Author: Michelle Drake
Author's Note: I wanted to thank all those that reviewed and apologize to the slowness that is my updating . . . I don't even know how long it has been. Sorry :-) Enjoy . . . oh, and I promise the next update won't be as sad and depressing as this chapter is.
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: I live off reviews and feedback or feel free to e-mail me
Disclaimer: Not mine
. . .
by Michelle Drake
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C h a p t e r T w o
Max went to sleep, knowing that she had to sometime. She had been so afraid of sleep and all that flooded her mind when the lights went out, that she only slept when she had to. Every time she finally let her self sleep she always dreamed. Sometimes it was a beautiful dream, a happy one that would paint a smile on her face until she woke up and realized it wasn't real. But most of the time it was a nightmare that would cause her to wake up crying silently, her knees to her chest as she curled up in a fetal position. The dreams always started out beautiful, comforting; however by the end they turned into a nightmare that she was always afraid she might one day never be able to wake up from.
Her tired body tried its best to welcome sleep, but her fear kept her awake, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about nothing at all. She let her mind go blank; she found it was easier that way. That's when she saw a shadow move across the room. She sat up quickly and alert as a cat, as she scanned the room for intruders. There was nothing there. As she was about to lay back down she looked over towards the window finding a person standing there- but it wasn't just any person.
Max tried to speak, but she couldn't find the words. Her throat tightened and tears sprang to her eyes in an overwhelming wave of relief. The person walked toward her and sat on the edge of the bed softly.
Max . . . he whispered reaching out to touch her, leaving her skin tingling at the sensation.
she barely breathed, not knowing where she found the words. You- I- but . . .
Shhh . . . he said placing a finger on her lips, an all-knowing smile across his face. It's okay.
No- but you- she said fighting back the tears, noticing that she was shaking, so afraid that it might just be a dream.
None of that matters now. None of that matters anymore, he said soothingly as he pulled her into his arms where she instantly let herself break down into sobs.
Max, baby- it's all right. He smoothed the back of her hair as she cried in his arms. You don't have to cry anymore. I promise.
No, it's not all right . . . I'm not all right . . . she cried softly at the confession. She would never be okay again.
I'm so sorry, he spoke quietly, his voice was full of regret of what Max had become. Tears came to his own eyes as he rocked her back and forth as one would do to a small child awaken by a bad dream.
she asked. I don't understand how you can be . . . she managed to say.
Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter. He kissed the top of her head, and held her tighter. You don't have to cry anymore. He pulled away a little bit, so that he could look into her eyes. You don't have to cry anymore. Everything's okay, he said strongly.
Max . . . Max said a different voice this time. Max looked around, still in Logan's arms, searching for the voice.
She looked up at him but the life and passion in his eyes was gone and replaced with a dull, dead look of pain. she screamed in horror as she looked at her hand to see blood. She look down at his stomach and saw the gaping wound. she screamed. Don't die on me again . . . not again. No! she cried out.
Max! Max! came Alec's voice, but he was no where to be found as Max was flooded by the darkness of her dream that had turned into her worst nightmare.
Max continued to cry. Not again, she whispered through the stream of tears. Not again.
Alec smoothed back Max's hair, waiting for her to wake up, knowing that it was a horrible dream that was causing Max to cry out in her sleep. It had happened so many times before and each time it happened he could feel his guilt grow more and more.
Max's eyes slowly fluttered open, to see that the arms she was in was not Logan's but Alec's. She closed them again and let him rock her back and forth, comforting her the only way he knew how.
You killed him . . . she whispered.
As if hit in the gut Alec lost all breath. He wasn't sure if Max was talking to him or herself, but it didn't matter. He knew he was responsible for Logan's death. He knew he was responsible for Max's pain.
I'm sorry, he whispered quietly. closing his eyes as he held Max, waiting for the terror to pass.
. . .