Backslide

Zack lunged forward so quickly that Max felt her legs disconnect and reconnect with her sockets as she dashed out of the way. In a flash, she stuck out one of her legs, kicking Zack in the shins and causing him to eat sand as he fell. He hit the ground with such force that he bounced slightly before rolling for a bit and then pushing himself back to his feet. In a growling rage, he flew back at Max, ready to kill.

Max jumped up in the air, soaring over his head and landing some feet behind him. Her mind was moving far too fast, screaming directions at her that she should have been able to comprehend, but couldn't. There was too much action for her to try and analyze the situation before her. Just had to go with her instincts.

Slowly, Zack turned around, a mocking smile planted on his lips. "Is that all you got? C'mon, I'm not even breaking out into a sweat."

"Zack, I-" Max began.

"Shit! Just drop it already! Drop the freaking soap opera!" he screamed at her, spit flying from his twisted lips. He ran at her, then propelled himself up in the air before madly kicking and landing his striking feet on Max's shoulders. She fell, rolled, and jumped back up, although her mind was madly whirring.

Still dizzy, she didn't see Zack's foot as it came towards her, smashing into her stomach. She bent over, gasping for air. Just as he was about to administer another dose of his might, she whipped her hand out and grabbed his ankle. In one quick flash, she twisted his ankle around just enough to force him to the ground.

Zack cursed and jumped up with a harsh growl. Immediately, one of his fists came out and smacked Max in the lower jaw. She flinched under the impact for a second before recoiling by kneeing him in the stomach. Unfortunately, this didn't seem to affect Zack, for he just laughed, amused with her pathetic attempt. In one fluid movement, he punched her with an iron fist in her nose.

Blood erupted from Max's previously sore nose. It fell down over her uniform, staining it in tiny grasping claws. She wiped the blood away angrily, not wanting to admit the hurt Zack had caused. Recoiling, she turned and in a quick swipe, kicked him in the chest.

Zack groaned under the pain, which caused him to back off for a second or two. Out of the corner of her eye, Max saw Lydecker talking to a man. She would've tried to examine the situation more, but Zack was advancing upon her. "Stop it, Zack!" she yelled at him, trying to penetrate his brain.

Amazingly, he paused, stopping only about a foot or two from her. His knuckle, sporting her blood, dripped the blood to the sandy ground below. Tiny beads of perspiration clung to his upper lip and forehead, and Max knew that she probably sported the same look as he. They were both panting slightly, growing tired from the attack. "We can-" Max began, but at that instant a tiny glow caught her eye.

Zack too, turned, with one of his eyes swollen, but looked in the direction of the glow. One of the men Lydecker had been talking to was smoking on a cigarette. As Lydecker began to walk away, the man dropped the still fiery cigarette to the ground.

In Max's mind, it fell in slow motion, and she dashed to grab it before it hit the ground. Zack wasn't far behind. But, they were both too late. The burning ember hit the gasoline soaked ground. There was a pause and for a moment, Max thought everything was safe and okay. But, when she heard the powerful whooshing noise of the starting fire, and felt the heat upon her face, she knew she was wrong.

Max felt a scream rising in her throat as the flames began to eat away. Even Zack stood, wide-eyed and scared at the fire that was ready to kill them both.