MOONLIGHT MILE

Maria walked with Liz towards Maria's house, Maria had tried to help Liz but she wouldn't let her touch her. Liz's face was blank her eyes seemed empty and Maria thought it felt as though she were looking at her through a thin veil of black that kept her separated from this world. Everything about her looked different. She had changed a lot this year but now it was like she was a complete stranger.

'Lost' Maria thought, 'I lost her too' Maria walked up to the door and opened it letting Liz inside.

"Where the hell have you been!?" Sean said fuming.

"Liz go up stairs," Maria stated calmly, Liz looked at her and then walked upstairs.

"What's with her?" Sean asked concern creeping into his voice.

"It's been a rough night," Maria whispered

"Oh, that is not an answer Maria!" He said pointing at her, "You're so lucky Aunt Amy is out..." he said before Maria cut him off

"Let it go Sean!" Maria yelled before walking up the stairs and into her room where Liz stood staring at an old picture of Maria, Alex, and her before all of the alien craziness had hit them.

"I have some bandages and things for your..." Maria said pointing Liz's torso and Liz lifted her shirt to reveal her beaten flesh. Her body was covered in bruises and she was bleeding.

"God," Maria gasped at her friend's wounds and walked over to her "You probably have a few broken ribs," Liz stayed completely still as Maria looked at her wounds.

"What I did..." Liz trailed off

"Liz you don't have to say anything you were defending yourself. You were defending us." Maria said quickly her voice anxious

"Maria..." Liz started again but Maria stopped her

"No Liz this is not you." Her voice shaky

"Yes it is Maria," Maria looked into her friend's eyes

"This is it Maria, this is me. And you're scared of what you see aren't you?" Liz asked as a tear slid down her cheek.

"Liz no I...I" Marian hesitated realizing the truth in Liz's words, Liz looked down and pushed Maria's hands away from her wounds before walking slowly towards the door.

"It's ok Maria, I understand." Maria looked at Liz tears running down her face. "I'm wrong, and I can't pretend I'm not anymore. I can't keep pretending I'm still Liz when I know in my heart I died a year ago. I love you Maria and I love the others all of them, but it's just..." Liz paused looking towards the door, "It's just not enough anymore, I'm not enough." Liz turned and walked out the door her face now soaked by her own tears. She walked down the stairs and started towards the door when Sean stopped her.

"Liz?" He questioned, he grabbed her and spun her around so she faced him.

"Sean, I'm sorry I led you on but I haven't been here for a while and you are too good a guy to be with me." She said point blank and walked out the door. He followed her rushing after her.

"Liz what is going on? Please just tell me!" He begged her as she walked fast.

"You want to know what's going on Sean? Is that it?" She looked into his eyes her stare harsh and hollow.

"Yes" he breathed out, her shirt lifted just enough so he could see her broken midriff.

"What happened to you?" He gasped shock and concern covering his face, as he reached to touch her stomach she pulled away.

"Too much," she paused "And it's not over, it will never be over. It's not just me it's everyone. It's Maria, Michael, Tess, Isabel, and Kyle. And Max and Alex, it's what killed them." She shuddered at the thought of Alex and Max.

"What does that mean Liz?" He asked brow furrowed.

"It means I'm stuck, this is my life now." She thought of what that meant, she was alien now. Some sort of alien and now she would never be able to escape.

"Why Liz, why are you stuck?" he said almost mockingly

"Because I'm one of them now." She stated quietly, her voice too low for him to hear.

"What?" he asked, but before he said anything more she turned and kissed him passionately trying to regain what was left of her humanity. 'Not human, not an alien so what am I?' she asked her self and as she pulled away from the kiss she realized 'I'm a murderer'

"Liz..." his voice sounded far away and as he opened his eyes he saw her hard features staring into his eyes, her face blank and void of emotion.

"Sean I recommend you stay out of this, you don't want to know what has happened this year, tonight. And honestly I don't want you to know." She said firmly "Goodbye Sean," and she walked away leaving him there dumbfounded.