A Fractured Fairytale

by Rowe

As Chapter 7 is NC 17 it will be posted at The Broken World http://sorrow.hyperboards.com/

and at Gumboot Mafia http://gumbootmafia.hyperboards.com/

Thankyou Kiwichick for your excellent beta services!!

Chapter 6: But as in all good fairytales, when the action stops….

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Max knew where she would find him. Instinct told her where he would flee to, like a wounded animal. The problem was that she didn't know what say to him to make him understand. Or whether he would be ready to listen to her anyway. She was confused by her own reaction. She had flinched more at her own shame rather than away from him. Yes, it had hurt that Logan had moved on quite so quickly but she didn't love him like that. That was one of the few things she was now sure of.

"Oh Alec." Her heart bled at the confusion and pain she had seen on his face. Anguish that she had unwittingly caused. He doubted her, she had yet to convince him of the truth. That she was utterly in love with one person, him. For the first time in her life she knew this with certainty. Pride, that had to be the only reasonable explanation for her conflict about Logan's new flame. After the guilt she had felt at misleading him for so long, the fact she was so easily replaced felt like an insult.

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As he woke up, Logan curled his arm possessively around Gabrielle's trim waist. If he closed his eyes he could almost imagine it was Max he was holding. He nuzzled her neck and she moved against him in her sleep. She had listened to him so intently whilst he talked. It felt so wonderful to have someone who was so genuinely interested in what he did. He had even been urged to share with her information and stories that he knew were sensitive. She had seemed so keen for him to continue, and he had wanted to keep that look of adoration in her eyes. The stories of Terminal City and its inhabitants had fascinated her the most, she had known so very little about the transgenics that lived there. He had wanted her to know them how he had seen them, flawed but essentially human. As he got up to shower and dress, he felt content. All was not well with the world, but things seemed to be turning out not too bad for him.

Gabrielle watched through slitted eyes as Cale exited the room. She listened till she heard the shower turn on and then grabbed her cell. White's almost instantaneous pick-up made her smile wryly. She needed further instructions. They had all the information they needed for the plan to go to the next phase. Her instructions were to stay. He would be striking within the next few hours. She was to maintain her cover for now. Grimacing at having to continue to play the sappy female, Gabrielle acknowledged her orders and replaced her cell. She settled back under the covers to await the future.

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Alec looked searchingly at himself in the mirror. All he could see reflected were his anger and frustration. His self-doubts had the potential to destroy even the slow friendship he'd be building with her. In a fit of pique he slammed his fist violently into the mirror, shattering it in an attempt to physically erase the pain he could see in his eyes. What he now saw reflected back gave him pause. For in the fractured mirror he could see the distortions of the truth. Glimpses of what was really there. Maybe his perception of Max's reaction had only been a distortion of the true reality, maybe there was still hope. He had to stop her before she did anything too foolish; like listen to what he had said in haste at Jam Pony.

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As the apartment door burst open, Logan was just logging on. Knowing Gabrielle was in the bath, his eyes flicked over to confirm the door was shut firmly, hoping she may be overlooked. Standing to face the intruder he knew he was in real trouble. Through his door strode the one person who could truly turn his blood to ice, Ames White and a group of armed men. As the man nearest him's pistol came across to cuff Logan's head he saw Gabrielle exit the bathroom. She was quickly grabbed by another of White's men. The room was shattering around him as bullets ripped into his equipment causing it to explode. The darkness that overcame him was a welcome relief as his world tore itself to shreds.

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Asha came frantically racing into Jam Pony, just as Max was preparing to leave. She had finally gathered up the courage to face her greatest fear, rejection. She needed to find Alec and set this right. At the look of utter panic on the blonde's face she halted.

"They've got him. White's got him," Asha managed to gasp out. Max's first thought was of Alec. The fear that gripped her was near paralysing.

"They seem to have traced him through his broadcast and came and busted up his apartment. I managed to find this, they must have dropped it." The passcard that Asha handed to Max was to a warehouse in Sector 3.

Max felt guilty that she was relieved. It was Logan, not Alec, that White had captured. She looked at Asha and realised the girl was asking for her help. Out of loyalty she knew she would have to rescue him. Telling Asha to find Alec, she headed out of Jam Pony. Getting on her baby she headed off in the direction of Sector 3.

Max's departure only preceded Alec's arrival by a mere minute. Seeing the look on Asha's face, Alec knew there was trouble. When Asha had relayed the news of Logan's capture and Max's heading off to rescue him, he turned and ran. He really didn't want to think about the fact he was going to help her rescue Logan. More important to him was that he was there to keep her safe. He didn't want to lose her now, not when they had so many things left unsaid.

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Cursing her stupidity Max looked for a way to escape. White had been expecting her. Actually he had obviously been hoping for her, as she took in the transgenic proof cage he had lured her into. It had taken him no effort and he had her trapped. She looked over at Logan unconscious on the ground. The woman she had seen him with this morning had his head in her lap. She had inquired whether he was alright and received a glare of accusation for her troubles.

Alec stood watching a little way distant. It was a trap, pure and simple. How it had happened was unimportant. All that he cared about now was getting Max and the other two to safety. White was proudly gloating over his catch. Obviously confident that he had them well contained. As he continued to observe the cage he noted the Max lookalike that Logan had acquired. Seeing Logan being caressed by someone that looked like Max was disconcerting to him. His spidey sense tingled. Something about the way she moved was not right. So was the lack of fear evident in her body language.

It didn't take him long to put it together, he watched her reaction to White and it became obvious when you were looking for it. Damn the man, she was a mole. Logan had led Max right in to a trap. He didn't know why he didn't just kill the man so they could all get on with their lives. Now he had to break them back out again. His cell rang and he grabbed it quickly to silence it. When he heard the news, his face fell. TC was under attack. Somehow, he was beginning to understand from where, White had gotten wind of their weaknesses and was doing incredible damage. It looked like his reinforcements would be too busy fighting for their own lives. He was on his own for this now.

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White felt a strange sense of accomplishment as he overlooked his fine catch. The only disappointing thing was that he hadn't managed to snare 494. He would probably be put down like the rabid animal he was amongst those resisting them at Terminal City. This felt strangely unsatisfactory. This scum who attempted to make a fool of him more than once, he had wanted to deal with personally. He would have liked the chance to show the transgenic filth just who was the superior race. The bastard's mate was pacing the cage walls like a wildcat. This was the one he had wanted for so long. A frisson of excitement ran through his body at the types of torture he would be able to inflict. He needed to make her reveal Ray's whereabouts, but it would give him immense satisfaction just to make her pay for the trouble she had put him through.

He watched Gabrielle standing sheltered behind Cale. She was truly a piece of work that one. She knew that it wasn't over yet. That she may yet be needed to keep the situation under control, at the very least she would guard the prisoners. He saw her smile slightly as she watched the agitation of 452. She would make him a nice wife, he was in the market for a new one and this one seemed to be his type of woman.

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Under the cover of darkness, Alec crept closer. He was just another shadow in the darkened building. As he approached the cage with caution, Max sensed him. Indicating for her to remain silent he moved towards the lock. Picking it expertly, easy enough when he had brought the right tools, the door swung open within moments. As Max moved to exit the cage, her dark haired doppelganger moved into her path and blocked her way. Confused Max looked from the girl to Alec who was signalling to her "Enemy". She shook her head but he repeated it more insistently. Trusting in his instincts Max moved into a fighting stance.

Gabrielle realised she had been made. As she spun into attack she drew out her knife. Wielding it with confidence she faced the transgenic bitch with enthusiasm. Max saw the knife coming and moved to dodge. Her answering blow barely knocked the woman off balance, and had brought a cruel smile to the other woman's face. As she realised Logan's and her stupidity, Max's eyes widened, this woman was a familiar. Blows began to be exchanged freely, the fight was quickly becoming ferocious. This woman was far more highly trained than those she had faced before. Max was barely holding her own till she saw an opportunity open and she took it.

With a sense of closure Max snapped the woman's neck. "Fe 'nos tol that, you bitch." She spat out. She looked down at the slumped body in disgust. The long dark hair had fallen forward to reveal the truth, a cadeusus carefully concealed in the hairline at the back of her neck. A familiar in ordinary clothing, they would need to take more care in the future. Looking to Alec she saw that he had seen the symbol too. She turned to Logan to check he was okay, to see a look of pure revulsion cross his face at what she had done. At last he had seen with his own eyes who she really was and clearly didn't see her as his Max anymore. Moving over towards the fallen woman, he knelt down and rolled her over. Absently he stroked her hair. Watching him Max realised she felt no guilt but instead in its place she felt pity. He was most definitely a broken man.

"No……" Alec's scream of terror brought Max's head snapping around. Turning just in time to see White take aim and shoot, she watched the bullet as it appeared to be moving in slow motion, but was powerless to act. The impact tore her apart. Alec raised his glock and took care of one problem. As White slumped dead, blood seeping from the perfect hole in his forehead, he blurred to where she had crumpled to the ground. He had failed her, he would've died to protect her, now he was willing to kill any that came near his fallen mate. He was half out of his mind as his heightened adrenalin brought out his animal instinct. He snarled as Logan started to approach, his eyes wild with fear and signalling a warning.

The last thing Max saw before her eyes flickered closed was Alec's face swim into view. On it she saw anguish but also so clearly love. She was too weak to speak, to tell him what she so desperately wanted him to hear. As her mind closed down she screamed inside of it "I love you." And slumped into unconsciousness.

His head slumped to his chest as tears beaded on his lashes.

"Oh Maxie, I'm so sorry. I should've been able to stop him, I should've never left you alone." Lifting her damaged body and cradling it gently against him he headed for home. Away from the stench of death, away from the man who had been their downfall, their weakest link. Leaving Logan in defeat beside the body of his familiar mole.

As Chapter 7 is NC 17 it will be posted at The Broken World http://sorrow.hyperboards.com/

and at Gumboot Mafia http://gumbootmafia.hyperboards.com/

It is the final Chapter of A Fractured Fairytale. Thankyou for reading and I hope you have enjoyed it.