Part 3. The Letter.
Everything was silent. Slowly she sat up and slid out of bed.
She smiled as she noticed her too big t shirt and boxers. They were probably Syl's, she couldn't picture Logan wearing boxers with yellow ducks on them.
Silently, in bare feet she crept out to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of milk.
She paused to listen to Krit's snoring from the study, then moved back into the lounge room.
The letter was still on the table where she had left it. Logan had obviously cleaned around it, so that he didn't disturb it.
She picked it up and leaned back into the over-stuffed sofa.
The letter was enclosed in a heavy manila envelope, which had been taped shut over the seal. It was addressed with one word.
Max.
The envelope was heavier and thicker than it looked.
Slowly she turned it over and began to remove the sticky tape and open the seal. Once opened she removed the sheaf of paper enclosed. Each page was either closely typed, or neatly written.
As the moon began to set, Max began to read, her eyes widened as she read the actual letter.
Dear Max,
If you're reading this letter, then I didn't make it back after the attack.
If I'm dead, or worse, captured, then I pass the task to you. The care and safety of our brothers and sisters is now in your hands.
I always did what I thought was best for them, and I know that you will too. It might seem strange to you that I charge you with this task, passing the mantle from oldest to youngest, but you are the best one for the job. You've always tried to take care of everyone, ever since you were born, so I know that you'll be able to handle it.
The task is yours now, all you need to know about everyone is in the envelope.
Do what you think is best.
Call them, visit them, reunite them.
But be brave and be careful.
I love you Maxie, and all of the others too, even though I never said it.
I hope that the Good Place is waiting for me. I'll see you again someday.
Love always,
Zack.
------------
When she looked up she realized that there was fresh tear stains on the paper. Max hadn't even realized that she had been crying.
She lay the letter down on the table, picked up the sheaf of papers and began to read.
It was very early morning before she had finished.
She laid the papers back down on the table and began to formulate a plan..
-------------
Late the next morning she was still on the sofa, papers in piles both on the coffee table and on her lap. The letter lay on the table, so that she could see it whilst she worked.
She heard Logan moved almost blindly into the kitchen to make himself some coffee. She smiled,
he really wasn't a morning person.
As he emerged from the kitchen, Syl and Krit came into view.
"Didn't realize you were up." Logan said to her, smiling, "But then I guess even you can only sleep for so long."
She laughed, "Guess so."
Syl sat down opposite her and accepted the cup of coffee Logan offered her. Max gathered up all of the papers and took a deep breath. "I opened the letter Zack sent me."
Everyone looked at her, not saying anything for a few moments.
It was Krit who finally broke the silence. "So what did Zack have to say for himself?"
Wordlessly she handed him the letter, Syl read it over his shoulder.
"Zack left you in charge." Syl said quietly.
Max nodded, "He left me the information I'll need to find everyone and let them know what's going on. I've been working on a plan of action since about 3:30 this morning, so I'll start calling them soon. I figured you guys would like to be here when I do." she finished.
Everything was silent. Slowly she sat up and slid out of bed.
She smiled as she noticed her too big t shirt and boxers. They were probably Syl's, she couldn't picture Logan wearing boxers with yellow ducks on them.
Silently, in bare feet she crept out to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of milk.
She paused to listen to Krit's snoring from the study, then moved back into the lounge room.
The letter was still on the table where she had left it. Logan had obviously cleaned around it, so that he didn't disturb it.
She picked it up and leaned back into the over-stuffed sofa.
The letter was enclosed in a heavy manila envelope, which had been taped shut over the seal. It was addressed with one word.
Max.
The envelope was heavier and thicker than it looked.
Slowly she turned it over and began to remove the sticky tape and open the seal. Once opened she removed the sheaf of paper enclosed. Each page was either closely typed, or neatly written.
As the moon began to set, Max began to read, her eyes widened as she read the actual letter.
Dear Max,
If you're reading this letter, then I didn't make it back after the attack.
If I'm dead, or worse, captured, then I pass the task to you. The care and safety of our brothers and sisters is now in your hands.
I always did what I thought was best for them, and I know that you will too. It might seem strange to you that I charge you with this task, passing the mantle from oldest to youngest, but you are the best one for the job. You've always tried to take care of everyone, ever since you were born, so I know that you'll be able to handle it.
The task is yours now, all you need to know about everyone is in the envelope.
Do what you think is best.
Call them, visit them, reunite them.
But be brave and be careful.
I love you Maxie, and all of the others too, even though I never said it.
I hope that the Good Place is waiting for me. I'll see you again someday.
Love always,
Zack.
------------
When she looked up she realized that there was fresh tear stains on the paper. Max hadn't even realized that she had been crying.
She lay the letter down on the table, picked up the sheaf of papers and began to read.
It was very early morning before she had finished.
She laid the papers back down on the table and began to formulate a plan..
-------------
Late the next morning she was still on the sofa, papers in piles both on the coffee table and on her lap. The letter lay on the table, so that she could see it whilst she worked.
She heard Logan moved almost blindly into the kitchen to make himself some coffee. She smiled,
he really wasn't a morning person.
As he emerged from the kitchen, Syl and Krit came into view.
"Didn't realize you were up." Logan said to her, smiling, "But then I guess even you can only sleep for so long."
She laughed, "Guess so."
Syl sat down opposite her and accepted the cup of coffee Logan offered her. Max gathered up all of the papers and took a deep breath. "I opened the letter Zack sent me."
Everyone looked at her, not saying anything for a few moments.
It was Krit who finally broke the silence. "So what did Zack have to say for himself?"
Wordlessly she handed him the letter, Syl read it over his shoulder.
"Zack left you in charge." Syl said quietly.
Max nodded, "He left me the information I'll need to find everyone and let them know what's going on. I've been working on a plan of action since about 3:30 this morning, so I'll start calling them soon. I figured you guys would like to be here when I do." she finished.