Backslide

The person had grabbed a thick cord and tied it around Max's ankles. "Brin?" Max asked cautiously. Immediately, the opponent's eyes narrowed to slitting daggers. Out of nowhere, a strong arm was pressing Max tighter and tighter against the chain fence, choking her of life. Max's hands fluttered, trying to push the choking grasp away. "Brin!" she hissed. The arm that held her up against the fence was strong, and soon Max felt her feet leave the ground, held up only by the force on her throat. Max's vision was blurring and dark speckles clouded her sight. Her head was spinning and she couldn't concentrate anymore. She had one last attempt before the person literally choked the life out of her. Weakly, she raised an arm and touched the person's cheek, her fingers tingly with oxygen loss. "Brin! It's…me…Max," she wheezed.

The strong arm holding her flew away, and Max landed on all fours, coughing and gagging. "My God…" she coughed. "What's wrong with you?"

Brin had backed away, unsure. She had drawn a gun and aimed it at Max. "Who are you?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"I told you, it's me, Max. Remember?"

Brin shook her head defiantly. "No, Max is dead."

"What are you talking about? I'm not dead. I'm right here. Open your eyes and look at me!" Clumsily rising to her feet due to the ropes around her ankles, Max walked stiffly over to Brin and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Don't you remember? Me and Zack saved you from that prison. Then, you were going to die so Lydecker had to take you. Remember! You have to remember!" Slowly, the wheels in Brin's head began to turn. Her eyes softened and she lowered the gun. A fleeting smile appeared on her lips.

"Max. It really is you," she whispered.

"Of course it's me." Brin flung her arms around Max and hugged her, letting the gun fall to the ground between them.

"I can't believe you came back," Brin replied, stepping away from Max and almost examining her. "I'd have thought that you'd want to get as far away from here as you could."

"Yeah, well, I've got some unfinished business, so to say." Brin bent down and picked up the gun, shoving back into her pack.

"Look, sorry 'bout that. I thought you were some impersonator trying to get into Manticore," she apologized, embarrassed almost.

Max shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal. It's really not-"

"I've could've killed you!"

"You didn't."

"I could've, and that's the problem-"

"Why'd you say I was dead?" Max interrupted.

"Huh? Oh, that." She sighed and turned away and began walking towards the large building. Max followed, removing the ropes binding her ankles, and walking beside her friend. "Long story. Don't ask me to get into it," she replied, shaking her head.

"C'mon, please tell me."

"Max…you need to leave."

"Why?"

"Lydecker'll kill you!" Brin exclaimed.

"I have things to do…"

"Zack?"

Max nodded.

"Look, leave him here-" Brin began.

"What?!"

"He's better off here."

"How so? How could Zack possibly be better off here than in freedom? How?" Max questioned.

"He's not Zack," Brin replied softly turning away from Max, her face disguised by her dark hair.

"What?"

"Look, he may look like Zack and talk like Zack, but that man who is in Zack's body…it's not him! It's not who you remember!"