Title: Haunted
Chapter: One
Author's Note: I had to open a new account and so I am reposting this story...let me know what you think of it and if you are interested in seeing it continued. Read and review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Angel or the characters within, just the idea...
The monotonous ticking of an antique clock permeated through the seemingly desolate apartment as though it struggled with each move to continue its purpose. Candlelight flickered upon the barren walls emitting a soft golden glow, but to the still form curled on top of an unkempt bed the images of shadow and light were haunting. The images were reminders of pain and torment, and as they faded only to resume their torture the form began to shake violently. After only a few moments, the figure rose to its knees with its head in its hands before sliding both feet to the dusty floor revealing it to be a female. Long, sleek chestnut hair fell into her face and tear stained cheeks were revealed as she brushed the stray strands behind her ears. Her large eyes were reddened from crying but their dark color hid her emotions as she had been taught so long ago. A small sob echoed from her full lips before she wiped her cheeks roughly with her delicate hands and began to blow out the candles littering her apartment.
It had been six long months since she had spoken with him last and each day felt like an eternity. Her eyes clouded over as she despairingly recalled the last time she had seen him and it played out like some movie she had seen. She had sent him on a mission to recover an endangered X6 in a nearby town and he, like usual, protested slightly before begrudgingly agreeing. He had found that it was utterly futile to argue with her and had told her on many occasions, yet he always tried just for the sake of doing so. Her words of warning for him to be careful rang through her head as if she was screaming them over and over again; then he gave her his cocky half smile and muttered something about her sounding like Logan.
She unclenched her fists as she blew out the remaining candles casting the room in darkness with only the light from street lamps streaming through a window left. Her distant eyes watched as plumes of smoke swirled up from the wicks of the extinguished candles before a sudden gunshot rang out. The chocolate orbs shut themselves tightly as the memory of that night came flooding into her mind and she slumped to the floor.
She had grabbed the rescued X6 and ducked out of the way, and she had assumed he had done the same. As soon as she glanced to see who was attacking she knew something was wrong and she began to shout out his name. Her feet began to take her towards where he was hunched over with his hand over his abdomen, but she stopped immediately as he placed up a hand. The emotion in her eyes went from alarm to hopelessness - she had nearly compromised all three of their lives. In that moment the training they received while inside Manticore came rushing back: they were soldiers and they could not let emotions get in the way. The poignant ring of her cell phone pulled her away from behind the rusted dumpster, away from the dimly lit alley, and back to her bedroom.
Her fingers ran over the phone before quickly shutting it off as she searched her surroundings before realizing that the previous gunshot had been imagined. Max was unsure as to why she felt she couldn't talk to anyone - not Joshua, not Logan, not even Original Cindy - but she guessed that they wouldn't be able to understand why it hurt so bad for him to be gone. No one knew how torn up she had felt since the day he left, everyone grieved but they still didn't feel the way she did. They couldn't possibly understand the utter emptiness she felt whenever she expected him to just walk into the room, or when her ears desperately waited for some remark that would get her blood boiling.
Rising to her feet, her eyes searched the darkened room nervously before she quickly opened her window with a slight shift of its frame. Her dark eyes glittered within the glow of the city lights while she fought back the tears that threatened to fall at any moment.
Storm clouds that had been brewing released their contents and rain began to pour down in torrents as his eyes met hers; he apologized soundlessly as while she shook her head violently. Staggering backwards, he told her that he was alright, she knew he was lying, and he forced a smile but the grimaced that followed didn't go unnoticed. Before she knew what was happening, a van came to a screeching halt behind him; his eyes widened and he spun to face it. Max sprinted towards him but gunshots made her stop in her tracks and take cover. His name poured from her lips over and over as she watched three men jump out from the van; she fell to her knees and allowed the tears to trickle down her cheeks as they grabbed him. Her stomach began to twist and turn at the thought of what they would do to him...