Chapter 1:Opening Gambit

Disclaimer: I don't own Wizards of Waverly Place.

October 31st 2010, 11:48pm

"So... lemme get this straight," Max Russo looked him in the eye. "You give me this cupcake, that pair of old shoes, one bologna sandwich, four turtles, and a box, and you get my magic?" There was a nod. "Yes. Exactly."

Max scoffed. "How dumb do you think I am?" His eyes twinkled.

"Meatball sub."

"Done." The reply was instantaneous. Max grinned from ear to ear. "Alright!" Before Max could do more than attempt a high-five a wand jabbed him roughly in the look of confusion quickly turned to pain as his body stiffened, spasming uncontrollably. The only thing holding him up was the magic emanating from the wand. He collapsed to the ground as a light emerged from his chest, flowing down the wand's length to and into the arm holding it. It dispersed into the holder's body, generating a brief glow throughout his body. He had to take a brief breath to steady himself as his veins coursed with new power.

Not done yet. one more thing to do before I move on to Alex. He took another breath, pulling the small handgun he had slaved all summer to buy from the shady dealer three blocks away. The suppressor, however, had to be built. It had taken several tries to make a working one, but it was a crucial component. No one could catch him until it was too late to do anything about it.

Max shuddered as he looked up the barrel of the gun. The light had left his eyes, and he trembled like a drunkard going through detox.

"Why?"

He opened his mouth to answer, then recalled the list. Too similar. Why is too close 'to tell me your plan'. Just do it. don't think. It's all on the line.

Tears flowed freely down his cheeks as he pulled the trigger. Once. twice. Two in the chest, one in the head. No way to come back if heart and brain are destroyed. Not even by magic. Even as he cried, he muttered a spell, causing the gun to turn to ash. He turned as he heard a door downstairs.

No turning back now. he sat next to Max's body cradling, Max's head in his lap. No pretending was necessary to display his anguish. Alex tromped up the stairs as uncaring and obnoxious as ever. His anger at her was all that prevented him from giving up now, damn the consequences. "Alex," he called, his voice breaking. She dropped her books on the stairs and hustled up the last few steps at his voice.

Her eyes fell on her youngest brother. "Oh my God, Max!" She rushed to his side, dropping to her knees beside him. "What happened?" He shook his head. "I don't know." He scooted back, allowing her to take Max's head in her hands, closing his eyes and kissing his forehead. Alex heard murmurs behind her.

She was about to ask what he was saying when heavy chains encircled her, dragging her into a standing position. She gasped at him, as a horrifying realization settled on her. "You killed him! You bastard!"

He nodded. "I'm sorry, Alex, but I won't let it happen again. You have no idea what it's like. The emptiness. The longing. I won't let it happen again." Alex railed against her bonds. "You son of a bitch! I'll kill you for this!" He shook his head. "No you won't. I stole his magic with your wand. Here," He stuck the wand snugly between the chains she was bound with. "You'll need that where you're going. The magic signature of it's use will be enough." Alex suddenly narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"It's perfect. You killed Max with wrought iron bullets, knowing that the defenses for underage wizards wouldn't stop them, then fled to the darkest, most horrible world you could think of when you realized that you wouldn't get away with it. A place so dangerous not even the most powerful wizards would dare to hunt for you to bring you to justice."

She spit at him. "Somewhere they wouldn't come looking for the truth." He nodded. Had that darkness, that coldness, always been in his eyes? Had she simply missed it because she wasn't looking for it? His spell lifted her into the air, carrying her to his newly opened portal, which crackled with a sinister energy, opening onto a bleak and harsh wasteland beyond.

"Goodbye Alex," He said, almost apologetically. "For what it's worth, the quasi-demonic creatures on that plane should kill you fairly quickly, so you won't die of stavation."

Working her hand free of the chains at last, Alex showed him her middle finger. "Fuck you, Justin." Her brother only sighed in relief as the hole in the air closed, like a long day of work had finally ended. In a quiet voice he sang to himself. "Everything is not what it seems."

Don't come back, Alex. Don't ever come back.

November 1st 2010, 12:01 am

Reviews would be appreciated. Too dark? Tell me what you think.