Standard disclaimer: the concept of Immortality and the Immortals belong to Rysher and are copyrighted by them. This story is for fun, not for profit.

Much thanks once again to my beta-reader Neoinean for correcting all my mistakes (especially the many commas :-)

If you wonder: Duncan will appear later – much later.

And I appreciate feedback :-)

AMNESIA

"Damn," Methos thought angrily at himself for getting into this situation as he opened the old rusty iron door in front of him. Behind it he could see a large dark hall, which was only illuminated by the moonlight shining through the shattered windows on both sides.

For a moment it was totally silent, and the only sound, he noticed, was the quick beating of his own heart. As he entered the hall, his right leg got tangled up in something that was lying on the floor, and he felt a deep burning pain as something sharp scratched over his leg. Not having time to concern himself with this any longer he ignored the pain and hurried instead to close the door soundlessly behind him.

Because his eyes had already acclimated to the dark around him he was able to get a better look at the room he was now standing in. To his left and right, he could see accumulations of garbage, very likely collected and put here by beggars, which seemed to have slept here not long ago.

Suddenly he heard slight, almost inaudible steps coming from all directions. As he looked a little closer he recognized the source: rats; they were almost everywhere. Methos shuddered; he hated rats with all of his heart.

As he went deeper into the hall, he almost choked because he found himself confronted by an ugly odour, which almost overwhelmed his senses. He knew the smell very well: it was urine. Covering his nose with his right hand as best as he could manage, he hurried through the room hoping to find an exit to the outside - but there was none.

"Damn," he whispered as he turned to hurry back, knowing that he would only have few seconds before his pursuers would arrive. He only managed a few steps when he suddenly heard loud footsteps outside. It was too late; he could only hide in the shadows of the hall now, and hope that his hunters had not seen him enter the building.

A few moments later, his hope was ruined by an angry deep voice that shouted, "come out, we know that you hide in there!"

Methos sighed deeply, and closed his eyes for a moment, remembering what had brought him in this situation.

------------------------------------------------------------------ Flashback -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Methos sat in Joe's bar and drank his second beer while he listened to Joe's blues music. He really enjoyed himself, and even more he enjoyed watching the man sitting at a table as far away from Methos's position as possible. With an amused grin, Methos took another sip of his beer as he eyed the other a little closer.

It was a dark-haired man of about 25 years, who desperately tried to make the impression that he was sitting there by accident and now enjoyed the music. The man had an almost full glass of beer standing in front of him as he let his eyes wander over the crowd, always letting them unobtrusively flicker back to Methos – unobtrusively only for him, because Methos had spotted the man at the moment he had left his flat that morning.

The man happened to be his new watcher, Timothy Wyatt, who had been assigned to him six weeks ago. It had been bad luck that the watchers had discovered his Immortality; if this stupid fool hadn't challenged him... but he wasn't able to change that now.

Thank God that the watchers did not know his real identity; they only thought him to be a relatively new Immortal who had suffered his first death at the Kalas incident. Joe thankfully had backed his story, and had told the watchers that he had become MacLeod's student, and was now trying to get used to Immortal life.

"Hi," Joe greeted him after he had finished the last song, and came in Methos' direction. "I see you have helped yourself to another glass of beer," he then said as he pointed at Methos's glass. "Maybe you should pay your tab before you order another one."

Methos grinned back. "Joe, I never pay for my beer, you should really know that by now... By the way, have you heard something new of MacLeod?"

"No," Dawson replied as he sat down next to the ancient Immortal. "He is still staying with Connor; apparently they're making a tour through the Highlands. The last I heard of them was that they hired horses, bought tents and all the things you need for an outdoor tour; as far as I know the two, we shouldn't expect them back for weeks."

"Yeah," Methos agreed, "looks that way... an outdoor tour," he shook his head as he twisted his face. "And that voluntarily... No, thank you very much; ten horses could not bring me to go on an outdoor tour in the Highlands."

"It's not that bad".

"Ha, not that bad... You are right, it's even worse. Thing about all the small animals that crawl everywhere, the cold weather, getting up every day with the cold morning fog and not to forget the lack of beer... I really couldn't think of something I would do more reluctantly."

Joe smiled as he moved his chair a little closer to Methos. Then he leaned forward and whispered with amusement in his voice, "looks like your watcher is here, too... The poor guy had really problems to explain to his supervisor why he lost you a week ago, and why he missed the fact that you moved your flat."

"What a pity," Methos grinned back, and took another sip.

"By the way," Dawson continued more seriously, "you should be cautious. I have heard that a group of four Immortals recently arrived in the city. As much as I know, the group consists of a teacher and his three students. The teacher's name is Armand de Court, a 500 year old Frenchman, and what I heard, not one of the good guys. I looked him up in the database; according to it, he is a hunter and he doesn't fight fair. Rumours say that he always has a second weapon hidden in his coat. Not that he needs it: apparently they always hunt together; if one of his students fails to take his challenger's head, he or one of his other students beheads the weakened winner."

"Good to know, Joe... I think I will leave town until the danger is over; I really don't want to run into this group by accident."

"Yeah, maybe it's better, Adam. I let you know when the danger is over."

"Thanks, Joe." With that, Methos got up and walked to the door, knowing that his shadow was following him already. Looking in slight disappointment at the rain clouds that began to shadow the sky above, he hurried to his car, and drove home. He didn't get very far. After 15 minutes, his car suddenly began to make strange noises and Methos could smell smoke. He stopped.

Three minutes later, Methos stood in front of his opened hood while he could feel the first raindrops fall on his stared angrily at his car. "Damn car!" He shouted as he finally pulled his cell phone out of his coat. He began to deal the number of the ADAC (tow company), as his eyes caught sight of the display, which showed that the battery was empty. Damning himself and the word in general he stuffed it back, knowing that is was not very likely that help would arrive soon.

He once again looked at the dark clouds in the sky, and then finally decided with a deep sigh to walk the rest of his way - if he would be lucky, he could make it home in 20 minutes; he would take care of his car the next day. Still angry, he closed his car, and then began to walk in the direction he knew was the shortest way to his flat. Although it led through dark streets and abandoned buildings, Methos decided to use it because he did not want to walk in the rain.

About ten minutes later, he suddenly felt an Immortal presence behind him. Not really wanting to face the other he began to speed up, but then also felt presence coming from the front. "Damn," he thought in rising panic, and grabbed his sword a little tighter.

A few seconds later, the other Immortals appeared: it was an older grey-haired man of about 45 years and three younger men between 20 and 30. One had a scar at his left eye and was bigger than the others; the second was a black-haired, ugly looking guy with a big nose; and the third was not much prettier and also looked rather stupid.

Methos didn't have to wait for the introduction to know whom he was facing: it was the Immortal hunter group Joe had told him of before. Four against one – he knew that he would not have a chance. Nevertheless he decided to try: he immediately attacked the stupid-looking guy. Using the element of surprise, Methos hit him with his sword against the guy's head and then began to run as fast as he could manage. Behind him he could hear angry cries, and then footsteps that followed him very fast – too fast for his taste.

--------------------------------------------------------------- Flashback end ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Methos reopened his eyes and sighed again; it had not been a good idea to hide inside of this abandoned factory - he was trapped now.

"Ok, if you don't want to come out, we come in and get you!" The voice once again shouted. Methos hid deeper into the shadows, and grabbed his pistol as the door was opened...