Disclaimer: :lareina_Selena pores over various legal texts, looking for a loophole that will allow her to claim Dark Angel and its characters for herself. Finally, she slams book shut in disgust: Ok, fine! They don't belong to me! Is that what you wanted to hear? Huh? Are you happy now?
A/N: Once again, I'd like to shower my betas, afan and angel_gurl with many virtual hugs and kisses for making this story so much more than it started out as. You guys are the best; you've helped me take this story much farther than I had originally mapped out. Thanks to them, there will be a chapter 7 and maybe even a chapter 8 if you're lucky! So thank them, and also go and read their stories!
A/N 2: I'd also like to thank all the people who have reviewed my story. You guys keep me going! Ok, enough rambling; here's chapter 6! And again, PLEASE read and review!!! Emphasis on the REVIEW part – LOL!
Finding a Way Back, chapter 6
There was blackness all around her, a blackness so complete it was like peering into the depths of space without any stars to light the way. Max tried to call for help, but her voice was swallowed up so completely by the inky depths it was as if she had never cried out at all.
'Where am I?' she wondered. 'I was having a seizure . . . I must be dreaming.' She tried to will herself awake, but nothing happened. 'Well, I guess I'm stuck here for a while . . .Maybe I could at least improve my surroundings?'
Raising a hand, Max made sure that her eyes were closed, and then began to envision herself in Logan's apartment. When she could almost feel his arms around her, she smiled, and opened her eyes. She didn't see anything at first, and a wave of bitter disappointment washed over her. Then, a tiny spot of light caught her eye, winking and blinking at her from what seemed to be a long way away.
Max took a moment to ponder her options. 'Hello? Not much of a choice!' her inner voice scoffed at her. 'You can stay here and do nothing, or you can go and see what the hell that star is doing.' Max shrugged in agreement, and headed for the tiny winking star.
It was impossible to estimate distances in the void, but she seemed to be less than halfway to the light when a low growling sound came from behind her. Max whirled around, trying to find the source of the noise, but there was nothing there.
'I don't like the sound of that . . .' The noise reminded her of noises she had heard at Manticore, late at night. She and her siblings had assigned the noises to 'the 'Nomlies in the basement.' Hearing it again now brought back all of her childhood fears. Max swallowed and continued towards the light a little faster.
The growling came again, closer. This time when she turned, she caught a flash of light, like from a set of huge teeth. Suddenly, Max lost all control; panic gripped her, and she began to run. She could hear the 'Nomlie behind her, coming closer no matter how fast she ran.
An eternity seemed to pass as she ran, pursued by the embodiment of all her childhood fears. Finally, however, she reached the source of the blinking light. Actually, it was more like she collided with it. Shaking her head to clear it, Max realized that she was sitting down in front of a massive dark wall. The light was coming from a hole in the wall, about eye level from where she was sitting.
Hesitantly, Max reached out to touch the wall. Her fingers encountered some kind of fabric, thin but tightly woven. It was stretched out very tightly, which explained why it had knocked her down. The hole was only about as big as her finger; when she put her eye up to it, Max's heart leaped as she saw the familiar view of Logan's living room.
Another growl from behind her reminded Max of the 'Nomlie still pursuing her. It was getting closer now, and its growling reminded Max of a time at Manticore, when she had watched a guard dog chase down an X4 who tried to escape. The dog had made that noise when it smelled fresh prey.
Turning back to the hole, Max inserted a finger and tried to widen the opening. It wasn't easy going; the threads were fine, but incredibly strong and tough to break, even for her. She had gotten to the point where she could use both hands when the growling turned into full-blown roars, and the 'Nomlie came charging out of the darkness towards her.
Stifling a scream, Max pulled at the hole, trying desperately to escape. The strands dug into her hands until they were slick with blood, making it hard for her to get a grip, but she kept on pulling. Finally, with a loud ripping noise, the wall of fabric tore in half. Max dove through into the safety of Logan's apartment, praying that the 'Nomlie wouldn't be able to follow . . .
Unfortunately, tearing the fabric had caused the whole barrier to collapse, and the 'Nomlie charged through as well, landing on top of Max on the apartment floor. Automatically, she rolled to the side, throwing it off her back and getting to her feet in one smooth motion. As she saw it for the first time in the light of day, she couldn't hold back her revulsion. The thing was vaguely humanoid, but its ears were pointed almost like a cat's. When it opened its mouth to shriek at her, she could see that its teeth were pointed as well. It stood hunched over, its arms extended and clawlike fingers grasping for her, and a tail lashed around its feet.
"Get away from her!" Startled by the unexpected voice, Max turned to see Logan emerging from his room, shotgun in hand. They all stood there for a moment, frozen in time; Logan at one end of the living room, Max and the 'Nomlie at the other – standing right in front of the line of huge windows overlooking Seattle. Suddenly, the 'Nomlie growled again, and she turned back to see the creature's hungry eyes fixate on Logan.
"Get out!" Max cried. "Logan, get out of the apartment!" It was too late, though; the 'Nomlie had begun its charge. Max started forward to stop it, but Logan beat her to it. He fired, and the bullet hit the 'Nomlie square in the chest. The force of the shotgun blast threw it off course, away from him – and right towards Max.
Max tried to dodge out of its way, but there was no time. The 'Nomlie slammed into her full force, momentum carrying them towards the windows, and certain death. She struggled desperately to free herself from its grip, but the creature's fingers entwined themselves in her hair, hands fisting tightly, and she knew there was no escape. They hit the window together, glass flying around them in a diamond glitter as they fell into open air, and the 'Nomlie's triumphant shriek mixed with Max's scream . . .
And then the blackness returned, and Max fell almost gratefully into its welcoming oblivion.
