Spoilers: This is the third in my series of stories. The first
was Shattered Trusts and Whispered Confessions. The second,
which I only just finished, is Remembering to Forget. This
series is set after Hello Goodbye but does reveal spoilers from
the rest of the season, as I incorporate it into the story.
Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine except for some minors. The ideas are pretty much mine though but I just want to say thanks to those who have reviewed my previous works, it keeps me writing!
Authors Note: If you really want to understand this story and enjoy it, then be sure to read the original parts one and two. Also, just wanted to say that yeah the story has got quite complicated and hence a little confusion from me let alone you guys who have no idea what is going on in my twisted mind. Thanks for sticking by me when I've been doing this. It's nice to know I have a loyal following.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
Alec's head rolled lifelessly to one side as the knife made contact with him, his eyes staring at her in an almost accepting manner. Max's face screwed up as she looked down at him, her heart feeling as though it were breaking,
"It had to be done. I'm sorry, I had no choice."
She hoisted his body over her shoulder, tears threatening to fall as she slowly carted his body down to the bottom. By the time she reached the bottom, he began to stir, his eyes opening to see his surroundings, a murky building,
"Max. What happened, where are we?"
"Abandoned building next to the Space Needle. I knocked you out."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why couldn't you do that?"
"Because I wasn't about to kill you, no matter what you said."
"Then people will die."
"Let them die, I'm not giving you up!"
"Don't be selfish Max."
"Don't you be selfish Alec, stop trying to do the honourable thing. You have no idea what this is doing to me. But we can't react until we know more."
"I don't even know that much about this Max."
"How did you know people would die?"
"The whole shroud of death deal. I figure I must have something to do with its arrival. And the whole 'I have to kill Alec' deal pretty much tipped me off."
"The runes, they say you're going to bring about the end of the world as we know it."
"Wow, I always knew I was destined for great things. So when are you going to kill me?"
"I'm not."
"Then like I mentioned before. Twice. People will die."
"No they wont."
"Hows that? Unless you kill me."
"I'm not going to kill you!"
Alec looked up at her, her weary face creased with anxiety and worry, as she snapped handcuffs on his hands, connecting him around a pole,
"This is just so you don't do anything stupid."
"Gee thanks. So you plan to leave me here to starve until you think of a plan?"
"I have a plan. I'm calling in a favour from an old friend."
"Who?"
* * * * *
Seattle; Catholic Church; October 12th 2022
0900 hours
Max paused outside the church to look at the sign she had once seen there before,
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART CHURCH
SUNDAY MASS 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 11:00 AM
WEEKDAYS 7:00 PM
REV. L. M. WINSTON
"Guess Father Destry quit...",
She mumbled as she pushed past the heavy wood doors into the church. Taking a pew near the back, hidden in the shadows, she sat.
And waited.
* * * * *
Seattle; Catholic Church; October 13th 2022
2100 hours
He came in confidently, his head held high, yet as he approached the Virgin Mary statue, his eyes became downcast, respectful. Max waited while he stood there, his mouth moving in a silent prayer, his gift left for her underneath. She shuddered, hoping he hadn't reverted to his old teeth- pulling ways. But now that he was back at Manticore, he was probably killing prisoners during what she called 'target practice'. As he turned around, she blurred next to him, tapping him on the shoulder,
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd given up your faith."
"Never happen, the lady protects me. Because I believe in her...It's good to see you Max."
"You too Ben its real good to see you."
He gestured to the wooden bench near them and they sat down. His eyes traced her face as he spoke,
"I come here after mass. All those people, I... I feel like I cant be touched by her if there are so many seeking her protection."
"I understand."
"Do you really Maxie? I thought you'd long given up everything you used to believe in."
"It comes and goes. Deep down there's something there. But sometimes I wonder if we are worthy of her love. We weren't intended to be on this earth."
"If we weren't intended, then we would have never been created. It's a simple as that."
"Its anything but simple."
Ben looked up at the statue again, a smile glowing on his face. He sat rigidly with a straight back - he looked like the soldier he had chosen to be.
"What are you doing here Max?"
"I need your help."
He chuckled and she felt a rush of annoyance, but with a chill of fear at the same time,
"How could I possibly help you?"
"Alec's in trouble. I needed to ask you some things."
"Why should I help you?"
"For old times sake, please. I am begging you as your little sister. Please help me help him."
Ben turned away, his eyes trailing to his fidgeting hands,
"You must think I'm some sicko, falling for you when you call me your big brother."
"I don't."
"You're a good liar, you ever been told that?"
"Yeah, but I wasn't lying."
"What do you need to know?"
"I need to know what you all know about the prophecy that Sandeman created Alec and me to stop."
His blood ran cold as he moved his head around to look at her. It seemed as though everything was happening in slow motion,
"What did you just say?"
"What do you know about it Ben?"
"I know nothing."
"I saw that look that passed over your face just then. Please, tell me Ben!"
"I don't know enough to tell you. If you want to know more, you need to talk to Lydecker."
"You put me in the same room as him and I'll kill him."
"Then I'll sit between the two of you."
He pulled back his sleeve to look at the time, standing and looking down at her. He smiled weakly,
"Be at the High Place in an hour. I'll bring him and you can talk to him."
She eyed him with a guarded look on her face,
"Is this some trick?"
"Max, if we wanted you at Manticore, we'd have taken you back when I had you captured."
"I'm trusting you."
"I won't break that trust. Just be there."
* * * * *
To be continued...
Author's Note:
More coming, I bought this really great top today for Australia Day and so I'm feeling inspired. Yay!
Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine except for some minors. The ideas are pretty much mine though but I just want to say thanks to those who have reviewed my previous works, it keeps me writing!
Authors Note: If you really want to understand this story and enjoy it, then be sure to read the original parts one and two. Also, just wanted to say that yeah the story has got quite complicated and hence a little confusion from me let alone you guys who have no idea what is going on in my twisted mind. Thanks for sticking by me when I've been doing this. It's nice to know I have a loyal following.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
Alec's head rolled lifelessly to one side as the knife made contact with him, his eyes staring at her in an almost accepting manner. Max's face screwed up as she looked down at him, her heart feeling as though it were breaking,
"It had to be done. I'm sorry, I had no choice."
She hoisted his body over her shoulder, tears threatening to fall as she slowly carted his body down to the bottom. By the time she reached the bottom, he began to stir, his eyes opening to see his surroundings, a murky building,
"Max. What happened, where are we?"
"Abandoned building next to the Space Needle. I knocked you out."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why couldn't you do that?"
"Because I wasn't about to kill you, no matter what you said."
"Then people will die."
"Let them die, I'm not giving you up!"
"Don't be selfish Max."
"Don't you be selfish Alec, stop trying to do the honourable thing. You have no idea what this is doing to me. But we can't react until we know more."
"I don't even know that much about this Max."
"How did you know people would die?"
"The whole shroud of death deal. I figure I must have something to do with its arrival. And the whole 'I have to kill Alec' deal pretty much tipped me off."
"The runes, they say you're going to bring about the end of the world as we know it."
"Wow, I always knew I was destined for great things. So when are you going to kill me?"
"I'm not."
"Then like I mentioned before. Twice. People will die."
"No they wont."
"Hows that? Unless you kill me."
"I'm not going to kill you!"
Alec looked up at her, her weary face creased with anxiety and worry, as she snapped handcuffs on his hands, connecting him around a pole,
"This is just so you don't do anything stupid."
"Gee thanks. So you plan to leave me here to starve until you think of a plan?"
"I have a plan. I'm calling in a favour from an old friend."
"Who?"
* * * * *
Seattle; Catholic Church; October 12th 2022
0900 hours
Max paused outside the church to look at the sign she had once seen there before,
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART CHURCH
SUNDAY MASS 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 11:00 AM
WEEKDAYS 7:00 PM
REV. L. M. WINSTON
"Guess Father Destry quit...",
She mumbled as she pushed past the heavy wood doors into the church. Taking a pew near the back, hidden in the shadows, she sat.
And waited.
* * * * *
Seattle; Catholic Church; October 13th 2022
2100 hours
He came in confidently, his head held high, yet as he approached the Virgin Mary statue, his eyes became downcast, respectful. Max waited while he stood there, his mouth moving in a silent prayer, his gift left for her underneath. She shuddered, hoping he hadn't reverted to his old teeth- pulling ways. But now that he was back at Manticore, he was probably killing prisoners during what she called 'target practice'. As he turned around, she blurred next to him, tapping him on the shoulder,
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd given up your faith."
"Never happen, the lady protects me. Because I believe in her...It's good to see you Max."
"You too Ben its real good to see you."
He gestured to the wooden bench near them and they sat down. His eyes traced her face as he spoke,
"I come here after mass. All those people, I... I feel like I cant be touched by her if there are so many seeking her protection."
"I understand."
"Do you really Maxie? I thought you'd long given up everything you used to believe in."
"It comes and goes. Deep down there's something there. But sometimes I wonder if we are worthy of her love. We weren't intended to be on this earth."
"If we weren't intended, then we would have never been created. It's a simple as that."
"Its anything but simple."
Ben looked up at the statue again, a smile glowing on his face. He sat rigidly with a straight back - he looked like the soldier he had chosen to be.
"What are you doing here Max?"
"I need your help."
He chuckled and she felt a rush of annoyance, but with a chill of fear at the same time,
"How could I possibly help you?"
"Alec's in trouble. I needed to ask you some things."
"Why should I help you?"
"For old times sake, please. I am begging you as your little sister. Please help me help him."
Ben turned away, his eyes trailing to his fidgeting hands,
"You must think I'm some sicko, falling for you when you call me your big brother."
"I don't."
"You're a good liar, you ever been told that?"
"Yeah, but I wasn't lying."
"What do you need to know?"
"I need to know what you all know about the prophecy that Sandeman created Alec and me to stop."
His blood ran cold as he moved his head around to look at her. It seemed as though everything was happening in slow motion,
"What did you just say?"
"What do you know about it Ben?"
"I know nothing."
"I saw that look that passed over your face just then. Please, tell me Ben!"
"I don't know enough to tell you. If you want to know more, you need to talk to Lydecker."
"You put me in the same room as him and I'll kill him."
"Then I'll sit between the two of you."
He pulled back his sleeve to look at the time, standing and looking down at her. He smiled weakly,
"Be at the High Place in an hour. I'll bring him and you can talk to him."
She eyed him with a guarded look on her face,
"Is this some trick?"
"Max, if we wanted you at Manticore, we'd have taken you back when I had you captured."
"I'm trusting you."
"I won't break that trust. Just be there."
* * * * *
To be continued...
Author's Note:
More coming, I bought this really great top today for Australia Day and so I'm feeling inspired. Yay!