Still looking
Part 3
They finished their meal and walked outside, when they reached their bikes Michael turned to her, "I know we just met, um, but how about we ride together, I wouldn't mind the company," Alice looked away then, Michael cursed himself, don't blow it, "Sorry, I'm I pushing it, I just thought…" "No, no, it's okay, it's just that I was thinking the same thing," "really, okay then, so where do you want to go?" "Why don't we just keep on this road and see where it takes us." Michael smiled at her and nodded his head, he pulled on his helmet and looked towards her, just take it slow, Maria is here with me, I will find out what happened.
They rode together, sometimes when the road was quiet they
rode side by side, they stopped a couple of times, to get gas and to get
refreshments, when they did speak it was mainly about places where they had
both visited, and Michael told her about the different jobs he had, he never
mentioned Roswell, she never talked much about herself, whenever he asked she
was non committal and changed the subject back to him.
They had been riding for a while and were now looking for somewhere to stop for the night, they found a small campsite and decided this would be the best place to stop, Alice was glad, even though she felt safe with him on the road, she didn't know him and she felt relieved that if he turned into a creep there were people around she could as for help. They found a clearing and stopped and got their things off the bike, it was a warm night and although they both had tents, they decided to just use their mats and sleeping bags, and sleep in the open. Michael laid his sleeping bag next to hers but not too close, she looked like she needed some space between them, but close enough so that if she decided to skip on him he would hear her.
Some campers were having a barbecue and one of the kids came
over and asked them if they would like to share with them, they had music
playing, the people were very friendly and made them feel welcome, they handed
them food, way too much food, the ladies of the camp decided that they were way
too thin and needed plenty to eat, they were offered beer, both declined and
had soda instead, after eating they couldn't move, they felt too bloated to do
anything but watch the other couples dance and chatter, almost two hours had
passed and they were tired, Alice kept yawning, Michael noticed this and stood
he took her hand and pulled her up, "come on, you look like your ready to
collapse, you need to sleep," Alice just nodded her head, she didn't have any
energy to argue with him, she let herself be pulled along, as they walked past
the others, they waved and thanked them for the food, they waved back and one
of the older ladies said to her companions, "young love eh, can't keep up with
us oldies." They all laughed as Alice
and Michael walked away hand in hand.
No sooner had crept into her sleeping bag she was asleep,
Michael turned in his, watching her, he couldn't believe it, he had found her,
all this time he knew in his heart she wasn't dead, he knew he would find her
again one day, but what he didn't understand was why she called herself Alice
but mostly he didn't know why she didn't recognise him, he hadn't changed that
much in two years, he wouldn't let himself change, he wanted to stay the same
way, so that when he found her she would know it was him straight away, but she
didn't, why? He lay back and closed his
eyes and drifted to sleep.
Michael jerked awake, something had woke him up but he didn't
know what, he lay still, it was still dark, then he heard a mewing sound from
where Maria was sleeping, he looked over, she was moaning in her sleep, she was
tossing and turning, he crept over to her to wake her up, he didn't want to
wake any of the other campers, he shook her shoulder, she was soaking with
perspiration, he tried to shush her as her cries got louder, "Maria, Maria,
please, it's a nightmare, come on, wake up." Maria's eyes flew open and she saw him leaning over her, she gasped and
flung herself away from him, "hey, hey, it's me, its Michael, you're okay, you
had a nightmare," she was trembling,
she couldn't focus on his face, she felt herself being pulled into his embrace
but she struggled to free herself from him, Michael let go and sat back from
her, "are you okay?" "What did you call
me?" Michael remembered then he had called her Maria not Alice, damn, "I called
you Alice." "No, no you didn't you called me Maria, I know you did," "if I did I'm sorry, it's just that I knew a
Maria, and you look similar to her. Sorry I didn't mean to say her name." Stupid, stupid, stupid, could he come up
with a lamer excuse? She looked at him, he seemed sincere, she shook herself
slightly, she was cold and she was still slightly trembling, she feelings she
had when she had the nightmare were now starting to fade, she scooted back to
where Michael was and lay down again, this time a little closer to him.
Michael noticed that she was closer, he spoke in a hushed
voice, "do you want to tell me about the nightmare?" She was quiet, she didn't speak, Michael sighed and lay back
down, how could he help her if she didn't open up to him, he closed his eyes
then he heard her whisper, "I don't remember all of it, it's mainly how I
feel," her voice broke as she spoke, "Go on Alice, it's okay." Alice took a deep breath, "I'm at a party, I
don't know where, I can't see any faces just the sounds of people talking and
the music, then I feel someone looking, watching me, then suddenly the lights
go out and nothing just darkness, then I hear laughing, it sounds evil, I turn
to run away and I fall, then the voice is over me, I try to get up but I can't
move, then he starts to touch me, he's…he's…," "shhh, shhh, it's okay, you don't have to tell me," Michael could feel the rage build up in him,
he had to stay calm, he had to let her speak. She sighed, the tears were
falling silently from her, "I close my eyes and I pretend it's not me, I
pretend I'm somewhere else, then I hear a voice a girls voice it was so gentle,
like she wanted to comfort me, she keeps saying 'let me help you' but she can't
and her voice fades away from me, and it's too late, she's gone, that's when I
wake up," Michaels arms were around her now, she pulled herself away, "sorry,
it's only a dream, I'm just being silly," "no you're not, listen why don't you
try and rest and I'll watch over you, I don't need to sleep much anyway, I'll
keep you safe." "It's okay, I'm not
sleepy anymore," "then why don't we talk some more why don't you tell me about yourself,
start from the beginning, like where your from, who your folks are things like
that." She smiled at him, "that's going
to be a very short story because up until two years ago, it is all a blank……"
TBC……