Chapter Ten: Severing All Ties
Michael sat alone in his apartment, absently flipping through the channels on his t.v., his mind preoccupied with the deal he had just made with Liz, Kyle, and the guy who apparently called himself Liz's brother. Michael smirked about the deal, as he thought about it. It wasn't like him to blindly agree to help someone who he knew nothing about, and it wasn't like him not to question everything and anything that Liz did. But, he reflected, that this was Liz they were talking about here. Liz, who had done so much for him, who had been there for him, however indirectly, that she had helped him. And now, Michael thought, his smirk widening, it was him and Liz teaming up to go against Max. Michael honestly never thought that he'd see the day, where he would completely turn his back on Max, and work against him. Sure, Max had done some things in the past, that were questionable, things that also pissed Michael off. But, still Michael thought that he'd be standing by Max until the end. He felt a trace of sadness, as he thought back to the close relationship that he and Max had shared, they had been best friends, brothers almost, always there for one another. And then, Michael thought, a spark of anger lighting in his eyes, Max had done something, that was unforgivable, stupid, and he had betrayed everything and anything that he, Michael and Isabel, had ever went by. Michael brushed aside the feelings of sadness that he felt. It wasn't any use dwelling on the past, or on what it was that Max had become. Michael was glad, however, that Liz had woken up to the type of person that Max really was, and washed her hands of him. He knew, for the longest time, even before Max had turned on them, that Liz never really loved him at all. In fact, privately, Michael and Liz, for hours on end, about the hatred she had successfully concealed for view, that she had for Max. Michael didn't know the whole story, and surprisingly, he didn't mind that Liz had kept the reason behind her hatred for Max, secret. Michael knew, better that anyone, what it was like to be plagued by your personal demons. What Michael couldn't understand, was Kyle's part in this vendetta, that he, Liz, and the guy who claimed he was Liz's brother, apparently shared. He understood that Kyle cared about Liz, and he understood the things that had happened to develop Kyle's fierce loyalty to Liz. But, he couldn't understand Kyle's part in this vendetta. Obviously, the things that Max had done, obliterated all the trust that any of them had ever had in him, but, as angry as Michael knew that Kyle must be, Kyle had never shown much of an interest in turning against Max. Apparently though, Michael, was wrong in thinking that.
A knock at his door, interrupted Michael's train of thought. With a scowl on his face, he walked to the door, hoping that it wasn't Maria, because he really didn't have the energy to deal with her antics. Unfortunately, it wasn't Maria, because the people at the door, were definitely going to cause a bigger headache then Maria ever could. It was Max, with Tess on his arm. Max walked in, unceremoniously, and turned to face Michael as he shut his front door. With the scowl still etched in his expression, Michael folded his arms across his chest, as he impatiently waited for Max to talk. Max smiled sinisterly at Michael, which disturbed the hell out of Michael, before starting to talk. "Well, Michael?? It's been a few days, I figured that'd be enough time for you to cool down. So, have you said your goodbyes to those pathetic humans that we use to call friends?? I mean, we are leaving in two days." Michael, had starting seeing red, even before Max had walked inside his apartment, but now, his fury hit a boiling point. His face a mask of fury, Michael spat, "Pathetic humans??! One of them is my girlfriend, and the other one is the girl you used to claim you loved!! How the hell can you just spring this on Isabel, and me, and expect us to agree!! Huh??! How can you?? One of our good friends just got murdered, and you're thinking of leaving, you selfish son-of-a-bitch!!" Max's face changed to one of anger, before he reached out and grabbed Michael by the arm. "Loved, being the operative word, Michael, she's nothing but a waste of space to me now. I should've just let her die. And I can't believe you're on their side, when it comes to Whitman's death. The guy choked okay, he couldn't handle knowing our secret, and he cracked okay?? He committed suicide because our secret was too much for his puny, human brain to keep!!" Tess looked back and forth between Max and Michael, who were standing off, face to face, both refusing to back down. "Max's right, Michael, Alex just couldn't take it. And besides, it's just as well that he died anyway, I mean, we're leaving so it's better if we just cut ties." Michael turned his gaze on Tess, satisfied to see her shrink back a bit, at the raw unleashed fury in his eyes. "You would think so, wouldn't you, you slut??! Nothing's been the same since you got here!! Why don't you just go back to wherever it was that you came from, you fucking bitch!!" Michael shoved Tess hard, causing her to fall to the floor. Max rushed to help Tess up, his eyes red with anger. "Don't you dare touch her, Michael!!" Michael smirked, deciding to give Max something that had been building for a long time. "Or what?? You'll kill me?? I'd like to see you try, Your Majesty!!" And with that, Michael drew back his fist and crashed it into Max's jaw. Max reeled back a step before drawing back his own fist, and punching Michael back in the face. Michael pushed Max into the couch, causing it to tip over onto the floor, and Max to fall with it. Max got up quickly, however and retaliated by rushing at Michael, and taking him down to the ground with the force of a rushing bull. Michael punched Max in his left eye, while yelling admissions in his face, "that was for Maria, and all those times you insulted her." With a grunt, Michael and Max hauled each other on their feet, before Max punched Michael in the eye, and Michael kneed him in the stomach, replying with "That was for Alex, and the mockery you've made of his friendship, and the disrespect that you have in his memory!!" Max fell to the floor, and Tess leaned over him, trying to help him up, when Michael grabbed her by the arm, and flung her against the counter, causing her to cry out. Max got up, and as he rushed over to Tess, to check on her, Michael grabbed Max, and threw him through the window. "That was Liz, and how you betrayed her, and killed her trust in you!!" Max got up, and leaped through the window, and right on Michael, slamming him into the ground. Michael grabbed Max by the throat and threw him off him, and into the table that Michael had sitting there, next to the couch. Michael grabbed Max again, and threw him through his front door. "And that, was for me, and for Isabel, for all you put your own sister through!! Go back to Hell, you fucking bastard!!" And with that Michael shoved Tess out of his apartment, and sat down on his couch to nurse his wounds, as Tess and Max limped off into the darkness.
tbc.......................