In Her Dreams by Luv

The disclaimer, etc. is written in Part 1.



Isabel explained her dream in as much detail as she could remember. Michael didn't look scared or worried, but rather skeptical and curious. Isabel wanted something concrete to tell him but she had only had this vision through a dream. Who would believe her when she was having trouble believing herself? Though, it had felt too real to dismiss entirely. Kyle was pacing, Maria appeared faint and Liz immediately looked to Max, who was just as clueless as the others.

"Michael, this may mean nothing, but with us you never know. Watch your back."

She was worried for him. She had held him in her arms as he sagged to the floor, his body draining of energy and life right before her eyes. She heard his breathing become staggered and shallow as he fought a losing battle with his tortured lungs. She remembered the pain rip through her soul like a run in a stocking as he uttered his last words in her ear. It wouldn't end like that for Michael, not if Isabel had anything to say about it.

"Yes, mommy."

Isabel rolled her eyes at his sarcastic remark. It was expected, though. Michael hated being told what to do, even if it was given with the best of intentions. She would keep a close check on him anyway, not too close or his bloodhound Maria might bite, but just enough to make sure he remained alive. There was no way in hell Isabel was going to let Michael leave her too.

"Very funny Michael. It's late, everyone get some sleep and we'll regroup in the morning."

Liz, Max, Maria and Michael filed out of the room while Kyle returned to the adjoining bed next to hers. She wrapped the thin yellow blanket around herself and sagged back into the pillow and mattress. She watched as Kyle's back drifted up and down, eager to talk about her dream with him, but knowing she couldn't without aggravating his fear of persecution and more generally, all things alien.

"Leave it alone, Isabel. We're safe now, we have been for months, so don't try to fix what isn't broken."

Isabel was sure those words were scribbled on a bathroom wall at a rest stop, not scripted by Buddha. She flipped over and turned her back to Kyle, who sighed and mumbled goodnight. She closed her eyes, imagined lying on soft grass under a star soaked sky, and wished on the brightest one for a dreamless sleep. It didn't turn out that way. Isabel woke up in a cold sweat after a dizzying dream. She remembered seeing green and red, feeling a fire on her face and smelling the stomach turning odor of burnt rubber, hearing screams of anguish and desperation. It was vague and although she wanted to analyze it, Isabel didn't have the time or patience when the gang decided to leave the hotel early in the morning to keep on moving.

The shrubbery by the side of the road shielded the van and its passengers from roving eyes. The old boy had taken its last breath, and although Max and Kyle tried using both alien power and mechanic know-how to bring the van back to life, it was clear that this was one creature nobody could save. They were ten miles from nowhere and everyone was frustrated and cranky. Kyle continued fiddling with the monkey wrench ignoring Max's yelling that if he would just let him try again, he could heal the van. Kyle dropped his tools and in a moment was up in Max's face.

"I'm sick of your holier than though attitude Maxi-Boy. I'm a mechanic and I'm going to work on the van, whether you like it or not."

Max's temper got the best of him. Isabel smelled the burnt rubber of the tires first and while Max looked astonished that he had blasted the van in a failed attempt to blast Kyle, Isabel's mind was not on her brother, but had flashed back to her dream. The smell of burnt rubber was the tires catching fire, she was sure of it now. She focused on the screams she had heard, what had the person been saying? Her eyes widened in shock as her brain formulated the exact sequence of events in a matter of seconds. Maria and Liz returning to find the van engulfed in flames, Maria screaming that Michael was still inside, Max putting out the flames too late, Michael's charred still body being dragged out.

"No, Michael!"

Max snapped out of his reverie when his sister screamed and watched as Isabel waved her hand over the van and like magic executed the scalding flames. She ran to the back and opened the door to find a startled Michael rubbing his eyes. He was okay, and as that thought settled in her brain she realized what just happened. Her dream had been another vision, one that had foreseen this disaster and saved Michael's life. She had startled the fates. Destiny might not be black and white after all.

"What's going on, Isabel?"

Isabel didn't have a chance to answer for Maria ran up and threw her arms around Michael's neck. Isabel backed away, but while Michael's body hugged Maria, his eyes were clasped on Isabel's. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.