First
Wave: "The Lost Prophesies"
Chapter Seven – The Dream
Team
Summary:
Isabel attempts once again to dreamwalk Max
Disclaimer: See
Chapter One
"Love is everything it's cracked up to be…It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for."
- Erica Jong
The day had been long and tiring, leaving the five 'Field Team' members feeling exhausted and ready for a relaxing evening.
As they were climbing into Valenti's SUV, Cade voiced a question that had been bugging him the entire day. "This dreamwalking ability of yours...I'm curious, why haven't you used it to try and contact your brother?"
Isabel paused in her task of climbing into the vehicle and looked at Cade "I tried, we think that they are keeping him drugged to suppress his powers and because of that I was getting blocked."
Cade considered this before replying, "That's a good theory, and another one might be that they are using depleted uranium for the building structure. I'm aware of a few agencies that use this because it is the one earth material that to date aliens have been unable to manipulate. Granted, this may only be for certain aliens, but it could explain why you've been unable to communicate with your brother. Either way, from what I've deciphered from the prophesies, when you guy's are all joined your powers are remarkably strong, that's why you were sent together, and if one of you gets lost, like Max, it puts the rest of you at risk – you need each other for your survival. I have a feeling that if you joined your powers you would probably be able to connect with Max.
Isabel objected "but we're not all together."
"Three is still stronger than one." Replied Cade as he climbed into the passenger seat.
Isabel could feel her hopes rising. Maybe, just maybe this would work.
THAT EVENING
That evening found the group of friends sitting around the Evans living room eating pizza and discussing the days events, including the decision that Isabel and Cade had come to concerning a new attempt to make contact with Max.
Although Isabel was still doubtful, she could feel the excitement growing as they counted down the minutes until 11pm, the agreed upon time to do the dreamwalk. Although Isabel's powers had progressed enough that she could now dreamwalk a person who was awake, they didn't want to risk the large amounts of energy that would be required, as it was, the energy they were going to use would be enormous. For this reason they had agreed that it would be best if Max were asleep when they made their attempt.
Liz was naturally excited and couldn't wait for them to try it, Mr. Evans was hopeful, so was Maria. Michael and Alex were doubtful, but at least, thought Isabel, Michael was willing to try.
Liz put down her half eaten slice of pizza, she was too nervous to eat and by the look of how much pizza was remaining so was everyone else. Instead, she chose to watch those around her as she waited for the minutes to tick by. She watched as Alex placed his hand over Isabel's offering her comfort, Liz smiled, maybe Isabel had finally found someone who would care for her, for the real her and not just the outer beauty that everyone saw her as.
Alex seemed different, he seemed to genuinely care about the real Isabel, and Liz hoped that Isabel was aware of that, and that she'd give the young man a chance to prove it.
Averting her gaze from the private moment, she watched as Michael paced nervously waiting for the agreed time in which they would attempt the dreamwalking. He had spent the past fifteen minutes pacing the room and looking at the clock, something Liz had noticed he always did when he was nervous or upset.
Maria was the only person who appeared to be calm, she was sitting cross-legged on the floor doing yoga or something similar, her eyes were closed and she was taking deep even breaths, she had a candle in front of her burning some aromatherapy oils. When Liz had asked her about it earlier she said that it helped keep her calm, Liz contemplated trying it herself, she dearly wished that she had something to calm her fraying nerves. Maybe Michael could do with it too she thought to herself as she watched him give Maria another odd look.
He'd spent the entire evening in-between his pacing and clock-glaring to give Maria looks that suggested she were mad. Maria seemed either unaware or uncaring of his rude stares, instead she continued to hum softly.
If Liz hadn't been so wound up she would have found the entire scene highly amusing. But as it was, she barely contemplated the looks Michael was throwing in Maria's direction, at this moment in her life it was her least concern, because tonight they were going to try and contact her soul mate.
Mr. Evans and Cade were the only ones doing something productive, they were crouched over a book trying to decipher more of the destiny stuff Nostradamus had predicted. Mr. Evans' brow was furrowed as Cade pointed something out.
The only person missing was the Sheriff who had left earlier to pick up Kyle who was home on college break. He had been obviously disappointed that he could not be around for the dreamwalking attempt.
Liz looked up at the clock and saw that the time had arrived; her eyes met Isabel's who gave her a weak smile. Everyone gathered in the living room, Michael and Maria moved to sit beside Isabel, everyone else made themselves comfortable around the alien trio.
Taking in a deep breath, Isabel reached out a hand to Michael on her left and Maria on her right.
As one, all three closed their eyes as Isabel began to form a connection.
Isabel's eyes fluttered as her mind began wandered the dreamscape searching for her brother, with the strengthening of her powers, she no longer needed a picture to form a connection, instead, she used her love for her brother as the link between their subconscious's.
Instantly they were transported into Max's subconscious, they found themselves in a stark white room.
Isabel looked around immediately spotting a figure crouched in a corner whispering unintelligible words to himself.
Slowly the trio made their way over to the figure, as they got closer, the figure in the corner seemed to come alive as it looked up to them, splitting the silence with an ear-piercing scream.
Isabel jumped back still holding on to Michael and Maria's hands as her face formed a horrified expression "Max?" Her voice broke, tearing her hands away from Michael and Maria she moved slowly towards Max, before she got close enough he abruptly jumped up, shoving her away in the process.
The figure that looked like Max circled the three dream-crashers, his faced contorted into a mask of fear "Stay back! All of you. Stay back!" He threatened, waving his hands in front of them as if it would keep them away.
Isabel looked beseechingly at Max "Max please…" she begged, holding out a trembling hand for Max to take. "Max, we're here to help you, tell us where they're keeping you."
Max clutched at his head as "No. No. You can't fool me. I know that you are dead." His eyes were wide and out of focus as he moved around the room "can't fool me" he sang as he broke into giggles, he did a little dance around the room repeating the same words over and over.
"Can't fool me."
"Dead. Dead. Dead. DEAD!"
With his hands, he repeatedly hit his head, trying to knock away the image of his dead sister and friend.
"Dead!" He repeated.
Looking up to see if the ghosts of his past had disappeared, his eyes fell on Maria as he noticed her for the first time.
Within seconds he raced to her side and grabbed her head in his hands.
Michael moved to stop Max but was stopped instead by Isabel when she grabbed his arm. "He won't hurt her Michael!" She said with a surety in her voice that she did not feel. She so badly wanted to believe that Max, her Max was in there somewhere, because she knew with all of her heart that her Max would not harm Maria. But what if she was grossly mistaken?
"We don't know that, look at him, that's not Max" bit out Michael, pointing at Max who still had a terrified Maria's head gripped in his hands.
"You! I know you, you're one of them" shouted Max, his face inches away from Maria's tearful one.
"Who Max? One of whom?" Asked Isabel gently, as she slowly approached her brother.
Max looked at Isabel, pain clouding his features and for a brief second Isabel was sure she saw 'her' Max. Max pushed Maria away, straight into Michael's arms.
Michael wrapped his arms around her stroking her head and trying to calm her shakes.
The connection broke and they found themselves back in the Evans living room. Isabel immediately broke into sobs and ran into her father's arms.
Michael sat dazed on the sofa clutching Maria to his chest.
Liz ran over and grabbed Michael by his shoulders, desperately trying to shake him out of his stupor. "What happened Michael? Tell me!" She demanded, fear etched into her face, she looked from Michaels haunted expression to Maria's tear streaked face and back again.
Mr. Evans who was still holding a sobbing Isabel looked helplessly at Liz. Liz turned slowly in a circle, looking for help from her friends and yet finding only dejection in their eyes. Mr. Evans sat Isabel down gently. "Izzy sweetie, it's important, tell us what happened" he coaxed, not sure if he wanted to know anymore, not after seeing the look of horror on his daughters face.
Isabel wiped the tears from her face and looked up into the concerned eyes of her father "It was horrible, he wasn't Max, I mean he was but he wasn't."
She looked at her father who nodded for her to continue, Isabel went on to explain the state that they'd found her brother in.
"He thinks that we're all dead, he seemed so confused, scared and alone, he looked like he was slowly loosing his mind...maybe he already has...I don't know, I just don't know." Isabel covered her face with her hands, her body shuddering from the sobs.
Liz's face went deathly pale, she felt nauseous and faint all at once.
"Did he tell you where he was being kept?" Asked Cade.
Michael who by now had come out of his stupor shook his head "the state of mind he was in, I don't think he even knew."
Cade persisted "what about markings on his clothes, or something in the room that could give us a clue?"
"The room was bare, and I wasn't exactly looking at his clothes" answered Isabel, becoming irritated at the persistent questioning, even though she knew that Cade was only trying to help. She couldn't help feeling that his manner was uncaring, and unsympathetic to the trauma they had just experienced, and had experienced for the past three years.
Maria's eyes widened as she sat up sharply from her place next to Michael "wait! When he was holding me I saw these initials on his breast pocket, it was E.R. or something I think" she said excitedly.
"Eagle Rock Military Base?" Suggested Alex.
Everyone's eyes lit up at this piece of information.
"I mean, that's what we already thought" continued Alex "this just proves it."
"Unless it stands for Emergency Room."
Everyone stared at Michael.
"What?" He demanded "it's a possibility that we have to accept."
"No" said Liz.
Sending her a sympathetic look, Maria began "Liz, maybe…"
Liz interrupted "No…Alex is right, it's the Eagle Rock Base, I know it, besides, what hospital do you know of that initials its hospitals gowns with E.R on it?"
Mr. Evans smiled "If Liz is right, then we'd better get to work, we have a rescue plan to form."
"I know I'm right!" Insisted Liz.
