Forgotten but never Forgiven
Chapter Three.
Checking his surroundings with forever watchful eyes, Zack hurriedly punched in the numbers and listened as the message bank was activated and the electronic voice informed him he had 10 messages…
"Zack, Its Tess just doing the usual check in, Im out of L.A and heading south. Call me if ya have any suggestions about living arrangements. Anyways looking forward to seeing you. Where have you been? Not that you'll answer that. Just drop by and say hi sometime soon. Bye!" Zack relaxed a fraction on hearing Tess' warm voice He remembered she liked to paint the sea, and knew that she would head down the coastline.
"Zack, its Zane. Listen, I don't think ill be able to hang round here to much longer either. I've got this real uneasy feeling. They're here, I'm sure of it. Are you in the area?"
"It's Kai. I'm still in Boston and will be for a while longer. My numbers still the same."
"I need you down here ASAP. I can't seem to shake the slimy buggers. Help me!" Zacks fist clenched around the receiver and he stood listening to the messages, the latest one from Johndy and an earlier one from Zane left him with little belief that they now remained free.
"Zack, its Tess. I just spoke to Zane, something's up. I think they are still on his trail. Where are you? Should I go and check it out?"
"Zack I'm sorry I ditched you in Canada, I just couldn't do it. I'm heading back to Charlie and Case. Take care"
"Zack get your ass down here now!"
" Zack? Tess again, Im gonna try and make my way down to help Zane out. They've found him and I don't think he's got much of a chance against them alone, though I don't know how much help I'll be. I think im sick. I don't really know what sick feels like, but im just so tired. Anyways that's not important. I gotta help Zane and we need you. Please meet me there? Please be there when I get there. I know you must be busy seeing as you haven't been in touch with me or Zane but we need you Zack"
"Zack darling. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind perhaps paying me a visit sometime soon? I seem to be in a spot of bother and would be ever so grateful if you could help me out"
Zack winced as he listened to the sickly sweet voice of Johndy and the worried feeling in his gut started to spread. Johndy was panicked, and to get Johndy to panic was no easy feat and coupled with the urgency in Tess' voice was enough to make his blood run cold. The sound of the last message being played snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Zack, I know you will never hear this, I know that you're gone and im sorry for not being able to get you and Maxie out. I'm so so sorry…"
Zack stood immobilized for seconds after the sound of Syls' sobbing died away and the electronic voice informed him the last message had been recorded on the 22 of June 2021. Shaking his head Zack began his walk through the parking lot. That last message was at least three months ago. which meant that both Johndy and Zane had been in some serious shit three months ago and he hadn't turned up to help them out. Even after listening to every message, he still had no exact way of contacting any of his brothers or sisters though he knew that they all kept in contact with at least one other sibling. If he could just find one person, he was certain he could find them all.
Frowning, Zack realized that his earlier thoughts of never seeing Max or Logan again were going to have to wait until after he had found the locations of all of the other X5's. Slammed the door of his newly borrowed ride shut he swiftly exited the parking lot, heading in the ever familiar direction of Seattle.
"Ooh check out the honeys in here tonight" Original Cindy cooed as she and Max located Sketchy and Herbal and made their way through the crowded room of Crash to their seats. "Hey guys" Sketchy bubbled, looking up over his fifth drink. "What took you so long? Me an Herbal here had to start without you" he smiled, taking another swig of his beer and slapping Herbal on the back. "Hey guys, whats doin?" Max smiled as she watched Herbal roll his eyes heavenward and gestured towards the empty pitcher. "I guess ill get us some more drink"
Ordering another pitcher from the bar, Max sat back and watched as O.C sent another smile in the direction of a group of the ladies playing pool. 'Damn that girl don't waste any time' she thought as the barman handed her the drinks. Sighing, she made her way back to the group and placed the refilled pitcher on their table, automatically scanning the room as she did so. Glancing in the direction of the entrance Max stilled as her eye fell on the lean figure that stood just inside the doors. Blond cropped hair fell in angry dark blue eyes and tensed muscle bound arms folded over leather jacket and jean clad body. "Zack?" Max breathed as she watched him meet her gaze and motion toward the doorway, turning and walking through it as he did so.
Hesitantly, Max slowly worked her way back through the crowded room, panic filling her body. How much did he remember? What was she going to say? Taking a deep breath. She figured feigning indifference was the best way to go and formed her most charming smile as she stepped out onto the street and moved over to where Zack stood waiting.
"Hey man, I don't know what your dealio is, but ive taken it upon myself to inform you that if that's your way of picking up ch.."
"Cut the crap Max" Zack spat, glaring over at her as he began to stride down the street away from the bustle and noise of crash. Max's smile faltered as her mouth opened and she stared at him, wondering how exactly to deal with him. Still sticking to the never seen you before in my life routine, Max caught up to him and tried again. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" Stopping and turning to face her with arms crossed, Zack sneered as he watched Max struggle with her obvious dilemma. "I'm Zack, you're Max" he said slowly, pointing firstly to himself and then to Max. Lowering his voice till only he and Max could hear, he continued, "both you and I are X5, we escaped from a place called Manticore along with 10 others. Your boyfriends name is Logan A.K.A Eyes only, and both you and he electrocuted me and sent me to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere with amnesia. Am I jogging your memory a bit now?" he asked, and he watched Max's expression turn from confusion to panic and then finally to a guarded relief. "Zack, are you sure you're ok?" she replied quietly almost afraid that by saying his name out loud she would release the monster she had known him to be the last time they had met.
"You mean am I sure I'm not going to go and murder your boyfriend?" Zack corrected
"Well are you?" Max asked accusingly, the spark of fire in her eyes at the remark nothing compared to the inferno in Zacks as he stared down at her.
"That's not whats important right now." He snapped, he did not have time to do this now. "What is, is finding the location of the rest of our siblings so I can help them out. And the way I figured, seeing as you or your boy Logan were the last to see Krit and Syl, you would have kept in contact with them. I need you to tell me where they are."
"Yeh? Well you're out of luck." Max shot back regaining most of her composure after the initial shock of seeing him. She was beginning to not like his tone. "I wasn't able to keep in contact with either of them seeing as I was kinda busy being reprogrammed back at manticore" Max replied scathingly, her old attitude now fully in place.
"What?" Zack growled, long and low, the sound of his voice enough to make Max look up in alarm. Never before had Zack ever turned his anger directly on her, and now looking at the barely restrained emotion playing over his features, she understood why he was considered such a formidable opponent as now she bore the full brunt of it and despite herself, Max found she had taken a step back. "Bullshit. You made it out ok. You could have found them." He hissed, moving forward and backing her up against the brick wall, his face only inches from hers, where all she could do was gaze up into the turbulent sea of anger that flowed though his eyes. "You send me to the ends of the earth because you couldn't be bothered to help me, then you just forget to make sure everyone else is ok?"
"I didn't forget you Zack, there was no other way of helping you"
"Did you ever stop to wonder who was going to help the others while you were so busy thinking you were helping me?" he asked, then seeing she had no reply he added, "No I guess not".
Max looked up sharply at the disappointment she heard in his voice. Seeds of wory and apprehension beginning to spread through her as she began to realize the reason for this conversation. "What happened?" She asked meekly and then flinched as his hand slammed into the wall inches from her head. "Zane and Johdny are most likely captured, or dead, or both, Tess is sick, and I have no idea of the whereabouts of the others." He paused, running his hand though his hair "that's what happened". Pushing himself away from the wall and away from her, Zack turned, leaving a motionless Max staring after him. "Zack wait" she called desperately, watching him pause and turn her way. "Maybe Logan could help you find what you need?" Hope filled her voice and then left quickly as she watched Zacks jaw clench. "No thanks Max. " he tossed over his shoulder as he continued walking. "I don't think ill be needing anymore of yours or Logan's help"
Max slowly slid down the wall she had been leaning against, landing with a thump on the ground and wrapping her arms around her knees, for the first time realizing the full extent her actions would have had on the others "What have I done" she whispered, her mind filled with images of her tortured brothers and sisters, their pain and suffering caused because of her and her ignorance.
Authors note: hello all! I know its been a while but it took me ages to actually figure out where I wanted this story to go and how exactly I was going to get it moving. I don't really like the ending to this chapter but you should all get the drift…oh and another thing, I only got three reviews for the last two chapters and am wondering whether its even worth going on with?. Please review and tell me what you all think!
P.S: Its my birthday tomorrow! Yay! Happy birthday to me! :O)
Chapter Three.
Checking his surroundings with forever watchful eyes, Zack hurriedly punched in the numbers and listened as the message bank was activated and the electronic voice informed him he had 10 messages…
"Zack, Its Tess just doing the usual check in, Im out of L.A and heading south. Call me if ya have any suggestions about living arrangements. Anyways looking forward to seeing you. Where have you been? Not that you'll answer that. Just drop by and say hi sometime soon. Bye!" Zack relaxed a fraction on hearing Tess' warm voice He remembered she liked to paint the sea, and knew that she would head down the coastline.
"Zack, its Zane. Listen, I don't think ill be able to hang round here to much longer either. I've got this real uneasy feeling. They're here, I'm sure of it. Are you in the area?"
"It's Kai. I'm still in Boston and will be for a while longer. My numbers still the same."
"I need you down here ASAP. I can't seem to shake the slimy buggers. Help me!" Zacks fist clenched around the receiver and he stood listening to the messages, the latest one from Johndy and an earlier one from Zane left him with little belief that they now remained free.
"Zack, its Tess. I just spoke to Zane, something's up. I think they are still on his trail. Where are you? Should I go and check it out?"
"Zack I'm sorry I ditched you in Canada, I just couldn't do it. I'm heading back to Charlie and Case. Take care"
"Zack get your ass down here now!"
" Zack? Tess again, Im gonna try and make my way down to help Zane out. They've found him and I don't think he's got much of a chance against them alone, though I don't know how much help I'll be. I think im sick. I don't really know what sick feels like, but im just so tired. Anyways that's not important. I gotta help Zane and we need you. Please meet me there? Please be there when I get there. I know you must be busy seeing as you haven't been in touch with me or Zane but we need you Zack"
"Zack darling. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind perhaps paying me a visit sometime soon? I seem to be in a spot of bother and would be ever so grateful if you could help me out"
Zack winced as he listened to the sickly sweet voice of Johndy and the worried feeling in his gut started to spread. Johndy was panicked, and to get Johndy to panic was no easy feat and coupled with the urgency in Tess' voice was enough to make his blood run cold. The sound of the last message being played snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Zack, I know you will never hear this, I know that you're gone and im sorry for not being able to get you and Maxie out. I'm so so sorry…"
Zack stood immobilized for seconds after the sound of Syls' sobbing died away and the electronic voice informed him the last message had been recorded on the 22 of June 2021. Shaking his head Zack began his walk through the parking lot. That last message was at least three months ago. which meant that both Johndy and Zane had been in some serious shit three months ago and he hadn't turned up to help them out. Even after listening to every message, he still had no exact way of contacting any of his brothers or sisters though he knew that they all kept in contact with at least one other sibling. If he could just find one person, he was certain he could find them all.
Frowning, Zack realized that his earlier thoughts of never seeing Max or Logan again were going to have to wait until after he had found the locations of all of the other X5's. Slammed the door of his newly borrowed ride shut he swiftly exited the parking lot, heading in the ever familiar direction of Seattle.
"Ooh check out the honeys in here tonight" Original Cindy cooed as she and Max located Sketchy and Herbal and made their way through the crowded room of Crash to their seats. "Hey guys" Sketchy bubbled, looking up over his fifth drink. "What took you so long? Me an Herbal here had to start without you" he smiled, taking another swig of his beer and slapping Herbal on the back. "Hey guys, whats doin?" Max smiled as she watched Herbal roll his eyes heavenward and gestured towards the empty pitcher. "I guess ill get us some more drink"
Ordering another pitcher from the bar, Max sat back and watched as O.C sent another smile in the direction of a group of the ladies playing pool. 'Damn that girl don't waste any time' she thought as the barman handed her the drinks. Sighing, she made her way back to the group and placed the refilled pitcher on their table, automatically scanning the room as she did so. Glancing in the direction of the entrance Max stilled as her eye fell on the lean figure that stood just inside the doors. Blond cropped hair fell in angry dark blue eyes and tensed muscle bound arms folded over leather jacket and jean clad body. "Zack?" Max breathed as she watched him meet her gaze and motion toward the doorway, turning and walking through it as he did so.
Hesitantly, Max slowly worked her way back through the crowded room, panic filling her body. How much did he remember? What was she going to say? Taking a deep breath. She figured feigning indifference was the best way to go and formed her most charming smile as she stepped out onto the street and moved over to where Zack stood waiting.
"Hey man, I don't know what your dealio is, but ive taken it upon myself to inform you that if that's your way of picking up ch.."
"Cut the crap Max" Zack spat, glaring over at her as he began to stride down the street away from the bustle and noise of crash. Max's smile faltered as her mouth opened and she stared at him, wondering how exactly to deal with him. Still sticking to the never seen you before in my life routine, Max caught up to him and tried again. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" Stopping and turning to face her with arms crossed, Zack sneered as he watched Max struggle with her obvious dilemma. "I'm Zack, you're Max" he said slowly, pointing firstly to himself and then to Max. Lowering his voice till only he and Max could hear, he continued, "both you and I are X5, we escaped from a place called Manticore along with 10 others. Your boyfriends name is Logan A.K.A Eyes only, and both you and he electrocuted me and sent me to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere with amnesia. Am I jogging your memory a bit now?" he asked, and he watched Max's expression turn from confusion to panic and then finally to a guarded relief. "Zack, are you sure you're ok?" she replied quietly almost afraid that by saying his name out loud she would release the monster she had known him to be the last time they had met.
"You mean am I sure I'm not going to go and murder your boyfriend?" Zack corrected
"Well are you?" Max asked accusingly, the spark of fire in her eyes at the remark nothing compared to the inferno in Zacks as he stared down at her.
"That's not whats important right now." He snapped, he did not have time to do this now. "What is, is finding the location of the rest of our siblings so I can help them out. And the way I figured, seeing as you or your boy Logan were the last to see Krit and Syl, you would have kept in contact with them. I need you to tell me where they are."
"Yeh? Well you're out of luck." Max shot back regaining most of her composure after the initial shock of seeing him. She was beginning to not like his tone. "I wasn't able to keep in contact with either of them seeing as I was kinda busy being reprogrammed back at manticore" Max replied scathingly, her old attitude now fully in place.
"What?" Zack growled, long and low, the sound of his voice enough to make Max look up in alarm. Never before had Zack ever turned his anger directly on her, and now looking at the barely restrained emotion playing over his features, she understood why he was considered such a formidable opponent as now she bore the full brunt of it and despite herself, Max found she had taken a step back. "Bullshit. You made it out ok. You could have found them." He hissed, moving forward and backing her up against the brick wall, his face only inches from hers, where all she could do was gaze up into the turbulent sea of anger that flowed though his eyes. "You send me to the ends of the earth because you couldn't be bothered to help me, then you just forget to make sure everyone else is ok?"
"I didn't forget you Zack, there was no other way of helping you"
"Did you ever stop to wonder who was going to help the others while you were so busy thinking you were helping me?" he asked, then seeing she had no reply he added, "No I guess not".
Max looked up sharply at the disappointment she heard in his voice. Seeds of wory and apprehension beginning to spread through her as she began to realize the reason for this conversation. "What happened?" She asked meekly and then flinched as his hand slammed into the wall inches from her head. "Zane and Johdny are most likely captured, or dead, or both, Tess is sick, and I have no idea of the whereabouts of the others." He paused, running his hand though his hair "that's what happened". Pushing himself away from the wall and away from her, Zack turned, leaving a motionless Max staring after him. "Zack wait" she called desperately, watching him pause and turn her way. "Maybe Logan could help you find what you need?" Hope filled her voice and then left quickly as she watched Zacks jaw clench. "No thanks Max. " he tossed over his shoulder as he continued walking. "I don't think ill be needing anymore of yours or Logan's help"
Max slowly slid down the wall she had been leaning against, landing with a thump on the ground and wrapping her arms around her knees, for the first time realizing the full extent her actions would have had on the others "What have I done" she whispered, her mind filled with images of her tortured brothers and sisters, their pain and suffering caused because of her and her ignorance.
Authors note: hello all! I know its been a while but it took me ages to actually figure out where I wanted this story to go and how exactly I was going to get it moving. I don't really like the ending to this chapter but you should all get the drift…oh and another thing, I only got three reviews for the last two chapters and am wondering whether its even worth going on with?. Please review and tell me what you all think!
P.S: Its my birthday tomorrow! Yay! Happy birthday to me! :O)