A/N- Thank you for the reviews. Sorry it's been awhile. The more reviews, the faster the rest of the story comes. Also, this section will be a little bit confusing but as the story progresses, it will make more sense. What happened in the original episodes isn't exactly what happens in the story. So, keep reading and keep reviewing and more story will come. :) Thank you, reviewers!
I looked at the vast desert stretching in front of the car as we sped down the long road. The sun was high, the day was new, and I felt the hope growing between the two of us as we began our search for answers. I looked toward Maria and saw her head turned, watching the cliffs of sand pass as we drove, her eyes glazed over; she was lost deep in thought. She'd been silent almost the entire ride, gazing off into the distant and not saying a word.
"I just don't get it," she said suddenly, her head turning toward me. "Where were they going, Max? Why would they be driving away from Roswell?"
I shook my head slowly, focusing on the road. "I don't know, Maria." I said honestly, wishing I had more answers.
"Liz was NEVER late for work. It just doesn't make any sense that she'd be traveling away from Roswell with Alex at the same time that her shift was supposed to be starting." Maria's voice trailed off as she shook her head, gazing off into the distance. "It just doesn't make any sense."
I saw the curve in the road ahead and I slowed the Jeep down, pulling it off onto the shoulder and killing the engine. The stretch of road was worn and empty; the highway had been worn out from the years of travel and was no longer used for interstate traffic. I knew we wouldn't have to worry about being spotted because the only time anyone ever drove on Route 486 anymore was during rush hour. I turned toward Maria and saw her eyes fixed on the road ahead, her face draining of color.
"I- I haven't been her since…" she trailed off and I nodded, reaching my hand over and covering hers. She looked toward me and smiled weakly. "I guess it's silly, but I'm almost afraid to go. It's like… it's like if I go, it will be real." Her voice cracked and she shook her head, unbuckling her seatbelt with her free hand.
"You don't have to go, Maria. I can just go if you want." I offered, taking off my seatbelt as well.
"No," she shook her head firmly. "I'm going. We're both going. Liz and Alex need me to be strong, and I'm going to do it… for them."
I smiled and we opened our doors, stepping out onto the uneven road. We walked slowly, side by side. We reached the other side of the road and Maria let out a breath as we stood looking over the side of the steep hill. I looked toward her and she nodded. We stepped over the guard rail and carefully made our way down.
We stood at the bottom, looking around. Maria shook her head. "This is it; this is where it happened." She sighed, spinning in a circle. "What are we supposed to do, Max?"
I too looked around. "We listen, Maria. We listen and wait for Liz to tell us what she needs to say. Do you remember when Liz got those flashes?" Maria nodded and I went on, "when things get intense, we see things. I'm just hoping Liz speaks, because we're here to listen."
I closed my eyes, breathing deeply. I felt the breeze blowing through my hair and heard Maria sigh again as she too listened and waited.
There was a flash of color against the darkness of my eyes. I kept them closed, waiting. Another flash and I took a deep breath, trying to relax and open my mind. Suddenly, the scene played out in front of my eyes, as if it were happening right in front of us.
"Liz! LIZ!" Alex screamed, scrambling up the ladder. He fell over the top and pushed himself up violently, shoving himself forward. "Liz!" He screamed, knocking on her window.
Liz jumped, looking up from her books. "Oh my God, Alex?" She said, startled. She quickly ran toward the window and opened it. Alex fell into the room, gasping for breath as he pushed himself up from the floor.
"Liz! You have to listen. Yyou're the only one who will get it, Liz. Please." His voice wavered and cracked as his breaths came rapidly. "Liz! It's gone! It's all gone! I- I don't know. I don't know!"
"Alex, listen to me. You have to calm down." Liz said, grabbing a hold of both of his arms with her hands and guiding him toward the bed. She sat him down firmly. "Alex, what happened to you?"
"Liz! Don't you get it? Can't you see it? It's gone! I- I was erased." He searched her eyes frantically for any recognition. "Liz, you have to help me. You have to ask her what happened to me."
Liz looked him over slowly, and nodded. "I will, Alex. We'll get this figured out."
I felt the breeze against my face as the darkness returned behind my eyelids. I opened my eyes slowly. I looked toward Maria as she simultaneously opened her eyes. Her eyes searched mine and I knew.
"You saw it too," I said slowly and she nodded. Liz spoke.
One hour later
I slowly climbed the ladder, feeling it shake as Maria climbed below me. I leaned over and caught her eye, placing a finger over my lips. She nodded, knowing that silence was imperative. I reached the top and swung my leg over onto the porch, pulling myself over. Maria reached the top and I took her hand, helping her over the ledge. We both looked around at the porch and smiled, each of our memories gracing this small area of Liz's life. I walked toward the window and slid it open, stepping inside.
Maria had said that the Parkers had closed off Liz's room. Liz and Alex's deaths had shocked the town, sending everything into a standstill for a few days. For the Parkers, the standstill had lasted months.
I looked around, feeling a pang in my heart as I looked around at the familiar surroundings. Everything in this room had a memory. Every piece of furniture, photo, and item of clothing strewn on a chair- everything told a story. The story of Liz's life played out in the remnants of her existence in Roswell. Slowly I stepped forward and looked around the room. For a moment I had forgotten that we had a purpose, but I saw Maria move into action and I followed.
We looked around the room for a few minutes. I looked over the papers on the top of her dresser. I scanned the pictures, smiling as I looked at the picture of our eight smiling faces at the Crashdown before Prom. I felt a yearning in my stomach as I looked at myself standing next to Liz. There was so much awkwardness in our eyes. For a moment I wondered, if Liz really was alive, did she still feel the pain that was present on that night? The pain that had disappeared in my heart during the months of her absence.
I heard Maria gasp and I looked toward where she was. She held something in her hand and as I walked closer, I saw that it was a photo.
"What is it?" I whispered. Her fingers shook as she stared down at the photo. I stood beside her and together we looked upon the photo. Alex and Leanna in Sweden… Alex's head was cut from the picture.
"Why would this be in Liz's room?" She asked. She turned the picture over and on the back in disjointed, uneven letters, was scrawled:
Leanna is not Leanna.
"Sweden," I said slowly, looking toward Maria. She nodded, and we both understood.