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Part 5
"Max, open this door right now!" Maria yelled as she rang the doorbell insistently.
"Calm down Deluca!" Max answered as he opened the door. Maria didn't even wait for him to invite her before she had pushed open the door and stormed into the den. "Why don't you come in?" Max said sarcastically when he was left standing in the doorway. He shut the door with a sigh and made his way to the den.
Maria was pacing to and fro mumbling to herself. "What's wrong Maria?" Max asked, a bit worried by her behaviour.
Maria paused for only a second to look at him before resuming her pacing. "I know you two aren't on talking terms and all but you must know something!" Maria cried. "I mean she just wasn't there when I got to her house! And-and it isn't like her. She doesn't just get up and leave! And she knows better than to do that without telling anyone-"
"Maria!" Max yelled at her, breaking her ramble. Maria stopped in her tracks and looked at him, as if finally realizing he was standing there. Max bit back the grin that was threatening to emerge. "Who are you talking about?"
"Liz!" Maria stated as if it was obvious. "When I went to see her today she wasn't there. And when I asked her parents they told me that Liz had told them she was staying at my place."
Maria looked at Max worriedly. "You don't think the skins captured her, do you?" she asked. "Or God what if some aliens killed her too?"
"She went through with it after all." Max groaned to himself as he sat down and ran his hands through his hair.
Maria turned to stare at him. She looked at him suspiciously. "What do you mean 'she went through with it after all'?"
When Max didn't answer her she glared at him, hands on her hips. "Max, what aren't you telling me?" she asked.
Max looked wearily at Maria, having no intention of fighting her, which he knew she would do if he didn't tell her. "Liz went to Sweden yesterday." He told her with a sigh.
"Sweden!" Maria cried in disbelief. "When? Why?"
"She went to find Leanna. She thought maybe she could answer some questions about Alex."
"Why didn't she tell me?" Maria shouted. "I'm her best friend! And Sweden? Did she even consider how dangerous it might be if Leanna is some murderous alien?"
"She knew all the risks." Max told her wearily.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Maria asked accusingly. "I could have knocked some sense into her. I mean she can't go to Sweden and knock on Leanna's door saying: Hi, I'm Alex's best friend. Oh and by the way, did you kill him?"
"She didn't want anyone to know until she got there." Max replied.
"You knew about this and didn't try to stop her?" Maria asked incredulous, smacking him on the arm.
Max stood up abruptly. "In case you haven't noticed, Liz and I aren't exactly the best of friends at the moment." He replied angrily. He lowered his voice a little and gave Maria a resigned look. "Besides, it's not like I didn't try to reason with her. She wouldn't listen to me. You know how she can get."
Maria plunked down on the sofa Max had just vacated, worried by Liz's erratic behavior. "She's intent on doing this, isn't she?" Maria asked.
"Looks like it." Max sighed. "I wish she'd just accept Alex's death."
"He was her best friend since kinder garden Max." Maria replied sharply. "What do you expect?"
"I know, I know." Max said apologetically. "It's just…I don't know. She makes me feel responsible."
"I don't think she really meant what she said that day…"Maria replied quietly, thinking about what Liz had said at Alex's wake.
"I'm not so sure about that…"Max replied. He sat down next to Maria and they sat in silence for a few minutes before Isabel's shriek made them bolt up.
"Max! Oh my God!" Isabel yelled, nearly hysterical. "Come quick!"
Max and Maria ran to where Isabel was standing in the kitchen, staring at the images on the TV.
"What's wrong Isabel?" Max asked worriedly.
Isabel silently pointed to the TV. She then raised the volume as they listened with growing horror to the newscaster.
"…The plane lost function of one of its engine, resulting in the crash. The plane was heading to Sweden. All passengers are presumed dead. Excavation for bodies is being carried out but it seems unlikely to find any remains…"
"Oh my God!" Maria whispered. She turned to look at Max who was still staring at the screen in shock and horror.
"Max?" Isabel asked tearfully. "Didn't you tell me that Liz left for Sweden yesterday…?"
TBC…
