Disclaimer: I don't own The Hills Have Eyes.

Summary: Lizard survives a fall from a cliff. If he survives Missy is another story. LizardMissy, AU

Okay…so, this is the last thing I'd expect to write. But I guess when inspiration hits, it hits. And this is definitely one of those cases. I just can't help it. Originally, I'd never have even thought about Lizard and Missy together, but Berry's Ambitions mentioned them as a pair and they haven't escaped my head. So, she's to credit for giving me the pairing, which gave me the idea…as well as giving me some ideas and stuff like that. And if you're reading this and haven't read her story "Abducted," you're totally missing out! Anyway, this story has a lot of AU elements to it, so I hope that y'all just go with it. This chapter isn't too long, but it's really just the beginning of this. I just wanted to leave the first chapter short and take it from there. Longer chapters to come! Please enjoy! (and sorry for the long AN)

Edge
Chapter One: Survival of the Fittest

"Fuck!"

The curse was the only thing heard in the small, compact space of one of the test village houses. The vulgarity escaped through Lizard's clenched teeth as his sister tended to his wounds. She looked pretty beat up herself, but that was nothing compared to what Lizard was experiencing. He snarled over at her, only to have her duck her head apologetically and continue dutifully stitching.

"Can't you do that any faster?" he growled.

Ruby started to blush in embarrassment, her fingers beginning to tremble, "No. Sorry, Lizard."

"Fuckin' stupid…" he muttered to himself, wincing slightly as the needle pierced his flesh over and over in a continuous, zigzag pattern. "Fuckin' Hades."

"We were lucky," she timidly started.

Lizard rolled his eyes, "Don't mean nothing. Next time I see him, he's dead."

"I'm sure he didn't mean - "

"Don't say he didn't mean it. He knew damn well what he was doing when he cheated us."

The story was a long one, one that Lizard himself had trouble remembering with perfect clarity. He had hit his head pretty hard on the rocks, after all. But he knew all he needed to. Jeb had lured a young motorcycling couple down the usual path. The chase was fun, that was always what Lizard enjoyed best about his lifestyle, but he knew there was something more to it.

He hadn't realized anything was amiss until he heard Hades' telltale call, a whoop of elation that was as chilling to him as it was to any wary travelers that crossed his path. He had bounded out from behind a rock on the cliff face where Lizard had corralled the two of them and immediately slit the man's throat while the woman started to scream. Surprisingly, one of the members of his family, Gretel, bounded out and killed her as well. Surprising in the fact that Hades had allowed it. He always loved the thrill of a new pet.

That wasn't the only agenda on their mind, apparently. Chameleon had decided to make himself known at that moment, shoving Ruby in his direction. She had tumbled towards him, looking so small and fragile. He didn't even think of what she had been doing here. She had always had a bad habit of following him around, just to make sure nothing became of him. Little brat.

Ruby had smacked into his chest with all the force of a boulder, pushing him off of the edge of the cliff, his feet skidding down the rock as Ruby muted a scream against his ratty clothing. He feet finally parted from the loose rocks and they fell backward, his sister clinging to him tightly, as if willing them back on top of the cliff.

He made sure he was the one that took the brunt of the fall, landing squarely on his back with Ruby piled on top of him. He had heard the cackling laughs of Hades and Chameleon while registering that Ruby was crying softly.

After that, he had lost consciousness.

Ruby's hands stopped stitching, and she gazed at the wound in Lizard's side, caked with blood but not bleeding. Her hands fell to her lap and she looked up at her brother. He rolled his eyes - yet again - and tore the thread with his teeth. "Never met anyone out here as squeamish as you."

"Bad thing?"

Lizard nodded before shoving the needle into Ruby's awaiting hands. "Yeah."

Ruby rose, feeling guilt pit in her stomach. She sighed shakily and put the needle back into the drawer where she got it. Lizard sat in Big Mama's chair, reclined and looking peaceful - better than he had a while ago, she'd admit. She had gotten away from the altercation with Hades better than most. Her only injury was a deep gash to the back of her forearm, right along the bone, which Lizard insisted on stitching up before she even got to him.

Despite everything, he really was a good brother.

She turned to look at him, her eyes wide and worried when she spotted his eyes closed. Had all that not been enough? She couldn't lose him. She couldn't lose her brother, no matter how harsh he could be at times. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Don't start cryin'," Lizard spoke, his eyes still closed. "Ain't helping."

"Okay…"

Ruby remembered all the strength it took to haul him back to the test village, all the while hoping that Hades, Chameleon, and Gretel didn't take the opportunity to kill her and her brother where they stood. Then again, they couldn't. That would be breaking the pact that Hades and Papa made…

But, then again, Chameleon had clearly tried to kill them both. And Hades had just laughed.

Ruby nodded to herself, thinking that yes, she would tell her father when he got back.

Until then, though, she kept her eyes on Lizard, watching as his chest moved up and down softly, the gracious indicator of his life.

End Chapter One.