South Market was darker tonight than it have ever been. And emptier. Even with some people walking around her, the thugs and the drugs, the men and the women, Max was more alone than she had been in such a long time. Eva was snuggled tightly in her carrier, gurgling and squealing over the bright lights above her. Max began remembering when she once felt like her daughter. Everything was magical. Then came the landslide. Then came reality. Before Max knew it, she was less human or normal than she had pretended. She was fighting like a soldier, acting like a soldier and running for her life. And why? Because she wanted to please some self-righteous, wheelchair bound hermit that recruited her to act out his save-the-world schemes. It cost her more than she ever allowed herself to realize. Maybe even Zach and Tinga would still be here. Max's eyes welled with tears. Those were the decision she had made though. And those were the repercussions. Sick how many people can die under your own whims, even when it was never your intention to hurt them.
Rain started to mesh with the tears falling down Max's cheek, making Max sprint to somewhere dry, to keep Eva warm. Suddenly, she realized she was only a few blocks away from Alec's. She had been walking to his apartment, subconciously. Looking around her, Max grabbed a piece of cardboard lying in the street.
"Hey!" an old man grumbled at her, filthy and smelling like week old garbage. Max turned her nose from him and coughed. It was obvious she had just stolen the doorway to his house. Frowning, Max gave it back, revealing Eva.
"Oh," the man said, still grumbling, "go ahead, I guess. Keep the lil' sprout dry." Max reluctantly smiled at him and walked back into the rain. She was getting drenched but at least Eva wouldn't get sick. Or could she get sick? As a young baby, Eva showed extreme immunity to alot of what normal children get, like croup and colds that Logan would contract. She never got sick. And whats stranger was that she almost seemed to understand what people were saying to her and around her. Could Alec's and her genes really have made the next step in what Manticore had created? It was creepy to think about but not crazy.
"Well, Eva, here we are," Max announced as they took up the steps to his apartment. Max bumped the buzzer with her shoulder and a large woman came out of a doorway from down the hall.
"Who ya here for?" the woman asked, edgelessly. Her hair was up in curlers that seemed to be falling over into her eyes and her bathrobe barely covered the distendence of her body.
"Apartment 44?" Max replied, hoisting up Eva. The woman jumped up and began opening the door after noticing. It was her luck Eva was so cute sometimes. Got her to pass into alot of Sectors sometimes too, just because of the distraction she makes.
"What an adorable baby!" she exclaimed, reaching out to touch Eva's little face the second the two walked inside. Eva looked at her mom grumpily, almost saying 'Get this woman away from me!'. Max chuckled then thanked the woman as she walked up the stairwell. Her feet ached from peddling her bike for Jam Pony and walking around after leaving Logans, unable to take Eva on her motorcycle since it began raining. And now taking four fleets of stairs, carrying Eva, seemed too big a task. Even though she had slept five hours the previous night, Max knew she would sleep again tonight.
***
Alec had a feeling he'd end up seeing more of Max tonight so he had laid out some warm milk for when she arrived. And a bottle for Eva too although he wasn't sure she drank regular milk. Anyway, if she was anything like her mom and him, she did. What with the seizures the transgenics got.
Once more, the questions stirred inside his mind. Would she be like them? Transgenic? He didn't know if wanted her to be or not. Max had explained to him how Case, Tinga's son, had showed advanced technical skills and how Lydecker had tried to take him back to Manticore. When he heard it from her, Max was in her last trimester and for nights and nights he had nightmares that Eva would be transgenic as well and Manticore would try and take her away. He tried to tell himself he was just being paranoid and that Lydecker was dead, that he could no longer do anything to them. But something inside him felt danger and years of experiance told him to never doubt that gut reaction. Max would have a different opinion, though.
"Alec, open up, its me." Max called out from behind the door, sounding very drained. Opening the door, he took Eva from her arms and then took her hand and walked her to the couch. She refused to sit though, saying she didn't want to soak his sofa. Alec shoved her down and walked to grab the milk. Max was still sitting, too tired to fight back. Eva began to cry.
"She's very tired." she sighed, "Its been a long night." Alec picked her up and quietly sat down on the sofa besides Max. With his other arm, he pulled a throw from behind him and wrapped it haply around Max's shoulders. She smiled and snuggled next to him. No doubt it had been a long night, Alec thought, but hopefully he could make it a comfortable end to a weary day. Working his way slowly towards a wet tendril of hair covering her eyes and pulling it away, Alec let her see him smile.
"Are you cold?" he asked her, worried. She shivered alittle in response and nodded. Getting up with Eva in his arms, Alec walked to the bathroom, grabbing some towels. When he returned, Max had laid her head down upon some pillows, curling her body into the fetal position. There was no doubt in Alec's mind that he loved her when he saw her and these feelings of blissful contentment filled his body. He nudged her softly, rousing her. Max lifted herself up, her eyes meeting his as she stood. Taking the towels, Max glared with diminished strength but steady.
"Thanks," she spoke, tension filling quickly. Alec's heart beat raced. He could already see himself kissing her, embracing the cold from her body. From being so tired, Max tripped and placed a hand on his shoulder to keep on her feet. Alec turned his head to face her. She looked back. Where they were now could only have been a dream. Eva stopped whimpering as the two embraced in a kiss. The passion Alec felt was so strong he thought he could explode. Max pulled back, a smile playing subtly upon her lips.
"Thanks again," she joked, rousing laughter between them. Even Eva giggled. Max clutched the towels to her chest and walked into the bathroom, shutting it quietly behind her. Alec shook his head abruptly, hoping he hadn't just dreamt he'd actually kissed Max. Hoping he hadn't just imagined she had actually kissed him back. Him. Setting down Eva on the sofa, Alec laid his head down on the pillow still fragrant with her scent. Sweet, watery dew. He shut his eyes and let the scent fill his mind. Before he knew it, he was walking downstairs to the park two streets away. Some little children were still out playing around a broken water main. He looked up and for the first time since being in Seattle, he saw stars. It was so unreal. Suddenly, in the corner of his eye, he spotted this beautiful woman in a flowy white gown, satin gloves and her lips rimmed in crimson. It was Max.
"Is this a dream?" Alec asked her as she grabbed his hands for a dance. She spun him around, picking up speed. She was dazzling. Her mouth opened, leaving him to anticipate an answer. Screaming. Alec loosed himself out of fear from the sound that he began falling slowly from her grasp.
"Ah!" Alec let out, as he realized that he was only dreaming, lying on the floor next to the sofa. Max was leaning on the couch with Eva cradled in her arms. She was clearly frightened over something. He scrambled up off his knees. "Whats going on?" he asked quickly. Max's eyes filled with tears.
"Somethings wrong with Eva...." she whimpered. Alec's eyes bulged, fearing the worst. He looked unto his daughters closed eyes. Even as Max shook her lightly, she stayed asleep. Alec checked her pulse.
"She's not dead," he told Max, comfortingly, "but we need to get to see a doctor." Max violently shook her head in protest.
"No, thats just what he needs!" Alec stared confused. Just what who needs? Max dropped her head, "Logan got an anonymous email and phone call." The more she waited in telling him the more impatient he got. His daughter was unconscious and somehow Max knew something that got in the way of helping her. He wanted information now.
"So? What was it about? Does he know who it was?"
"It came from Lydecker. He says Eva is in trouble." She sobbed looking at Eva even for a moment, "This is it, I guess." Alec never let fear get the better of him. He knew in most circumstances he was more agile, more cunning and smarter than the enemy. But now the one who had made him all that held his daughters life in his hands. He was scared.
***
Authors Note: The plot is thickening and theres only a chapter or two left in the series! Want more? Need some reviews!!!!!!
Rain started to mesh with the tears falling down Max's cheek, making Max sprint to somewhere dry, to keep Eva warm. Suddenly, she realized she was only a few blocks away from Alec's. She had been walking to his apartment, subconciously. Looking around her, Max grabbed a piece of cardboard lying in the street.
"Hey!" an old man grumbled at her, filthy and smelling like week old garbage. Max turned her nose from him and coughed. It was obvious she had just stolen the doorway to his house. Frowning, Max gave it back, revealing Eva.
"Oh," the man said, still grumbling, "go ahead, I guess. Keep the lil' sprout dry." Max reluctantly smiled at him and walked back into the rain. She was getting drenched but at least Eva wouldn't get sick. Or could she get sick? As a young baby, Eva showed extreme immunity to alot of what normal children get, like croup and colds that Logan would contract. She never got sick. And whats stranger was that she almost seemed to understand what people were saying to her and around her. Could Alec's and her genes really have made the next step in what Manticore had created? It was creepy to think about but not crazy.
"Well, Eva, here we are," Max announced as they took up the steps to his apartment. Max bumped the buzzer with her shoulder and a large woman came out of a doorway from down the hall.
"Who ya here for?" the woman asked, edgelessly. Her hair was up in curlers that seemed to be falling over into her eyes and her bathrobe barely covered the distendence of her body.
"Apartment 44?" Max replied, hoisting up Eva. The woman jumped up and began opening the door after noticing. It was her luck Eva was so cute sometimes. Got her to pass into alot of Sectors sometimes too, just because of the distraction she makes.
"What an adorable baby!" she exclaimed, reaching out to touch Eva's little face the second the two walked inside. Eva looked at her mom grumpily, almost saying 'Get this woman away from me!'. Max chuckled then thanked the woman as she walked up the stairwell. Her feet ached from peddling her bike for Jam Pony and walking around after leaving Logans, unable to take Eva on her motorcycle since it began raining. And now taking four fleets of stairs, carrying Eva, seemed too big a task. Even though she had slept five hours the previous night, Max knew she would sleep again tonight.
***
Alec had a feeling he'd end up seeing more of Max tonight so he had laid out some warm milk for when she arrived. And a bottle for Eva too although he wasn't sure she drank regular milk. Anyway, if she was anything like her mom and him, she did. What with the seizures the transgenics got.
Once more, the questions stirred inside his mind. Would she be like them? Transgenic? He didn't know if wanted her to be or not. Max had explained to him how Case, Tinga's son, had showed advanced technical skills and how Lydecker had tried to take him back to Manticore. When he heard it from her, Max was in her last trimester and for nights and nights he had nightmares that Eva would be transgenic as well and Manticore would try and take her away. He tried to tell himself he was just being paranoid and that Lydecker was dead, that he could no longer do anything to them. But something inside him felt danger and years of experiance told him to never doubt that gut reaction. Max would have a different opinion, though.
"Alec, open up, its me." Max called out from behind the door, sounding very drained. Opening the door, he took Eva from her arms and then took her hand and walked her to the couch. She refused to sit though, saying she didn't want to soak his sofa. Alec shoved her down and walked to grab the milk. Max was still sitting, too tired to fight back. Eva began to cry.
"She's very tired." she sighed, "Its been a long night." Alec picked her up and quietly sat down on the sofa besides Max. With his other arm, he pulled a throw from behind him and wrapped it haply around Max's shoulders. She smiled and snuggled next to him. No doubt it had been a long night, Alec thought, but hopefully he could make it a comfortable end to a weary day. Working his way slowly towards a wet tendril of hair covering her eyes and pulling it away, Alec let her see him smile.
"Are you cold?" he asked her, worried. She shivered alittle in response and nodded. Getting up with Eva in his arms, Alec walked to the bathroom, grabbing some towels. When he returned, Max had laid her head down upon some pillows, curling her body into the fetal position. There was no doubt in Alec's mind that he loved her when he saw her and these feelings of blissful contentment filled his body. He nudged her softly, rousing her. Max lifted herself up, her eyes meeting his as she stood. Taking the towels, Max glared with diminished strength but steady.
"Thanks," she spoke, tension filling quickly. Alec's heart beat raced. He could already see himself kissing her, embracing the cold from her body. From being so tired, Max tripped and placed a hand on his shoulder to keep on her feet. Alec turned his head to face her. She looked back. Where they were now could only have been a dream. Eva stopped whimpering as the two embraced in a kiss. The passion Alec felt was so strong he thought he could explode. Max pulled back, a smile playing subtly upon her lips.
"Thanks again," she joked, rousing laughter between them. Even Eva giggled. Max clutched the towels to her chest and walked into the bathroom, shutting it quietly behind her. Alec shook his head abruptly, hoping he hadn't just dreamt he'd actually kissed Max. Hoping he hadn't just imagined she had actually kissed him back. Him. Setting down Eva on the sofa, Alec laid his head down on the pillow still fragrant with her scent. Sweet, watery dew. He shut his eyes and let the scent fill his mind. Before he knew it, he was walking downstairs to the park two streets away. Some little children were still out playing around a broken water main. He looked up and for the first time since being in Seattle, he saw stars. It was so unreal. Suddenly, in the corner of his eye, he spotted this beautiful woman in a flowy white gown, satin gloves and her lips rimmed in crimson. It was Max.
"Is this a dream?" Alec asked her as she grabbed his hands for a dance. She spun him around, picking up speed. She was dazzling. Her mouth opened, leaving him to anticipate an answer. Screaming. Alec loosed himself out of fear from the sound that he began falling slowly from her grasp.
"Ah!" Alec let out, as he realized that he was only dreaming, lying on the floor next to the sofa. Max was leaning on the couch with Eva cradled in her arms. She was clearly frightened over something. He scrambled up off his knees. "Whats going on?" he asked quickly. Max's eyes filled with tears.
"Somethings wrong with Eva...." she whimpered. Alec's eyes bulged, fearing the worst. He looked unto his daughters closed eyes. Even as Max shook her lightly, she stayed asleep. Alec checked her pulse.
"She's not dead," he told Max, comfortingly, "but we need to get to see a doctor." Max violently shook her head in protest.
"No, thats just what he needs!" Alec stared confused. Just what who needs? Max dropped her head, "Logan got an anonymous email and phone call." The more she waited in telling him the more impatient he got. His daughter was unconscious and somehow Max knew something that got in the way of helping her. He wanted information now.
"So? What was it about? Does he know who it was?"
"It came from Lydecker. He says Eva is in trouble." She sobbed looking at Eva even for a moment, "This is it, I guess." Alec never let fear get the better of him. He knew in most circumstances he was more agile, more cunning and smarter than the enemy. But now the one who had made him all that held his daughters life in his hands. He was scared.
***
Authors Note: The plot is thickening and theres only a chapter or two left in the series! Want more? Need some reviews!!!!!!