ROSWELL on PLANET-SF

Chapter Ten

After saying goodnight to Bret, Isabel laid in bed, a picture on her stomach. A picture from Prom of Max and Liz. She closed her eyes and waited.

The terrain was rocky. Mountains and valleys, enormous caverns. Isabel looked skyward into a vast wave of deep purple-blue skies, churning night clouds of iridescent pearl. A sound caught her attention and she turned. A river? A sea? It was water and it was crimson. Isabel was nervous. She looked for Liz and saw her straight ahead. She walked towards her and watched as Liz picked up handfuls of dirt. As she threw it in the air, it glittered. Liz laughed. She spun around towards Isabel and faced her.

"I knew you'd come," Liz grinned sideways. She tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Why?" Isabel asked. Something wasn't right. Liz shouldn't be able to have this conversation with her.

"Because it's what you do," Liz laughed loudly. "God! You were always so predictable."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not stupid. Figure it out." Liz rolled her eyes and turned away from her, walking towards the crimson sea. She looked back over her shoulder. "You surprised so many people when you turned. Even me."

Isabel swallowed heard and followed her towards the water. Liz shook her head and turned sharply away and down a small stone path. "Where are you going?"

Liz didn't answer but stayed on the path. After a turn in the path, a white canopy tent appeared in between some brush. Isabel sucked in her breath as Liz made her way to the centre of the tent. There was a chair, no, more like a throne. She watched as Liz picked up a jewelled metallic tiara and put it on her head.

"I'm the Queen. You are nothing." Liz looked around then focused back on Isabel. "Go on, go tell what you saw. You'll never understand. Pretty little Vilandra, smart as a whip. Only problem is, she can't see what's directly in front of her."

Isabel backed back.

Her eyes flew open and she sat up in bed. She noticed her trembling hand and took a few deep breaths. When she felt she could, she left her room and went to the living room where Max was sleeping on the couch. She knelt next to him and gently shook him awake. His eyes opened and once they adjusted to the dark, he sat and looked at his sister. She was pale.

"What's wrong?"

"I dreamwalked Liz. She said she knew I was coming, that I was predictable," Isabel whispered. "I don't know where we were at, but it was rocky, the sky was like purple and there was a red sea. She sat on a freakin' throne and put on a crown, Max. She called me Vilandra. She said she was the Queen and I was nothing and that I'd never understand."

"Understand what?"

"I don't know. She said I never see what's in front of me." Isabel stood then sat next to him. "Do you think that was our home planet?"

"Yes. The Crimson Sea." Max nodded. "What do you make of it?"

"I don't know. It was Liz's dream."

"Or was it?"

"Meaning that it could have been that skanky Tess?"

"Do you think it could be what's happening now? She could be the Queen with Kivar at her side and my son?"

"I don't know." Isabel shook her head. "I have to go lay down. I don't know what to make of any of it."

* * * *

Liz's mom woke her up and told her she had a visitor. Expecting Maria or Max, she was surprised when she was told it was Michael. She asked her mom to wait a few minutes so she could get dressed, then to send him in. She dressed in shorts and T-shirt and brushed her teeth and hair before she heard a little rapping at her door.

"You decent?" Michael called from the other side.

"Come in," Liz called and straightened the blankets on the bed. She sat down cross-legged and watched as Michael came in and shut the door behind him.

"What are you doing here?"

"We have to talk." He sat across from her and took a deep breath.

"Is Maria okay?" she asked alarmed.

"She's fine. It's you we have to talk about."

"If Max told you what he did last night, then there's nothing to talk about. You tell him he's lucky I'm not pressing charges!" Never did she imagine that she'd ever say those words about Max Evans.

"It's more than last night." He ran his hands through his hair. Did I really volunteer to do this? he asked himself. "A lot more."

"What are you talking about?"

"Something's going on with you and you don't know it. Max told me about last night and a few other occasions. There's something wrong with you Liz and you don't know it."

"There is nothing wrong with me!" Liz snapped. "How dare you imply that there is."

"Max said you've been losing time."

"I've been forgetful, that doesn't mean -"

"It does mean something," he interrupted. "You can't account for small amounts of time. That's a problem."

"Well then I will see a doctor and get it fixed."

"I don't think it's that easy." He pursed his lips. "A doctor can't fix it."

"Great," she laughed sarcastically. "You're getting ready to tell me some weird alien thing, right. An extra-terrestrial virus?"

"Not exactly."

"Quit beating around the freakin' bush and tell me what the hell is going on!" Liz slammed her hand down on the bed next to her. Patience no longer being a virtue. "I don't have time to play games."

"We, meaning myself, Max and Isabel think that Tess is involved." He cringed saying the name out loud to her. He waited for a response, but got a blank stare in return. "Liz?"

"Tess is gone."

"Physically, yeah."

"What's going on? Did Max put you up to this?"

"Actually, I volunteered." He shook his head. "I didn't want Max to be the one to tell you anything. I wanted to."

"After last night, Max won't be telling me anything ever again. I'm done with him."

"No, that's not right."

"He took advantage of me when I was sleeping!"

"No, you weren't sleeping."

"Were you there? Do you know that when I woke up he had my shirt up, my shorts almost off and his were to his knees? That's about two seconds away from rape!" Tears stung her eyes. Michael leaned over and enveloped her in his arms and hugged her letting her cry against him. She stiffened at first, then relented and relaxed against him. She pushed away from him. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise, it's not your fault."

"You will never understand what I feel." She wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"Why did he send you here?"

"I want to tell you what we think is going on." Michael ran his hands through his hair. "We think it's Tess. We think somehow Tess is taking you over."

"I'm being possessed by Tess Harding?" Liz almost laughed. "Oh my God, is that the best you could come up with?"

"It's the truth. There have been too many unexplainable things that have happened for any other answer."

"Do you have a virus?"

"I know it sounds stupid, but we've been talking it over and it's all we can come up with. When you lose time, you're not just sitting there staring off into space, you're walking, talking and moving around. You're still there. Tess's shirt? Why were you wearing it?"

"I don't know." Liz looked to the floor. She had asked herself the same question a thousand times before. "I think I just picked it up over at Kyle's"

"You stole her shirt and then wore it? Yeah, that sounds like something you would do. Wear the shirt of the one person you truly hate. Maria, she would have shredded it and used it as confetti. Give me something better."

"I don't know. I was upset when we cleaned out her stuff-"

"Tess's stuff? You cleaned it out?" Michael had not seen that coming.

"Yeah, a while ago. Last year. Maria and I helped Kyle."

"Maria helped?" Michael smiled and shook his head. "She never mentioned it."

"Maybe she didn't want you to tell Max."

"I don't tell Max everything."

"I know, I'm sorry. We just decided to keep it to ourselves. Anyway, that was a hard day going through all her stuff trying to find out anything useful; which there wasn't anything. I just picked it up and took it home."

"Okay," he nodded. "You've said some things that Tess has said."

"Did she have her own language? Am I barred from using words that she ever used?

"If you're going to be a smart ass about this..."

"How do you expect me be? You've come in here and told me I'm Linda Blair and my Devil is Tess!"

"I know, but give me a chance. There have been several times that you've said something to Max that Tess had said earlier." He held up his hand to abort the oncoming interruption. Liz closed her mouth and listened. "These things you've said have been identical. Things that you would normally not say. Things that no one else had heard except Max."

"Example?"

"I don't know all the exact phrases. You said one time that you'd be here for eternity for Max. That he was just a boy, that...I don't know a few other things. You're saying them exactly as Tess said them."

"So he remembers every single sentence ever uttered by her?" A mad as Liz was at Max, she'd always be jealous of Tess.

"Not everything. You seem to only be saying things that happened at certain times, memorable times."

"Oh God." Liz felt sick.

"The eternity thing was before they...You know. The boy thing was in the Granilith."

"Oh God. I don't even remember saying either of those two things."

"Do you remember getting physical with Max?"

"I told you I had fallen asleep!"

"Not just last night." Michael weighed his words carefully. "When you and Max have been making out, you have been getting aggressive. More than ever. You are the aggressor."

"That's crazy," her voice trembled.

"When you and Max are getting hot and heavy, he stops you from letting it go all the way. You're the one who's pushing him."

"Now I have heard everything!" Liz tried to laugh, but it come out as a choke. "That's crazy. I think you all are crazy. As if I wasn't pissed off before, now that Max has decided to share our sex life, or lack thereof, with everyone I'm even more pissed!"

"He didn't give details."

"There were no details to give until last night and I was asleep!"

"Do you really think that Max, Mr. Shy and sensitive, would do that? Mr. I've never kissed a girl until Liz Parker. Do you think he could take advantage of you like that?"

"I wouldn't have, but he lost a lot of ground when he fucked Tess."

"Okay. I understand that."

"It doesn't matter if you understand it or not. I don't care anymore. I said I was done with Max and I am. I don't think Tess is doing anything. As far as I'm concerned, she's dead."

"You need help, Liz. We have to help you." Michael spoke softer. "I will do everything in my power to make this right."

"Why do you think this is up to you? You have nothing at stake."

"Max is my friend, my brother. You are my friend and you gave up everything in your life to save mine."

"You don't owe me." Liz shook her head.

"I know I don't owe you. I want to do this. I want to fix the problem, I want everyone to be happy."

"That won't happen. Your friend almost raped me!"

"I wish I could convince you otherwise."

"I know, but I'm sorry. I'm the one who woke up with my shorts down. I was there. I know what happened."

"If there had only been a Nanny-Cam."

"Then it would probably be used as evidence."

Michael sighed. "You haven't noticed anything at all?"

Liz shook her head without thinking. Sure, she would know if she was possessed, right? Besides, Michael wasn't asking about dreams, right?

"Nothing strange? No weird dreams?" He saw her eye twitch involuntarily. "Dreams, huh?"

"No weirder than usual."

"Hmm..." Michael rubbed his jaw with his thumb and forefinger. "What do we have in the way of the dream department?"

"Just a few strange ones, nothing new."

"Spill."

"A few of Max and Tess, they're always at the Observatory and I'm standing behind a truck watching and trying to listen but I can't hear what they're saying." She saw the look on Michael's face and felt heat surge through her. "What?"

"That's where..." He raised his eyebrows.

"Oh God! Now I can't even enjoy going there? They ruin everything for me!" Liz shook her head.

"What else?"

"A few about red water and tents and all this dust, like glitter dust." She looked at him sceptically. "Do you know all this already? Did Isabel dreamwalk me?"

"I don't know," he lied. "But I think that's our planet."

"Me dreaming about your planet? Have you?"

"No, but I've never been there."

"Neither have I."

"But Tess..."

"That's enough. I have to get ready for work. Was there anything else?"

"Will you talk about this to Max?"

"Nope. I said I was -"

"Done with him, I know. Well, then I will play middle man." He stood up. "I'm your friend Liz and I'll help you get through whatever is going on, but first you have to admit something isn't right."

"Thank you Michael. I always knew you were good at heart."

* * * *

"Are you sure?" Maria gaped at her as Liz finished telling her story about the night before. The two girls were in the backroom at the Crashdown before the start of their lunch shift. "I mean..."

"Yeah, I'm sure. My shirt up, my shorts almost off and his down."

"I can't believe he'd do something like that." She shook her head in disbelief. "And Michael said you're possessed?"

"In so many words, something like that."

"This is beyond fiction."

"See what I mean? It's all crazy. Everything we've been through in the last few years, this is most unbelievable." Liz looked around. "I mean, sure, I thought Max and I should be taking the next step soon, but I'm slow. I move slow, I would never..."

"Are you doubting yourself?"

"I don't think so." Liz looked to the floor. "I don't know anything anymore. I'm scared, confused, pissed off. Not necessarily in th at order."

"It'll be okay, kiddo. I promise. We'll get to the bottom of it." She waved at Isabel and Bret as they walked in. "The good Evans is here with Bret."

"I don't know if I even want to see her."

"Stay back here for a while, I'll handle." Maria gave her a quick squeeze and went to work.

Liz stayed in the back room and was surprised when Isabel appeared before her.

"Uh. Hi," Liz stammered.

"Liz, did you listen to Michael this morning?"

"I listened, but I don't accept or agree with anything. It all sounds like a bunch of crap to me." She stood her ground.

"I know, but you have to help figure this out. Nothing good can come of it, don't you understand that?"

"Understand? I understand everything all too well Isabel!" Liz tried to keep her voice quiet. "I understand that I was almost raped last night by your brother!"

"It didn't happen like that." Her argument was weak.

"It did happen like that!" Liz stepped closer to her. "I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you that your brother is a fucking rapist!"

Isabel felt the colour drain from her face. She barely noticed raising her hand until it had swept across Liz's face sending her spilling backwards onto the floor.

She looked as stunned as Liz, who was sat on the floor with her hand to her mouth, it came back with blood on it.

"Oh God, Liz." Isabel knelt down to her.

"Get the fuck away from me," she said between clenched teeth. "Get out now."

Isabel backed away and out of the backroom.

Liz stayed on the floor, tears spilling down her face, mixing with the slight trickle of blood from her cut lip. She buried her face in her hands when Maria walked in.

"Isabel and Bret just bolted-" She stopped when she saw Liz on the floor. She ran to her friend and pried her hands away from her face. "Jesus! What happened?"

"Isabel slapped me," Liz hiccupped.

Maria grabbed a handful of napkins from a shelf and gave them to Liz. She wiped her face and applied pressure to the cut lip.

"I can't believe she slapped you, why?" She helped her friend stand up and walked her out the back door. They sat on milk crates across from each other. "What happened?"

"I said Max was a rapist and she hit me," Liz tried to laugh. "She knocked me on my ass is what she did."

"What a bitch!"

"It's okay. I was talking about her brother."

"Does not matter." Maria shook her head. "No excuse, as far as you know Max is that."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Honestly? No, but I will back you no matter what. You're my best friend Lizzie. I'll do anything for you."

Liz reached over and picked up Maria's hand. "Thank you."

The back door slammed open and Michael's silhouette stood in the doorway. He rushed over to the girls and knelt in the dirt in front of Liz. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Fine," she nodded.

"Oh my God. I passed Iz on the way in. She's upset."

"Well, she shouldn't be. She's not the one who got whacked in the face, is she?"

Maria rolled her eyes.

"She's sorry Liz." Michael looked at her lip. "She didn't mean to."

"I'm sure she didn't," Liz laughed, startling both Maria and Michael. "No one means to do anything do they? It just kind of happens."

"Liz." Michael ran his hands through his hair. "She just got mad, she said you called Max a rapist -"

"Which he could be," Maria pointed out.

"Which all of us know he isn't. He's her brother, she reacted."

"I know." Liz winced as she ran her tongue over her lip. "I'm not mad. I would have done the same thing."

"I'm mad," Maria stated. "I'm so mad that I feel like going over there and kicking her ass!"

"Maria," Michael turned to her. "Could you just calm down for one second?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it, pulling an imaginary zipper across it.

"I'm fine," Liz stood up and straightened her skirt. "I have to go back to work. When does Isabel leave?"

"Today."

"Tell her have a safe trip for me." Liz walked back in the café.

"What's going on Michael? Is what she said about Max true?" Maria asked after Liz had walked back inside.

"No, not really." He shook his head. "She just doesn't remember it."

"Tess?"

"That's the general consensus, but Liz won't listen."

"She's scared and pissed."

"I know. Max would never force himself on her, you believe that, right?"

"I believe that, but if I have to choose, it'll always be Liz."

Michael nodded and escorted her back inside. Liz's lip was swollen, but with the blood washed off, not as noticeable. The girls worked their shift and then Liz agreed to come back and close for someone else. They spent the rest of the day together at Maria's, talking and laughing and playing around like they had done a long time ago.

Long before their teenage lives had gotten so complicated.

* * * *

Maria and Michael had been sitting in the same booth for two hours. Maria had brought a camera and had been snapping pictures all night. Her reasoning being she wanted to start an photo album for the baby so she could see how everything was and how everyone looked before she was born. Liz was almost done closing and in the backroom when Max walked in. The pair stared at him. He looked as though he had slept in his clothes, his hair was mussed and he hadn't shaved. The perfection that was Max Evans was gone. He looked over as Michael stood up.

"What's up man?"

"Liz in back?" The circles under his eyes were prominent.

"Don't go there Max. Not yet."

"I have to see her. If there's a problem, you'll hear it and you can rescue her." He started past Michael, but his path was blocked. Max shoved him to the side.

"Do what I ask and stand down."

Michael backed away and took his seat next to Maria.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Maria whispered, her heart pounding.

"Me either," Michael looked over his shoulder as the doors to the back room swung closed.

Liz was in front of the lockers when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned and sucked in her breath at the sight of Max.

"Get out of here."

"I have to talk to you."

"Get out, please." She backed away from him as he moved closer to her. "Please."

"Do you really think I would hurt you?" He stood inches from her.

"I didn't used to." Her voice was weak.

"I would never do that to you."

She could feel his breath on her face. "But you did." She closed her eyes and swayed towards him. He held out his arms and she fell into them, her face against his chest.

Max stood motionless as he felt her pelvis grind into him. One hand roamed his back and slid down under his shorts, grasping, reaching. Max tried to back away, but she kept him tight. She looked to him and he knew she wasn't there. The was no part of Liz Parker in that room right then except her body. He wished he could tell Michael and Maria to come in there right then and see for themselves, but he could not. All he could do was stand there.

Liz unsnapped the first few button on her uniform top and pulled it open then pressed herself against Max's clothed chest.

She took his hand and placed it underneath her skirt, cupping her ass. Max was facing the doors that led to the café, wondering if he made a sound whether it would break the trance she was in.

"It's awfully quiet in there," Maria looked over her shoulder. "Do you think we should go back there?"

"That's what I was thinking. It's too quiet. Liz wasn't in a quiet mood all day." He stood up and waited for Maria and took her hand. They walked stealthily to the door and listened. Nothing. Michael pushed it opened slightly and saw Max and the desperate look on his face. Then he saw Liz, more than he ever needed to see of Liz.

Maria moved next to him and put her hand to her mouth. Max shook his head at them and motioned to Liz who was suckling on his neck, her top open.

Michael grabbed the camera from around Maria's neck and started snapping pictures. Maria stared in horror until she caught on what was happening. When he ran out of film, Michael whispered in Maria's ear.

She walked over to Liz and put her arm around her, pulling her away from Max. Once they were away, Michael and Max slipped out the doors.

"C'mon Liz, let's get you changed and go home."

Liz stared at her and blinked.

"What are you doing?" She looked at her open shirt. "Was I changing?"

"Yes you were!" Maria spoke solidly. "Did you quit wearing bras for a reason? Feeling a little hippy-like? Did you burn them all?" Maria felt the sweat trickling down her back. She knew if she could pull off the next ten minutes she'd deserve an Oscar.

"Bra? I don't know. I guess I forgot." Liz shrugged and changed into shorts and a T-shirt. "Ready?"

Maria escorted her into the café and saw Michael alone. She stood behind Liz and raised her eyebrows in question. He mouthed the word "film" to her and left it at that.

back to the top / curved path: chapter 1

STORY OF LINES:
2 - FULL CIRCLE

CHAPTER TEN

WRITTEN BY BECKY W

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