Hi there! * hides guiltily behind my chair * I know that I've been really
bad at updating lately. Sorry!!! : ( But now I'm back, and I won't keeping
you waiting as long for the next update - I promise.
Thank you so much for the feedback;
Patty Akashaa Cheri NATZ Keri carlson
Your words means a lot to me : ) !!!
Okay, without further ado... here's chapter 8!!
Chapter 8
The night was very dark. The darkness was so thick that the street lanterns' attempts to light the dark streets failed, instead casting impenetrable shadows along the menacing buildings. The night was very cold. The air was chilly and the wind that otherwise was too shy to show its power howled. There was no living sounds. The streets of Roswell were dark and abandoned. The wind was full of whispers, foreboding danger. The wind had succeeded in making most people stay in doors this starless night.
In a street corner stood a tall man - dark as the very corner he besieged. His face was emotionless and indifferent - expressionless. His eyes were icy cold.
"Max...?"
The man turned towards the insecure whisper.
"No, Nasedo," he corrected.
"Okay."
All dressed in black, with golden curls sticking out under a dark gray cap on her head, the girl - let's call her Tess - slumped a little, relaxing her nerves.
"Are you certain that she was going to be here tonight?" the man called Nasedo asked.
"Yeah, they were talking about it today at the CrashDown. She'll be there," the girl said.
"It's getting late - maybe she's gone home already," the dark-haired man with the face of another, commented without feeling the need to look at a watch.
"They probably have lost track of time," the girl said.
"Well, just the better for us, isn't it? Then the chance that she is alone and no one else is out is so much greater."
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Liz hands were trembling slightly as she buttoned up her jacket.
"Are you sure you don't want to have a sleep over?" Maria asked, unaware of the dread that had started to fill every space of Liz's petite body.
Liz shook her head. "I need to get home - I have to get up early in the morning. I'll be fine..." Liz's voice trailed off.
"Okay, babe. Here, you can burrow my cap - it is freezing outside!"
"Thanks Maria." Liz smiled. She opened the door and the cold air hit her face.
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The two watchers could see the door to the house they were watching open.
"See, I told you," the girl said with a triumphant smile that was lost in the darkness. However, as the person - who for a second appeared in the doorway - disappeared inside again, a loud frustrated sigh was emitted from the blonde girl.
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"Oh wait!" Liz said and turned away from the darkness and closed the door again - to prevent the coldness from penetrating the warm house. "I guess I should call Dad, and he can meet me halfway!"
"Good idea. I know that I would feel much better then," Maria said.
Liz stepped past Maria and grabbed the receiver. After dialing the number, she hoped that her Dad wouldn't be asleep yet. She glanced at the kitchen clock. It was half past eleven. A click was heard at the other end of the line, announcing that someone had picked up.
"Hello?" Liz had never been so happy to hear her father's voice.
"Hi Dad. It's me. What are you up to?"
"Waiting for you," Mr. Parker answered and Liz could hear the warm smile in his voice.
"Can you meet me - it's really cold and dark. And-and I just would feel better if you did."
"Of course, pumpkin. I was actually thinking about it myself - I'm not so happy about you being out this late. I start walking now."
"Thanks Dad! See you in a few."
She hung up the phone and felt that some of the dread that had positioned itself like a knot in the middle of her stomach, lessened some in size.
"Is he meeting you?" Maria asked.
Liz nodded and pulled the jacket closer around her body - already anticipating the cold.
Maria pulled her in a hug. Liz felt like crying and she didn't even now why.
"Bye, girlfriend. See you tomorrow!"
Liz nodded, not even trying to speak, afraid that her voice was not strong enough.
She opened the door and gazed out into the dark night. With a "be careful, chica" Maria closed the door behind Liz and Liz was alone.
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"There she is," the man said and smiled. Fortunately for the girl called Tess the night was so dark that she couldn't see that smile. That smile spoke volumes of the malicious nature of the man.
"You wait here, and only show your face in case something goes wrong." Without waiting for her reply, the man also known as Nasedo stepped out of the street corner and purposefully strode towards the petite brown-haired girl, which with small but fast steps hurried down the street. In the night the sad cry of an owl could be heard. The only sound from an animal in the whole night.
-----------------------------------------.
Liz's throat constricted, making it harder to breathe. "Oh, no - this isn't be happening!" she thought. "It was only a dream, it was only a dream!" But the footsteps echoing behind her told her a different story. She was being followed.
-----------------------------------------.
The man quickened his pace. She sure was quick for being so small. He dived into one of the alleys - planning to intercept her path. She came around a corner and having her head turned, her eyes fixed on something over her shoulder, she didn't see him before she slammed into him.
In the soft light from the lantern above them, Nasedo saw a brief flash of recognition in her dark eyes. That puzzled him. For some reason he suspected that she already knew that he wasn't who he was pretending to be.
"Max," Liz said. Her voice was emotionless - it came out as if she merely stated a fact.
"Liz, what are you doing here? It could be dangerous to be out so late," Nasedo said with the same voice as Max.
Liz thought quickly. Should she give him the same response as in her dream or should she say something else, and with that action perhaps change the chain of events that were so similar to that of her nightmare?
"I went out for some fresh air," Liz said.
"I can walk with you. You shouldn't walk alone."
Liz's heart sank like a stone in her chest. It suddenly dawned on her that she was working against destiny - a seemingly well-worked out plan that was going to get its way in one way or the other.
"No really, Max, I'm fine!" Liz said, her voice mechanical and detached as she repeated the same words she knew so well from her dream scenario.
"Really Liz, it's no problem."
The chilliness slammed into her as he positioned his arm around her waist. Even though her emotions in her dream world had felt frightening real, what she felt then was nothing compared to what she was feeling now. She was on the verge of panic. The difference was that this was reality and she knew how it was all going to end.
"Please, something has to be different in reality. Let it not be a re-play of my dream," Liz thought, knowing that this far it has been just that. "Was I just supposed to see the future and not be able to do anything about it?! Of course, you could have stayed at Maria's when you sensed that something was wrong. You could even have decided to not go to Maria's - not tonight! My God, Liz!" She was getting pissed at herself. "There were signs everywhere - screaming at you to be extremely cautious and stay at home. Not to leave the house today!"
Liz tried to force her feelings of panic to the back of her head. She had to stay focused - she could not let herself be ruled by her emotions, not when it was a matter of life or death. She could probably try to stall him until her Dad arrived, but wouldn't that make him suspicious? She put on her best 'oh-stupid-me' expression and exclaimed: "Oh, I'm so clumsy! I forgot my history assignment at Maria's house..."
"I thought you just went for a walk," Nasedo said smiling smugly.
"Yeah, yeah...I was. I was at Maria's house earlier today. Anyway, I need to go back and get it. You can go home, Max - I'll be fine. I'll call Dad and he will pick me up."
She was closer to Maria's house than her own. It would be easier to go to her.
Nasedo narrowed his eyes. "Does she know?" he thought. He eyed her suspiciously. Although, she seemed genuinely agitated to have forgotten her homework.
"I'll follow you there," Nasedo said.
"No...thank you, Max, but I'll be fine. Go home - you shouldn't be out at this time either. You don't want to worry Isabel, right?"
Nasedo scanned his memory for a typical Max behavior that wouldn't make her suspicious. He didn't want her to suspect anything too soon, it would make it harder to go trough with the task.
"Liz. I'm worried about you. You know that being with me is putting your in danger and I feel responsible for keeping you safe. You don't know who is watching us. There could be skins left or..or the FBI. Let me help you home!"
Liz blinked to clear her mind. "Wow, that was a pretty good imitation of Max," she thought. He almost convinced her. Almost. Liz's advantage was that she and Max had a connection and the man in front of her didn't know about it. Even if Max's soul would to leave his physical body and enter another body, Liz would probably still recognize him. She would know him anywhere.
"I told you before, Max, and I'm telling you again. I need to feel that I can take care of myself! I want to be independent. I'm not a child and I don't like being treated like one!" Liz said, clearly seeing the absurdity of the situation as she was calmly discussing her feelings with an evil shapeshifter who was impersonating her alien boyfriend in the middle of a dark abandoned street in the middle of the night.
"I just want you to be safe," the man said. "I'm coming with you!"
Liz looked up and saw the coldness in his eyes. "Okay, it's no better solution to piss him off," she thought. "I'll have to work something out before we arrive at Maria's, because he is certainly not going to follow me to Maria's door step and then leave."
Liz's mind had gone into planning mode. She had detached all her feelings and were rationally going through all the facts, logically and systematically trying to work out the best solutions.
"Okay," Liz agreed, her voice almost a mere whisper. The mouth of the man in front of her produced a very un-Max smile which reminded Liz of the condescending 'smile' Nasedo had given her when he had kidnapped her and she had, at the carnival, told him about how much Max and her meant to each other. That smile sent warning bells to go off inside her head. She felt the sudden urge to give into her fears and give into the temptation of hiding in the darkness that threatened to devour her at any moment. But she couldn't do that. She would not make it easier for him to kill her!
They had started walking down the street - towards Maria and away from the CrashDown. Something caught Liz's attention out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head slightly, trying her best not to make her movement too conspicuous.
Hidden in the shadows, created by a street lantern, a short person was standing dressed all in black. However, her blonde curls betrayed her. It was Tess. Liz had known even before she had seen Tess that she had the odds against her. It would be very difficult to escape the 'person' walking beside her, but escaping him and Tess. Tess could make her see things, make her believe things that wasn't really there. Tess could trick her into going into the wrong direction - even making her step out in front of a car.
Liz seriously considered if she should make a run for it - even though she knew in her heart that outrunning him hadn't worked in her nightmare. Liz searched her memory, going over her nightmare in her mind, trying to find Tess in it. She needed to know which part Tess had played in her nightmare. But she couldn't find her. That made her terrified. She didn't know what Tess was going to do - Liz hated being in the dark. She focused inwardly and started to gather her energy. She would make one last effort. She would put everything on one last card. Focusing on his face, his love for her, his kisses, his smiles and everything that was him she reached out through their connection and reached for Max. She had to warn him.
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Max laid in his bed - sleeping. However, his sleep was troubled by blurry faces, hissed whispers and a girl. Her face was a blur but he would recognize her anywhere. She was in trouble and she was calling for him. With a jerk he was awake. He sat up in his bed. All he could think about was Liz. Something was wrong - something was very wrong. Then he heard her voice, loud and clear in his head.
"Max, can you hear me?"
Max didn't even waste time on analyzing how Liz could talk to him in his head. He was too concerned about her to even reconsider it.
"Liz, what's happening? What's wrong?"
"Max, you have to stay calm. I need you to get Michael and Isabel and go to Maria's. Look for me on the way."
"Liz, tell me what's wrong!" He was being freaked out by the combination of her calm voice, and at the same time feeling her emotions running amok through the connection.
"Max, listen. I'm in danger. You have to hur..I don't...think it's Nasedo."
"Liz, I'm losing you." Liz's voice was drifting in and out of the connection - like a bad phone line. The connection was draining Liz of her energy. She wasn't used to using any 'powers' and it took a lot from her. Max felt a tug on his energy and realized that Liz was pulling energy from him. Max focused on feeding the connection with energy.
"Max! Max! Can you hear me?"
"Yeah..."
"I can't hold on any longer. I love you." As soon as she said that Max could feel her presence diminishing back to the usual fluttering at the back of his mind.
"Liz, Liz!" Max yelled out into the air.
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Isabel snapped out of her dream world by the sound of Max's voice.
She looked at her bedside clock and found it to be twelve o'clock. With a sigh, she rose from the bed and walked out of her room, into her brother's.
Max was wide awake - running around the room with one leg in a pair of pants, while he was evidently searching after something. If Isabel's hadn't seen the expression of complete anxiety on Max's face, she would have found the sight of her brother quite comical.
"Max, what's wrong?", she asked, her voice still holding evidence of sleep.
Max looked up, startled. He hadn't noticed her standing there.
"I can't find my shirt," Max said.
"What's wrong?" Isabel asked again, getting more and more agitated by her brother's odd behavior by the minute.
"I need to get to Liz," Max said.
"Max, it's in the middle of the night. Can't it wait until tomorrow," Isabel sighed and rubbed her sleep-induced eyes.
"NO!" Max practically yelled.
His tone almost gave her a jump. Her brother - her always so-in-control, calm brother - was almost hysterical.
"Max, calm down and tell me what's happening!" Isabel said.
Max found his shirt and pulled it over his head.
"Liz is in danger," he said and pulled the other leg into the pants. Zipping up as he straightened up he met Isabel's eyes for the first time since she had entered his room. Isabel shrank back a little from the look in his eyes. His eyes were masked with something she didn't quite recognize. It was a primal look, an animalistic look. That look reminded Isabel of a lioness protecting her cubs against danger.
Max took some deep breaths, obviously straining to regain control. Isabel could see how some of the old Max came through - Max, the leader.
"Isabel, listen to me. I need you to get Michael and head for Maria's. Keep an outlook for me on the way...or Liz...if I don't find her first." With those final words Max finished tying his shoes and brushed past Isabel.
"Max, what's ha-."
"Just do it!" Max's answered tightly. Isabel stood at the top of the stairs and watched Max's back disappear down the stairs in a rush.
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Liz was suddenly pulled into a dark alley, her mind filling with a weird sense of déja vu.
"Max, what are you doing?" Liz asked, noticing how her voice trembled. She dreaded the answer.
"I just got the sudden urge to kiss you," the person with the Max mask replied.
Liz felt a cold hand grip around her heart - feeding her body with a coldness and numbness.
"Max," she whispered. "I really need to get to Maria and then get home. It's really late."
Her enemy leaned closer to her. She could feel his warm breath against her cold face.
"What was that? I didn't hear you," he said, the hissing sound of his voice reminding her of vicious snake.
As Liz's hands automatically pushed him away from her, she felt as if she left her body - becoming an observer from the outside. She observed how his control snapped and he pressed his lips onto hers. She didn't feel his lips, she didn't pay any attention to the familiar flashes in black and white displaying death and evil. All she was aware of was the numbness that was filling every cavern of her body, her every limb and cell. She watched as her physical body struggled to free itself, but he was stronger and pushed her to the ground. His hands ripped her blouse open, revealing her bra and pale stomach. As she continued to struggle, his hand flew over her left cheek leaving a red burning mark. Liz didn't feel that either. She had hidden herself in a place in her mind where she couldn't feel anything, only observe. In that place was a calmness that calmed her.
Her physical body continued its struggle and threw up a knee into his crotch. He lifted away from her, as he swore over the human body and its physical limitations and weaknesses. Liz's mind slammed back into place as she saw her chance of escape. She got up on her legs and started to run. A few feet away, she could see Tess stepping out from a street corner running towards her. Liz changed her direction - going into a dark alley. She didn't see the stone protruding from the ground, before it was too late and she couldn't stop her legs from moving. She fell over, scraping her hands and her bare stomach against the harsh ground. As her head hit the ground images of her life flashed before her eyes. She knew this was the end - it was here that everything ended in her dream.
Through her labored breathing she could hear his steps coming closer.
"You bitch," he hissed and his hand was on the small of her back. It was even worse than in the dream. From his hand radiated heat of hundreds of degrees, setting her inside on fire. She could feel how her interiors were practically melting. The numbness in her took over and she welcomed the painless darkness.
TBC...
Thank you so much for the feedback;
Patty Akashaa Cheri NATZ Keri carlson
Your words means a lot to me : ) !!!
Okay, without further ado... here's chapter 8!!
Chapter 8
The night was very dark. The darkness was so thick that the street lanterns' attempts to light the dark streets failed, instead casting impenetrable shadows along the menacing buildings. The night was very cold. The air was chilly and the wind that otherwise was too shy to show its power howled. There was no living sounds. The streets of Roswell were dark and abandoned. The wind was full of whispers, foreboding danger. The wind had succeeded in making most people stay in doors this starless night.
In a street corner stood a tall man - dark as the very corner he besieged. His face was emotionless and indifferent - expressionless. His eyes were icy cold.
"Max...?"
The man turned towards the insecure whisper.
"No, Nasedo," he corrected.
"Okay."
All dressed in black, with golden curls sticking out under a dark gray cap on her head, the girl - let's call her Tess - slumped a little, relaxing her nerves.
"Are you certain that she was going to be here tonight?" the man called Nasedo asked.
"Yeah, they were talking about it today at the CrashDown. She'll be there," the girl said.
"It's getting late - maybe she's gone home already," the dark-haired man with the face of another, commented without feeling the need to look at a watch.
"They probably have lost track of time," the girl said.
"Well, just the better for us, isn't it? Then the chance that she is alone and no one else is out is so much greater."
---------------------------------------.
Liz hands were trembling slightly as she buttoned up her jacket.
"Are you sure you don't want to have a sleep over?" Maria asked, unaware of the dread that had started to fill every space of Liz's petite body.
Liz shook her head. "I need to get home - I have to get up early in the morning. I'll be fine..." Liz's voice trailed off.
"Okay, babe. Here, you can burrow my cap - it is freezing outside!"
"Thanks Maria." Liz smiled. She opened the door and the cold air hit her face.
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The two watchers could see the door to the house they were watching open.
"See, I told you," the girl said with a triumphant smile that was lost in the darkness. However, as the person - who for a second appeared in the doorway - disappeared inside again, a loud frustrated sigh was emitted from the blonde girl.
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"Oh wait!" Liz said and turned away from the darkness and closed the door again - to prevent the coldness from penetrating the warm house. "I guess I should call Dad, and he can meet me halfway!"
"Good idea. I know that I would feel much better then," Maria said.
Liz stepped past Maria and grabbed the receiver. After dialing the number, she hoped that her Dad wouldn't be asleep yet. She glanced at the kitchen clock. It was half past eleven. A click was heard at the other end of the line, announcing that someone had picked up.
"Hello?" Liz had never been so happy to hear her father's voice.
"Hi Dad. It's me. What are you up to?"
"Waiting for you," Mr. Parker answered and Liz could hear the warm smile in his voice.
"Can you meet me - it's really cold and dark. And-and I just would feel better if you did."
"Of course, pumpkin. I was actually thinking about it myself - I'm not so happy about you being out this late. I start walking now."
"Thanks Dad! See you in a few."
She hung up the phone and felt that some of the dread that had positioned itself like a knot in the middle of her stomach, lessened some in size.
"Is he meeting you?" Maria asked.
Liz nodded and pulled the jacket closer around her body - already anticipating the cold.
Maria pulled her in a hug. Liz felt like crying and she didn't even now why.
"Bye, girlfriend. See you tomorrow!"
Liz nodded, not even trying to speak, afraid that her voice was not strong enough.
She opened the door and gazed out into the dark night. With a "be careful, chica" Maria closed the door behind Liz and Liz was alone.
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"There she is," the man said and smiled. Fortunately for the girl called Tess the night was so dark that she couldn't see that smile. That smile spoke volumes of the malicious nature of the man.
"You wait here, and only show your face in case something goes wrong." Without waiting for her reply, the man also known as Nasedo stepped out of the street corner and purposefully strode towards the petite brown-haired girl, which with small but fast steps hurried down the street. In the night the sad cry of an owl could be heard. The only sound from an animal in the whole night.
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Liz's throat constricted, making it harder to breathe. "Oh, no - this isn't be happening!" she thought. "It was only a dream, it was only a dream!" But the footsteps echoing behind her told her a different story. She was being followed.
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The man quickened his pace. She sure was quick for being so small. He dived into one of the alleys - planning to intercept her path. She came around a corner and having her head turned, her eyes fixed on something over her shoulder, she didn't see him before she slammed into him.
In the soft light from the lantern above them, Nasedo saw a brief flash of recognition in her dark eyes. That puzzled him. For some reason he suspected that she already knew that he wasn't who he was pretending to be.
"Max," Liz said. Her voice was emotionless - it came out as if she merely stated a fact.
"Liz, what are you doing here? It could be dangerous to be out so late," Nasedo said with the same voice as Max.
Liz thought quickly. Should she give him the same response as in her dream or should she say something else, and with that action perhaps change the chain of events that were so similar to that of her nightmare?
"I went out for some fresh air," Liz said.
"I can walk with you. You shouldn't walk alone."
Liz's heart sank like a stone in her chest. It suddenly dawned on her that she was working against destiny - a seemingly well-worked out plan that was going to get its way in one way or the other.
"No really, Max, I'm fine!" Liz said, her voice mechanical and detached as she repeated the same words she knew so well from her dream scenario.
"Really Liz, it's no problem."
The chilliness slammed into her as he positioned his arm around her waist. Even though her emotions in her dream world had felt frightening real, what she felt then was nothing compared to what she was feeling now. She was on the verge of panic. The difference was that this was reality and she knew how it was all going to end.
"Please, something has to be different in reality. Let it not be a re-play of my dream," Liz thought, knowing that this far it has been just that. "Was I just supposed to see the future and not be able to do anything about it?! Of course, you could have stayed at Maria's when you sensed that something was wrong. You could even have decided to not go to Maria's - not tonight! My God, Liz!" She was getting pissed at herself. "There were signs everywhere - screaming at you to be extremely cautious and stay at home. Not to leave the house today!"
Liz tried to force her feelings of panic to the back of her head. She had to stay focused - she could not let herself be ruled by her emotions, not when it was a matter of life or death. She could probably try to stall him until her Dad arrived, but wouldn't that make him suspicious? She put on her best 'oh-stupid-me' expression and exclaimed: "Oh, I'm so clumsy! I forgot my history assignment at Maria's house..."
"I thought you just went for a walk," Nasedo said smiling smugly.
"Yeah, yeah...I was. I was at Maria's house earlier today. Anyway, I need to go back and get it. You can go home, Max - I'll be fine. I'll call Dad and he will pick me up."
She was closer to Maria's house than her own. It would be easier to go to her.
Nasedo narrowed his eyes. "Does she know?" he thought. He eyed her suspiciously. Although, she seemed genuinely agitated to have forgotten her homework.
"I'll follow you there," Nasedo said.
"No...thank you, Max, but I'll be fine. Go home - you shouldn't be out at this time either. You don't want to worry Isabel, right?"
Nasedo scanned his memory for a typical Max behavior that wouldn't make her suspicious. He didn't want her to suspect anything too soon, it would make it harder to go trough with the task.
"Liz. I'm worried about you. You know that being with me is putting your in danger and I feel responsible for keeping you safe. You don't know who is watching us. There could be skins left or..or the FBI. Let me help you home!"
Liz blinked to clear her mind. "Wow, that was a pretty good imitation of Max," she thought. He almost convinced her. Almost. Liz's advantage was that she and Max had a connection and the man in front of her didn't know about it. Even if Max's soul would to leave his physical body and enter another body, Liz would probably still recognize him. She would know him anywhere.
"I told you before, Max, and I'm telling you again. I need to feel that I can take care of myself! I want to be independent. I'm not a child and I don't like being treated like one!" Liz said, clearly seeing the absurdity of the situation as she was calmly discussing her feelings with an evil shapeshifter who was impersonating her alien boyfriend in the middle of a dark abandoned street in the middle of the night.
"I just want you to be safe," the man said. "I'm coming with you!"
Liz looked up and saw the coldness in his eyes. "Okay, it's no better solution to piss him off," she thought. "I'll have to work something out before we arrive at Maria's, because he is certainly not going to follow me to Maria's door step and then leave."
Liz's mind had gone into planning mode. She had detached all her feelings and were rationally going through all the facts, logically and systematically trying to work out the best solutions.
"Okay," Liz agreed, her voice almost a mere whisper. The mouth of the man in front of her produced a very un-Max smile which reminded Liz of the condescending 'smile' Nasedo had given her when he had kidnapped her and she had, at the carnival, told him about how much Max and her meant to each other. That smile sent warning bells to go off inside her head. She felt the sudden urge to give into her fears and give into the temptation of hiding in the darkness that threatened to devour her at any moment. But she couldn't do that. She would not make it easier for him to kill her!
They had started walking down the street - towards Maria and away from the CrashDown. Something caught Liz's attention out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head slightly, trying her best not to make her movement too conspicuous.
Hidden in the shadows, created by a street lantern, a short person was standing dressed all in black. However, her blonde curls betrayed her. It was Tess. Liz had known even before she had seen Tess that she had the odds against her. It would be very difficult to escape the 'person' walking beside her, but escaping him and Tess. Tess could make her see things, make her believe things that wasn't really there. Tess could trick her into going into the wrong direction - even making her step out in front of a car.
Liz seriously considered if she should make a run for it - even though she knew in her heart that outrunning him hadn't worked in her nightmare. Liz searched her memory, going over her nightmare in her mind, trying to find Tess in it. She needed to know which part Tess had played in her nightmare. But she couldn't find her. That made her terrified. She didn't know what Tess was going to do - Liz hated being in the dark. She focused inwardly and started to gather her energy. She would make one last effort. She would put everything on one last card. Focusing on his face, his love for her, his kisses, his smiles and everything that was him she reached out through their connection and reached for Max. She had to warn him.
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Max laid in his bed - sleeping. However, his sleep was troubled by blurry faces, hissed whispers and a girl. Her face was a blur but he would recognize her anywhere. She was in trouble and she was calling for him. With a jerk he was awake. He sat up in his bed. All he could think about was Liz. Something was wrong - something was very wrong. Then he heard her voice, loud and clear in his head.
"Max, can you hear me?"
Max didn't even waste time on analyzing how Liz could talk to him in his head. He was too concerned about her to even reconsider it.
"Liz, what's happening? What's wrong?"
"Max, you have to stay calm. I need you to get Michael and Isabel and go to Maria's. Look for me on the way."
"Liz, tell me what's wrong!" He was being freaked out by the combination of her calm voice, and at the same time feeling her emotions running amok through the connection.
"Max, listen. I'm in danger. You have to hur..I don't...think it's Nasedo."
"Liz, I'm losing you." Liz's voice was drifting in and out of the connection - like a bad phone line. The connection was draining Liz of her energy. She wasn't used to using any 'powers' and it took a lot from her. Max felt a tug on his energy and realized that Liz was pulling energy from him. Max focused on feeding the connection with energy.
"Max! Max! Can you hear me?"
"Yeah..."
"I can't hold on any longer. I love you." As soon as she said that Max could feel her presence diminishing back to the usual fluttering at the back of his mind.
"Liz, Liz!" Max yelled out into the air.
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Isabel snapped out of her dream world by the sound of Max's voice.
She looked at her bedside clock and found it to be twelve o'clock. With a sigh, she rose from the bed and walked out of her room, into her brother's.
Max was wide awake - running around the room with one leg in a pair of pants, while he was evidently searching after something. If Isabel's hadn't seen the expression of complete anxiety on Max's face, she would have found the sight of her brother quite comical.
"Max, what's wrong?", she asked, her voice still holding evidence of sleep.
Max looked up, startled. He hadn't noticed her standing there.
"I can't find my shirt," Max said.
"What's wrong?" Isabel asked again, getting more and more agitated by her brother's odd behavior by the minute.
"I need to get to Liz," Max said.
"Max, it's in the middle of the night. Can't it wait until tomorrow," Isabel sighed and rubbed her sleep-induced eyes.
"NO!" Max practically yelled.
His tone almost gave her a jump. Her brother - her always so-in-control, calm brother - was almost hysterical.
"Max, calm down and tell me what's happening!" Isabel said.
Max found his shirt and pulled it over his head.
"Liz is in danger," he said and pulled the other leg into the pants. Zipping up as he straightened up he met Isabel's eyes for the first time since she had entered his room. Isabel shrank back a little from the look in his eyes. His eyes were masked with something she didn't quite recognize. It was a primal look, an animalistic look. That look reminded Isabel of a lioness protecting her cubs against danger.
Max took some deep breaths, obviously straining to regain control. Isabel could see how some of the old Max came through - Max, the leader.
"Isabel, listen to me. I need you to get Michael and head for Maria's. Keep an outlook for me on the way...or Liz...if I don't find her first." With those final words Max finished tying his shoes and brushed past Isabel.
"Max, what's ha-."
"Just do it!" Max's answered tightly. Isabel stood at the top of the stairs and watched Max's back disappear down the stairs in a rush.
--------------------------------------------.
Liz was suddenly pulled into a dark alley, her mind filling with a weird sense of déja vu.
"Max, what are you doing?" Liz asked, noticing how her voice trembled. She dreaded the answer.
"I just got the sudden urge to kiss you," the person with the Max mask replied.
Liz felt a cold hand grip around her heart - feeding her body with a coldness and numbness.
"Max," she whispered. "I really need to get to Maria and then get home. It's really late."
Her enemy leaned closer to her. She could feel his warm breath against her cold face.
"What was that? I didn't hear you," he said, the hissing sound of his voice reminding her of vicious snake.
As Liz's hands automatically pushed him away from her, she felt as if she left her body - becoming an observer from the outside. She observed how his control snapped and he pressed his lips onto hers. She didn't feel his lips, she didn't pay any attention to the familiar flashes in black and white displaying death and evil. All she was aware of was the numbness that was filling every cavern of her body, her every limb and cell. She watched as her physical body struggled to free itself, but he was stronger and pushed her to the ground. His hands ripped her blouse open, revealing her bra and pale stomach. As she continued to struggle, his hand flew over her left cheek leaving a red burning mark. Liz didn't feel that either. She had hidden herself in a place in her mind where she couldn't feel anything, only observe. In that place was a calmness that calmed her.
Her physical body continued its struggle and threw up a knee into his crotch. He lifted away from her, as he swore over the human body and its physical limitations and weaknesses. Liz's mind slammed back into place as she saw her chance of escape. She got up on her legs and started to run. A few feet away, she could see Tess stepping out from a street corner running towards her. Liz changed her direction - going into a dark alley. She didn't see the stone protruding from the ground, before it was too late and she couldn't stop her legs from moving. She fell over, scraping her hands and her bare stomach against the harsh ground. As her head hit the ground images of her life flashed before her eyes. She knew this was the end - it was here that everything ended in her dream.
Through her labored breathing she could hear his steps coming closer.
"You bitch," he hissed and his hand was on the small of her back. It was even worse than in the dream. From his hand radiated heat of hundreds of degrees, setting her inside on fire. She could feel how her interiors were practically melting. The numbness in her took over and she welcomed the painless darkness.
TBC...