Chapter 11: MONSTER
(Warning: Chapter contains violence and mild language)
As bad as the dream had been, Lizzie thoroughly wished that Rodney had not woken her. The face holding her down, killing her, was beginning to clear as she peered through water. Every night that the dream had occurred since her arrival it had become more lucid. Just a face, that's all she needed.
She dressed quickly and met Rodney in the commissary. She sat on the end of the table to his left. After eating only a few bites she pushed her tray back and huffed, kicking herself back from the table and sulking in her chair.
"What, you're not hungry? That's a first." Rodney said with a mouth full of omelet.
Lizzie gave him a perturbed glance before looking straight ahead to the vacant space before her. Without looking at Rodney she signed 'yes'.
"What? Yes, you're not hungry." But Rodney knew better by now. "Or, yes to what we were talking about earlier."
'B-O-T-H."
"You wanna talk about it?" Rodney said, lifting his drink and sniffing it to make sure no citrus had entered by accident.
There was no signing, but Lizzie turned with a dead stare that was an obvious 'no', and Rodney left it at that.
He got up from the table and picked up his tray. "OK then, turns out I have a meeting this morning that I'm already late for. You can go ahead and get to the lab and get started. I'll meet you when I'm done." And with that he proceeded to leave.
After watching him go Lizzie leaned over the space between her and the table and propped her elbows up before resting her face in her hands. The nightmares were beginning to take effect on her.
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"Glad you could make it, McKay." Carter said in a rather impatient tone as he entered the main meeting chamber. The rest of his team, along with Colonel Ellis, were already seated with paper work strewn out in front of them.
"Sorry, I uh, got caught up." He caught a glare from Ellis and straightened himself as if to appear taller.
"Well let's not waste anymore time. I'm sure you all have something to do before your mission tonight and I have to be on my way very shortly."
"On your way?" Rodney's tardiness had been minor, but none the less left him a step behind.
"I'm due back for a regular report tomorrow Rodney, now if you would please be seated so we can get going."
"Oh, yeah, sure. Sorry." And he quickly scuttled to a seat.
"Ok then…as I was saying. I'll be leaving before your mission Colonel Shepherd. Normally I would prefer to leave you in command while I'm Earth bound, but since I will not be gone as long, and your mission is a fairly straight forward assessment that shouldn't take but part of a day, we will not be canceling it. The people of this planet seem to need assistance as soon as possible, and seem willing to allow and assist in anyway possible, our research at the outpost located on their planet. While Colonel Shepherd and myself are both gone, Colonel Ellis has been given command by my superiors." Carter did not like leaving the city in the hands of someone other than herself or Shepherd. At least not when Ellis already had his differences with certain members of her ranking team, and to some degree herself as well.
"Until that time, I'll be on my ship. Radio me when you're ready Colonel." And with that Ellis was engulfed in a beam of light and transported to his vessel.
Colonel Shepherd then took the time to address his team, "OK everyone, morning breaks on the planet at eighteen hundred hours our time. Be ready to go by 18:15."
"Alright, sounds like a plan." Ronan said before looking to Carter to see if they could leave.
"Sure does, I'll see you all soon, dismissed." And with that Carter got up from her seat and proceeded to her office as Shepherd and his team began to file out of the briefing room.
Rodney began to head to his lab, but could not stop the urge to speak with Sam about something he had been pondering during the meeting. He walked to her office where she was still standing, moving her papers around undoubtedly getting ready for her trip. Cautiously entering Rodney began, "Um, Sam, can I uh talk to you for a minute."
Carter looked up for a brief moment. "Sure Rodney, but just a minute, I really need to get going."
Slightly at a loss for words he started again. "Well, it's about Lizzie."
Still looking down at her desk Carter noted that she was still trying to pay attention by responding, "What about Lizzie?"
"She's been having nightmares. Bad ones from the way she's been acting. I mean, I call them nightmares because they're happening when she's asleep but maybe they're not." Rodney was becoming very serious.
Hearing the tone in his voice change Carter looked up to make eye contact. "You think she's starting to remember something?"
"I'm almost,afraid, she may be remembering something."
"I don't want to jump to conclusions Rodney, but sometimes our most painful memories are our strongest."
"What are you saying?"
"What I'm saying is…and this is from personal experience as well…sometimes you can't control what you remember and when. And often our memories can hurt." Sam's face now had a solemn tone. "Do you think it warrants another visit with Dr. Keller?"
"No, she just saw her the other day. I'll ask her to go if they get worse."
Sounding slightly surprised, Sam allowed herself to speak a personal observation. "You're doing really well with this whole thing, Rodney."
"Huh." He wasn't really paying attention to the depth of her statement but looking around a bit for a thought. "I just wish there was some kind of technology in this city that could help her remember. You know, I think she's given up on it, starting to act like this is the only place she'll ever be…If we could just…know."
Sam squinted her face in thought. "I understand Rodney. We'll figure something out. Why don't you go get your things in order before your mission?" The last part was a polite way to finish the depressing conversation.
"Yeah, good idea. Bye Sam." And with that McKay exited the office.
Carter said goodbye as well and slowly seated herself, with her brow slightly tightened towards the center, and her eyes focused on the small space in front of them. Maybe there was something that could help jog Lizzie's memory.
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The technicalities of the day passed quickly. Sam said goodbye to Lizzie before leaving and was already at the Midway station hours before the team was preparing to leave. Lizzie was allowed to accompany them to the gate room, standing at the foot of the stairs as they pulled their gear up and made their way to the event horizon.
She waved goodbye to them as they stepped through, leaving ripples dancing across the surface before the watery sheet dissipated into nothingness. Lizzie was still amazed by the gate technology and took her time before she turned to make her way up the stairwell. But suddenly she became slightly dizzy and placed her hand over her eyes. But instead of darkness, she saw a faith glow of orange that disappeared when she opened them. She quickly shook her head to avoid awkward glances from the technicians and hastened her pace to her room.
She had forgotten the incident by the time she was changed into her nightgown. Though it was still early, the nightmare had caused her to lose peaceful sleep, and it wasn't like there was anything to do with Shepherd's team and Colonel Carter gone. Dr. Keller was most likely busy, and Lizzie didn't want to bother her either. She slid into her bed and pulled the covers high up and snuggled into her pillow before drifting off into a dreary sleep.
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When she awoke, her room was still dark. Apparently going to sleep early was not such a good idea. While she had evaded any nightmares for once in a long time, she was now fully awake at an abnormally early hour. While she knew there would be guards and a few night personnel about, the majority of the Atlantis expedition would still be asleep, and so she made her way out of her room and into the halls. Perhaps a little walk around the city would help her grow drowsy once more and she could return to bed. After getting a few hallways away from her own quarters, Lizzie began to feel somewhat chilled and realized that she had neglected to put on shoes or a jacket. In fact she was standing in the middle of an empty hall wearing nothing but a white nightgown that came only slightly below her knees, and left her arms completely bare. She rolled her eyes at herself and smiled before she decided to return to her room and give up on gaining any extra sleep, when footsteps and voices coming from the direction she needed to go began to approach, and she quickly ducked into an alcove.
"Those Wraith are gonna get all of us man."
"Dude, we don't know he's dead. Besides he's gotten out of worse situations than this before."
Two young men were arguing about something rather excitedly.
"I don't care how good Shepherd is, I don't see a way out this time."
Lizzie drew in a quick breath and clapped her hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with panic. 'John? What about the rest of the team?'
"Hey, the rest of them are still in there badgering Ellis to send a rescue now."
"O'Neill would have been there himself by now."
"Yeah, well O'Neill isn't here is he, and for that matter neither is Carter."
"Man, she's gonna be pissed as hell when she gets back."
The voices were fading as the headed down another hallway. Lizzie quickly took off, trying to remember the quickest way to the main room of the control tower. She remembered a way to a doorway just to the left of the stargate, it was closest to her current position and she took off running. She was sure a few people saw her but most likely scientists seeing as no one was chasing her or yelling to 'slow down'.
When she entered the gate room she heard a tirade of angry words being thrown from the control deck and she pressed herself against the wall to avoid being seen. She just listened.
"Look, they sold us out!" McKay had never sounded so callous.
Next Teyla began to plea, "Please, we must go back now. The Hive Ship is grounded and there are but a few Wraith on board."
"No one is going anywhere. We don't have proper intel, and they could have backup waiting in orbit. I'm not risking losing anyone else until we know what is going on." Lizzie did not recognize this voice.
In a heated and deep throated growl Ronan came in, "I'm going back with or without your permission."
"You will do no such thing. Airmen!" What was this man stopping them for? What had happened? Someone had tricked Shepherd and his team, and now the Wraith and a Hive ship were involved, what was going on. Lizzie felt sick to her stomach until feeling relief when she heard the voices of three of her friends and then realized with a sinking feeling that someone was missing. But she pushed back her thoughts when the unfamiliar voice began yet again.
"Look, we're going to try to make contact with him one more time. Sergeant, dial the gate to the last set of coordinates."
Suddenly the lights around the gate began to scroll in blue symbols and suddenly the wall of dancing light reappeared from what seemed to be an explosion of water.
"Colonel Shepherd, this is Ellis, respond." There was a pause. "Colonel Shepherd, if you can hear this message, please respond immediately."
But there was no response. Lizzie began to hear the argument start again. They were going to close the gate. They weren't sending anyone yet. Waiting was bad. The Wraith. Something was pulling Lizzie. She could not resist the urge, and more so she could not understand it. Then she let go of her resistance. Colonel Shepherd was on the other side of the shimmering wall. He was alone and in danger and needed help. Just as Lizzie had been when he and his friends saved her. But no one was coming for Shepherd. These thoughts rushed through her mind as she stepped away from the wall. Still no one saw her as the argument progressed. She was no more than ten feet from the gate now when someone finally saw her.
"Who is that?!" Lizzie did not look up to see the voice that had uttered the angry and worried voice. "Shut the gate down now!"
And with the thought of the gate closing she ran. The last thing she heard was her name being shouted. It sounded like Teyla, but she didn't stop. Suddenly she felt the same rush that had overcome her when she was brought to Atlantis. And as suddenly as it had come it was gone. She came to a skidding halt on dirt and pebbles that scratched at her bare feet. There were trees near by and what appeared to be a worn path leading into them. But the wall of watery light blinked out and she was cast into darkness. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust. The sun of this planet had set. Lizzie remembered Rodney's explanation for their odd departure time and figured that night must have started recently. The pathway became clearer, and she set off on it.
After walking warily for some time, Lizzie came to a break in the tree line around the path. Her feet were sore and bleeding from walking on sticks and jagged rocks. But she never stopped for the pain. She stopped now to observe her surroundings. There was a small makeshift village. But there were no people living there from the looks of it. There was no sign of smoke or candlelight. She began to head out and suddenly caught sight of something in the starlight. Just behind the lifeless village, was a ship. It was mammoth in size; half of it seemed to have been buried in the earth from its landing. It seemed organic in a way. Lizzie quickly concluded that this was the 'Hive Ship' that had been mentioned previously. This was the logical place to look for Shepherd.
She ran quickly to the small dwellings that were scattered about 100 meters away from the tree line. Then being careful just in case someone was hiding in one of the homes, Lizzie darted from the walls of different houses, crouching down and taking a good look before proceeding. Each time searching for a sign of life, even for a sound. But there was nothing. When she reached the furthest camp she stopped and stretched her view as far as she could. The ship was closer now. But, it had landed, or for that matter crashed, into another wooded area. There was no visible entrance for the foliage, and no path to the ship. Taking a quick glance again, she sprinted to the wooded area ahead of her. She pushed through briars and vines until she came to the part of the forest floor that was secluded from sunlight, therefore having no underbrush. However, this also prevented what little light the night's sky was offering was blotted out. There was no way to proceed in this darkness. Lizzie felt for a tree and slumped down beside it. She lay back against it and waited for the darkness on the planet to end.
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Morning came more quickly than she expected. Her worry and concern had kept her awake through the night; jumping at every falling leaf. Now small beams of sunlight were breaking through the treetops and she rose and began to head in the direction that would take her to her destination. It seemed like a lifetime to Lizzie, but she finally began to see through the woods. The purple gray sheen of the ship was beginning to reflect the morning light. Then she saw them. Two creatures stood at what appeared to be the entrance to the ship. They were an unusual color, but their faces startled Lizzie so badly that she stepped back into the woods. They had no eyes, only some for of mask or facial covering that blocked them from all features except the white hair that poked out from behind.
She was scared. Running was all she could think to do. But before she could think of leaving again, the deathly calm that came with the strange urge she got when fighting came over her. It was an odd combination. On the inside she felt like pressure was building, like her skin was going to burst from excitement or anxiety. But on the outside and in her mind she was stoic. She looked to the ground and found a long stick. She picked it up and snapped it only a few feet from the guards. They became quickly rigid, scanning the woods for the source of the sound, and then relaxed when they saw nothing. Lizzie walked with a deadly purpose directly to the Wraith on the right side of the entrance. He saw her, but could not react fast enough. Two blows, one to each side of his head and he fell stunned. The other Wraith raised his gun and fired a stun at her center mass.
Lizzie felt a strange burning sensation in her midsection and the energy wave passed over her. She looked up slowly at the Wraith. He shot at her again with the same lack of effect. Then he threw his weapon aside and lunged at her. She was quickly knocked to her back, dropping her sticks. The wraith was reaching his palm towards her chest. She grabbed his arm with her left hand holding him back, and landed a punch across his face, knocking him off of her. The bonelike covering on his face tore the skin from her knuckles and blood began to drip to the ground as she scrambled on hands and knees to the closer of the two sticks. He came after her, pulling her towards him by her legs as she kicked, still reaching with her hands for a weapon. She managed to grab both sticks quickly and threw herself into a sitting position while jabbing the sticks diagonally through the neck of the guard as he once again tried to drain her life. The tar like blood began to flow from his neck when she pulled the sticks back. It poured over the bottom part of her nightgown and her bare legs as she scrambled out from underneath him. The Wraith was still grabbing for its neck as it did a face plant, dead into the earth. The other guard was beginning to come to. Lizzie walked purposefully towards him, allowing the creature to rise to its feet before plunging both sticks into its chest, breaking them off from the force. But that did not stop this Wraith. He stumbled towards her gaining strength. Unafraid now, Lizzie threw the broken pieces down and waltzed back a few feet before landing a spinning kick that drove the Wraith back to the ground. The next time it tried to rise, Lizzie ended it. Its face may have been protected, but its throat was vulnerable.
She looked down at her kills, emotionless. She started to pick up one of the stun weapons but decided against it. Now came the task of finding Shepherd. Lizzie made her way through several hallways and several times she ducked away at just the right time. There were fewer Wraith on this ship than normal, but Lizzie was unaware of that fact, or for that many any facts about the Wraith other than their enemy status and feeding habits that she had overheard stories of. Then after an hour of searching and hiding, she came to a part of the ship that appeared to be holding cells. There were people scattered throughout, but none noticed the young woman covered in Wraith blood passing their doorways.
Then Lizzie saw something in the corner of one of the cells that made her stop in her tracks. Dark hair stood up in the front on the head of a man, wearing an Atlantis Uniform. Lizzie began furiously pounding her hands against the cell door. Panic and fear once again overtook her, and her unusual disposition dissipated.
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The cold of the cell was beginning to sink into Shepherd's bones. Every so often he could hear the cries of other prisoners as the Wraith took them away to be fed upon. He knew his time would come eventually. Whether or not he would receive the same fate as the others was still to be determined. Those who now inhabited the city of the Ancients were seen as a great plague to the Wraith, and a chance to seek vengeance, even on one person would be worth sacrificing the health of a meal; especially when that person was Lt. Colonel John Shepherd.
John was sitting in the corner of his cell with his head slumped down when he heard movement, a slapping sound, at the gateway. He didn't care. He just continued to stare down at his lap.
Suddenly a sharp and determined whistle shrieked into his cell, and the Colonel slowly lifted his head. Standing at the doorway was a distorted figure, too small to be a Wraith. John roused himself from the ground and made his way over to the web-like cell door. When he was a few feet away a face became clearer as it moved to get a better view of him between the open sections.
Shepherd's voice cracked, "Oh my God."
Lizzie quickly moved her fingers to her mouth to quiet him.
With a harsh whisper John began to assault Lizzie with questions as he headed closer towards the doorway. "How did you get here?! Where is everyone else?!"
She quickly and angrily signed, "L-A-T-E-R."
"Excuse me? What the hell is going on?" John demanded.
Lizzie stepped back from the door and crossed her arms over her chest and Shepherd became aware of her outfit which appeared to be covered in dirt.
"Are you wearing pajamas?"
Lizzie reacted uncharacteristically agitated and reached through one of the larger openings in the cell door and clutched Shepherd's shirt and swiftly pulled him into the doorway.
"Ouch!"
Lizzie retracted her hand and then pushed it through another opening closer to his face before signing only a foot away from it, 'O-P-E-N' then throwing her arms up in question.
"Open? Oh, good point. Jab your hand into that thing on that wall over there." And as soon as she had done so he rushed out to the side of the corridor that she was now on. As he observed her more clearly he noticed that what he had thought was dirt was wet and shinning all over her nightgown, arms and even her legs were splattered with it. "Is that Wraith blood?" He asked cautiously as he motioned to her dress.
She looked down at herself, having never observed the mess she had made earlier and quickly began trying to wipe off the stains.
"Stop, stop. Look we have to get out of her now. We'll talk about this later. Now where is everyone else?"
Lizzie was starting to look more confused now.
"Lizzie, who did you come here with? We need to find them and get out of here. Then I can chew them out for allowing you to accompany them. What kind of an idiot would let you go through the gate on a rescue, in your nightgown!?" John was rambling.
Lizzie looked up at him, and her bottom lip began to quiver. "J-U-S-T M-E."
John's face began to stretch back as a heated disposition came upon him.
"What?" he growled.
"N-O R-E-S-C-U-E"
"No rescue? Then how the hell did you…" John was suddenly caught off by the Wraith warning system. Apparently someone had found the Wraith that Lizzie had already disposed of. Lizzie quickly reached for Shepherd's arm and began to pull him and soon he was in the lead pulling her by her hand as they raced out of the Hive Ship.
They soon came near the Queen's Chamber which they had to pass through in order to exit quickly. John examined the room and stepped out into the center, making sure that there was no one or thing to catch them unprotected. Keeping up his guard he motioned for Lizzie to continue. She was a few feet into the room when someone attacked her from behind.
"How dare you desecrate the home of the Wraith!" A woman in her thirties had thrown herself on Lizzie who was now laid spread out on the floor, face first from having been caught off guard. "I have her!" she began to shout.
John was already on his way to aid her but he was suddenly caught by two other male Wraith worshipers. "Arrrrgggg!!"
"You will die by the hands of her greatness." The woman cooed as she lifted Lizzie to her feet.
The two men had punched and kicked Shepherd to his knees, but he was still struggling. "Lizzie! Aahh!" Another kick, this time to the ribs. "Get out of here! Whatever it takes, YOU get out of here!"
Seeing the desperation in his eyes Lizzie grew still, and rage began to boil deep within her. This was not like anything she had felt during any other spar or when she had killed the Wraith. This was not the fear that she felt when she had awoken. This was hatred, pure and strong. She was not afraid of it, she let it fill her, and a darkness swept across her face that even made John stop struggling as she never lost eye contact with him.
Believing that she had given up, the woman Wraith worshiper released her grip and circled in front of her. "You are not as old as you first appear. Our Queen with gain much satisfaction in your dea.."
Lizzie reached out at a lightning speed with her right hand and caught the woman's words in her throat. Lizzie's left arm stayed motionless at her side, and her gaze scanned up from John to the face of the woman now choking in her grip. Then with a sudden twist of her wrist, Lizzie snapped her neck.
The two men, hearing the nauseating sound looked up to see Lizzie release her grip on the dead woman's neck. Her body fell into a lifeless heap at Lizzie's feet. Enraged, one of the men released his grip on Shepherd and pulled a knife from his belt. He flipped the knife in his hand and ran full force towards Lizzie. She didn't flinch. As soon as the knife wielding arm was within her reach she sought for it and turned her body so that she was at the man's side. A quick maneuver, that even the attacker did not fully comprehend, left the knife clanking to the floor, and the man holding his arm, with an elbow now bending in the opposite direction.
Seeing this, the third assailant grew pale with fear and began to flee. Lizzie reached down and picked up the knife by the tip of the blade, then launched it at the running man. It landed soundly in the back of his neck and he fell sprawled forward to the ground. Noticing that the man with the broken arm was now calling for help and trying to crawl away, Lizzie walked up, placed her foot on his spine and shifted her hip. A sickening pop echoed as his back broke and he fell dead as well. Not looking at anything else, Lizzie made her way over to Colonel Shepherd, who was now sitting dumbfounded and in pain. The recent beating had flared up his previous injuries and he was severely weakened. She observed him closely as he stared at her. He had been without food or water sense she had last seen him. He had received a good beating before, and now the one the two men she had just taken out had had their turns as well. She began to crouch down to help him up when she saw his eyes widen and his gaze shift to something to her right. She turned to look and was caught by a swift blow that sent her sailing into the air, landing on her side several feet away.
"Who are you?!" the figure demanded before Lizzie got a view. She looked up to see a female Wraith, a queen completely ignoring Shepherd and walking straight towards her. Lizzie hopped to her feet to defend herself. Instead of hitting her, the queen raised each of her forefingers to Lizzie's temples before speaking again.
"Bow." It was a command but Lizzie was not about to comply. The word echoed in her head but she did not obey.
The queen noted a confused look on Lizzie's face. It mirrored her own, and she could not understand why this human was not succumbing to her will. Out of anger the queen struck at Lizzie, hitting her square in the mouth and began laughing. Lizzie's head turned down and to the side, drops of blood falling. Lizzie quickly faced the queen again and spat a red shower all over her face and the laughing stopped. Not because of the blood, but because of what she saw in the girl's eyes. The crystal blue now showed bright in the darkened chamber as it caught a beam of light, and the wraith had never seen such a sight. The queen reared back, but before she could strike again, Lizzie had back handed her and she landed on her back.
The wraith regained her footing and came towards Lizzie who stood in defiance. But before Lizzie could act further, Shepherd was there with the knife that had been lodged in the other man. The queen had not paid him any attention when she sensed his weakened state and had forgotten he was even there. That was her mistake.
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Lizzie assessed the chamber. Her eyes grew wide as she saw each of the bodies. Had she done that? How? Then she heard John's shuffled footsteps approach and slowly turned to him.
"I think now would be a good time to leave."
She nodded, still wide eyed.
John was weak, and Lizzie helped support him on the way out. They avoided the only wraith party they came in contact with and were soon out the entrance where John found where the wraith blood on her clothing had come from. Now of course her nightgown was stained in her own blood as well. He picked up a stunner and they made it far into the woods, nearly three quarters of the way when Lizzie stopped, she could go no further. She let go of Shepherd and he slid to the ground. He was still severely injured, and she was not in a good enough condition to assist him.
As soon as she helped him prop against a tree he was out cold. She sat watching over him, listening for the sounds of the wraith. She knew she heard them close at one point, and her heart beat quickened to the point she thought it would give away their position, but they had been lucky and the Wraith passed them by. Soon night came and Lizzie too passed out from exhaustion.
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John awoke to light coming in chutes from the trees above. A sound had awoken him. He looked in front of him and saw Lizzie curled up on the forest floor. Her head was jerking and her feet would spontaneously kick out. She was having a nightmare. John knew that it had to have been from what had happened in the Hive ship. But what had happened? All John could think about was watching Lizzie as she dispatched the lives of the wraith worshipers. He had not seen her with the guards but could only imagine how she had achieved such damage to them without herself becoming seriously harmed as well. He looked at her now. She seemed so fragile and yet her only injuries seemed to be a split lip and scratched feet and knuckles. He knew he should wake her from her torment, but he did not know what to say if he did.
He was saved from that task when a final jerk stirred her to consciousness. She sat up immediately and began looking around. The look on her face was gentle and confused. John's thoughts were racing.
"So…good morning?" John had no clue what to say.
Lizzie nodded, still looking around the woods. It wasn't a dream.
"Look we need to get out of here. If they didn't find us in the woods they probably have the village and the path to the gate guarded, so we're gonna need to get back a different way than you came OK?" John was in military mode, accessing every possible tactic and outcome.
Lizzie nodded and helped him to his feet. They made their way in silence, John pointing the way. They walked for much longer than it took Lizzie to get there. The journey to avoid detection was longer, her feet were becoming a problem, and she had not had an injured friend to assist before either. After several hours they came to a small waterway. Lizzie helped John bend to sit and drink, then helped him over to sit and rest by a tree before they continued.
As John rested Lizzie came up to the stream to drink as well. She looked at herself in the reflection that was cast. There was blood everywhere. It was dried to her hair, her face, cloths, arms and legs. It wasn't a dream. She had done that. She crouched down and began to try and clean herself off. She got her face clean as well as her arms and legs. Then she began to violently splash water on her hair, trying desperately to get the dried reminder of what she had done out. She began to dip the ends of her nightgown as her hair dripped water every where. She scrubbed the fabric together. It wouldn't come out. By now her actions had caught Shepherd's attention. The water and rest were finally doing him some good and he was able to lift himself and limp over to where Lizzie appeared to be trying to clean her face. But that wasn't what she was doing now. She was sobbing. The water on her face now was purely tears that flowed heavily down her face. Without a voice the crying was much softer than most he had heard, but somehow the sight he saw was the most heart wrenching. Instinctively he reached out and touched her shoulder. Shocked by his presence, she fell over from her squatting position, now breathing like a child who had thrown a tantrum as she tried to wipe her face off. He reached again and she pushed his hand back.
"Lizzie…" He didn't even know where to begin. But he was stopped from what ever he was going to say when she raised her hand and began to spell.
"M-O-N-S…" She couldn't finish without wiping her eyes once more. The crystal blue irises now set off by bloodshot circles. She began again, John patiently waiting. "M-O-N-S-T-E-R."
"No, those weren't monsters…they just look like 'em. Those are Wraith. I know you've heard us talking about them by now. They're evil though that's for sure."
Lizzie was shaking her head fervently, droplets of water splashing over John's face. Her shaky hands were hard to read, "N-O-T… T-H-E-M"
"Lizzie, I don't understand…" He was becoming concerned.
She looked him dead in the eyes before forming the letters 'M' and 'E'.
Up next: The Haunting of the Past
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