Connections 12
Max led the way up to the cave. The others followed him silently. They were almost to the top of the hill when a scream from the cave pierced the silence. Max stopped. His heart broke at the sound. It tore at his soul to hear that scream.
"LIZ!" he cried out in agony. He ran up to the top of the hill, closely followed by the others. He raced into the cave. His heart broke again.
A man stood in the center of the room gripping Liz's shoulders and glaring into her eyes. He caught the last part of the man's statement.
"Love makes you weak, Liz, it allows me to fill your mind with my evil. You can feel it. Good."
Max ran to the man and pushed him down. The man was so surprised that he broke his connection with Liz and she crumpled to the ground. Max rushed to her side and held her head as she lay on the floor.
"Ahhh, the famous leader. Well, Kareena, I must say your son quite knocked the wind out of me. He's really somewhat disappointing though. I suppose I was expecting him to be a bit taller. What about his destiny, Kareena? Looks to me as though he's choosing his own path. Doesn't that just ruin all your plans?"
"My son chooses his own destiny! He always has! And just because we sent that witch Tess down too doesn't mean that their lives will play out the same. I hope it doesn't!" Kareena lunged at Shawn, but Tess held her fast. Shawn laughed as Isabel ran to Kareena's side.
"It's too late Kareena. It has already begun." Shawn once more glared at Liz and connected with her. Liz's eyes began to fill with tears and she cried out, "MAX!" Max held her close to him and stared into her eyes. The next moment he felt himself walking through Liz's mind.
'Liz, where are you?' he cried out, tears coming down his frightened face.
'Max!' he heard Liz's frightened voice in the distance. He ran towards it and finally saw Liz.
He ran up to her and held her in his arms. She cried against his chest. Then Liz looked up at him.
'I love you Max,' she whispered. Max pulled her closer to him and spoke into her hair, 'And I love you Liz.' The two came back to reality, but they stayed connected. Their hands intertwined easily.
Shawn broke his connection to Liz out of pain. He could feel their love and it made him sick. He recoiled and Tess came to his side. He nodded at her and they connected.
Their evil flowed together and each once again felt powerful. They worked together and attacked their group's minds all at once.
Max became frightened as he watched his family be defeated. He couldn't save them all. There wasn't enough time and he didn't have enough strength...