Backslide

The hallway was long with few doors. Max cautiously peeked in a couple of them, only to reveal storage rooms with boxes that Max would've liked to look at, but didn't have the time. Her mind was overflowing with memories. She actually remembered walking down the same hallway eleven years earlier. Alright, she told herself, think Max, think, where would Lydecker keep a prisoner?

She slithered down the hallway a little bit more until she saw another door. It didn't look any different than the others-standard cream coloring with a tiny glass square with wire running through the glass-but Max knew this was it. Without bothering to check inside, she twisted the silver knob, and amazingly, it opened under her touch.

A single bare bulb that sent shadows flying all over lighted the room hung from the ceiling. Max had just closed the door when she heard a voice behind her coming from the room. "Hello Max." She turned slowly, hearing the click of the door. A shadowy figure sat at a small square table. There was a chair opposite of the figure with peeling paint.

"Who are you?" she questioned, unable to see the person's face because of the harsh shadows. Unfortunately, she was unable to recognize the voice. It was male, obviously. But, could've easily been Lydecker or Zack. Please, she prayed, let it be Zack.

"Please sit," the person replied, completely ignoring her question.

"Who are you?" she repeated.

"Don't go searching for lost answers."

"What?"

The person sighed, a little irritated that Max hadn't understand their riddle. "No matter, but, you will join me-won't you?"

"I don't know who you are, but yet you know my identity."

"Could I forget you?"

Zack, she thought, had to be Zack. Who else would say something like that? Yet, if it was he, the monotone of his voice scared her and the way he talked. So, could it really be Zack? Max still held her body stiff, ready to spring if needed. She couldn't be too careful-especially in an old Manticore building.

"If you knew who I was, would you come sit with me?" the person asked. Max nodded. The person sighed. "Very well, only a small price, I suppose." The person rose stiffly from their own metal folding chair and walked over to Max. The few seconds that it took for the person to walk over to her seemed like hours. The person reached over to the wall and flipped a switch, lighting the room completely.

Max blinked from the harsh, artificial light, and she was forced to squint her eyes for the first few seconds before fully adjusting. The person stood in front of her, their thumbs resting in the back pockets of their pants, and their boots muddy and dirty on the bottom, but shining on the black surface. Max let her eyes start at the feet and work their way up. She couldn't be too hopeful. She let a startled gasp, which led to a chuckle from the other person.

"You don't recognize me?" the person asked.

"Zack?" she whispered.

"Yeah, it's me." There was a pause before he smiled. "Good to see you too."

"Zack, I… I can't believe…" she began. "You came back!" she stuttered in disbelief.

"Look, I know it was ridiculous, but I couldn't just leave them here. You understand-don't you?"

She nodded. "I do. I do understand." Quickly, she glanced away from him and at the door, then back to him. "We can probably escape now, I haven't seen any of Lydecker's men out in the hallways recently. Then we can go back and get the others, they're right down the hallway," she told him. Max turned away and began to walk towards the door. Her hand had just rested on the doorknob when she felt Zack's hand on her arm.

"Max…" he began. She turned back around, guided by him. They were so close now, so utterly close. His hand was resting casually on her arm, and he was stroking her hair with the other hand. "I've missed you," he told her in a whisper.

"I missed you too."

"Look, I don't ever want to be away from you again," he said in a barely audible tone.

"Mmm-hmmm..." she murmured from far-away, her eyes instinctively closing as he bent in until she was backed against the wall. She felt his hot breath on her face and leaned her face up to meet his.

There was a quiet click as the door opened and suddenly, out of nowhere, a strong clutch came down on her throat. Max was plastered up against the wall, not breathing, and not seeing. She coughed and gagged, trying to pull the single hand away that choked her so. Lydecker, you wretch, she thought angrily.

But, when she finally opened her burning eyes, trying to regain consciousness, she saw Zack leaning out of an opened door, one of his arms on…her throat.

"I got her!" he yelled down the hallway. "I got the prisoner! She's ours at last! Max is ours!"