Re: Choices and Conseqences teen M/L CC Chapter 4 10/19/17
Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 8:08 pm
Chapter 4
Max sat on the edge of the bed holding on to Liz's journal. He didn't know what he was going to do. He knew everyone was looking to him to come up with a plan, but he was just as confused as everyone else was. If he followed his heart, he would hand over the Granolith and let the consequences fall where they may. But then there was also that part of him that knew he had to consider the bigger picture. He knew if he did give up the Granolith, the entire planet could fall into the hands of a murdering, power-hungry alien, who wanted nothing more than to bend the entire universe to his will.
He ran his hand through his hair; this was such an unfair decision to have to make. Liz was the love of his life. If he left her to Nicholas, there would be nothing to stop him from torturing and eventually killing her. The more he thought about her in Nicholas’s ruthless hands, the angrier he got. Just knowing that his Liz was out there somewhere, alone, and terrified made him feel sick inside. All he could think about was how terribly he had failed her. When she needed him most, he wasn’t there for her. He took in a deep breath and forced himself to stay focused. He knew beating himself up right now would offer Liz little help. He had to stay in control; he had to keep his emotions in check. As he opened her journal and began to read what she had written, he realized why Maria had warned him. He was in no way prepared for the effect her words would have on him.
Max came to me today, but it wasn’t my Max. It was another version of himself; a version from 14 years into the future. He said he came back through time to save the planet from alien invasion and take over. At first, I doubted that it was really him. I had been fooled by a shape-shifting alien before, but in the end, he proved beyond all doubt that he was in fact, my Max. Seeing him standing there broken and torn before me, broke my heart. The ravages of war had clearly taken its toll on him. He told me that the skins had won and that the earth was about to fall. He told me how Isabel was captured and tortured without mercy until she died from her wounds. He said that he watched Michael being gunned down on the battlefield only hours before he time jumped.
As I stood there listening to him relate to me all that had happened my heart broke inside. I could feel his pain, his sorrow. It all ran so deep. The tragedy that awaited us seemed beyond comprehension, but nothing could have prepared me for the shock that was still to come. The shock of having the man that I love, hold me in his arms and desperately plead with me to help him save the planet by ending things with this version of himself was more than I could bear.
I don't know how he could ask me to do that. How he could ask me to push away the one person in the whole universe that I love. Seeing the look in Max’s eyes, seeing the pain on his face, it’s something I will carry with me always. He was crushed, and now he just thinks that I threw everything we had together away so I could sleep with Kyle. He will hate me. I will spend the rest of my life alone knowing that the man I love has to be with someone else. If this isn't torture, I don't know what is...
“Did you find anything?” Maria asked as she and Michael came back into the bedroom.
Max looked up and shook his head. “No, nothing really,” he told them. “Just a confirmation of what you already told us. I think Liz warned me about the Granolith because of its time travel capabilities. In all honesty, I don’t even think she knows how it works at this point. Whatever she and this Serena person did in the future, Liz knows nothing about it.”
Michael considered what he said. “But Maxwell, one day she will know and that makes her important to Nicholas. He won't kill her until he gets what he wants. We have time on our side.
Knowing that the Granolith can be used for time travel will be too much of a temptation for him just to ignore. He will have no choice but to keep Liz alive.”
Maria thought about Liz and what she must be going through. “We can’t just wait around here. We have to do something,” she said looking over at Max.
Max picked up Liz's sweater. “When was the last time Liz wore this?” he asked her.
Maria narrowed her eyes, “I don’t know,” she told him. “I think yesterday, maybe. Why?”
“Because, I have an idea, and we are not going to just sit around here and wait,” he told them just as Maria's cell phone went off.
Maria glanced down at the phone but didn't recognize the number. “Hello?”
"Hello Maria, I bet you’ll never guess who this is?" Nicholas told her.
Maria's face went ashen white as she motioned over to Max and Michael, “It's him, it's him,” she cried trying to stay calm. “It's Nicholas!"
Max grabbed the phone, "Nicholas if you have hurt Liz in any way I swear to you I’ll…"
"You'll what?” he taunted him.
“I’ll find you, and then I’ll tear you limb from limb!” he said his voice filled with anger and determination.
“Before you go making threats, Your Highness, you would do well to remember I am the one holding all the cards right now. In fact, you should tell that crazy little wife of yours thank you for me. Without her, I would never have known to take Miss Parker hostage. Tess has been immensely helpful to me.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Max demanded to know.
“Oh, I think I’ll let you ask Tess about that. After all, she’s the one who deserves all the credit for the situation Liz finds herself in now,” he laughed.
"Nothing better happen to her Nicholas! I mean it, if you harm her I will kill you!” Max said with a deadly calm in his voice.
"Don't worry; your girlfriend is just fine. At least she is for now. Whether she stays that way or not is entirely up to you. I want the Granolith, and you want Liz we should be able to help each other out, don't you think?” he told him then said, “Now listen carefully because I don't plan on repeating myself. You have exactly 24 hours to decide, you either give me the Granolith or your pretty little girlfriend here doesn't live to see her next birthday," Nicholas warned him. "Oh and just so you know, the death I have planned for her will make what you went through in the White room seem like a day at the beach. Remember I have had years and years to perfect my methods of torture.”
“I’m not giving you anything until I know Liz is all right,” Max told him.
Nicholas laughed. “Your Highness, I’m hurt. Really, the fact that you don’t trust me hurts me deeply.”
“I mean it, Nicholas, if you don’t let me talk to Liz then we have nothing further to talk about,” Max told him.
Nicholas seemed irritated that he was not getting the rise out of Max he had hoped. “Fine, just to show you the kind of romantic I am at heart I will let you talk to her. I mean far be it from me to keep two lovebirds such as yourselves apart,” he said mockingly. “Oh, but I must warn you to make the most of these precious few seconds because it’s all you’re going to get from me.”
Nicholas leaned down over Liz. “Now you are going to tell him that you’re fine and nothing else. No speaking in code, no trying to warn him about where you are. No brave heroic’s. You simply say, ‘Hello Max I’m fine,’” he told her as he held the phone up to her ear.
“Max...” Liz said into the phone trying to keep herself calm.
“Liz are you all right? Has he hurt you?” He could hear her voice trembling, “It’s going to be ok, I will find you. I promise.”
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Nicholas. “Max listen to me, don't do it, whatever he says don't give him the Granolith!” she yelled out as Nicholas pulled the phone away and slapped her across the face.
“You have 24 hours!” he yelled into the phone and then hung it up.
All the color drained from Max’s face as the phone line went dead. "He wants the Granolith in 24 hours, or he kills Liz."
Maria turned to Max, the look on her face said it all. She began trembling as tears filled her eyes. “What are we going to do?”
Max pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “We are going to bring Liz home,” he assured her.
Maria pulled back from him and looked into his eyes. She saw a determination there that she had never seen before. She nodded her head. “Yeah, we’re going to bring her home, and then we’re going to destroy that little worm.
Max let go of Maria and turned to Michael. "Could you ask Isabel to come up. I have a plan, but I am going to need her help.”
“You want her to try and connect with Liz?” Michael asked him.
“It’s worth a shot. If she connects with her, maybe we can figure out where Nicholas is keeping her. Once we know where she is, we will need a plan to get her away from him, and we don’t have a lot of time.”
“You are rebellious, and high spirited, Miss Parker,” Nicholas told her as he ran his hand down along her cheek rather seductively. "I can see why Max wants you back. You are one pretty little human after all, and you have spunk. I like that in a pet,” he told her as he grabbed hold of her by the back of the head. “But you do need to learn to behave better when told to.”
Liz tried to pull her head away from him. Nicholas laughed as he let her go and walked over to the door, "Don't worry, Max sounds like a lovesick puppy he'll give up the Granolith for you. Your pleas did little to sway him not to give it to me. Of course, your reunion will be very short as I am planning on executing him right after I get what I want."
Liz glared at him, “You are wrong Nicholas, he will never do as you ask!” she yelled at him. “By now he knows the truth, and he knows what the Granolith is capable of. He will never give it to you!”
Nicholas laughed, “Yes, he will, or he will attempt some kind of ridiculous rescue and get all of your friends killed. Once they are all dead, you will be joining me on Antar. You should be happy, Khivar is very interested in meeting you. In fact, I think you are the only human he has ever expressed an interest in meeting,” Nicholas told her as he closed and locked the door behind him.
Liz tried to listen as she heard Nicholas giving orders to the skins just outside the door. Her wrists were raw from still being tied behind her back. She pushed herself up against the wall and then slowly inched her way up, scratching and cutting open her back until she was finally able to stand. The room was completely dark except for a small amount of light that shown through the cracks around the door and the window.
Liz forced herself to ignore the intense pain shooting up her arms as the rope cut deeper into her wrists. After several minutes the knot finally gave, and she was able to free her hands. She looked around the room trying to see if there was anything she could use as a weapon or means of escape. There was only a small table against the back wall. She pulled the table over towards the door and climbed up on top of it to look through the window. There were two skins sitting at a table about 6 feet away from the door. She did her best to look around the room, but she couldn't see anything else. As she climbed down a sense of hopelessness began to wash over her. She sat back down on the floor and closed her eyes; fatigue was beginning to take over. She moved over away from the door and tried to focus as hard as she could on Isabel. If she was able to reach Max maybe, just maybe she might be able to connect with Isabel. She did just as she had before, she closed her eyes and focused all her energy on her friend. “Isabel please hear me,” was her one thought.
Max was sitting on the bed when Isabel came in. She walked over and sat down next to him. “You want me to try and connect with Liz?” she asked him.
“Do you think you can?” he asked.
“I don't know,” Isabel told him honestly. “I will try. Can I have something of Liz's, something that she would have touched recently?”
Max handed him the sweater, “I found this here on the bed. Maria said she might have worn it recently.”
Isabel to the sweater from him. “Ok, let me see what I can do,” she said as she held the sweater close to her and closed her eyes. She did her best to focus on Liz, but there were just too many distractions in the room. “You guys have to leave. I'm sorry, but I need it to be really quiet.”
Max got to his feet and followed Michael and Maria out of the room. “Isabel, if you see anything no matter what is happening, you have to tell me.”
Isabel nodded her head. “I will Max, I promise,” she told him as she lay back down on the bed. She held Liz’s sweater tight and closed her eyes again. This time things were different. It was quiet, and she could really focus in on Liz. She felt herself being transported to another place, but she didn't know where. She could hear Liz calling out to her. Suddenly she found herself in a small room; it was dark and cold. She looked around her, but all she could see were shadows. Isabel took another step closer and found Liz leaning up against the wall. Her wrists were bloody, her lip, and face was swollen, and she had bruising along the sides of her head. “Liz, can you hear me?” Isabel called out to her.
Liz turned and looked in the direction the voice was coming, “Isabel are you there?” she cried out.
“I'm here Liz. I'm here with you,” she told her. “Do you know where they have you?”
Liz brushed the hair away from her face and tried to see through the darkness. “No, Nicholas locked me in some kind of closet, I think. I don't know where I am. We drove for a few hours, but I don't know where he took me. I know it’s some kind of old abandoned building.”
Suddenly Isabel felt another presence in the room, she turned to see who it was but it was too dark. Liz's eyes flew open, and she was filled with fear, her heart was racing, and Isabel lost the connection. She tried several times to get it back, but it was of no use. She called out to Max, the fear, and pain Liz was suffering was so intense. Isabel’s heart was racing.
Alex was the first to come in, he walked over to Isabel and sat down beside her. She held his hand as tears formed in her eyes. “It’s not good Alex,” she whispered softly.
Alex took in a deep breath preparing himself for the worst. “Were you able to connect with her at all?”
Before Isabel could answer, Max came into the room followed by the others. She looked up at him. “I'm sorry Max. I did connect with Liz, but I couldn’t see anything that would tell us where she is.”
Max was still hopeful, “But you did make a connection, you were there with her?” he asked.
Isabel nodded her head, “Yeah, I was able to connect with her.”
Max took in a deep breath, “Was she hurt?”
Isabel hesitated to tell the others what she had seen. Alex squeezed her hand, “Just tell us what you saw. Tells us what has happened to Liz,” he encouraged her.
Isabel looked over at Max as tears rolled down her cheek. “Max, I’m so sorry.”
“Just tell me, Isabel. I have to know how she is,” he told her.
Isabel wiped away her tears. “It looks like she has been beaten up pretty bad. Her wrists were all bloody; it looked like he had tied her up or something. She had bruises along the sides of her face. Her lip was swollen and bleeding...” she told him then said as she fought back the tears. “I think he might have tortured her,” she told him, her voice breaking with emotion as she spoke.
Maria burst into tears and Michael wrapped his arms around her. Isabel took in a deep breath before she continued, “She was being held in a small, dark room. It was cold, and there were no windows or lights that I could see. I tried to talk to her. She said she didn't know where she was. She said they drove for hours, but she didn't know where he was holding her. She thought it might have been some kind of old abandoned building,” she repeated what Liz told her.
“That could be anywhere around Roswell,” Kyle said in frustration.
Isabel hesitated for a moment. “There is something else. Just before I lost connection with her...” she began to say then stopped.
“What?!” he asked her, “You have to tell me everything.”
Isabel's voice broke as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Just before I lost connection with her I sensed someone else come into the room. I don't know who it was, but Liz was terrified.”
Max got to his feet and walked over to the window his eyes filled with pain. “Could it have been Nicholas?” he demanded.
Isabel shook her head, “I don't know, Max. I couldn't see who it was. I only know that she woke up and that she was really frightened.”
“Did you see anything else?” Max asked her. “Just think, there had to be something. A mark on the wall, a sound, anything that could tell us where that monster has her!”
“No, Max, I’m sorry,” she said sadly. “I wish I could tell you more, but the connection just wasn’t strong enough for me to see anything more.”
Alex wrapped his arm around her, “Max she tried her best, she’s exhausted. Let her rest and then she can try again,” he held her tight.
Isabel saw the pain in her little brother’s eyes. “I promise you; I will try again,” she said as Alex led her over to the bed to lay down.
Max sat on the edge of the bed holding on to Liz's journal. He didn't know what he was going to do. He knew everyone was looking to him to come up with a plan, but he was just as confused as everyone else was. If he followed his heart, he would hand over the Granolith and let the consequences fall where they may. But then there was also that part of him that knew he had to consider the bigger picture. He knew if he did give up the Granolith, the entire planet could fall into the hands of a murdering, power-hungry alien, who wanted nothing more than to bend the entire universe to his will.
He ran his hand through his hair; this was such an unfair decision to have to make. Liz was the love of his life. If he left her to Nicholas, there would be nothing to stop him from torturing and eventually killing her. The more he thought about her in Nicholas’s ruthless hands, the angrier he got. Just knowing that his Liz was out there somewhere, alone, and terrified made him feel sick inside. All he could think about was how terribly he had failed her. When she needed him most, he wasn’t there for her. He took in a deep breath and forced himself to stay focused. He knew beating himself up right now would offer Liz little help. He had to stay in control; he had to keep his emotions in check. As he opened her journal and began to read what she had written, he realized why Maria had warned him. He was in no way prepared for the effect her words would have on him.
Max came to me today, but it wasn’t my Max. It was another version of himself; a version from 14 years into the future. He said he came back through time to save the planet from alien invasion and take over. At first, I doubted that it was really him. I had been fooled by a shape-shifting alien before, but in the end, he proved beyond all doubt that he was in fact, my Max. Seeing him standing there broken and torn before me, broke my heart. The ravages of war had clearly taken its toll on him. He told me that the skins had won and that the earth was about to fall. He told me how Isabel was captured and tortured without mercy until she died from her wounds. He said that he watched Michael being gunned down on the battlefield only hours before he time jumped.
As I stood there listening to him relate to me all that had happened my heart broke inside. I could feel his pain, his sorrow. It all ran so deep. The tragedy that awaited us seemed beyond comprehension, but nothing could have prepared me for the shock that was still to come. The shock of having the man that I love, hold me in his arms and desperately plead with me to help him save the planet by ending things with this version of himself was more than I could bear.
I don't know how he could ask me to do that. How he could ask me to push away the one person in the whole universe that I love. Seeing the look in Max’s eyes, seeing the pain on his face, it’s something I will carry with me always. He was crushed, and now he just thinks that I threw everything we had together away so I could sleep with Kyle. He will hate me. I will spend the rest of my life alone knowing that the man I love has to be with someone else. If this isn't torture, I don't know what is...
“Did you find anything?” Maria asked as she and Michael came back into the bedroom.
Max looked up and shook his head. “No, nothing really,” he told them. “Just a confirmation of what you already told us. I think Liz warned me about the Granolith because of its time travel capabilities. In all honesty, I don’t even think she knows how it works at this point. Whatever she and this Serena person did in the future, Liz knows nothing about it.”
Michael considered what he said. “But Maxwell, one day she will know and that makes her important to Nicholas. He won't kill her until he gets what he wants. We have time on our side.
Knowing that the Granolith can be used for time travel will be too much of a temptation for him just to ignore. He will have no choice but to keep Liz alive.”
Maria thought about Liz and what she must be going through. “We can’t just wait around here. We have to do something,” she said looking over at Max.
Max picked up Liz's sweater. “When was the last time Liz wore this?” he asked her.
Maria narrowed her eyes, “I don’t know,” she told him. “I think yesterday, maybe. Why?”
“Because, I have an idea, and we are not going to just sit around here and wait,” he told them just as Maria's cell phone went off.
Maria glanced down at the phone but didn't recognize the number. “Hello?”
"Hello Maria, I bet you’ll never guess who this is?" Nicholas told her.
Maria's face went ashen white as she motioned over to Max and Michael, “It's him, it's him,” she cried trying to stay calm. “It's Nicholas!"
Max grabbed the phone, "Nicholas if you have hurt Liz in any way I swear to you I’ll…"
"You'll what?” he taunted him.
“I’ll find you, and then I’ll tear you limb from limb!” he said his voice filled with anger and determination.
“Before you go making threats, Your Highness, you would do well to remember I am the one holding all the cards right now. In fact, you should tell that crazy little wife of yours thank you for me. Without her, I would never have known to take Miss Parker hostage. Tess has been immensely helpful to me.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Max demanded to know.
“Oh, I think I’ll let you ask Tess about that. After all, she’s the one who deserves all the credit for the situation Liz finds herself in now,” he laughed.
"Nothing better happen to her Nicholas! I mean it, if you harm her I will kill you!” Max said with a deadly calm in his voice.
"Don't worry; your girlfriend is just fine. At least she is for now. Whether she stays that way or not is entirely up to you. I want the Granolith, and you want Liz we should be able to help each other out, don't you think?” he told him then said, “Now listen carefully because I don't plan on repeating myself. You have exactly 24 hours to decide, you either give me the Granolith or your pretty little girlfriend here doesn't live to see her next birthday," Nicholas warned him. "Oh and just so you know, the death I have planned for her will make what you went through in the White room seem like a day at the beach. Remember I have had years and years to perfect my methods of torture.”
“I’m not giving you anything until I know Liz is all right,” Max told him.
Nicholas laughed. “Your Highness, I’m hurt. Really, the fact that you don’t trust me hurts me deeply.”
“I mean it, Nicholas, if you don’t let me talk to Liz then we have nothing further to talk about,” Max told him.
Nicholas seemed irritated that he was not getting the rise out of Max he had hoped. “Fine, just to show you the kind of romantic I am at heart I will let you talk to her. I mean far be it from me to keep two lovebirds such as yourselves apart,” he said mockingly. “Oh, but I must warn you to make the most of these precious few seconds because it’s all you’re going to get from me.”
Nicholas leaned down over Liz. “Now you are going to tell him that you’re fine and nothing else. No speaking in code, no trying to warn him about where you are. No brave heroic’s. You simply say, ‘Hello Max I’m fine,’” he told her as he held the phone up to her ear.
“Max...” Liz said into the phone trying to keep herself calm.
“Liz are you all right? Has he hurt you?” He could hear her voice trembling, “It’s going to be ok, I will find you. I promise.”
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Nicholas. “Max listen to me, don't do it, whatever he says don't give him the Granolith!” she yelled out as Nicholas pulled the phone away and slapped her across the face.
“You have 24 hours!” he yelled into the phone and then hung it up.
All the color drained from Max’s face as the phone line went dead. "He wants the Granolith in 24 hours, or he kills Liz."
Maria turned to Max, the look on her face said it all. She began trembling as tears filled her eyes. “What are we going to do?”
Max pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “We are going to bring Liz home,” he assured her.
Maria pulled back from him and looked into his eyes. She saw a determination there that she had never seen before. She nodded her head. “Yeah, we’re going to bring her home, and then we’re going to destroy that little worm.
Max let go of Maria and turned to Michael. "Could you ask Isabel to come up. I have a plan, but I am going to need her help.”
“You want her to try and connect with Liz?” Michael asked him.
“It’s worth a shot. If she connects with her, maybe we can figure out where Nicholas is keeping her. Once we know where she is, we will need a plan to get her away from him, and we don’t have a lot of time.”
“You are rebellious, and high spirited, Miss Parker,” Nicholas told her as he ran his hand down along her cheek rather seductively. "I can see why Max wants you back. You are one pretty little human after all, and you have spunk. I like that in a pet,” he told her as he grabbed hold of her by the back of the head. “But you do need to learn to behave better when told to.”
Liz tried to pull her head away from him. Nicholas laughed as he let her go and walked over to the door, "Don't worry, Max sounds like a lovesick puppy he'll give up the Granolith for you. Your pleas did little to sway him not to give it to me. Of course, your reunion will be very short as I am planning on executing him right after I get what I want."
Liz glared at him, “You are wrong Nicholas, he will never do as you ask!” she yelled at him. “By now he knows the truth, and he knows what the Granolith is capable of. He will never give it to you!”
Nicholas laughed, “Yes, he will, or he will attempt some kind of ridiculous rescue and get all of your friends killed. Once they are all dead, you will be joining me on Antar. You should be happy, Khivar is very interested in meeting you. In fact, I think you are the only human he has ever expressed an interest in meeting,” Nicholas told her as he closed and locked the door behind him.
Liz tried to listen as she heard Nicholas giving orders to the skins just outside the door. Her wrists were raw from still being tied behind her back. She pushed herself up against the wall and then slowly inched her way up, scratching and cutting open her back until she was finally able to stand. The room was completely dark except for a small amount of light that shown through the cracks around the door and the window.
Liz forced herself to ignore the intense pain shooting up her arms as the rope cut deeper into her wrists. After several minutes the knot finally gave, and she was able to free her hands. She looked around the room trying to see if there was anything she could use as a weapon or means of escape. There was only a small table against the back wall. She pulled the table over towards the door and climbed up on top of it to look through the window. There were two skins sitting at a table about 6 feet away from the door. She did her best to look around the room, but she couldn't see anything else. As she climbed down a sense of hopelessness began to wash over her. She sat back down on the floor and closed her eyes; fatigue was beginning to take over. She moved over away from the door and tried to focus as hard as she could on Isabel. If she was able to reach Max maybe, just maybe she might be able to connect with Isabel. She did just as she had before, she closed her eyes and focused all her energy on her friend. “Isabel please hear me,” was her one thought.
Max was sitting on the bed when Isabel came in. She walked over and sat down next to him. “You want me to try and connect with Liz?” she asked him.
“Do you think you can?” he asked.
“I don't know,” Isabel told him honestly. “I will try. Can I have something of Liz's, something that she would have touched recently?”
Max handed him the sweater, “I found this here on the bed. Maria said she might have worn it recently.”
Isabel to the sweater from him. “Ok, let me see what I can do,” she said as she held the sweater close to her and closed her eyes. She did her best to focus on Liz, but there were just too many distractions in the room. “You guys have to leave. I'm sorry, but I need it to be really quiet.”
Max got to his feet and followed Michael and Maria out of the room. “Isabel, if you see anything no matter what is happening, you have to tell me.”
Isabel nodded her head. “I will Max, I promise,” she told him as she lay back down on the bed. She held Liz’s sweater tight and closed her eyes again. This time things were different. It was quiet, and she could really focus in on Liz. She felt herself being transported to another place, but she didn't know where. She could hear Liz calling out to her. Suddenly she found herself in a small room; it was dark and cold. She looked around her, but all she could see were shadows. Isabel took another step closer and found Liz leaning up against the wall. Her wrists were bloody, her lip, and face was swollen, and she had bruising along the sides of her head. “Liz, can you hear me?” Isabel called out to her.
Liz turned and looked in the direction the voice was coming, “Isabel are you there?” she cried out.
“I'm here Liz. I'm here with you,” she told her. “Do you know where they have you?”
Liz brushed the hair away from her face and tried to see through the darkness. “No, Nicholas locked me in some kind of closet, I think. I don't know where I am. We drove for a few hours, but I don't know where he took me. I know it’s some kind of old abandoned building.”
Suddenly Isabel felt another presence in the room, she turned to see who it was but it was too dark. Liz's eyes flew open, and she was filled with fear, her heart was racing, and Isabel lost the connection. She tried several times to get it back, but it was of no use. She called out to Max, the fear, and pain Liz was suffering was so intense. Isabel’s heart was racing.
Alex was the first to come in, he walked over to Isabel and sat down beside her. She held his hand as tears formed in her eyes. “It’s not good Alex,” she whispered softly.
Alex took in a deep breath preparing himself for the worst. “Were you able to connect with her at all?”
Before Isabel could answer, Max came into the room followed by the others. She looked up at him. “I'm sorry Max. I did connect with Liz, but I couldn’t see anything that would tell us where she is.”
Max was still hopeful, “But you did make a connection, you were there with her?” he asked.
Isabel nodded her head, “Yeah, I was able to connect with her.”
Max took in a deep breath, “Was she hurt?”
Isabel hesitated to tell the others what she had seen. Alex squeezed her hand, “Just tell us what you saw. Tells us what has happened to Liz,” he encouraged her.
Isabel looked over at Max as tears rolled down her cheek. “Max, I’m so sorry.”
“Just tell me, Isabel. I have to know how she is,” he told her.
Isabel wiped away her tears. “It looks like she has been beaten up pretty bad. Her wrists were all bloody; it looked like he had tied her up or something. She had bruises along the sides of her face. Her lip was swollen and bleeding...” she told him then said as she fought back the tears. “I think he might have tortured her,” she told him, her voice breaking with emotion as she spoke.
Maria burst into tears and Michael wrapped his arms around her. Isabel took in a deep breath before she continued, “She was being held in a small, dark room. It was cold, and there were no windows or lights that I could see. I tried to talk to her. She said she didn't know where she was. She said they drove for hours, but she didn't know where he was holding her. She thought it might have been some kind of old abandoned building,” she repeated what Liz told her.
“That could be anywhere around Roswell,” Kyle said in frustration.
Isabel hesitated for a moment. “There is something else. Just before I lost connection with her...” she began to say then stopped.
“What?!” he asked her, “You have to tell me everything.”
Isabel's voice broke as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Just before I lost connection with her I sensed someone else come into the room. I don't know who it was, but Liz was terrified.”
Max got to his feet and walked over to the window his eyes filled with pain. “Could it have been Nicholas?” he demanded.
Isabel shook her head, “I don't know, Max. I couldn't see who it was. I only know that she woke up and that she was really frightened.”
“Did you see anything else?” Max asked her. “Just think, there had to be something. A mark on the wall, a sound, anything that could tell us where that monster has her!”
“No, Max, I’m sorry,” she said sadly. “I wish I could tell you more, but the connection just wasn’t strong enough for me to see anything more.”
Alex wrapped his arm around her, “Max she tried her best, she’s exhausted. Let her rest and then she can try again,” he held her tight.
Isabel saw the pain in her little brother’s eyes. “I promise you; I will try again,” she said as Alex led her over to the bed to lay down.