Author's Note: Just to warn you readers that there is going to be some emotional moments in this chapter that may have you in tears. You may want to grab a box of tissues or a couple of handkerchiefs. Now on with the story.

I pulled back the tarp and revealed the machine to everyone. It was shaped like a cylinder standing up and had all sorts of wires and tubes connected to it from the chemistry set and the massive Computer terminals lined up against the wall. It had one button to start it up on the inside of it and the power and pressure gauges on the outside of it on the side.

I said to them, "Well this is it. This machine is what caused Antony to look the way he does now. He set up a camera there to document everything and I watched as he climbed in and pushed the button inside to begin the process. It only took thirty seconds and the door opened up to reveal he had the head of a cockroach, but with large human looking eyes. The rest of him was the same except for his head."

Nellie asked, "How did you react when he stepped out of the machine Maggie? Were you scared?"

I blushed and said, "Truthfully, I was terrified. I screamed my head off and fell on my butt and I think he might have been disoriented because after I screamed Bloody Murder he seemed to have snapped out of it. He kneeled down to help me up and asked, 'Maggie, what's wrong. Are you hurt? Why are you terrified of me?' I shook my head and told him, 'Oh sweetheart, I doesn't know how to explain this but your looks have changed and it kind of scares me. I think the best way to explain is for you to see yourself. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, it was never my intention to do that to you.'"

"I followed him up the basement stairs to the mirror hanging in the hall and when he saw himself he looked as terrified as I probably had. He lowered his head and said to me in a sad voice, 'Now I understand why you were so frightened of me. I am frightened of me. I don't blame you Maggie. This wasn't supposed to happen. I think I need to be alone for a little while, ok? I'm going to go to bed.'

'Antony, wait, look I'm so sorry for reacting the way that I did; but I just want you to know that I still love you, 'I told him with a soft smile in my face, 'You're still the same man I married five years ago no matter how different you look on the outside.' He smiled at me a little bit and said, 'Thank you for those kind words love; but I reiterate what I said earlier I don't blame you for screaming at the sight of me. I will see you in the morning, good night.' I called out his name again as he made his way up the stairs to our room; but, he didn't say a word to me the whole time we got ready for bed.'"

Everyone one of my friends and my parents looked at me with sympathy as I finished telling them my story and then I told them what happened the next day and I received a huge group hug from every one of them. My dad pulled out his hanky for me because I apparently had been crying as I told them everything. I used it to wipe my eyes and blow my nose before I put it into my pocket.

Jake, Sarah's husband, spoke up, "Thanks for sharing that with us Maggie. I always wondered what happened to Tony and why you seemed to be more or less a zombie this past month, " then he also asked me with a skeptical look on his face, "However, there's more you have to tell us isn't there? I don't think you would just call us all up here for that when you could have just told us on the phone."

I shook my head and answered him, "You're right Jake. There is more to this that I haven't told you; however, I thought it would be best to explain to you what Tony had been up to. The real reason I called you all here is because," I sighed and continued, "I am going to go into this machine myself and become like him."

Every one of them gasped in shock and all yelled "WHAT! You can't be serious Mags. What are you thinking, are you nuts? This is a crazy idea. You are NOT going into that thing! " at me. That last outburst came from my dad.

"Look I know this is a crazy idea; but it can't be a coincidence that he became this thing one day and the next day the government shows up without warning to take him away. We didn't have any problems with any of the other things he made and the moment he looks like a monster, he is shipped to some place with no contact to or from anyone. If the same thing happens to me, then he and I will be together again. I love that man with every fiber of my being. I promise to be by his side and I am not going to let anything, even the government, keep us apart," I told them with a look of determination on my face, "Look, I love you guys too; but this is my life and I had to do what I feel is right and this is right for me. Nevertheless, I do need your help in getting my affairs in order. I need to put all that can't be sold into storage because I don't know if I will ever see you guys again and the house will have to be sold too. I intend to go through with this ;but, I would like to have some help please. If you can't or wouldn't help me, then fine, there's the door don't let it hit you on your way out."

My mom said, with tears escaping down her face, "Maggie, if you are absolutely sure this is what you want, then I will help you in any way I can. I just want to see my beautiful daughter happy again because I know how miserable you have been since he has been gone. I don't blame you for wanting to be a good wife and if this is the best way for you to keep your vows, then you have my support. I am just going to miss you so much."

She wrapped her arms around me in a big bear hug and cried into my shoulder and I was getting close to crying myself. My dad and the other also joined us in another group hug this time it was tighter and we had to let go for everyone to breathe again.

After my dad wiped his own tears from his eyes, he held me and said, "Baby girl, I always taught you to follow your heart and to make your own choices. You have always been a good kid growing up and never really caused trouble. I have seen how hurt you were when they took him away and it killed me to see you hurt so badly and there was nothing I could do to make you feel better. I don't like that I may never see you again, but if this is what you want, then you go for it. You will always have my love wherever you decide to go and I will do whatever I can to make sure you are back to that smiling happy, confident girl I have had the privilege to call my daughter. I love you, always have and always will." He kissed my forehead after telling me that and I cried even harder in his arms.

(Dad's POV)

I thought to myself as I stood there holding my daughter and trying to comfort her, "I hope she doesn't regret doing this. Am I a bad father to let her do this insane thing because she wants to be with a man who could be dead? No, she has pretty much been besides herself this pass month and if there is the slight chance he is still alive, at least she will be with him. She is a big girl and I have to trust that she knows what she's doing." "All right Maggie, it's going to be okay." She looked up at me with tears in her eyes with a look that said "Thank you" and I wipe her tears away with my thumb like I used to with she was little and upset.

She said, "You don't know how happy that makes me to hear you say that dad."

She turned to look at her friends and asked them, "I hope the rest of you will help me as well?"

I turned and glared at them and said while point towards the door to the basement, "You better help her or like she said, 'There's the door don't like it hit you in the butt on the way out!'"

They all were shocked and a bit scared at my anger; but they all nodded their head and said they would help her with getting her affairs in order. I don't know how long she is going to be gone; but, I am going to do whatever it takes to keep her stuff for her whenever they both get out of wherever they are being held at.

(Mom's POV)

I chuckled and watched Maggie's friends as they nervously nodded their heads and agreed to help our daughter with her things after receiving my husband famous " If you know what's good for you, you will do as I say" look I have seen a million times when someone he works is giving him an attitude. It is one of the reasons I married him. I knew that he would be strong enough to protect our daughter and me, so I didn't have to worry so much when he was around. I knew he was a force to be reckoned with and that Maggie had gotten that from him. When she was nine, she mastered his glare and none of the kids on the playground picked on her after receiving that glare ever again. She got her patience and understanding from me; but, the spunky attitude was all her father's work.

I turned to her and asked, "Well Maggie what do you want us to do first?"

TBC. Please review