Shadows of the Past

Chapter 6: And it all crashing down…

Please don't hurt me! I know that it's been WAY too long since I posted, but again I say that I am lazy and in college… But if all goes as I plan I should have the story finished by Christmas…(don't say I never gave you anything…teehee).  I have 2 or 3 chapters left so we're just about done. Kat, Autumn….tanks for the constant nagging…otherwise I might still have my sanity…lol. I luv you guys and everyone else who reviews! So please, Review! Review! Review!  Yes I am begging, but I have long since lost all my dignity.  But seriously, if you read this at all…let me know!!!!!!!!!! Luvvbug101@hotmail.com

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The pillar of smoke could be seen from miles away. Max prayed it wasn't her house, although she knew that is in the back of her mind.  As she ran a simple prayer ran through her head over and over again, God let them be okay. Just let them be alive. Please.  Max jumped on the back of a moving truck, hitching a ride to catch her breath.

_-_

        Logan tapped his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel as he waited for the light to change.

        "Come on . Come on." He muttered. Hoping that Max was on the way to her house he was on his way to meet her there. Where else would she be headed?  Logan's eyes fell to the envelope Max had sent him only days before on the seat beside him. The return address was his only guide as to how he would find Max's house. He had lived in the city long enough to know his way around fairly well, but he still wasn't completely sure of where he was going.  A million scenarios ran through Logan's mind as he thought about what could have happened to cause Max to run out like she did, none of which were good. God, please let her be okay and safe. 

        The second the stop light turned Logan floored the accelerator unconcerned with any possible sector police in the area.

_-_

        No. This can't be happening. It can't be. Max stood at the end of her driveway in shock. The home she loved, the only home she had ever known was engulfed in flames leaving her helpless to do anything to stop it.  And worst of all her family was trapped inside. I've got to help them.. Taking a deep breathe to calm her nerves, Max sprang forward running towards the side entrance and kicked down the door. Immediately Max was hit with a thick wave of smoke, Max put an arm to her mouth to block out some of the oppressive smoke. 

        "Mom! Daddy?" she called walking through the kitchen that was scattered with debris. The damage was unimaginable within the house. What could have done this? It looks like a bomb went off in here? Oh my God-a bomb.  Max rounded the corner into the hallway on the way to her parents room as the flames snapped at her body. Unable to stand the dense smoke any longer Max dropped to her hands and knees and crawled into her parents mangled room, where her eyes fell on her father.

        "Daddy?" Max cried, climbing under the clutter and debris in her path. Carefully rolling him on his back her fingers hesitantly felt for a pulse, but found nothing.

        "Daddy." She whispered lightly running the tips of her fingers over his salt and pepper stubble. Max squeezed her eyes shut, hoping it was all just a bad dream and that she could wake up in Logan's arms, as a single tears slid down her cheek. Opening her eyes, Max crawled the few feet to her mother only to find that she too was gone.

        "I'm sorry Mom. I'm so sorry."

        With a loud crack and a splash of sparks a beam fell from the hall's ceiling snapping Max back into reality.  Jumping to her feet Max scrambled out towards the living room to look for Noah.  Where are you? Max's eyes darted across the flame and smoke filled room..

        "Noah!" Max called before coughing into her sleeve.

        "Maxie?" Noah called weakly from behind the couch. Max was actually glad for the first time that she had enhanced hearing because otherwise she never would have heard him over the sound of the fire.  Running to her brother's side Max dropped to her knees.

        "Noah, I'm getting you out of here." Max said assessing the situation. One of the main support beams had fallen pinning Noah underneath it. His leg was definitely broken, his hip probably was too; not to mention the internal injuries that were nearly certain.

        "Maxie, you have to get out of here. The roof could cave any second." Noah said through his coughs.

        "I'm not leaving without you. You hip and leg are probably broken but I can carry you out. I just need to move this beam." Max found the end of the beam  a few feet away, caught on the edge of a table propping it up about two feet from the ground. Positioning herself under the end so it was resting on her shoulder, Max pushed up with everything she had.

        "Arrggghh!" Noah screamed in pain with the slight movement when Max tried to move the beam.

        "It won't move!" Max yelled angrily before trying a few more times.

        "Maxie."

        "I can't life it high enough." Max said flopping down beside her brother once again, now in tears,

        "Maxie." Noah repeated.

        "I don't know what to do." She said suppressing a sob. "You're trapped"

        "Max." Noah said more sternly putting a hand on the side of her tear streaked face. "It's okay, it's not your fault. But you really do need to get out while you can."   

        "I'm not leaving you here." She said stubbornly shaking her head.

        "Maxie, please get out. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." He lied. He knew very well he was going to die if he stayed. But he also knew that he'd probably die if Max moved the beam, because of internal bleeding its weight was preventing.

        "Noah, no." Max said coughing, "I won't leave you here to die. If I can't walk out of here with you I'm not walking out at all." Max ducked slightly seeing yet another piece of the roof fall near by.

        "Max please." Noah begged. Max laid her head down gently on her brothers chest. Noah placed his hand on her head and loving stroked her hair. "Please Maxie. You know how much I love you and I'd do anything for you. So please, do this for me. Get out while you still can." Noah finished just a coughs wracked his body.

        "I can't lose you!" Max sobbed, "You're all I have left."

        "You got Logan now." Noah looked into his sister's dark eyes that were begging him to tell her to stay. "Get out Max. Now." Noah ordered seeing more of the house collapsing.

        "Noah. I love you." She whispered in his ear before kissing his forehead. "Always." Slowly Max got to her feet planning her escape route. Her only option was the front window because of the crash in the kitchen.

Max turned back to look at Noah, who was smiling at her. I love you. Go he mouthed. Max smiled back sadly and nodded.

Crouching down Max closed her eyes and took in as much clean air as possible reminding herself to breathe. Lifting her head Max looked straight ahead out the window. It looks like a pretty clear path…damn what's that? A large piece of wood had fallen a couple of feet in front of the window right in Max's way. Oh goodie a step stool. Max shot up and sprinted as fast as she could towards the window. When she reached it seconds later, Max firmly planted a foot on the "stool" and pushed off as hard as she could, diving towards the pane of glass. Tucking her head into the nook created by her arms that were bent upwards to take the brunt of the impact instead of her head her doubt grew. I hope this works she thought as her forearms hit the glass.

_-_

        "Max!" Logan called as her frantically paced across the front yard of the burning house. Why did she go in alone? When he had first pulled up by the source of the huge smoke pillar his heart stopped.  This was Max's home and he knew she'd do whatever it took to save them; even if it meant sacrificing herself. I've got to find her. She shouldn't be in there by herself. Does the term 'buddy system' mean anything to her? The collapse of another portion of the roof pulled Logan from his rantings. That's it! I'm going in after her. Logan decided the quickest way in was the front door seeing as how the side entrance just caved. Hold on Max I'm coming. Logan trotted towards the door just as the large bay window behind him exploded.

        "What the hell!" Logan said as he ducked. Turning around to see what had caused to window's explosion Logan saw Max rolling forward on the ground, ending in the position she began amidst a shower of broken glass.

        "Max. My God." Logan was immediately at her side. "Max, are you okay?" he asked brushing the hair from her face as she gasped for air.

        "Max?" he asked quietly, seeing the extreme pain and sadness in her eyes.

        Another large explosion ripped through the house bringing down the rest of the roof and interior walls. Logan instinctively used his body to shield Max. 

        "Noah!" Max screamed fighting against Logan's embrace. "Noah!"

        "Max, no! No, you can't go back in there." He said gently, trying to calm her down. Logan knew that if she really wanted to, Max could through him off with the flick of a finger.

        "Noah is still in there, Logan! He's hurt. I shouldn't have left him." Falling to her knees, Max crumbled against Logan's chest sobbing.

        "Shhh. Shhh." Logan whispered into her hair. Gently picking her up, Logan carried Max to his car and set her down inside. Silently walking around to the driver's side, he paused to look at the crumbling house before climbing in his Aztec. I'll take good care of her. I promise. If she lets me. Logan turned the ignition starting the ride back to his apartment-this time doing the speed limit. His feeling of helplessness grew as he watched Max curl up in a ball against the door and cry. He'd do anything to make her smile.

        "Come here." Logan said gently lifting his arm to make room , when he stopped for a stop sign. Max slowly slid across the seat and curled up next to Logan, resting her head on the inside of his shoulder.  Wrapping his arm around her Logan sighed, beginning to stroke her dark hair.

        "I'm sorry Max." he told her not knowing what else to say.

        "So am I." Max replied so softly Logan barley heard her. Turning her head into his shoulder Max cried tightening her grip on Logan's shirt.  

_-_

        Logan opened the door to his apartment mutely and led Max inside by the hand.

        "Why don't you clean up and lay down. I'll get you some warm milk to help you sleep." Logan put a stray piece of hair behind Max's ear and smiled gently. "Use my bathroom. It's got the whirlpool and bath oils."

        "Okay. Thanks." Max whispered. Peeling off her jacket Max winced slightly. 

"My God Max." Logan said in shock, seeing the deep cuts that covered her forearms. "I'm gonna have to clean those when you finish showering." Max simply looked down at her arms unfazed and nodded  before going to get a change of clothes. She was filthy; covered in soot and smoke.

Ten minutes later Max sat on Logan's bed in a tank top and flannel pants with her knees pulled up to her chest waiting for Logan to return with the first aid kit.

"Okay, let me see." He said sitting down on the edge of the bed gently taking Max's arm in his hands and dabbing the wounds with a disinfectant.

"Feeling any better?" Logan asked trying to get Max to talk, about anything.

"Cleaner, not better." She said bitterly. "Ow!"

"Sorry." Logan moving onto the other arm with the disinfectant.

"I'm a monster Logan." Max muttered as she watched him gently clean her injuries.

"What? That's not true and you know it." Logan said putting a few sutures on the deepest cuts.

"Yes it is Logan. I left my brother to die. Just so I could save myself." Fresh tears formed in her eyes. Logan finished cleaning out Max's cuts and put the supplies on the night-stand.

"I've only met Noah once and it wasn't for very, but I know that he loves you very much. And I would have to guess that he told you to go. I can promise you Max, you are in no way a monster." Logan took Max's facing in his hands to emphasize his last statement. Closing her eyes, Max tried to convince herself of what Logan was saying. She actually almost believed him,

"I'm an orphan." She said quietly as the realization hit her. "And homeless. God I don't have a home to go back to when this is all over. My best friend, my parents, Noah, they're all gone. I've got nothing left. I am totally and completely alone." Max said more to herself than to Logan.

"You can stay here as long as you need to." Logan offered with out hesitation.

"I can't do that. Only as long as I have this whole blackmail case. That's what was decided remember?" Max said stubbornly.

 "You always have me Max." Logan ventured. "And my door is always open." Logan kissed Max's forehead not wanting to argue with her. "Now why don't' you try to get some sleep." Max leaned back into the mountain of pillows and snuggled into the blanket Logan had just given her. It was nice to just relax and not have to do anything. She felt like the world was on her shoulders and the biggest part of it fell shattering into a million pieces tonight.

"Goodnight." Logan whispered standing to leave.

"Logan?" Max called, "don't leave me alone. Please." I know I'm safe with you. Nothing can hurt me at least for a little while. With a small smile Logan nodded and lay down on the bed, wrapping his arms her.

        "Sweet dreams" Logan said softly.  I can't believe she's actually letting me do this. And it was her idea!

        "I hope so." Max sighed. "Goodnight Logan, and thank you." Logan kissed her temple knowing what she was trying to say. 

        Once Logan heard the deep, even breathing  that indicated Max had finally fallen asleep, he let himself follow not long after with Max still in his arms.

_-_

        Max's eyes shot open with a start a few hours later. Logan's arms wrapped around her a little tighter with her slight movement. Smiling, Max quietly slid out of Logan's arms careful not to wake him and headed for the guest room to change.

        I need some fresh air. I have to think all this out….Max walked into the kitchen to grab a pen and paper.

Logan,

            I went for a walk. I need to get some air to clear my head. Don't' worry about me, I'm okay. I'll be back soon. J

        Max paused with the pen hovering over the paper. How do I sign this? Love?-no. You're friend-definitely not! Okay, just think… what comes naturally? It's not really that hard.  Shaking her head in frustration Max just signed the note with ease.

        Luv,

            Max

_-_

        Logan woke up to find his arms empty. Figuring that she went to her own room or to the bathroom Logan got up to get something to drink. Putting down the empty of glass on the counter, a lose piece of paper caught his eye. It's from Max. Logan read the note unable to suppress a smile after reading the way she signed it. I hope she's okay. 

What was that? Logan slowly turned to walk towards the hallway in front of his office.  Why is the sky light open? Before he knew what was happening Logan was being help up against the wall, his feet brushing the floor.

"Where is Max!" a young man demanded.

"What?" Logan coughed as the stranger's hand tightened around his throat.

"What did you do with Max?"

"She went for a walk." Logan said defensively. "She left a note." He added shifting his eyes towards the kitchen. Pausing briefly, the young man cautiously put Logan's feet back on the floor.

"Look, I don't want to piss you off anymore than you already are, but who are you and why are you in my apartment?" Logan demanded carefully.

"I'm Max's brother, Zack."

_-_

          Max stuffed her hands deeper into her jean pockets while she looked up to where the stars should have been. Noah, God…this is so odd. I can't remember a time that you haven't been there for me to talk to about the stupid crap in my life. I miss you already.

        Turning the corner Max headed back towards Logan's place.

        "I swear to you Noah, I'll get the scum that did this to you. To Mom and Dad. To…to…my life…" Max vowed. Suddenly, a hard object came down on the back of her head. Max's vision turned bright red with the blow before fading to black.