Max grasped Liz in his right arm and pressed her up against him, as he extended his left arm and opened his palm. He immediately spotted the shadowy silhouette Liz warned him of and pounced into action to protect his wife. Max used his powers to turn on a lamp on a small end table on Liz's side of the sleeper sofa that was positioned between the couple and the shadowy figure. As Max's eyes adjusted to the light coming on, he squinted, unable to see a face clearly. But he wasn't going to waste time waiting to make the ID. A small white sphere illuminated in Max's palm, as he prepared to use his powers to knock the intruder back against the wall before leaping up out of the bed to confront the lurking visitor.
"Dad, wait," a voice said in a shouted whisper.
Max heard the words just in time to close his open palm and lower his arm. A second later, his eyes adjusted to the lighting of the room and he saw Zan in a defensive position, his hands thrown up over his face.
"Zan," Max whispered his name and hesitated a beat before continuing. "What are you doing out here?"
Max felt Liz lift her head out of his chest and roll over to look at Zan as well.
"With everything happening at the college and you guys knowing Mom, I didn't realize it right away, but I have a memory of both of you," Zan explained. "I… um."
He gestured slightly toward Liz and Max noticed Liz's chest came into Zan's field of vision. Both Max and Liz had sat up in bed upon realizing Zan watched them, not an intruder. The thin sheet on the sleeper fell down to only cover their laps. Max wore a white sleeveless under shirt, but Liz's top was just her bra.
"Eeep," Liz squeaked shyly, and swiftly pulled the sheet up to cover up to her shoulders.
Zan's face turned beet red, but looking to push past the embarrassment, he continued explaining why he came out to the living room to begin with.
"You also both look a lot older," Zan explained, "but I have memories of you, Liz, wearing an aqua dress with a silver apron and… uh, antennas?"
Liz rolled her eyes and shook her head to indicate he accurately described her old Crashdown uniform, including the headband with the antennas.
Now making eye contact with Max, Zan continued, "And you were there too, sitting in a booth. An argument broke out, and a gun went off. You were shot, Liz. Dad, you saved Liz."
"That's right," Max confirmed, a sentimental smile stretching across his face.
Now, Liz turned back toward Max. "That's the memory you gave him," Liz said, "Max, I had no idea."
Looking deep into her eyes, Max said, "What else would it be? As I've told you many times…"
"…That's the day his life began," Zan finished.
Max looked up at him, "Yeah, that's right," he said softly. "I knew if I couldn't be there for you and if there was just one thing I could leave with you to guide you to the path of being a good person, I wanted to share a memory of love."
After a brief pause, Zan seemed to become self-conscious over his actions. "Sorry that I just came out here like this. Once Mom explained some things, the memory came flooding to the surface and… it's like I needed to come talk to you."
"It's ok," Max assured him, "today was a big day. Tomorrow figures to be one, too. Go, try to get some sleep."
As they watched Zan retreat back to his bedroom and heard the handle of his door very quietly click closed, Liz turned off the lamp the old fashioned way. She snuggled up to Max and gave him a long, passionate kiss.
"Max," she whispered lovingly, "if were anywhere else right now…"
Max delicately placed his hand on her cheek, gently brushing her hair back over ear. He could see Liz's electric smile, even in the dimly lit living room. She looked at him the same way she did back in high school when they were first together and it was the biggest spark between them in years.
"I know," Max cut her off, "we can, uh, revisit this later. And the truth is, we may need a good night's sleep as well, especially given we're a lot older."
Liz needed to put her hand over her mouth to avoid giggling too loudly in the middle of the night. The couple curled up and fell asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning, Max, Liz and Ava started talking about the business at hand quite early while Zan slept in. Ava made coffee and offered Max and Liz bagels and cream cheese for breakfast. Ava wanted to go back to the college to collect Zan's books and bag that he abandoned in the park during the attack. Liz offered to go with her, both to satisfy a safety in numbers concept but also to give Max the opportunity to talk to Zan alone.
After Liz and Ava left, Max found himself pacing back and forth from the kitchen to the living room, avoiding the small hallway leading back toward Zan's bedroom. He didn't know what to expect, what to say, or what Zan expected of him. Ava managed to sense Zan's identity at the foster home, but she truly didn't know the circumstances preventing either Max or Tess from raising their child. Max speculated different explanations Ava potentially offered. So far, Zan appeared not to hold any resentment toward Max for not being there, albeit through limited interaction. During the bullies attack, Zan rightly focused on his physical safety and last night he seemed so caught up in reliving the memory Max gifted him that his awareness of anything else seemed muted.
Finally, Max knew that he needed to essentially rip the Band-Aid off and just start a conversation. He walked over to Zan's bedroom door and knocked softly.
"Come in," Zan offered from the other side.
Max opened the door and stepped inside, not bothering to close it behind him. As he scanned this new part of the house, he failed to hide a slight disappointment. He observed several tiny holes from where pushpins and staples held up wall décor, a desk off to the right nearly empty, just a box with its flaps still open lying on top of it. More boxes were stacked neatly in the far corners, no doubt containing the wall hangings and other personal belongings now packed away. Max's disappointment stemmed from not being able to take note of Zan's style and some of his interests. Instead, the room looked barren and almost sterile.
Zan sat at the left end of his queen sized bed, the head of which ran across the back wall of the bedroom below the window, extending out toward the center of the room. Zan looked to be deep in thought before Max entered. He looked up at Max, watching him uncomfortably canvas his room.
"Hey…" Zan hesitated a bit, "Max… or is it Dad?"
Max turned his attention toward Zan to make eye contact with him for the first time. He took a moment to think about this and then took a deep breath, smiling awkwardly.
"I think I like Dad," Max offered.
Zan smiled and nodded his head, "Yeah," he said, "yeah, me too."
"So this is your room," Max blurted out, unable to mask the awkwardness he felt at getting a conversation started with his 21 year old son. "Or what's left of it."
Zan looked slightly puzzled for a brief moment and then understood. "Oh, right," he said, "the move."
Max sensed how Zan felt about it, cutting through some of the awkwardness in his tone. He decided to dive deeper on that. His only other idea on what to say was, So, I'm your dad…
"You're not excited about moving?" Max asked.
"I've lived in El Quarterlejo almost my whole life," Zan explained. "This is my home. Mom won't tell me why it's so important we leave or where we're going."
"That's…" Max chose his next words carefully, "probably for the best."
Max recognized that Ava didn't tell Zan about Kivar and didn't feel he deserved to decide whether and when to explain that situation after a 20 year absence from his son's life. Besides, Max hoped to get to know his son, not tell stories of his alien heritage.
"I know it could seem unfair not knowing the whole story," Max continued, "but you need to trust that your mom is trying to do what's best for you."
"Like you did when you… left," Zan added.
Max recognized the tone and the specific timing of the pause as something he might say, especially at that age. That's how he knew Zan felt genuinely curious and not angry. Whether real or imagined, Max also sensed hurt and confusion beneath the surface. He walked past Zan and sat next to him on the bed.
"You know that your mom and I are…" Max never liked to describe himself this way.
"Aliens," Zan jumped in, while Max hesitated.
"I was going to say hybrids," Max said, smiling slightly in an attempt to lighten the mood a little. "But, you're right, alien fits. That memory I gave you where I healed Liz after she got shot, it brought me closer to Liz, but it also ultimately exposed me and who I am, where I come from. This forced me to leave my home. I can never go back. I can never stop anywhere long enough because the government would catch up to me and they'll always see me as some kind of threat."
Zan's eyes were wide, "So you've been living on the run my whole life," he said in bewilderment, "I can't imagine that… Wait, was it because of me, did I…"
"No," Max interjected, "you should never think that. And it's not true. I wish I could explain to you everything I've learned and been through. So you could truly understand my choices."
Max sensed that Zan would like that too. As an awkward silence began to emerge, Zan scratched his head. Max would need days to recap his whole life in any kind of detail that would help justify his choices. That's when a thought occurred to him.
"Maybe I can show you," Max added.
"What do you mean?" Zan asked.
Max twisted toward Zan and extended his hands toward his son with his palms open.
"Take my hands," Max encouraged gently.
Zan looked a little tentative. He didn't understand what Max wanted to do. Max knew he could send him flashes and he thought it would be too difficult to explain how. Even Max couldn't offer a technical explanation for how his powers worked. Max smiled warmly and Zan cautiously placed his hands in Max's.
FLASH
Max started by showing Zan images of him at 6 years old punching through the membrane of his pod at the pod chamber, tearing it, poking his head through and then climbing outside of it. He looked up and spotted two more pods above his, already torn, their occupants free. He looked behind him and spotted Isabel and Michael. They stared back at him, covered in the same clear, gooey gel from head to toe. He recognized that their instinct told them they needed to leave, but he didn't share that feeling.
Max looked back at the pods. He noticed the one beside his remained intact. He walked up to the pod and wiped condensation off of it to reveal the occupant's curly blonde hair and tiny round face. Her eyes were closed, and she wasn't about to break free like the others. Max didn't know how to wake her or open her pod.
Max looked back behind him again. Isabel watched as Michael retreated toward the far wall, where he waved his hand over a section of the stone, revealing a silver handprint. Michael placed his tiny hand over the adult-sized silver handprint and a doorway opened to the outside world. The bright light of the sun blinded the newly resurrected children. Michael stepped outside.
Isabel looked back at Max who watched the scene unfold with both curiosity and concern. He wanted to stay with the pods. Isabel reached her hand out for him to grab, a look of desperation on her face. Max took another look back toward the occupied pod, which he would later understand contained Tess, and then back toward Isabel. His look now fully conveyed concern because he wanted all of them to stay together. But Michael already left. Isabel smiled at him warmly, her hand still extended. Max took a final look back at Tess in her pod. Reluctantly, he stepped forward and took Isabel's hand. She guided him toward the pod chamber's exit.
FLASH
Max and Isabel, both 6, enjoyed their first Christmas morning in the Evans household. They gathered around the Christmas tree in their living room with their parents, Phillip and Diane Evans. After passing each person their presents, Phillip and Diane wanted Max to kick off the festivities by opening a gift, but he insisted Isabel go first. She tore into the wrapping paper and her face lit up as she revealed the American Girl Doll that she asked for. She proudly showed it off for the room as if holding a trophy. Even though the gift tag read "from Santa," Isabel ran to her mom, her dad and then Max, hugging everyone with excitement.
Phillip and Diane needed to really urge Max to open his first gift, as he smiled lovingly at Isabel, who stroked the side of the packing on her doll. It showed the strong bond and protective instincts programmed into Max for his sister. He wanted to ensure she got what she wanted before turning his attention toward his own presents.
Max carefully unwrapped his present, revealing a pair of Tonka trucks. There was a bulldozer and a dump truck. Max smiled slightly, but didn't offer nearly the exuberance Isabel displayed. He asked Diane to open the packaging and remove the trucks. He studied them carefully. His adoptive parents curiously watched. They wondered if perhaps he considered whether or not he liked the toys.
Instead, Max weighed which one Michael would like best. He grabbed the bulldozer, ran out of the room and straight to his bedroom. His parents were a bit taken aback, not sure what that meant. Meanwhile Isabel continued to marvel at her doll.
Max went into his room, closed the door and headed straight to the window. He opened it, Michael lurking just outside. He reached his hand out and offered Michael the bulldozer.
Michael's face lit up, "Wow, thanks," he said and he retreated away from the Evans household.
Max then returned to the living room to continue the family Christmas festivities. Phillip and Diane always thought maybe he hid the truck or wanted to put it in a special spot. They never noticed one of the toys from his pair went missing.
FLASH
A few months later, Max and Isabel fed pigeons in a park while his parents looked on filming them. They got up, playfully running through the area until Max spotted a pigeon that appeared wounded.
"Max," Isabel shouted.
She then turned back toward Diane, "Mom, look," she flagged her attention, "the bird is hurt, something's wrong with its wing."
"Ok guys," Diane said, prepared to comfort them after the distress of spotting a wounded creature. However Max continued walking slowly toward the bird, and her message quickly changed. "No. No, Max honey, get away from the bird."
Max knelt down and gently picked up the injured bird. Its wings flapped wildly, but it was unable to escape.
"Oh, look at its wing," Diane said, as Max held the bird. "Ok, just leave it alone. Oh, I think its wing is broken."
Max simply looked at her calmly and with a reassuring smile.
"Max, honey, just put it down, please," Diane instructed.
Instead of gently putting the pigeon back on the ground, Max thrust his arms upward and released it. The bird sailed off into the sky and looked completely healthy.
"Phillip," Diane shouted, and then to herself, "My God, did you see that?"
Max, arms still extended toward the heavens, watched the bird fly up past the trees toward the edge of the park and then energetically circle back across the park. Diane didn't understand what she witnessed. Max had just instinctively employed his powers to heal the bird's broken wing, even though he was not yet aware that he even had powers.
FLASH
Freshman year of high school, Max, Michael and Isabel sat at a booth at the Crashdown Café. Their text books and notebooks rested on the table, but none of them looked at their schoolwork. Isabel just finished telling them that she planned to go on a date later that evening. Max and Michael exchanged a look between them.
"What are you two snickering about?" Isabel asked.
"I already feel bad for the guy needing to wait for you to come down," Max joked.
"No wonder these guys never stick around for more than a date or two," Michael added.
"You two…" Isabel began shaking her head and rolling her eyes but failed to maintain the façade and instead started to giggle. She knew they fairly called out her inevitable tardiness given her tendency to take extra time picking out an outfit and ensuring her hair and makeup turned out perfect.
A moment later, the three of them burst out laughing at Isabel's expense, calming down when Liz approached with their burgers.
"Productive study session, I see," Liz teased playfully, as she handed each their plate.
Max smiled at her shyly and started to say, "Maybe sometime…" he trailed off, noticing that Liz swiftly moved on to the next booth to take another table's order.
"Smooth, Maxwell," Michael teased sarcastically, as he shook Tobasco sauce onto both his burger and fries.
Max smiled bashfully, grabbed the Tobasco from Michael and looked down intently at his plate, more to avoid eye contact with him than to focus on applying his own generous portion of Tobasco. This scene took place before Max saved Liz. Michael and Isabel knew how he felt about her, even though he never mustered the courage to speak to her. Isabel shot Michael a disapproving look and then gazed a moment sympathetically at Max. Of the three, she was the only one who dated but never anything serious. She knew her brother's feelings for Liz were deeper than anything she felt for any of her dates.
FLASH
During the summer between sophomore and junior year of high school, Alex and Maria put on a show for their friends in the Crashdown after closing time. Alex strummed a simple beat on his guitar as Maria made up goofy lyrics on the fly. Michael and Isabel watched their love interests longingly. Both were unwilling to give in and continue relationships with them after recent events, which included Max being tortured in the "White Room" and the alien hybrids using the orbs to learn of their mission from Max and Isabel's mother.
Max enjoyed the comical show, albeit with several lapses where his mind wandered and thought of Liz. After learning that Max was supposedly destined to be with Tess, Liz spent that whole summer visiting family in Florida.
WASHOUT
Max aimed to show Zan the person he became, despite his powers and alien heritage. He intended to share the full memory of Maria and Alex's off-the-cuff performance, but suddenly he sensed a change in Zan. Instead of just passively watching the flashes Max sent to him, Zan began probing Max's mind for memories, specifically alien-related memories. Based on Ava's description of Zan's limited capabilities and limited mastery of what powers he did possess, this caught Max off guard. He lost focus, contemplating how Zan knew how to dig for memories as they connected. Did Ava misinform them of Zan's capabilities, or did instinct take over? Was Zan's curiosity spurring this unknowingly, or was he making a concentrated effort?
With Max becoming distracted and Zan fishing for alien-related memories, the flashes started to become more erratic. Fragments of specific memories started to appear and then quickly fade as another memory popped up, almost like Zan wanted to find specific information in Max's mind.
FLASH
Max and Isabel examined Michael's first completed painting of the geodesic dome.
"This isn't good, you know," Isabel told Max.
"No, I see that," Max agreed.
Michael approached behind them.
"It's pretty good, huh?" Michael asked them.
FLASH
Max, Michael and Isabel sat at an outdoor table at Roswell High. Max and Michael started to walk away when Isabel called them back. She pointed to the picture of James Atherton in front of his geodesic dome home in the book that Max borrowed from Milton.
FLASH
Max, Isabel, Michael and Liz pulled up to Atherton's house for the first time in Max's Jeep.
FLASH
At night in the New Mexico desert, Max and Liz heard a pulsing, beeping sound and leapt to their feet.
"C'mon," Max said.
"This is it, Max," Liz told him.
They'd brought shovels and began frantically digging until a bright light shot up from the ground. Max and Liz stepped back and looked up toward the sky. After a few seconds, the light disappeared, and they looked back down toward the hole they dug.
"Max," Liz panted, out of breath from digging so quickly but also sporting a giddy smile of discovery. "Something's down there."
Max crouched down and picked up the silver, egg shaped orb. As he held it, the insignia on the front lit up once more, though not nearly as brightly as it did when first becoming unearthed. Max stared down at it, mesmerized. Liz peered over his shoulder. Excitement coursed through both their veins.
"It's the symbol from the cave painting," Max observed.
WASHOUT
As Max began to wrap his head around Zan's influence over the flashes being shared from Max's memories, he momentarily became distracted once more. He felt a bit of relief from that last memory. He was glad that Zan didn't call up the hot and heavy make out sessions Max and Liz shared to trigger Liz's visions and find the clues that ultimately led to the discovery of the orb. But Max needed to focus to regain control of the flood of memories being shared with Zan.
FLASH
On the road to Buckley Point, Max punched Michael in the face for taking the orb to meet Agent Topolsky without the rest of the gang's consent. The orb fell onto the ground as the two prepared to fight.
FLASH
Still near Buckley Point, Max, Michael and Liz watched in horror as Sherriff Valenti's flashlight shone on the orb Michael dropped when Max punched him. Valenti knelt down and picked up the orb. He took a closer look and noticed the insignia on it, though it didn't light up.
"Nice job, Michael," Max remarked in disgust as he and Liz headed back toward the Jeep. Michael continued to watch Valenti in horror, knowing that his carelessness cost them possession of the orb.
FLASH
Max frantically tried to navigate the maze of mirrors at the carnival. Nasedo, using his shapeshifting ability, impersonated Max and tricked Liz into driving off with him to draw out Agent Pierce. At the time, Pierce led the government's Special Unit to hunt aliens. Max bumped into a transparent panel of plexiglass. He thought he heard Liz whimper on the other side and hoped to get eyes on her. Valenti stepped into view instead, making eye contact with Max. Valenti looked baffled and slightly worried.
Max heard footsteps approaching him and turned. Two agents from the Special Unit pushed him up against the plexiglass panel. They forced Max to put his hands above his head while a stunned Valenti watched. With Max pinned, Nasedo, still disguised as Max, emerged onto the scene with Liz. They were further down the corridor right near the exit of the maze. Valenti's eyes grew wider at the sight of two versions of Max standing before him. Nasedo and Liz spotted Max but also could do nothing for him. They ran out of the maze.
FLASH
In the White Room, Max backed away as two agents in hazmat suits trapped him into the corner, picked him up off the ground and threw him into a tub of ice water. They held his down under the water as he flailed around wildly, shocked by the cold and trying to get up and get out of the tub, screaming in pain and fear.
FLASH
Still in the White Room, Max breathed heavily as agents hooked electrodes up to his bare chest. During his time in the White Room he wore nothing but a thin pair of pants made from hospital gown material and otherwise went shirtless and barefoot. With a thick, black headband strapped to his head, Max looked over at Agent Pierce, who unsympathetically bent over him. Piece expected Max to surrender answers to questions that Max honestly didn't know. Since Max didn't start talking, Pierce reached down to a knob labeled "Voltage Control" and dialed it up to near maximum levels while Max screamed in agony.
FLASH
At the UFO Center in Roswell, Agent Pierce, dressed as Deputy Fisher, escaped his captivity. Kyle, not aware of Pierce's deception, untied Pierce and supplied him with a gun.
Valenti fired six gunshots at Pierce, which all missed. Then, Valenti's gun jammed. Pierce walked out from behind the wall where he took cover and aimed his gun at Valenti. Michael stepped out from behind a bookcase when he spotted Pierce come out of hiding with his gun drawn.
"Nooo," Michael shouted, as he stuck out his hand, palm facing Pierce. A bright white light emanating from Michael's palm focused into a concentrated sphere and he directed the wave of energy at Pierce, who to Max looked like a spotlight shone on him. The blast of alien energy connected with Pierce's chest. It sent him flying off his feet and crashing into the left edge of the projector screen behind him.
FLASH
Max looked out the open window of his Roswell bedroom. Someone just knocked and he expected to find Michael nearby. As he leaned back about to give up and close the window, a bloodied figure abruptly appeared.
"Nasedo,"he announced in surprise and horror.
Nasdeo collapsed forward and Max gently guided him into his bedroom and laid him flat on his back on the floor. He ripped open Nasedo's shirt to reveal several wounds. The most notable injury was a large black mark shaped like an x in the center of his chest under his ribcage. Nasedo looked up at him with a large stream of blood running from his left nostril down the rest of his face.
"They're among you now," Nasedo coughed out in a painful whisper.
"Who is? Who is among us?" Max asked with concern.
"The Skins," Nasedo hissed, summoning just enough strength to ever so slightly lift his head off the ground.
Max saw the life drain out of Nasedo as his head limply fell back onto the floor.
"No," Max sniveled.
He held his hand firmly over the large black wound and attempted to activate his healing powers but nothing happened.
"No, no," Max exclaimed, breathing heavily from trying so hard to heal Nasedo, yet to no avail.
Nasedo was gone.
WASHOUT
All of these alien-related flashes flooded into Zan's mind in a matter of seconds. Finally pushing back the surprise of Zan's mental will and finding his focus, Max took back control of the flashes. He couldn't avoid what Zan already saw related to his alien exploits. Even when back in control, Max decided to direct the visions to how he and Liz used their powers since leaving Roswell.
FLASH
On an early winter morning in Vernal, Utah, Max and Liz staked out their position behind a pine tree on the outskirts of Firestone Legacy Walking Park. They picked this specific tree to hide behind because it was just beyond a small bridge over a narrow creek in the park. A thin layer of snow from two nights ago still coated the park's grassy areas, but sunny skies the previous day left the blacktop pavement of the trail running through the park mostly clear.
Liz envisioned a high school girl jogging in the park before school slipping on a patch of black ice on her last step before the wooden bridge. In an improbable sequence, the girl stumbled a few steps up the arching bridge, crashed hard into the railing and then fell up and over it into the creek. The bridge wasn't tall and the creek wasn't deep, but the girl fell just right. She landed headfirst on a rock and rolled into the creek. The impact from the fall broke through the thin layer of iced-over water, and she wound up lying unconscious and face down in the creek.
Max and Liz walked the blacktop trail 20 minutes earlier and Max used his powers to melt the ice. This occurred four months after leaving Roswell. They were still fairly new to saving people. Max felt they could melt the ice and be done, but Liz insisted they keep watch to ensure the girl could run by uneventfully.
They spotted the runner coming and both focused in on her. She ran up and over the bridge and down the other side without incident.
"Satisfied?" Max asked.
Liz breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes," Liz replied, "thanks for agreeing to stay to make sure."
"Sure," Max said with a hint of mischievousness, "but don't think that decision doesn't come without consequences!"
He reached over and shook the thin trunk of the pine tree, causing snow to fall on Liz's head.
"Hey!" she yelled, her system shocked by the cold rush of the snow falling on her head and down her neck.
Liz grabbed the front of Max's jacket and threw him against the trunk, causing an even bigger amount of snow to fall on him as Liz jumped back to ensure she didn't get hit with any more. When Max recovered from the shock, he began chasing Liz around the tree. During the chase, each flung snow at the other off the branches or kicked it up from the ground.
They stopped when both needed to catch their breath. They made eye contact with each other and laughed. Neither was used to snow after growing up in Roswell. Following the adrenaline rush from making the save, the lighthearted snow fight provided an outlet to relieve the tension and relish a joyful moment.
Max wanted to show Zan that they were good people, who didn't let their extraterrestrial abilities define them.
FLASH
Max and Liz sat at the back right of a city bus in Cleveland. Liz recognized they were approaching the intersection from her vision. In the vision, the driver started nodding off and failed to stop for a red light. The bus got t-boned by a semi-truck killing the driver on impact and causing numerous injuries to several riders on the left side of the bus.
"Now, Max," Liz whispered.
Nobody paid them any attention and the back left seats of the bus were empty. Max subtly leaned toward the center aisle, leaving his left hand at waist level and aimed his palm toward the front of the bus. He activated the bus's horn for two seconds, which jolted the driver back into full consciousness. He noticed that the bus careened toward a red light at a busy cross street and slammed on the brakes. The bus screeched to a halt before crossing over into oncoming traffic. Some of the other riders received a few bumps and bruises from the hard stop but no serious injuries. The driver seemed to notice no part of his body was anywhere near the horn when he came to, but he probably figured he missed something given how drowsy he felt. No one suspected Liz or Max.
WASHOUT
Max's phone rang. He pulled his hands away from Zan to put an end to the flashes and reached into his pocket for his phone.
"Thanks, Dad," Zan said, "I feel like I know so much more about you now."
"I'm glad," Max said briefly, before answering his phone.
"Hey Liz."
"Max, there's someone watching us. You need to get here fast. Enter the alleyway right where Zan's attack happened and turn the corner toward where we escaped. I'm going to try to time it right to lure them in that direction right as you arrive, but hurry!"
Max stood up. "I have to go," he told Zan. "Stay here."
And then Max bolted from Ava's house and began sprinting toward the community college, located just less than a half mile from his current location.