HEY JOE
Liz walked like a zombie through the Crashdown she was in the middle of refilling the napkin container at one of the tables when someone tapped her on the shoulder; she spun around expecting her father but was met by an unpleasant surprise.
"Hello again," spoke the deep voice of the same man who had killed Max last year "What? Surprised to see me? You should have been expecting me."
"You..." her voice shaking as the pain rose in her throat.
"Yeah that's right me. We were never formally introduced, I'm Agent Paul Gregors," Liz glanced around relieved to see there were at least six people in the diner. "And you're Liz Parker." He spoke touching her face.
"Get out." Her voice still shaking with a combination of fear and anger.
"Ouch! That hurts!" He said sarcastically touching his chest as if she had struck him. "Do you still have blood on your hands little girl." He hissed.
"You are a murderer!" she whispered
"I'm not a murder sweetheart because you see your boy toy wasn't human."
"Shut up." She stated plainly tears welling up in her eyes
"He was an animal, nothing more then a stupid animal that I had the unique pleasure of putting down." He smiled broadly now as he watched a single tear slip down her cheek. "I just wanted to tell you and your little friends that we're done waiting and that we're gonna be comin' for you very soon." He whispered in her ear as he held her head to his lips. "We are comin' for you." He said kissing her neck before turning around and leaving.
As soon as he had stepped out of the diner Liz ran to her father.
"Dad can I leave early tonight I have some things to do?" she tried to keep her voice steady.
"Sure honey, when do you..." he spoke with a great deal of concern in his voice before she cut him off.
"Thanks Dad, bye." She ran up the stairs changed and left for Maria's house knowing that Michael would probably be there too.
As she reached Maria's front door she couldn't help but feel a great sense of loss over their forgotten friendship and all that had gone with it. She knocked on the door and Sean answered.
"Hey," he smiled at her surprise visit "What are ..."
"I need to talk to Maria." She cut him off
"Uh her and Michael are upstairs I don't know if you wanna go up there though." He raised one eyebrow the disappointment in his voice evident.
"It's an emergency." He heard the fear and desperation in her voice
"What is it?" the concern in his voice rising
"Just let me in I need to talk to Maria and Michael!" her voice more demanding then he had ever heard, he opened the door and she strode past him and up the stairs knocking on Maria's door.
"Go away Sean!" Maria's exasperated voice answered.
"Maria it's me." Liz said through the door, it opened revealing a surprised Maria and Michael standing not far behind.
"Liz I haven't seen you in ..." Maria started softly
"Something big is happening." Liz stopped her.
"What?" Michael's gruff voice questioned her, it sounded so strange as did Maria's
'Have I really not spoken to them in that long?' she wondered.
"He's back. They're looking." Liz's voice was fast
"What!" Maria's voice loud now and full of fear.
"Who's back?" Michael's voice changed to a more bossy tone.
'So he's the new King now, I should've figured' her mind echoed.
"The government, specifically the man who... who killed Max" she struggled to get the painful words out.
"WHAT! NO!" Maria's voice even louder now, loud enough to raise Sean's curiosity, he walked up the stairs to see Michael, Maria, and Liz talking just inside Maria's room. Maria's hand was covering her mouth and she looked as if she was about to cry, Michael looked extremely worried and Liz's back was turned towards him.
"He said that they're back and that they're coming for us." Liz's voice was so scared.
"What's going on up here?" Sean made his presence known "Who's coming for you?" he asked confused and frightened by Liz's words.
Michael looked up and glared at him.
"Stay out of this" he stated angrily before slamming the door closed leaving him, Maria, and Liz in the privacy of Maria's closed room. Sean frowned angrily at the unresponsive door before turning around and going back down the stairs.
"We have to do something." Liz's voice trying to remain relaxed
"We have to get Isabel, Tess, and Kyle." Michael said looking to Liz then Maria, once he received a nod from both he picked up the phone first calling Tess and Kyle.
"Just meet us out at the pod chamber in 20 minutes." Michael demanded of the phone. "And call Isabel; tell her to meet us out there too. Okay?" He then turned to Maria and Liz.
"Let's go." They headed out of Maria's room and down the stairs where they were met by an angry Sean.
"What's going on?" His voice firm.
"None of your business tough guy," Michael said as Sean stepped in front of the door "Back off." Michael's tone challenging.
"Make me" He glared back at Michael ready to fight for the information.
"Both of you just stop it!" Maria yelled "Sean move it we have to go."
"What is this about?" when he was met with silence he turned to Liz his features softening
"Liz please just tell me what's happening I can help." His eyes held hers for a moment before she lowered them ashamed that she had turned him down.
He stared at her for a moment hurt by her unwillingness to let him in; after all he had been the one who had continued to be her friend when the others had abandoned her. Michael pushed him aside and walked out the door Maria following close behind, Liz stopped for a moment in front of Sean looking into his eyes, he caught a glimpse of her, the pain and the intense fear that had consumed her this year.
"Liz..." he started his tone sad.
"Come on Liz!" Michael shouted from outside, Liz turned from him, stepped out of the house and he watched as she got into Maria's Jetta and they sped away. For a moment he thought of following them, but he knew better.
When they reached the pod chamber Liz remembered a similar experience almost a year ago now. They stepped out of the Jetta and walked toward the pod chamber, Michael put his hand up against the stone and the odd opening in the cold rock appeared. Liz wondered for a moment if she could open it
'Or do you have to be royalty?' she had never tried, had never had a reason to.
When they stepped inside the chamber they saw Isabel, Kyle, and Tess waiting for them, all of them looked scared and confused.
"What's this all about" Isabel started her voice more rough then Liz remembered, it felt strange to be holding a meeting with these people because of their dissolved friendships and the missing members that had been so important to the group.
Liz was also surprised to realize that it hadn't been a slow process that had ended the tight bond they seemed to have had before, it had been quick. So quick that this was probably the first meeting since that horrible night.
"He's back." Michael's words so blunt they almost caught Liz off guard even though she had been the one who had said them less then an hour ago.
"Who?" the fear rising in Tess' voice.
"The guy who killed Maxwell and Alex." Michael's choice of words yet again felt so careless and quick but Liz could tell the reason he had said it that way was because he would fall apart if he just let them stay in his mind for too long.
"What?!" Isabel's words came roaring out.
"He approached Liz." Maria spoke up.
"Did he hurt you?" The concern in Kyle's voice felt strange and he noticed it.
"No, he just told me that he's coming... and that his name is Paul Gregors." Liz's voice so empty and emotionless it confused Kyle.
"So what do we do?" Tess questioned.
"We move in groups no one is left alone." Michael answered
"That's it? We just sit around and wait for him to attack?" Isabel snorted
"When we're ready to make a move we will until then we just have to stay safe," Michael paused considering the groups. "We should be alright in school but anywhere else, don't go alone. Kyle and Tess you stay together, Isabel and Liz, and me and Maria."
"What about at night?" Liz spoke up "I mean you and Maria and Kyle and Tess are ok but what about me and Isabel."
"Yeah." Isabel agreed raising an eyebrow
"You can have yourselves a little slumber party I guess" his voice mocking
"Is that it?" Tess asked "I mean should we go home now?"
"I guess." Maria said as they all awkwardly broke off into their groups. Isabel walked towards Liz.
"Is it ok if we stay at your place," Liz nodded "It's just my parents have been a little... off this year." Liz nodded again understanding.
They all stepped away from the pod chamber and towards their respective vehicles; Isabel walked towards the Jeep Liz almost gasped disturbed by the memories of her and Max that came from the sight of it. Isabel sat in the Jeep and waited for Liz before starting it and driving away, it was dark now and the stars seemed to flicker above as they drove toward the Crashdown. Isabel parked in the alley on the side and they walked through the front passing Liz's father.
"Umm Dad is it okay if Isabel sleeps over here for a while?" Liz asked him.
"I suppose..." he started before she walked away.
They walked up the stairs and into Liz's room.
"So...," Isabel started "Where should I sleep?"
"You can take the bed I have a cot that I can bring in" Liz said to confused by their non existent friendship to share the bed.
"Okay let me help you get it at least." They went and lifted up the cot and carried it in, Isabel caught a glimpse of Liz's scarred hands.
"You have powers don't you?" Isabel didn't sound surprised, but Liz looked up worried.
"How did you know?" She asked shakily.
"Your hands," Isabel pointed to them "Michael's always used to get like that when his powers got out of control, plus after everything Ava said last year I figured you would get powers I just didn't know when."
"They started about a year ago, right after..." Liz trailed off.
"Oh... I could help you, if you wanted me too." Isabel stated cautiously
"Sure... that would be nice." Liz smiled slightly.
"No problem" Isabel shrugged it off.
Liz finished and they went to bed neither of them sleeping, they just stared into the black void that stood in front of them.