any sedatives.   
And now suddenly he was forced to take something that could be
considered a very  strong sedative. No wonder he wasn't dealing too
well with it.   
Scully sounded very alert when he called her up. He knew she had
refused to rest  until he called her, ready to call the cops and break
down the doors if  necessary to save him. He knew she was ready to get
him out of there, and to be  honest  that's what he wanted to most.
But he also knew he just needed one or  two conversations with Vickie
Moss to persuade her to leave with him. She would  be his evidence.
And then they could use his testimony to arrest Dominique on 
the basis of drug-dealing and test his followers. 
 
'You're sick,' Scully said when he had barely spoken her name. 
He couldn't deny that he was. 
 
'I'm getting you out of there, Mulder,' she said. 'This will only get
worse and  you know it. Everyone in that place is drugged up. Sooner
or later your body  will collapse or give in. If that happens, we
might already be too late to deal  with this properly. You know you
can't investigate.'   
'I'm getting to Vickie, Scully,' he said weak. 'I need one more day to
persuade  her to get out of there. He can't stop her. If I have her,
we have our  evidence.' 
 
'You can't deal with it and you know. You're sick. You sound like
you're barely  able to stand on your feet.'
 
'I can manage,' he said. 'I'll stay in bed during the morning and get
to her in  the afternoon. But I need to persuade her. If I leave now,
she'll shut down and  refuse to talk. I'll deal with my daily dose
somehow. I'll call you in the  evening. If it's still bad or you don't
hear anything from me, you get me out of  there. Okay?'
 
'Agreed,' Scully said, despite the urgency she felt inside of her.
When she hung  up, Mulder sighed and put the cell phone back in the
pair of socks he put in the  bottom drawer. Before long he fell
asleep, feeling weak and exhausted. Whatever  the drugs were that they
fed him, his body was resisting it. At least that was  worth feeling
so sick.   
 
- 3 - 
 
Mulder's absence was immediately noticed in the breakfast room.
Dominique sent  Gretl to check up on him. In the morning the doors to
the bedrooms were always  automatically unlocked. She found him lying
feverish in bed, begging to be  excused at the breakfast table. He did
look like hell. He didn't even have to  fake being more ill than he
already was.  
'I'll send Dominique,' Gretl said, alarmed by the way Mulder looked.
She had  never seen anyone sick since the day she had first entered
the home. She wasn't  used to seeing this. But she had heard stories
about others feeling sick as  well. 
 
A few minutes later Dominique came to Mulder's quarters and found his
follower  just like Gretl had said. Dominique sighed, realizing this
was the third time  something like this happened. He didn't like it.
He didn't want doctors on his  premises. They had to deal with this
themselves. He would have to reduce the  dose and make sure Mulder
adjust slowly to the drugs.  
'I'll be fine,' Mulder mumbled, lying exhausted in bed. 'I just need a
bit of  rest.' 
'I'll have Gretl bring you some toast and tea. You need to eat
something. If you  don't, you'll just weaken more,' Dominique said
friendly, sitting on the edge of  the bed as if he made a house call.
 
'I couldn't stand eating,' Mulder said, closing his eyes already. 'I'm
sorry to  be such a pain, Dominique.' 
 
Dominique smiled reassuringly. 'Don't worry about it and get well. But
promise  me to eat something. If you don't feel better in the
afternoon, I'll give you  some medication or send for a doctor.'  
 
Gretl, who entered the room with a tray with toast, jam and coffee
disturbed  Mulder again later that morning. A cup with the white
tablet lay next to the  plate with food. 'Dominique wants to make sure
you eat everything,' she said.  'And you should take that tablet as
well. It will help you heal.'  
Mulder ate three bites of the toast and put the pill in his mouth,
drinking some  water. Gretl smiled and stroked his hair when he closed
his eyes and fell  asleep, feeling restless. 
 
When she left, he hurried out of bed and spit the tablet out in a
washcloth he  kept in his toilet bag. Then he shoved the tablet in the
bottom of his toilet  bag. It would never be found there. Before long
he was able to catch a normal,  restful nap. 
 
When he woke up, he found another tray in his room that had been
brought in when  he slept. On it he found toast and orange juice and a
bit of dry meat. There was  no tablet this time. He ate a bit of it,
feeling much better. The worst seemed  to be over. 
 
Quickly he took a few bites and glanced at his watch. It was after
two. Most of  the members would be outside right now, strolling the
gardens. He walked over to  the window that looked out on the gardens
and noticed that about a dozen people  were there. The others were
gone. If he remembered correctly it was Monday  afternoon. Chances
were that some of them had left for the city to recruit new 
people. There were two guards walking the premises. Dominique was
nowhere in  sight. 
 
With a bit of luck, he would be the only one in the house right now.
He had to  take the chance that Dominique had gone to the city with
the others. This could  probably be the best chance he had. 
 
Quickly Mulder slipped on a jeans and T-shirt, socks and sneakers and
left his  room, closing the door carefully. If anyone checked up on
him, he would have a  problem, but it was a risk he had to take. 
 
The bedrooms were on the second floor of the second building. Using
the big  wooden staircase he could hurry upstairs, where Dominique's
office was. But the  doors were always locked. It would have no use to
try to get access there.   
The only other place he could think of right now was Dominique's
bedroom that  was on the same floor as theirs. It would be a good
place to start. Quickly  Mulder hurried down the corridor until he
came to the far door to the biggest  bedroom in the building. 
 
His first impression was that the door was locked, but it just needed
a bit of a  push to get in. Quickly he walked in, closing the door
behind him. The bedroom  was a spacious place that held a small sofa,
a bar and a cupboard that was  locked. 
 
Mulder looked around. There was nothing out of the ordinary. The
closet held  clothes in the style he had gotten used to. Three pairs
of shoes waited for  their owner on the bottom of the closet. There
was no extra luxury; nothing to  indicate that Dominique lived a rich
life.   
In the top drawer of the night table, Mulder found a single key. It
was large  and seemed very old. Somehow it seemed out of place. Mulder
took it and put it  in his pocket. 
 
Quickly Mulder closed the drawer and left the room, nearly bumping
into Dennis  who came from the other side. Mulder hurried, walking as
light-footed as he  could over the creaking floor. He was sure that
someone had heard him, but  Dennis didn't come after him. 
 
Without further incidents Mulder reached his room and took the key out
of his  pocket. There was something with that key that he couldn't
define. Something  told him to keep it with him. But where? If he were
out of luck, they would  search him and find it. He put it in a
handkerchief and shoved it in his shoe.  It would walk a bit
uncomfortable but at least no one could find it there. 
 
Then a hard knock on his door shook him up. Mulder startled and walked
over to  the door, realizing that he was still dressed. Quickly he
removed his sweater  and kicked out his sneakers and ruffled his hair,
trying to look tired and sick. 

 
Dominique stood there with Dennis.
'Fox,' he said, 'how do you feel?'
'Better,' Mulder said, knowing he still looked very pale. 
 
'Did you leave your room, Fox?'
'Yes, I did.' 
'Where did you go?'
'I wanted to go out for some fresh air, but when I reached the
staircase, I felt  nauseated and had to come back. I'm better now
though. I would like to go  outside for some air.' 
 
Dominique glanced at Dennis and nodded. 'Why don't you take Fox out?
I'm sure he  could use the fresh air.' 
'Yes, Dominique,' Dennis said, putting his hand under Mulder's elbow,
forcing  the agent to come with him. Dominique stayed behind in the
room, glancing  around. Then he closed the door behind them, locking
himself up in Mulder's  room. 
 
'What's going on?' Mulder asked dazed.
'Dominique wants to make sure you're not under any bad influences,
Fox. He's  going to search your room to see if you brought any illegal
stuff in here.'   
Mulder grinned nervously, wondering if he should fight Dennis off and
make a run  for it. The two of them made their way down the stairs.
Dennis was a strong man  and could easily outrun him. No, this was not
the right time.   
Outside the sun burned on their faces. Mulder glanced at the group of
followers  that seemed complete again. Vickie stared at him for a
brief moment when Dennis  put him on a bench and said, 'I'll be
around.'   
Mulder nodded and closed his eyes. The dizziness was passing slowly.
At least  that was something. And if he were a good actor, Dominique
would still believe  he was under the influence. He was pretty sure
Gretl informed him about taking  the drug. 
 
He felt someone touch his shoulder and looked up. Vickie sat down next
to him and  stared before her, ignoring Dennis' fierce eyes that tried
to figure out if they  were talking. Vickie didn't say a single word.
Then she stood up and left him  alone again. 
 
A few moments later Dominique came out and spoke briefly with Dennis.
Mulder  knew they had found the cell phone. He bit his lip, trying to
act as numb as  possible. When dinner came, he sat down at the table
with the rest of them. They  ate in silence. 
 
But there was a tension in the air that they could all feel. 
Suddenly Dominique stood up and said loud, for all of them to hear, 'I
unfortunately have bad news. One of our people has acted against the
rules and  will be punished. No matter how much I regret having to do
this, I must act  accordingly.' 
 
Dominique's eyes looked at them one by one. Then he moved away from
his seat and  walked beside them. Surprised and in shock Mulder
watched when Dominique touched  Renata's shoulder and asked her to get
up. The woman shared a glance with Mulder  before she turned and faced
Dominique.   
'You know what you did wrong, Renata,' he said. 
The woman nodded. 
'Why, Renata?'
'I ' she stopped, not able to give the correct answer. 
 
Dominique's face looked sad and disappointed when he nodded towards
Dennis and  one of the other guards. They guided Renata out of the
room, closing the door  hard behind them. It gave a tremble that went
through everyone's soul.   
Mulder opened his mouth to ask what was going on, only to be stopped
by Gretl,  who sat on her regular spot beside him. Her eyes gave a
warning glance.   
Dominique's eyes rested long on Mulder before he turned away and
walked back to  the head of the table. 'I feel ' he started, 'that my
world is coming to an  end. That, what I have created and put my faith
upon is crumbling underneath me.  When a reporter is able to
infiltrate this secluded and private community, only  to spread lies
about us, I fear. I am afraid that I can no longer trust any of 
you. And the basis on which I have built this communion, was trust.' 
 
He turned away dramatically, sighing deeply. 'I will have to make a
decision  that might affect every single one of you. I will inform all
of you tomorrow of  this decision.' 
 
This time the crowd seemed disturbed and restless. They mumbled to
each other  when Dominique left them alone. Mulder sat in shock,
realizing that he wasn't  the only one undercover in the compound. But
somehow they had discovered that  Renata was a reporter. How could he
be sure they didn't know he was still an  FBI-agent? 
 
Confused Mulder decided not to try to go after Vickie again. Instead
he would  call Scully and tell her to organize a bust. If Dominique
were to make that  important decision, it could very well mean the end
for all of them. Something  told him that an era was coming to an end.
 
He realized all too well that there was much more at stake now than
just Vickie  Moss. Renata Lowe's life could very well be in danger.
She might already be  dead. He needed to find her quick, before they
ended her life. If needs be, he  would go in search of Vickie and
Renata, and leave with them.  
When he reached for the pair of socks with the hidden mobile phone in
the  drawer, he came back empty-handed. His phone was gone. Suddenly a
noise behind  him surprised him and the sound of a turning key shook
him up.  
'Hey!' he shouted, trying to stop the door from locking. But he could
do nothing  but bang his fists on the door and hope that someone would
hear. No one came to  respond to his call. It was only a little after
seven and already he faced a  night filled with boredom. He could not
get in touch with Scully and tell her  what was going on. He wouldn't
be able to help Renata out, and might as well be  facing his own death
soon.   
Unless someone unlocked the door and got him out. 
 
But no one came. And night fell as if everything was as it should be.
 
 
- 4 - 
 
Scully's instincts told her that Mulder was in trouble. She picked it
up as a  sixth sense as she had done so many times before, saving his
life a few times in  the process. Now all she could do was inform
Skinner and get him out of there  instantly. 
 
It was nearly seven a.m. when she called him. His voice sounded alert
as if he  was already at work. 'Meet me in my office in half an hour,'
he said, when she  finished her introduction. 
He hung up before she could say anything else. Relieved she hurried to
the  office, meeting him in the hallway on his way in. 
 
A few moments later Agent Wilkes stepped in as well. Skinner had
contacted him  on the way in. It seemed everyone was up for a very
long day. Scully recognized  him from her previous meeting with him
and Mulder to discuss 'Salvation Awaits'.  Then, Wilkes had said that
'SA' didn't have their immediate attention. There had  been lack of
evidence to show 'SA' was becoming a danger to its members. Now 
things had changed. 
 
Wilkes listened in silence when Scully explained about the few phone
calls she  had done with Mulder. Skinner had already been informed
about the first one,  agreeing with Mulder then that they had to wait
and see. Now his worry grew when  he learned that Mulder hadn't
called, and that he had been sick during their  last talk. 
 
Wilkes frowned, listening to the explanation of the drugs the
followers  received. Then he put a file on the table and said, opening
it, 'after our  meeting a week ago, I did a bit of research on my own,
even though my A.D. still  doesn't believe we have enough to go after
Durant. I extracted bank statements  from five 'SA'-members, and saw
that they all extracted large amounts from their  accounts. Plus,
suddenly the name Durant seems to appear everywhere. With what 
you are saying, I believe I might be able to convince AD Gersh to
organize a  raid to arrest Durant.'
 
'With all due respect, sir,' Scully said, 'but my partner will not
live through  that. Durant is able to kill them all before we are able
to get to them. If they  see us coming, it might already be too
late.'  
'With all due respect, Agent Scully,' Wilkes interrupted her, 'but
your partner  screwed up. He's become a victim himself and jeopardized
not only his life but  also the lives of all the other inhabitants of
that compound.'  
Scully turned forcefully towards him. 'You weren't interested in
investigating  how a seventeen-year-old girl could become a member of
a cult. You didn't care  about the strange deaths that are a part of
that cult. In fact, you didn't even  believe it was a cult, did you?
At least Mulder did something, and he has the  proof he needed. What
more do you need?'  
'That's enough, Scully,' Skinner said hard, calming her down with one
look.  'It's no use blaming each other. Agent Wilkes, I'm sure, had
his reasons not to  go after Durant. Let's see how we can help those
people now, shall we?'   
Wilkes nodded, clenching his teeth. He wasn't interested in getting
hell from a  fellow agent who didn't know how they handled cults. On
the other hand, he knew  perfectly well how she felt, and why her
partner had done what he did. He was  there when Ephesian and over
forty people killed themselves. It was worse than  the worst war to
witness.   
'I want to try and get Mulder out of there myself first,' Scully said.
'We have  to make sure he's alive and well. He can tell me what the
best way to go about  is. He alone can tell us what to do.' 
 
'I'm not sending you in there,' Skinner said strict. 'I'm not risking
you too.'  
'Sir, you know we have to do this. They have no right to stop me.
Legally, I can  pull strings. Mulder signed all his rights over to me
in case of mental  instability or medical issues. If I find Mulder
legally unfit to act I can use a  warrant to get him out of there.
Durant cannot stop me from doing that.'   
'Okay,' Skinner said. 'I'll have a warrant ready in case you need it.
Are you  going right away?' 
'I'll be going around noon. Mulder told me they get their daily dose
around that  time. I need to prevent them from giving him those drugs.
I might as well use  any means necessary.' 
 
'Good. I want to hear from you before five this afternoon, Scully. If
I don't,  I'm signing a search warrant myself. Got it?' 
 
'Yes, sir.'
 
Skinner turned to Wilkes. 'You'd better advice Gersh to have his team
ready. The  moment Mulder and Vickie Moss are out of there you're
going in. I want your guys  ready.'
 
'I'll try to fix that, sir,' Wilkes said weak. 
 
'No. You'll do it or I'll have your badge. I'm through being polite
when it  comes to political issues like this. One of my best agents is
in immediate  danger thanks to your lack of help, and I won't stand
for that. I don't want a  second Ephesian here, got it?' 
 
'Yes, sir,' Wilkes said, excusing himself. 
 
When he left and shut the door, Scully couldn't help but smile.
Skinner looked  at her when her smile faded into worry. 'He can take
care of himself, Dana,' he  said, moving from his chair to a seat next
to her. 'He always has.'  
'I know,' she said. 'But I'm angry.' 
 
'At him?'
 
'No. At the situation. I hate feeling this helpless.'
'You're helping him now.' 
 
Scully nodded, not wondering if it was already too late. 
 
- 5 - 
 
Suddenly the door unlocked. He shifted up from his seat near the
window where he  had stared through the bars at the garden where the
others sat. He hadn't had  breakfast. They hadn't unlocked his door.
He had been secluded from all the  rest. 
 
Dominique came in with a look on his face Mulder hadn't seen before.
'Fox,' he  said seriously, 'it seems that we have a slight problem.' 
 
'We do?' Mulder asked numb. 'What problem might that be?' 
'It seems that you are still in touch with your friends at the FBI.
Last night I  didn't want to believe that you would be capable of
betrayal, but I could not  deny the evidence at hand.' 
 
'What evidence might that be?' Mulder asked, feeling weak in the legs.
He felt  hungry and unstable. 
 
'You brought a phone in this house that you used several times. You
called your  friend Dana Scully. I don't know what you told her, but
this is forbidden.'   
Still debating if he should lie or not, Mulder realized quickly that a
chance of  getting out of this game with his story intact, was not an
option. Dominique's  eyes changed colour when he said, 'She's come to
see you.'   
'Who is?' 
 
'Dana Scully. She's here, waiting for you in the lobby. You told her
you wanted  to leave, didn't you?'
'No, I didn't. How could I? You took my phone.' 
 
'You told her lies about us. Why else would she be here?'
 
'Perhaps she just came to see how I was doing.' 
 
'Do you want to leave, Fox?' 
 
Mulder didn't give an answer, knowing that his lies would be
discovered.  Dominique sighed. 'That's what I dreaded.' 
 
Almost unnoticeable Dominique nodded towards Dennis. Only then Mulder
saw that  there was a second guard who had been standing outside,
waiting for a sign. The  two of them grabbed him before he could
react.   
'Hey!' Mulder shouted, trying to fight off the guards who got a firm
grip on  him. 'What is this?' 
 
Dominique watched as the two guards pushed Mulder onto the bed, using
their full  strength to keep him down. Mulder was thrown on his belly,
his arms stretched  aside so he couldn't use them. His wrists were
clung to firmly. Mulder fought  for all he was worth, kicking and
screaming like crazy. But they were too strong  for him and kept him
down easily.   
Dominique had closed the door behind the second guard. The thick walls
and door  kept the noise inside the room. 
 
Then Dominique leaned over and grabbed Mulder's left arm, pushing a
syringe into  the flesh. Quickly he emptied its contents and pulled it
back out. Mulder's body  seemed to convulse at first, fighting the
contents of the injection.   
Then he relaxed and hardly moved anymore, closing his eyes.
Dominique's moves  caused the guards to stand down and they watched
while their leader turned  Mulder on the bed. The agent remained quiet
and almost lifeless when Dominique  lifted his eyelids and said
softly, 'Fox, can you hear me?'  
Mulder swallowed, sighed deeply, opened his eyes and looked at
Dominique.  'Yeah,' he said. His pupils were dilated. Numbness had set
in. He stared into  nothingness. The only thing he could do was
listening to Dominique's voice.  
'Are you here to get me down, Fox?' Dominique asked gently. 'Do they
know what  I'm doing?'
 
'Yeah.' Mulder's answer mumbled and difficult to hear. Dominique
watched, as the  agent seemed to struggle within, still trying to
fight the contents of the  syringe. But the sedative was too strong to
ignore, even for a man with a will  like Mulder's.
 
'You're doing great, Fox,' Dominique said softly, helping him to sit
up. The  agent still seemed to have difficulty to stand straight.
Dennis had to keep him  up. Mulder hardly seemed to move when
Dominique put his left index finger under  the agent's chin and forced
him to look up.   
'He's a goner,' Dominique said to Dennis. 'He won't be able to say his
own  name.' 
 
'If you keep this up, you're going to kill him.'
 
'We all have to die. Besides, by tonight it will all be over. First
he's going  to do something else for me though. By now I'm sure our
agent knows who's the  boss.' 
 
'I hate to say I told you so,' Dennis said angrily. 'You shouldn't
have taken  him in. He and that damned reporter have forced us to move
things forward.  They've put the plan in jeopardy.'
 
'The plan stands as it is. We had everything ready as it was. In a few
days  we're out of the country, enjoying their cash, my friend.' 
 
Dennis nodded, pushing Mulder forward. Like a zombie the agent walked
down the  stairs, followed by Dominique and his guards. 
 
 
- 6 -
 
Scully waited nervously in the lobby of the huge building, biting her
fingernails. A few women passed her but they didn't look at her. She
felt  nervous. If Mulder were like that, how would she be able to talk
to him? All she  could do was hope and pray they hadn't harmed him. It
did take quite a long time  for them to fetch him. 
 
The French doors opened and three men walked over to her. She
recognized  Dominique immediately from the photos. They didn't do him
justice. He was a  handsome man with the charisma of an old-fashioned
movie star. No wonder he  could persuade all of his followers to take
drugs. When he spoke, he sounded  attractive and honest.
 
The second man didn't interest her. But it was her partner that gave
her the  biggest shock. Before her stood Mulder, staring blank at her.
His body slumped a  bit and he was unshaven. He looked like he hadn't
slept for weeks.   
'Mulder,' she said, resisting the urge to grab his hand and take him
out.  Instead she took two steps and stared at him in despair. He
wasn't responding to  the sight of her. In fact, she could have been
anyone. He would have reacted the  same to anyone. 
 
This had nothing to do with the illness he had told her about. His
pupils were  dilated and didn't seem able to focus on reality. They
were restless and  nervous. He looked like a drug-addict searching for
the next kick. He had lost  weight; his clothes seemed baggy and
didn't fit.   
'Mulder,' she repeated, trying to get a grip on her partner. He just
stared at  her, not able to recognize her. She bit her lip angrily,
then turned towards  Dominique and bit, 'what have you done to him?
He's a zombie!'  
'Your friend has been a bit ill but he's fine. Our doctor gave him
medication to  make him well. He'll be fine in the morning. He's just
feeling under the  weather.'
 
'He's not going to stay here until the morning,' she said, 'he's
coming with  me.'
'On what authority?' 
'I'm a medical doctor, his friend and guardian in case of medical
urgency. I  have a written statement of him assigning me to take his
decisions.'  
'I'm sure that only counts when it comes to mental unfitness. But your
partner  is doing just fine.'
 
'He's not. Anyone can see that. He needs to be in a hospital. If needs
be, I'll  get a warrant.'
 
'Why don't you do that then, Agent Scully,' Dominique said calm. 'Your
friend is  no longer an FBI-agent. He's resigned. He chooses to be
here. He's not here  against his own will.' 
 
Dominique softened as he looked at Mulder and leaned forward a bit
towards  Scully. 'I know you're worried about your friend, but he's in
good hands. It's  time he forgets about the past and starts living in
the present. I've offered  him a place of rest  a home  that what
he's been seeking for so long. Are you  going to deny him that?' 
 
'You fed him those lies,' Scully said, not wanting to betray Mulder by
telling  Dominique he was still at the FBI. Anything could happen.
'You claim that you  want to help him. Have you ever considered that
you have fed him that urgency to  find his sister? He might have had a
better life if you hadn't pushed him all  this time.'
 
'Is that what he told you?'
 
'It's what I see. Fox has said several times that he wants peace and
quiet. He's  getting that right now. Aren't you, Fox? In fact, he has
already said that he  will give me full consent. He's fed up with you,
Agent Scully.'   
Scully stared in shock as Mulder nodded slowly as if to confirm.
 
She blinked her eyelids forcefully and swallowed away the dryness in
her throat.  She needed to get Mulder out of here now. She couldn't
wait for Skinner. In  despair her voice sounded hoarse when she spoke
again.  
'I want to speak with him alone,' she said.
'I can't let you do that.'
'I need to hear it from himself that this is what he wants. If he
cannot tell  me, I'll call my superior right now and get that warrant
before you can blink  your eyes. As long as I have his consent, I will
use it at any cost, even if it  means declaring him mentally unfit.' 
 
'All right,' Dominique said, pointing towards the secluded garden.
'You have  five minutes.'
He opened the door for them and showed them out. Mulder walked beside
her in the  same zombie-state-of-mind that he had been all this time.
She brought him out,  putting her hand on his wrist to lead him to one
of the wooden benches near the  pond. 
 
There were more people in the garden but they all kept their distance.
They  could have been alone in the Garden of Eden  that quiet and
peaceful it seemed.  But it was artificial and Scully knew it. She
could understand a bit better now  how someone could want to spend
their time here. Still, anything was better than  this  even the
hard, cold world outside these walls.   
A woman looked at them from the other side of the pond. She was
reading a book,  lying on the grass. Yet her glance always seemed to
return to them, watching  them with a careful look.  
 
Scully made sure her partner could see only her and took his hands in
hers.  'Mulder,' she said, using the softest tones of her voice. He
didn't turn towards  her. She put a hand under his chin and forced him
to look at her.   
'Mulder, please try and understand this. I need to get you out of
here. You're  in danger. Can you hear me? You have to understand what
I'm saying now. If you  don't, I won't be able to help you. I will
have to be forced to leave you alone  again, until I can get help.' 
 
His eyes blinked twice but he didn't respond. Wherever he was, he
wasn't able to  understand her. Whatever they had drugged him with; it
had its effect on him. He  listened only to one voice and it wasn't
hers.  
'Mulder, please listen to me. You alone can get yourself out of here
at this  moment. You need to persuade them you want out. Can you do
that for me, partner?  Do you remember why you were here in the first
place?'  
She leaned over and kissed him softly, her lips lingering for two
seconds on the  corner of his mouth. He didn't react. But there was
some change in the way he  looked at her. He was trying to fight the
drugs from within, to be able to  communicate with her. She was
getting through to him!   
The woman across the pond got up and hurried towards the building. She
had  dropped the book on the grass. Scully knew she had not much time
left.   
'Mulder, speak to me. Tell me what you want!'
 
Her partner opened his mouth, blinking his eyelids again. From the
house  Dominique rushed towards them. Scully refused to look at the
'SA'-leader and  kept her focus on Mulder. 
 
'Let go of him now,' Dominique said, 'or I will be forced to use
extreme  measures.'
 
'I'm taking him out of here,' she said firmly, pulling him up. 
'You can't. He doesn't want to come with you.'
'Yes, he does. If you don't let him go, I'll scream fire and send this
place to  hell.' 
 
Dominique wasn't ready to argue. Pulling her up by the right arm he
extracted  her from Mulder. 'He's staying!' he said. 
 
From the corner of her eye, Scully saw her partner's lips move. 'He's
trying to  say something,' she said, pulling herself free. 
Dominique turned and stared at the male agent. Then he leaned forward
so that  Mulder alone could hear and whispered, 'If you give one kick,
I'll kill her  right here. You know I will.' 
 
Mulder's body seemed to shift on his seat. Then it relaxed again and
he shut his  mouth, refusing to look at Scully. 
 
'I think he's made his point, Agent Scully,' Dominique said, releasing
her from  his grip. 'Why don't you leave now? You've upset him enough.
You have no place  here.'
 
'I'll come back,' she said hard. 'You can count on that.' 
 
Dominique only smiled when he guided her to her car and watched as she
drove  off. On the bench, her partner still sat quietly, as the
numbness slowly took  off. 
 
 
 
- 6 -
 
'You know we can't keep him here any longer,' Dennis said as he
glanced at the  man on the bench. 'He's betrayed us. He's a danger to
us all. Kill him now, Dom,  before he destroys us.'
 
'He's of no danger now. He doesn't even remember his own name.'
 
'Those drugs will wear off soon. And then what? Are you going to keep
on feeding  him drugs until you decide to kill him after all? Just get
it over it!'   
'No, he has to die with the others. It's suitable. He came here to
help them and  he will die with them. At least then his death will
have some meaning.'   
'What the hell does that mean?' Dennis exclaimed. 'She's getting a
damned  warrant!'
 
'She won't be able to do so, Dennis. It's all been taken care of.
She's not  leaving the house. And tonight it will all be over.'
Dominique sighed.  'Unfortunately we will have to do with less than we
expected, but nothing will  stop us from starting anew. By tomorrow
morning there will be nothing left of  this house.' 
 
'Where is she then?' Dennis asked in fear. 'Did you kill her?' 
 
Dominique smiled. 'Of course not. I had to let her go so my little
children  wouldn't be disturbed. Remember, they believe they live in
paradise. I want them  to believe in my goodness, until the very last
second before their death.'  
'Where is she then?'
 
Dominique pointed at the window. A car drove to the back of the
building. A  guard got out and opened the back door. Then he opened a
car door and lifted the  redhead female agent out of the car. Then the
door closed and everything was as  it had always been. 
 
The only ones seeing it were Dominique and Dennis, from the window of
Dominique's private dining room.  
 
 
- 7 - 
 
His eyelids blinked as he lay on the bed of his impersonal room. His
hands  rested on both sides of his bodies but Dominique could tell
that he was slowly  getting his senses back. Patiently he waited and
smiled when Mulder eventually  seemed to become aware of his
surroundings.   
Dominique handed him a glass of water and smiled as he sat on the edge
of the  bed. 'How do you feel, Fox?' 
 
'I don't know,' Mulder mumbled, feeling the dryness in his throat.
Thankfully he  emptied the glass of water and leaned back tired
against the pillows of his bed.  'What happened?'
 
'You were very ill. We had to take care of you. Don't you remember
that you  passed out in the dining room this morning?'
 
'I passed out?' Mulder asked with a thick voice. 'How come?' 
'You didn't take well to our homeopathic products, but we've corrected
that now.  It's been a rough patch for you but the doctor said you
should be feeling better  soon.' 
 
Mulder closed his eyes, rubbing his eyelids with his fingers. 'I
remember  something  I saw Scully.' 
'Scully?' 
'My FBI-partner ... a friend. She came here to talk to me. But she
left.'  'That must have been a dream, Fox. There was no one here.' 
 
Mulder rolled on his side, trying to get a grip on the dizziness he
felt. He  remembered vaguely things that were out of the ordinary. He
remembered being  locked up, two men grabbing him, a syringe, sitting
in the yard and listening to  Scully. His left arm ached as if he had
been injected. He stared at the floor,  ignoring Dominique who waited
until he would look at him again.   
'It was a dream, Fox,' Dominique said with that voice that was so hard
to  disbelief. 'You've been very ill and I feel guilty about it. But
that won't  happen again. I guarantee that from now on we'll monitor
you day and night to  make sure you're adapting to our ways. You'll
feel better soon.'  
Dominique offered his hand with two different tablets in it. 'Here,'
he said.  'Just take these and you'll feel better. They're sleeping
pills. You'll wake up  bright and fresh in the morning.'
 
Mulder didn't object but swallowed the two pills down with a glass of
water.  Then he sighed and said, 'I'm so tired, Dominique.'
 
'I know, Fox,' the man responded, pulling a blanket over Mulder's cold
body.  'Just rest.' 
Within a few moments Mulder's breath was normal and deep. Dominique
smiled and  looked down at the agent. He would not wake up again.
Tonight this place would  burn down and they would find the agent
sleeping in his bed.   
Dominique left the room and locked the door. Inside the room Mulder
slept a  drug-induced dream. 
 
But then the door was unlocked again, and a woman slipped in, locking
the door  carefully from within with the key that Dominique had left.
 
'Fox,' Vickie said as she shook him by the arm, trying to wake him up.
Mulder  startled and mumbled something. 
 
'Come on, Fox,' she said, 'I need you. I'm afraid.' 
 
Mulder slowly opened his eyes. His eyelids seemed to weigh too heavy
at first.  He stared at her. 'I can't ' he said, not recognizing her.
 
She pulled his heavy body up, trying to get him to move. 'You've been
drugged,  Mulder,' she said, trying to get him to move on his own. 'We
need to get you  alert. Think! Did he give you pills?' 
 
Mulder sighed, slumping forward. 'Don't remember '
'Think  were it pills?' 
 
Mulder nodded. Vickie pulled him up until they both swayed on their
feet. Slowly  she forced him to make his way to the bathroom, helping
him to sit down before  the toilet bowl. 'I'm sorry, Fox,' she said,
'I need you awake.'  
He stared at her, understanding what she wanted to do. He nodded,
forcing two  fingers down his throat until he convulsed and puked out
all that was left in  his stomach. He hadn't eaten since dinner. All
that came out were the nearly  digested tablets in his empty stomach.
 
Vickie reached up and handed him a glass of water. Carefully she
cleaned his  mouth with the washcloth. He sighed, trying to get his
thoughts straight.   
'Listen to me, Fox,' Vickie said, putting his face between her hands
so that he  had to look at her. 'I think your friend is in trouble.
They say she left but I  saw her car at the back of the building. I
don't know where she is, but you need  to find out. Her life might be
in danger.'   
'Scully?' he asked.
 
'The one you were talking with. I don't know her name. A redhead.' 
 
'Scully,' he confirmed, 'so it wasn't a dream.'
 
'Is that what they said? What did they do to you, Fox?'
 
'Don't remember. A syringe. They drugged me. I saw her and he said it
was a  dream.' 
 
'She's here somewhere. We need to get out of here. Dominique is going
to kill us  all tonight. I heard him say it. They think I'm still
taking that stuff, but I  haven't since two days. I'm okay now, but
the others aren't well. He didn't feed  us this afternoon. He has
something planned for tonight. I try to tell them  I  don't know what
he's doing  I see things '  
'Switch drugs,' Mulder whispered. 'Medication in Dominique's bedroom.'
 
'I need you to help me. I can't do this by myself.' 
 
Mulder grabbed her by the arms. 'You have to. Don't let him do this to
you.'   
She nodded. 'What are you going to do?'
 
'I need you to tell me where she might be. Where did they take her?' 
 
'I don't know. I haven't been here long enough. There are lots of
rooms that  aren't being used. But if they have her, she might be in
one of the basements.  You have to find her there. I can't help you.'
 
She reached in the back of her pocket and lifted out a cell phone. It
wasn't  his. It had belonged to one of the guards. 'I just found
this,' she whispered.  'I didn't dare call my mother, but I thought
you would know who to contact.'   
Mulder could hug her and smiled reassuringly when she asked if he
could stand on  his own two feet now. He pulled himself up and swayed
a bit, but at least he  could stand. He grinned. 'Hey, at least I got
a bit of rest.'   
She smiled back. 'I have to go,' she said. 
 
'No,' he said, 'promise me something. Meet me within an hour at the
gates. If  I'm not there by then, stay out of the way and find a
hideout. If Dominique's  planning on killing you, you don't want to be
around.   
He nodded. She left. The door was unlocked now. All he had to do was
get out of  here and find his partner before they found him. 
 
He waited until Vickie's footsteps were gone. He tucked the cell phone
in his  jeans and put on a sweater over his T-shirt. He felt naked
without gun and means  to defend himself, but at least he had all his
senses. That was worth something. 

 
He opened the door. The moment he did, two pairs of strong hands
grabbed him  before he was able to move. He wanted to scream and shout
but a large hand  covered his mouth. Then a sharp sting in his left
arm made his body limp and  numb, and he slumped forward into the arms
of Dennis.  
The last thing he remembered before he passed out, were Dominique's
eyes staring  at him in the semi-darkness of his room, and his voice
demanding to know who had  unlocked the door. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part III: Salvation
 
You crashed by the gate 
Captured my fate 
Salvation 
My eyes couldn't see 
I hardly breathed 
I was down on my knees 
Salvation 


 
- 1 - 
 
The best thing about being able to control people, was forcing them to
do things  they would never do when in control. 
 
The fun part of being almighty was being someone's salvation  or
someone's  hell. 
 
And so he had decided that the best way to deal with the two
FBI-agents that had  crashed his party was to have them pay for it
themselves. What better way to do  that then to order the one he had
under control to kill the woman he had worked  with for so long? If
she were to die, who better to kill her than the man she 
wanted to save? 
 
In the seclusion of his quarters, Dominique looked at the man that had
tried to  screw it all up. He rested so comfortably and calm now. No
one would say that he  was able to bring such a disturbance to his
people.   
But he had done so, and now it was time to end it all. 
 
 
- 2 - 
 
The moment she woke up, she realized she was pinned to the ground. Was
she  dreaming? A humming sound surrounded her. It reminded her of the
bees inside the  dome they had discovered back in Texas. It sounded
like danger  like a sound  that would lead to her destruction. 
 
But this sound was different. It sounded like a boiler that hadn't
been working  for quite some time. The place she was at was dark and
she could not see where  she was. But she saw where the sound came
from. It was a boiler and she was  chained up beside it, attached to a
pipe with her hands cuffed so low that her  back ached from the way
she was seated.  
Her legs were chained too; she could hardly move them. There was
barely any  space for her limbs to move and she hurt all over. But at
least they hadn't  covered her mouth with a dirty cloth. She could
still breath normally.  
She felt dizzy and numb and remembered something stinging her just
before she  passed out. She thought long and hard about what happened.
She had left the  driveway and had gotten into her car, taking the
only lane that lead in and out  of 'Salvation Awaits'. She had her
cell phone ready to call Skinner.  
By the gates they had stopped her. Immediately a sense of danger
overwhelmed her  and she had felt the urge to simply drive through the
gates and get out of  there, despite the fact that she was forced to
leave Mulder behind. On the other  side of those gates at least she
would be okay.   
The guards had stopped her by the exit, tapping on the window. She
hadn't wanted  to open at first, but they had closed the gates and she
would have to do what  they wanted.
 
'What's wrong?' she had asked, trying not to show her fear. 
The man hadn't answered. Instead, with swift and fast moves he had
shoved a  needle in her upper left arm and instantly she had felt
dizzy and passed out,  her head dropping on the steering wheel. After
that, it had all gone blank until  she woke up here. 
 
She must still be on the SA-premises. They couldn't have transferred
her for a  long time without anyone noticing. It would be too
dangerous for them. And she  was still alive. At least then she still
had a chance to get out of this place  in one piece. 
 
What time was it? She had no recollection. She couldn't see whether it
was light  or dark outside. She wasn't hungry. Then something seemed
to shift inside the  room. She could hear a shuffle, like a foot
moving.   
'Who's there?' she asked with dry throat, trying to get her eyes to
adjust to  the darkness. 'Talk to me.'
No answer came but she could clearly hear someone breathing. Whoever
it was, he  or she was locked up in here with her. 
 
'Answer me,' she repeated, 'talk to me!'
 
After a long time something moved again, and this time she could see a
shadow  moving through the room. She was terrified, not knowing who it
was and  defenceless against any attack.
 
Then a light switched on, and she blinked forcefully. The light was so
strong it  blinded her. She couldn't keep her hand before her eyes.
Tears sprung into them.  Slowly she adjusted to the light. 
 
'Who's there?' she repeated and this time the figure of the man she
had gotten  to know so well appeared before her eyes. He looked down
on her and knelt until  his face was very close to her. 
 
'Mulder?' she said surprised. 'Mulder, are you okay?' 
He didn't answer her question. Instead, he just looked at her as if
she was a  stranger to him. He didn't know her. He didn't remember
everything they had gone  through together. He didn't know she loved
him more than anyone in the world.  But he wasn't the zombie he had
been before either. There was a mixture of anger  and even hatred in
him.  
'Mulder, please talk to me. Tell me you know it's me.' 
He didn't move, but then his calculated and slow movements were aimed
at her. He  seemed to be programmed to be here  to attack her and to
kill her.   
'I know who you are,' he finally said. 'You came to take me away.'
'Yes, I did,' she said relieved. 'You want to get out of here. You're
in  danger.' 
 
He shook his head. 'Dominique said you were going to split us up.
After all you  did, you still had the nerve to come here to try and
take this away from me.'   
Scully's look changed, realizing what was going on. 'Mulder, listen to
me. You  are not meant to be here. You volunteered so you could get
Vickie Moss out. Do  you remember that? I don't know what bullshit
Dominique fed you, but they're  just that  lies. Remember who I am.'
 
'I know exactly who you are. I've pulled a gun on you before and you
talked me  out of it then too. But this time I'm going to finish this.
You deserve it.'  
Desperately Scully pulled on her chains. 'Did he tell you to kill
me?' 'You need to be removed.' 
 
'What did he use against me, Mulder?' she asked. 'Did he use our
friendship? Did  he tell you something about me?' She stopped and
thought. 'Did he use your  sister?' 
 
Mulder's moves seemed slow and unreal when he pulled out her gun. They
had taken  it from her body along with her badge, cell phone, wallet
and the car keys. It  was ready to kill. She stared into its barrel.
He cocked the gun. She felt tears  floating down her cheeks. She was
so tired. She couldn't handle this, but she  needed to. She composed
herself, staring forcefully at her partner.   
'He told you I killed your sister. Or did he say that I kept her away
from you?  What did he tell you?'
 
He shook his head. His eyes seemed sad when he said, 'She's dead.
She's been  dead all this time. I've chased a hope that she might
still be out there. I  can't do that anymore. I need to face reality
now.'   
'And shooting me will help you deal with your past?' 
 
'I need to remove everyone that was a part of her search. You came
here to  destroy me, so now I have to destroy you. Dominique said so.'
 
'Mulder, no ' she begged. 'Remember. Try to figure this thing out.
You're  drugged up. This is not you. Dominique has a way with words.
Remember what  happened in the past. Remember Robert Modell. He too
controlled you but you  overcame his influence.' 
 
'Dominique is better. He's a good man.'
 
'No, he isn't. You came here to expose him. He controls everyone that
lives  here. He's no good. If you kill me now, you'll never be able to
forgive  yourself. You'll kill yourself too. You'll die and he'll get
everything you  worked for. Don't let him do this to you! We've been
through this before. You've  aimed a gun at me before. You couldn't do
it then  you can't do it now.'  
Mulder seemed to hesitate but the gun was still aimed at her face. If
he pulled  the trigger now and lost control, they were dead. 'There's
no other way,' he  said but his voice started to tremble. 'I want to
stay here.'  
'Why? Why do you want to stay? What has he told you that makes you do
this?'  
Mulder blinked his eyes, rubbing his eyelids with his left index
finger. The gun  swayed dangerously. 'I have no reason to go back.
Everything's lost.'   
'You still have me. And your sister is still alive. I know she is.'
 
He looked estranged at her. 'She's dead. They found her body. He
showed me   she's dead.' 
'What did he show you, Mulder?'
 
'A picture of a skeleton  a newspaper clipping. She's dead. She's
been dead for  twenty years. And he said that you knew and didn't tell
me.'  
Scully shook her head, trying to ignore the pain in her limbs. 'She
has not been  found, Mulder. Your search is still ongoing. Your quest
here lies with Vickie  Moss and Melissa. Do you remember Melissa,
Mulder? She's the reason you came  here. You wanted to make up for her
loss. Are you going to allow Vickie to go the  same way as Melissa?'
 
Mulder stared at her, blinking his eyes. It was so damned difficult to
figure  out the truth. Dominique had told him she would say this. She
would try to save  her hide. But she sounded so believable. He
startled as flashes from the past  rushed through his mind. He
remembered vaguely what they had done together. But  Dominique had
said she was a bitch that didn't care for him. She had dumped him 
when the going got rough. She debunked his work. She was set in place
to stop  him from finding the truth.
 
Yet at the same time he remembered nearly kissing her and holding her
in his  arms before a bee stung her and he had been on the ice to find
her. He  remembered how she had been by his side several times when he
was in trouble or  ended up in hospital. He remembered her illness.
How could he remember all of  that when she meant nothing to him?
 
But the drugs prevented him from thinking straight. He was a zombie
without a  mind of his own. He lowered the gun and put it on the
ground, kneeling down. He  shook his head and hid his face, trying to
figure it all out. He was so angry  with himself for feeling this
way!  
'Untie me, Mulder,' Scully begged, rattling the shackles. 'Find a
key.'  They had given him the key. He was supposed to shoot her,
unlock her and dump  her body in the pond with a weight attached to
her ankle. The water was deep  enough to conceal her body for a while.
He shivered when he realized he would  have done just that.  
 
Slowly he moved towards the boiler and took the key. He unchained her,
and every  move seemed too difficult to do. Finally she was loose. She
grabbed his wrist  and pulled him towards her, hugging him so dearly
that every emotion seemed to  come out. He held onto her as if she
were his saviour.   
He opened his mouth to speak but she put her fingers on his lips and
said,  'you're not to blame. Let's get out of here first and get you
to a hospital.'   
'The others  I can't leave them. Vickie ' 
'We have to worry about them later. First we need to contact Skinner.
He needs  to get us out of here. They took my cell phone. But Skinner
swore that he would  raid this place if I didn't contact him by five.
What time is it?'  
'Don't know  it's getting dark.' Mulder's fingers moved slowly. He
had to  remember something  something important he had to tell
Scully. Then he  remembered. Slowly he took out the cell phone Vickie
had given him and handed it  to her.  There was no connection from the
boiler room. They had to call outside.  But the guards were there. He
put it back in his pocket.  
'I have an idea,' Mulder whispered, forcing his mind to think
straight. 'You get  out and call. Use front entrance. There's another
door to this place. Car is  parked around near gate, keys in it.
Vickie is waiting. Hiding. I stay. Tell them  you're dead and buy
enough time for you to get out. They'll believe me.'  
'No, you can't do that. I'm not leaving without you! We've got my gun.
We can  handle them.'
 
'No.' Mulder shook his head. 'There are six of them. We don't stand a
chance. Scully grabbed her partner's sleeve and pulled him towards
her. But she saw he  had not told her everything. 
 
'He's killing them tonight, isn't he?' she asked. 'Is he?'
'Don't know  heard him talk. He ...' Mulder frowned. 'He said he was
ending it  tonight. Planned a big meeting in the dining room. Second
floor. Last supper and  then over. I'm part of it.'
 
'No,' Scully said, 'you're in no shape to do this. Please, Mulder.
Come with me.  If I have to, I'll force you, I swear!'
 
Her partner stared at her long and nodded, hugging her again. She
moved her head  against his shoulder, feeling his grip. If it weren't
for the danger lurking  outside, she would have been overjoyed. Mulder
let go of her body, taking her  face in his hands. He smiled. His
moves were still very slow when he knelt down  and picked up her gun
from the floor.   
She thought he was going to hand it to her. He acted as if he was. But
a sharp  pain hit her head as the barrel of the gun came in touch with
her face, and she  was knocked backwards. Without one word she stayed
down, losing consciousness  immediately. A small trickle of blood ran
down her face.   
Mulder knelt down beside her, caressed her face and stared at her
form. 'I'm  sorry,' he mumbled. He pulled the cell phone out of his
pocket and put it into  her jacket pocket. 'I couldn't let you go back
with me. I know you want me to be  okay but I came here to do
something. I need to do it.'   
He looked around, until he could find a sharp piece of glass lying on
the dirty  floor. He picked it up, pulled up the sleeve of his sweater
and jabbed the glass  in the flesh of his arm. 
 
Mulder moaned as the sharp pain brought him back to his senses. Thick
blood  trickled down his arm. The agent felt dizzy as he knelt down
beside his partner  again and let the blood drip on the white shirt
she wore under her black jacket.  A stain appeared, large enough to
have anyone believe she had been shot. He  looked at it, ripped a
piece of the back of her shirt and bandaged the wound on 
his arm with it. 
 
Then he aimed the gun at the wall behind her and fired once. The
bullet struck  the wall. Pieces of plaster dropped on the floor.
Mulder dropped the gun and  lifted her up from the cold floor, taking
her in his arms. Her slim and  seemingly lifeless body dangled in his
arms.   
The back door to the boiler room opened and Dennis watched as he came
out with  her in his arms. She was white as a sheet. He glanced
quickly at the blood on  her chest and smiled. 'Good work, Fox. Put
her in the car. We'll take her to the  pond. We have to hurry, it's
getting late.'   
Mulder moved carefully as he put the body in the backseat of the car.
He blinked  his eyes as he stared at her. She didn't move. He had
killed her. He really had  killed her. He felt sick to his stomach.
But he couldn't take his eyes off her.  
Dennis looked at him sceptic. 'I'll take care of her. Go to the house.
Dominique  awaits you in the dining room. They're all waiting for
you.'   
Mulder nodded and slowly walked to the front of the house. Inside the
main  lobby, the other guard awaited him and guided him through the
glass doors to the  second floor, where they all sat in the dining
room.   
The agent looked at the expression on their faces and knew the end was
near. By  that time it was six p.m.
 
 
- 3 -
 
The car moved. That much she was aware of. Her resting place hobbled
as they hit  a rough patch. A nauseating headache struck her. She had
to get out of here.  What had happened to her? 
 
Then she remembered. Her face felt numb where the gun had struck her.
She was  dazed, dizzy in fact.  She remembered what her partner had
done. And her chest  felt strange  as if something stuck to it. There
was blood all over the place.  Was it hers? No, it couldn't be!
 
She heard a cell phone go off. First she thought it was hers, but it
belonged to  the man driving her car. He talked briefly and hung up
again. She opened her  eyes and stared at the ceiling of the car.
Where was she?   
Suddenly the vehicle stopped. He obviously thought she was unconscious
or dead.  He moved at ease, taking his time to light a cigarette first
and smoke it as if  he buried people every day. They were still inside
the compound. She could tell.  They were near the gates. The car had
driven over the grass towards the pond  where she would have found her
last resting place.  
Finally, while she was already feeling stiff in her efforts to lie
deadly still,  he opened the car door and started pulling on her legs.
Quickly Scully shoved  him in the guts, using the heels of her small
leather boots. He shouted as he  rolled over, protecting his stomach
and abdomen as the pain struck him.   
She was fast, using his surprise to attack him. She hit him twice more
until he  rolled on the floor. Then his hand grabbed the gun from the
belt and pointed it  at her. Twice in less than half an hour she
stared into the barrel of a gun.   
Then he simply went down for the count when a hard piece of wood
struck him on  the back of his head. Scully looked at Vickie Moss,
holding the weapon in her  hand. 
 
'Good work, Vickie,' Scully said, taking the gun out of the guard's
hand. Quickly  she glanced around. They were near the locked gates but
there were no more  guards. Everyone seemed to be at the house. 
 
Something inside the water caught her glance. Different colours seemed
to be  playing with the last bit of sunlight. 
'Oh my god,' Vickie mumbled, staring at the vague figure of a woman
that lay in  the pond. 
Scully stared as well, turning the girl so she couldn't see the body
of Renata  Lowe that lay pinned down on the bottom of the water.
 
The girl heaved and shook as she buried her face against Scully's
shoulder.  'It's okay,' Scully said, caressing the girl's hair. 'It's
all right.'   
Vickie's wiped the tears from her face and composed herself. 'We have
to hurry,'  she whispered.  'They'll be missing me soon. We all got a
warning to be in the  house before six. Where's Fox?' 
 
'He's at the house,' Scully sighed, focusing on the present. 
 
'They're killing us all,' Vickie said. 'I told them no to go. I found
a bottle  with sedatives. They wouldn't listen. They're all under his
influence. I have to  go back in there!'
 
'You can't,' Scully said, grabbing the girl by the arm and pulling her
in the  shadows of the trees. The car still stood there but there was
nothing to be done  about that right now. With a bit of luck Dominique
wouldn't notice it until they  were out of sight. 
 
Scully had difficulty thinking. She had to warn Skinner, but how? He
had  promised to be here by five if he didn't hear from her. Then
where was he?   
The man on the grass moaned and reached for the back of his head. 
'Stay down,' Scully said, aiming the gun at his face. 'Where are
they?'   
Dennis smiled. 
 
'Where are they?' she repeated, pointing the gun at his face. 
 
'It's too late,' Dennis said with a grin. 'They're already dead.
Dominique's  burning down the place.'
 
'You're a liar.' 
 
Scully leaned over, feeling a weight in her pocket. She put her hand
in and felt  the mobile phone sticking out. 
 
'Damn it, Mulder,' she whispered, dialling Skinner's number she knew
by heart.  'Damn you!'
 
The moment her boss answered the phone, she heard several cars stop
behind the  gates. Skinner confirmed it was them. With relief Scully
rushed towards the  locked gate and watched when several FBI-agents
stepped out of the cars.   
'It's locked,' Scully said, rattling the shackles. 'I can't get out
and you  can't get in.' 
 
Skinner put his hand through the bars and touched her shoulder. 'Are
you okay?'   
'I am,' she nodded, 'and so is Vickie ' 
 
'Vickie?' Skinner asked in surprise.
 
'Yeah, she's right ' Scully turned to see she was alone. Over the
lawn the girl  ran back to the building and closed the doors behind
her. Now they were all  inside the compound. 
 
And the FBI was waiting on the outside. 
 
 
- 4 - 
 
'Salvation,' Dominique's voice said hard. 'Salvation is for the damned
that live  in this godforsaken world. But not for everyone. It's
forbidden for those who  don't show their regrets. It can not be given
to anyone who doesn't fear death.'  
He stopped and looked around, catching all of their glances as they
stood there,  waiting for him to continue. Gretl stood beside him,
staring at him in awe. Her  eyes glanced through the room. They were
all there  except for Vickie. No one  had seemed to find the girl. 
 
Gretl stared at the others in the room. Dennis wasn't there either.
She turned  and focused on what Dominique was saying. 
 
'Salvation is not what I give to everyone. I have selected all of you
very  carefully. You came to me with your fears and angers and I
helped you deal with  your pasts. You were happy here.' 
 
Most of them nodded in agreement. Others just stood still and
listened.  
'Be afraid. It's a natural reaction for what will happen next. But you
will pass  on from this world to the next without pain. I will take
care of you all as I  have done since the day you moved into this
shelter. Now the time has come to  abandon this house and move on to
the next life. That will be your salvation   the freedom I have
promised you when you came here.'   
Dominique glanced outside, as the night was about to fall again. It
still became  so dark so quick. Then he saw the car standing on the
lawn. It was the vehicle  of the female FBI-agent Dennis was supposed
to dump in the pond. Why was the car  still standing there? 
 
His eyes glared towards the gates. There was someone standing in front
of the  gates and several people standing behind it. They were trying
to get in. And  someone was running over the lawn towards the
building.   
He looked at Gretl, still staring at him in awe. She would resolve
this by  herself. He leaned forward and whispered something in her
ear, sending her out  of the room. She nodded and left without
questioning him.    
'Salvation is your ultimate price,' he continued, not once forgetting
what he  was saying to them. 'I will lead you to the new world in a
blaze of fire and  smoke, to make this world remember you. You will
have no fear or pain because  you will be saved. Sit down, please. All
of you.'   
Dominique looked straight into Mulder's eyes. The agent looked back
numb.   
Mulder stared back, not giving away the memories he had from Melissa's
death two  years ago. They were memories that were forced back upon
him because of these  events. Back then he had been too late to rescue
her. But now he could help the  others.
 
He had killed Scully, but at least he could help the others. Right
now, he could  just remember one thing: The woman he had held in his
arms less than an hour  before. He had killed her, even though parts
of his mind said that he had saved  her. The sharp pain in his arm
where he had cut himself told him so.   
Dominique's voice was soft and gentle when he handed a small cup with
a sedative  to everyone. They would not die in pain. They never did. 
 
'Drink this and the new world will come for you.' 
 
They drank obedient. At their last supper they had all received an
extra pill to  keep them calm. They were all out there, not able to
resist his wishes. They  were his little slaves. He could do whatever
he wanted with them. Mulder emptied  the cup in his mouth and lay down
with the rest of them, closing his eyes.  
The guards left the room. Dominique watched as his little toys slept
and stepped  over their bodies. He stopped at the FBI-agent and
smiled. Mulder was his  biggest triumph. He had even killed his best
friend. If he could make an  FBI-agent do that, he could make anyone
do anything.   
With the gasoline tank in his hands, the cult leader prepared for his
final  descent. 
 
 
- 5 - 
 
Vickie quickly found what she was looking for in the security's
office. There  were only two keys to the gate. Dominique had one of
them, but the guards always  kept one in this room. She grabbed it and
left the small office, hearing  footsteps rush down the stairs. 
 
A few moments later she came eye to eye with Gretl. 
'What are you doing, Vickie?' the woman asked. 'You were supposed to
be with the  others.' 
'I'm coming right up,' Vickie said calmly, 'I just had to do something
else '  
Gretl smiled. 'You haven't been taking your little pills, have you?'
'Neither have you.' 
'I persuaded Dominique to take me with him. I figured him out quite
early. But  you weren't part of the plan.'
 
'Are you jealous?' Vickie asked. 'You know he likes me more than
you.' 'That's a goddamn lie.'
'You know it's true. Why else would he give me a room next to his?' 
 
Gretl stepped forward and hit Vickie's left hand hard, sending the key
over the  stone floor. They both stared at it. 'Do you think he'll
still love you when he  finds out about your betrayal?'
Vickie couldn't be put off. 'It's over,' she said softly. 'The Feds
are right  outside, ready to arrest him. It's over.' 
 
'You're doing this for that FBI-agent, aren't you?' Gretl said,
unexpectedly  grabbing Vickie's hair in an attempt to bring the girl
down to the floor. Vickie  screamed and fought back, clutching her
fingernails in Gretl's skin.   
The women screamed and struggled for life as they fought out their
battle on the  cold, stone floor. Vickie was the stronger of them,
grabbing Gretl's hair and  knocking the back of her head on the floor.
Gretl stayed down for the count as a  trickle of blood escaped her
skull.   
'Good,' Vickie moaned, crawling on hands and knees towards the key.
She was  exhausted but there was no time to waste. From the stairs she
heard more  footsteps coming down. Quickly she hurried out, running
for her life and the  lives of her friends towards the gates, where
the FBI was attempting to break  the chains. 
 
A few moments later the gates were opened, and the FBI could enter the
compound.  By that time all the doors were locked and closed with
bars.   
 
- 6 - 
 
With paramedics working on Scully and Vickie, Skinner stared worried
at the  building. Agent Wilkes had taken over, ready to negotiate with
Dominique.   'Are you okay?' Skinner asked worried, taking in the pale
features and blood on  her shirt.
 
'I'm fine,' she said, pulling the white shirt. 'This isn't mine.'
Skinner stared at her in surprise as she explained what had happened.
'I think  Mulder used his own blood to make them believe I was dead,'
she grinned  painfully. 'He was so determined to stop this that he
didn't want me involved.  I've never seen him like this, sir.' 
 
'He might have saved your life,' Skinner said, 'but he won't be able
to save all  of the others, unless he stops Dominique by hand. He
doesn't have a weapon and  in the state he is right now, I doubt that
he's strong enough to fight off  anyone.'
 
'At this moment, he's capable of doing anything, sir,' Scully said,
sliding out  of the backseat of the car she had been sitting in while
they took care of the  cut on her face. 'He's so determined to bring
this to an end. He's reliving the  entire event with Melissa again.
Only, this time he's working from the inside. I  believe he doesn't
know what he's doing anymore.'  
Vickie glanced at the female agent, feeling guilty for the entire
event. If she  had been reasonable enough to talk to her mother about
this, none of this would  have happened.
 
'The more reason to get him out of there,' Skinner said. 'If what
Vickie says is  true, that place is going to hell right now.' 
 
Dennis could be heard laughing from the backseat of one of the
vehicles. He  looked at them challengingly and shouted, 'It's too
late! They're all burning in  hell by now!' 
 
Scully and Skinner stared in shock at the building as the first flames
burst out  of the windows on the second floor, while outside, the FBI
was still attempting  to move in. 
 
 
- 7 - 
 
Dominique walked over to the ready-to-use gasoline tanks. He started
spreading  the liquid over the room, pouring it in between his
victims. The he caught a  shadow behind him. Quickly he turned around,
staring at Mulder who looked at him  and pulled the gasoline tank from
his hands.   
'You lied,' Dominique said matter-of-fact. 'I could have known you
would only  pretend.'
 
'I can't let you do this,' Mulder said weak, knowing he had no defence
but his  hands. 'You've gone too far.' 
 
'Why did you come here?' Dominique asked. 'You never wanted salvation,
did you?' 'I came here for Vickie Moss and these other people that you
have taken in. They  don't deserve to be here.'
 
'I gave them happiness.'
 
'You gave them drugs. You fed them lies. They don't know what you're
like. They  believed what your drug-induced words claim.' 
 
Dominique sighed deeply, stretching out his hand towards the agent.
'Don't you  know by now that I want the best for you?' 
 
'The best?' Mulder laughed. 'Killing the woman I love  was that for
the best?'  'You volunteered to come here. You must suffer the risks.'
 
'I didn't ask to be drugged.'
 
'No, you asked to be killed. Anyone who comes here under false
pretences needs  to die. Just like your partner. You did kill her
didn't you? You do remember  that?'
 
'I didn't kill her. She's still alive.'
 
'She's dead, Fox. Remember? Her blood was all over you.'
 
'No, I set it up,' Mulder said confused. 'She's alive and well. She
waits for me  outside, with the FBI. It was all a set-up. I'm still an
FBI-agent. I need to  arrest you. I have to.'
 
'You don't have to do anything. You can give in to the sleep and
slumber of  happiness. I know you're still out there somewhere, where
I want you to be.'   
'No,' Mulder shook his head. He seemed to move too slowly, still under
the  influence of the drugs fed to him. He wanted it to end, yes. 
This slumber.  The  daze he was in right now.  This wasn't him.  This
person with the pale face and  the dark eyes was not who he really
was.   
Dominique stared at him for a few moments.  Then he said: 'I'm sorry
you feel  this way Fox.  You can arrest me now, but you know I'll be a
free man some day.  I know you won't harm me. I gave you a bit of
peace. You can't harm me because I  haven't harmed you.'
 
'You drugged me!'
'You took those pills voluntarily.'
 
'I will do what I can, what lies in my power.'  Mulder's thoughts
seemed to  return to him.  He wanted to reach instinctively for his
gun, but couldn't.  It  wasn't there. How was he supposed to stop this
when there was nothing he had to  defend himself with?
 
They both heard more cars all stopping outside of those stonewalls.
They were  here to help Mulder. Scully must still be alive! Mulder
glanced outside the  window, staring at the cars that came towards the
building and the men rushing  out. They were here to help them.
 
Mulder laughed as the realization struck him that it was just a matter
of  moments now. 
 
Dominique cursed, losing his posture and dropped the canister on the
floor.  'It's over,' Mulder repeated softly. 'If you're lucky, you can
still live  through this. But don't you dare put this place on fire.'
 
'I have to. They expect me to kill them.' 
 
Mulder smiled, standing aside as one by one the members of 'Salvation
Awaits'  got up and looked at Dominique in anger. Dominique held his
breath as he stared  at them, one by one getting up. 
 
'I don't think that's what they had in mind, Dominique,' Mulder said.
The women left the room first, walking down the wooden stairs,
ignoring  Dominique who stood dazed in the room. Then the men left
until there was just  the two of them. 
 
'How?' Dominique asked in fear. 
'Ask Vickie. She switched drugs. And they all played along.' 
'But Gretl '
 
'I'm betting she didn't know. Let's go down, Dominique.' 
 
Surprised and startled Dominique walked before Mulder out the room.
Suddenly  something hard struck Mulder in the back of the neck,
sending him down for the  count. Dominique turned, looking at Gretl
who held a gun in her hands.   
'Where are they?' 
 
'They're downstairs,' she said with a heavy voice. 'We can still do
this,  Dominique. We can, I know it!'
 
'Torch the place,' he ordered. 'Make sure he stays in here. I want him
to burn  to death.'
 
Gretl smiled and kissed her lover hungrily on the lips, as he walked
halfway  down the stairs and glanced at his members who were
attempting to open the doors  from the inside, while the FBI was
attempting to do the same from the outside.   
At that time a loud noise could be heard from above, and before anyone
knew what  was happening, the building was on fire. 
 
 
- 8 - 
 
'Get them out!' Skinner barked his commands but the firemen didn't
need to be  told what to do. Twenty-three very scared people  mostly
women and a few men   were trying to force their way out, but the
doors were locked and barred. No one  seemed to have a key and the
iron doors were too heavy to be forced open.   
Screams and cries were heard from the inside. They became louder when
everything  seemed to catch fire.
 
Suddenly the doors gave way, being forced open by the weight of
several  panicking members. They all came rushing out, coughing and
sucking in the fresh  air.
 
Scully ran towards the building only to be stopped by a fireman. 'My
partner's  in there!' she shouted. 
'It's too late.  The place is going to hell. I can't let you go in
there.'  'You have to find him,' she insisted. 'You can't just walk
away and let him  die!'
'Are you sure he's in there?'
'Yeah, I am.' 
 
From aside she heard a female voice say, 'He was right after us with
Dominique.  They're both gone.'
 
'Gretl's gone too,' Vickie said. 
 
'I saw Gretl,' another woman added. She was running upstairs when we
were all  downstairs trying to open the doors. 'I don't know where she
is!'   
'Mulder's in trouble,' Scully said to Skinner. 'I can feel it.' 
 
'Dominique wanted to torch the dining room on the second floor,' the
first woman  said. 'They must still be there.'
 
'Is there another way in?' Skinner asked. 
 
'Not that I know of,' Vickie said in despair. 'We always used to main
stairs.'   
'We can't take them now  they're on fire,' the fireman added. 'We
can't use the  windows  they're all barred. He's trapped in there,
unless we find another way  in.'
 
Scully stared in shock as the flames cracked the windows and burst
out. If  Mulder was in there, their chances were limited. 
 
But she knew he was there. She could feel it. Please Mulder, she
prayed, try to  get out. You have to find your way out. Then the
firemen prepared to enter the  building to find him. Scully bit her
lip, wondering why it took so long for them  to go in. 
 
She suddenly realized they had already given up on Mulder. 
 
'There's a passageway,' a man behind them said. Scully turned and saw
a blonde  man in his forties that came forward. 'I was there for two
months. I saw  Dominique use it once. I don't know where it leads to,
but I know it's there.'   
'Can you help me get there?' Scully asked urgently. 
 
'I don't know,' the man said. 'I don't know how to get in there from
the  outside. I was there once  or wait ' 
The man stopped as if he remembered something. 'There was something
that didn't  add up. Dennis. He used to manage to be from one side to
the main building to  the other side of the second building in a very
short time. He couldn't have  done that without taking a shortcut.' 
 
'Are you saying there might be several passages in that building?'
Scully asked.   
 
'That could be,' Skinner said. 'This is a building that survived the
Civil War.  Lots of buildings back then had passageways and secret
hideouts. Perhaps that  was Dominique's plan all along. Burn down the
main building and use the  passageways to a hideout.' 
 
'But that would mean he's a got a safe house right on this compound,'
Scully  exclaimed. 'If we find that, we might still have a chance to
get Mulder out.'   
'We might even have a better chance if Mulder figures this out for
himself,'  Skinner said. 
But they all knew the chance of that happening was slim. 
 
 
- 9 - 
 
Mulder woke up coughing, pushing himself against the far wall. The
room was on  fire! The gasoline Dominique had spread all over the
floor did its work. Flames  surrounded him. 
 
Mulder stared in shock as he kept a hand before his face and tried to
not inhale  the smoke. Crawling over the floor on hands and knees he
touched the walls until  he reached the doors that were threatened by
the flames. The stone floor was  getting hot under his touch. 
 
Mulder pulled himself up against the wall, trying to push open the
door. It was  locked tight. In despair he stared at the windows but
knew he couldn't get out  through there. The bars prevented it from
happening.   
There had to be a way out  there had to be some way of escaping this.
He  couldn't just die like this. He got up, slumping towards the other
set of doors  that lead to the kitchen. There, in the large
old-fashioned kitchen, he was  trapped. 
 
He sank down against the refrigerator, staring in front of him. If no
one came  for him, it would be over. But then, he saw something that
looked like a  doorknob against the outer wall. He got up and pulled
the very small knob,  painted in the same colour as the walls. 
 
Suddenly he stood in another dark space, just behind the wall. And an
old,  creaking wooden step, lead downwards. 
 
 
- 10 - 
 
'We found something!' a voice on the other side of the cell phone
cried out,  luring Skinner, Scully and a few agents into the woods
behind the house that had  seemingly never been explored. They had to
cut their way through the branches  and bushes to get there, but then
suddenly a small door carved into a rock  appeared. It was so small
and covered by rocks and branches that one could have  easily missed
it. But it was there.   
'This must be it,' Skinner said who had called the Bureau to order old
maps from  the Henderson Institute before it became Durant's property.
They hadn't been  able to wait for those maps with flames already
bursting out of the first and  second floor. 
 
Right now they had no way of knowing if Mulder was still trapped in
there, but  Scully claimed he was still alive. She would sense it if
he weren't, she  claimed. 
 
The old door gave in instantly, allowing the agents free access to a
dark, damp  cave that hadn't been used for quite some time. But the
cave didn't stop.  Instead it led to another small tunnel behind it.
'Get flash lights,' Skinner  ordered, taking charge. 'Hurry!' 
 
The agents slowly made their way in, careful not to trip over the
rocks and  branches that lay on the floor. Scully wanted to get things
moving but had to be  patient, walking after Skinner as they made
their way to perhaps the hideout of  Dominique Durant. 
 
- 11 - 
 
The wooden stairs led downwards. Mulder had locked the door behind
him. Behind  the bricks he could feel the heat of the flames. Soon
enough this side of the  building too would go up in flames. He
stumbled downwards, holding onto the  staircase as he moved. 
 
Suddenly the stairs stopped and crossed paths with another staircase
that led  him further down in the darkness. And suddenly he was
standing on the ground in  utter darkness. He was in some sort of
tunnel leading him to a place unknown. He  had no way of returning. 
 
In the far distance he could spot a light. There would be the end 
one way or  another. And he knew the light brought him straight to
Dominique.   
He walked forward, touching the cold wall with his hand. He seemed to
be  underground. And the light came closer. 
 
 
- 12 - 
 
Dominique heard the sounds first in their shelter that was meant to
keep them  save for a few days until no one would look for them any
longer. There were  sounds on both sides of the walls, coming from
behind the two different doors  that lead to the cave he had found by
accident.   
The small cave held nothing more than a table and a few chairs, but
there was  some light coming in from above  through small holes
carved out of the rocky  underground. Inside they worked with
flashlights. In it were his three most  loyal people. Dennis should
have been there too, but the FBI had arrested him.   
'Quickly, shut down the lights,' he whispered, signing the others to
do what he  said. The flashlights went out, leaving them in silence.
To his left, Dominique  heard noises and voices.
 
'Here's a door of some sort,' a dark male voice said. 'Try to open
it.'   
Dominique knew it would be over the moment they got this door open. He
could not  get back to towards the house, even though burning to death
sounded better than  another prison sentence. He had already been
there and was not planning on  coming back.
 
Just one flashlight remained on. He could hear them banging on the
door,  destroying the silence that had been inside the hideout for
some seconds. He  sighed deeply. After all he had done, it had come to
this point.  
'We can defend ourselves,' Gretl besides him whispered, pointing at
the guns  that lay on the table. He looked aside, smiling at her. He
wasn't planning on  making a bloodbath. He had always sworn to himself
that he would go out the way  he wanted to go  not enforced by
others.   
He turned towards her and kissed her softly on the lips, taking her
face in  between his hands. She had always been a favourite of his 
and the only one  loyal to his every need. 
 
'I love you, Gretl,' he whispered softly in her ear. Then his hands
twisted and  snapped her neck with a strong move. Her eyes startled in
shock and surprise  when he killed her. He kissed her again before
placing her gently on the ground. 

 
The other two guards looked at him and picked up the guns from the
table. They  were ready to defend him at all cost but he knew it would
have no use. 'It's  over,' he said, staring at them as he tried to
force their attention to him. 'We  know what we have to do.' 
 
They looked at him and nodded. They all had sworn the same vow. Prison
was no  option. The pulled guns were not aimed at the door before
them. Instead they  were directed at their heads. Dominique watched as
they shot themselves, their  bodies dropping before him on the ground.
A single bullet ended his dreams. Now  all that was left, was the
awaited death.   
'Open that door!' from the other side of the firm door was shouted.
'Open it!'  
Dominique lifted the third gun from the table. At that exact moment,
the other  door opened. Mulder stood before him. The agent leaned
heavily against the wall.  He had made it out of the house somehow 
finding the passage that Dominique had  discovered by chance. 
 
What irony of fate that it should all end with the two of them in the
same room.  For one the sounds behind that door would mean rescue and
freedom. For the other  one it would mean the end. Dominique smiled
and pulled the key out of the second  door, breaking it in half. 
 
'They'll never get you out in time,' he said with a smile, aiming the
gun at the  agent. 'I wanted a slow death for you, Fox. After all you
did to me, you  deserved it.' 
 
'You did it all to yourself. Why don't you just shoot yourself and get
it over  with?' Mulder said. 'You owe me that much.' 
 
'I don't think so. Sit down, Fox.' 
 
'No. If you want to kill me, just do it. I'm tired of your games.' 
 
'Sit down!'
 
'Not a chance.'
 
Dominique shot over Mulder's head, missing him by a few inches. Mulder
could  hear the deafening pounding as the bullet hit rock. The banging
on the door  behind Dominique stayed persistent. Mulder knew they
would never be able to get  in without a key. And the one Dominique
had thrown away had been broken in two.   
Mulder sat down quietly on one of the chairs. His lungs seemed to burn
like  crazy. He had trouble breathing in deeply. He knew he needed
medical attention  soon or he wouldn't survive, no matter what
Dominique did next.   
He leaned forward on the table, resting his head on his hand. Right
now he  needed just about anything just to stay awake. He should have
known Dominique  would not commit suicide before the others, but he
had thought they were all  dead. 
 
Dominique raised his gun and aimed it at Mulder's torso. 'Where do you
want it?'  the man asked. 'Head or chest?' 
 
'None of them if I can choose.' 
 
A hard thump behind them startled Dominique. Desperately Mulder moved
forward,  taking the chair and table with him as he threw himself
against Dominique. The  two men rolled over the stone floor. Instantly
Dominique was on top of Mulder,  pulling back his head with the side
of his hand. The two fought for the gun.   
Dominique lost it when Mulder was able to kick it out of his hand. The
weapon  rolled over the floor and ended up against the side of the
table. Dominique  kicked Mulder twice, hitting his head against the
cold floor.   
Dazed Mulder stayed on the floor as Dominique crawled over the floor
to fetch  the gun. The agent stretched out his hand, feeling something
hard against the  sole of his foot. With a difficult gesture he kicked
out his shoe, sending the  remaining key over the floor until he could
reach for it.   
Dominique grabbed the gun and aimed it at Mulder, shooting at him for
the second  time. The bullet impacted right beside the door. Pieces of
rock dropped, one of  them scratching the agent's hand in its fall.
Mulder moaned, forcing the key in  the lock. 
 
'Who is there?' he heard a familiar male voice shout from the other
side.  'Mulder - ?'
'Gun!' Mulder moaned, unlocking and pulling the door. 
 
For a few seconds Dominique stared in shock at the men literally
dropping into  the room. Before he could literally move, two shots
ended his life  sending him  on the cold floor. The man dropped like
a log, staring into oblivion. The gun  was still lying in his hand. 
 
Skinner and Scully moved into the room, staring at the rummaged small
shelter.  On the other side of the door lay Scully's partner, heaving
as he rested his  head against the cold wall. 
 
'Mulder,' she said, kneeling down. 'Mulder, it's me.'
 
He looked up, not expecting her to be there. But she was. She was
alive and well  and came looking for him. 
 
'Hey,' he said with a faint smile. 'Didn't I tell you to crash this
party a bit  earlier?'
'How could I when the party-animal was missing?' she smiled back,
supporting his  neck with her hand. Her worried look towards Skinner
said enough.   
'Let's get you out of here, partner,' she said gently. 'It's over
now.'  Mulder didn't give her an answer. 
 
 
- 13 -
 
'He's resting comfortably now,' the attending doctor said as he closed
the door  to the semi-guarded room behind him. 'But he needs a lot of
rest. We've found a  huge amount of drugs in his system varying from
sedatives to homeopathic  products to legalised drugs. It's a miracle
he was even able to get out of there  on his own. I'm not even talking
about the cuts and bruises yet. He just needs  to heal. His body has
been through a lot.  
Scully couldn't help but smile as she glanced through the window and
saw her  resting partner. 'That's Mulder,' she said. 'Wild horses
couldn't bring him  down.'
 
The doctor nodded. 'It's going to be a while before he wakes up. Why
don't you  get some rest yourself? Don't forget your partner gave you
a mild concussion.'   
'It was worth it,' Scully said to Skinner's surprise, who had expected
a sharp  answer. 'But I'm staying, sir. If you don't mind, that is.
Could you please  check up on the others?'
 
'I will,' Skinner said. 'Did you know that Dominique's bank account
statements  has been found? They managed to save some of the paperwork
he had left in his  office. He wouldn't have made it out of the
country even if he had lived. He  left too much evidence.'
 
'I don't care,' Scully said. 'I'm glad he's dead.' 
 
Skinner glanced at her hard eyes when she spoke but he couldn't blame
her for  saying something that was far beyond her professional duty.
After all his agents  had endured, who would have wanted a positive
ending with a danger like that  resting in prison until someone was
stupid enough to let him out again?  
Skinner walked with the doctor towards the temporarily created waiting
room  where all twenty-three followers were being checked out. Every
blood exam showed  that they had been fed drugs for quite some time.
All of them would have to stay  for a day or two and rest up. What
would happen to them afterwards remained to  be seen.
 
Scully sat in the room and took a seat, waiting patiently next to her
partner as  her fingers rubbed the bandage on her temple. He had
knocked her over the head  this time. He'd never done that before. But
she knew that he had saved her life,  and in a way he had also saved
all the others.   
If he hadn't given hope to Vickie Moss, she wouldn't have switched the
drugs and  they would have had twenty-three casualties instead of the
four they had now.  
Scully remembered so clearly what ran through her mind when they heard
the  shots. She had actually believed her partner was dead, that
Dominique had shot  him. Instead, Mulder had saved himself by holding
onto a key he had found days  before. Despite the drug-induced haze
her partner had lived in, he had pulled  through at the end. 
 
She glanced over all the tubes and wires that had been attached to her
partner.  The drugs were wearing off slowly. Thank god Dominique had
indeed chosen a  homeopathic drug to sedate his people. If he hadn't,
they would all have to go  through rehab. 
 
A soft knock on the door took her out of her thoughts. 'Yes?' Scully
said,  moving up from her chair. Two women came in and looked at her.
Vickie Moss and  her mother stood there and seemed worried. 'How is
Fox?' the girl asked, looking  at her partner who did seem very much
out of it with his pale face and the  respirator that breathed for
him.   
'He's going to be fine,' Scully said. 'I owe you so much. I don't know
how to  thank you.'
 
'No,' Vickie said. 'I almost just gave in, but Fox told me I wasn't a
quitter  and shouldn't even consider giving up. He was like a father
to me.'  She looked aside shy to her mother, but Elaine didn't seem to
mind. There was a  sense of relief on her face that said enough.
 
Scully smiled and moved forward, placing her arms around Vickie's
body. 'For once  that stubborn streak in you has saved you. But next
time, don't you think you  should be talking to your mother first
before you act crazy?'  
The girl smiled and looked at her mother. 'Let's just say that we're
giving it  another go. We'll what happens from there.' 
 
Scully nodded. 'That's all I'm asking.' 
 
The girl nodded and suddenly smiled. 'I think someone's trying to talk
to you.'  Scully looked around surprised, staring at her partner who
was moving his head  slightly and lifting his hand as if to pull out
the respirator himself.   
'No, Mulder,' she said, returning her attention to her partner,
'you're on a  respirator. It's breathing for you for now. You need to
give it a go.' She put  her hand on the side of his face. 'Just close
your eyes and think of something  else. It's over. You're okay.' 
 
Mulder glanced at her with the strange look she had seen before. He
was  recognizing her, yet at the same time he was afraid of something.
 
'What is it?' she asked. 'What's wrong?' 
His body started fighting the tube in his throat. She sighed and
turned around,  asking Elaine Moss to fetch a doctor. A few moments
later the tube was pulled  out of his throat. Her partner coughed and
closed his eyes in despair, angry  with himself that he was so tired
still.   
But he had to ask it. He pulled his partner closer to him and
whispered  something in her ear that only she could hear. Then a smile
broke on her face  and she whispered back, 'No, Mulder, I'm not a
ghost. I'm very much alive.'   
She leaned over and kissed her partner gently on the forehead, and he
closed his  eyes as she did. He was asleep before the nurse could
attach an oxygen tube. She  turned and saw Skinner standing in the
room. Her boss seemed to be touched by  what had happened. She nodded
gratefully. Without his support and help, they  wouldn't have gotten
her partner out.   
When he led her out of the room to get some rest, she didn't protest
this time,  knowing that her partner was sleeping peacefully as well.
 
But resting on the couch they had offered her in one of the family
rooms with  the comforting thought that Skinner was watching her
partner, she came to the  startling realization that he had really
believed he had killed her. And that  somehow in his mind, he had
convinced himself he had murdered her.  
 
- Epilogue -
 
He couldn't keep his eyes from the burned-down building. The entire
place had  gone to hell. The only things standing were a number of
brick walls. Only parts  of the staircase still stood, as a sign that
some things were built to last.   
All evidence of the hideout was gone. The place where Dominique and
the others  were killed had vanished under debris and rocks. They'd
had difficulty digging  out the bodies. 
 
'I don't know what happened to me,' Mulder spoke softly, for the first
time  discussing the events with Scully. 'I lost control over
everything. It was so  strange, Scully. I never want to be there
again.'  
'But you didn't loose control,' she said. 'In fact, with that amount
of drugs in  the system, anyone else would have died. But you didn't.
You pulled through. You  saved them, Mulder. That's what matters.
Melissa's death has not been repeated.  Isn't that what you wanted to
do?'  
'I pulled a gun on you, Scully.'
 
'So?' she said with a smile, 'you've done that before. I shot you once
remember?  Let's say we're even now.'
 
He looked aside. For the first time since he woke up she saw a sense
of relief  in the way he acted and spoke. Then he turned his back on
the burned building  and said, 'Let's get out of here, Scully.' He
offered her a hand and she  accepted it, walking back to the car with
him.  
'How about a pizza?' she asked, opening the car door for him. She
watched as he  got in on the passenger seat, refusing to look at the
building any longer. She  got in the driver's seat and started the
engine. She too did not look at what  was left of 'Salvation Awaits'
any longer.   
'Pizza sounds just great,' he answered. 'Who's buying?'
 
'You are. According to FBI-standards you're a rich guy.'
 
'But Dominique stole all my fake money.' 
 
'So you're broke again?'
 
'Yep.' 
 
'Okay, I'm buying,' she said, as she drove the car to the highway,
back to the  city without seclusion. 
 
 
The End