| "Lost" Part 4 **************************** One tear falls. And another. And another. Isabel breaks down in tears. She was expecting a bad reaction from them, but she wasn�t prepared for something like this. Not from them. They're all she�s ever had. All she�s ever needed. All she�s ever wanted. Yes, all she�s ever wanted. Different from them. Max always wanted to be normal, to be human, to belong to this place. Michael always wanted the exactly opposite, to find the truth, to go home wherever that is. Well, at least that used to be what he wanted. It�s amazing that after ten years of waiting, he changed his mind in the last second. But she, she really never cared if she was here or at some unknown planet of the galaxy. Of course, she learned to like her life here. She loves her parents and she fits perfectly into the human way of life. But deep inside she has always been ready to leave it all, as long as she can stay with Michael and Max, the place doesn�t matter at all. She remembers the worst moment of her life. The day they were supposed to leave this planet. The moment he said he wouldn�t go with them. In that moment something broke inside her. A part of her died that day. She stayed silent at the time because she didn�t know what to say. She didn�t have strength to say anything. Her worst nightmare had become truth. All she�d ever had, all she�d ever needed, all she�s ever wanted, she couldn�t have anymore. And when Max said he would understand, with all her heart and soul she wanted to run into Michael�s arms and tell him that she would stay, she would stay with him forever. But she couldn�t. Not only because of the people on Antar that were waiting to be rescued, but because of Michael. He made his choice. He chose his own destiny. He chose earth and Maria. And she loved him too much to even try to take that away from him. She wouldn�t cry to make him sad, she wouldn�t say anything that could expose her feelings. She would only embrace him for one last time and go to another planet, knowing that she was leaving all her life behind. But they didn�t go. She didn�t go. But that didn�t change the fact that she had lost everything. That she lost herself. �I knew you would be here,� a voice interrupts her thoughts. �Go away!� she shouts. Michael smiles sadly. He takes a few small steps and sits beside her. �Damn. I missed this place,� he says while he contemplates the place around him. They are in the middle of the woods, in a very beautiful and cozy place. Next to them there�s a small and crystalline fall. They are surrounded by trees and flowers that swing with the wind and perfume the air. There�s something more in this place. Something he could never explain. Something special. Something magical. He remembers like it was yesterday. ################# It all happened 9 years ago. Hank was drunk as always and they had a big fight. Scared, he ran away. He couldn�t go to Max and Isabel, he was too ashamed and also he doesn�t want to involve them in this. They were too innocent and pure for this. And he needed them to stay that way. To keep on being the light in the middle of all that darkness that surrounded him everyday. So he ran. He ran to nowhere. Until he arrived there. The reflection of the full moon was shining on the water�s surface. And the only thing you could hear was the soft sound of the waterfall. Everything was so perfect that he could barely believe that it was real. And it was then that he saw her. She was with her back to him, but he knew. He knew it was her, Iz. She was sitting at the exact spot that she is now, beautiful, gazing up at the stars. He came and gently touched her shoulders. Her blond hair flew through the air when she turned her head and met his eyes. �Mikey...� she whispered, hugging him tightly. Michael didn�t say a word just hugged her back. They stayed like that, lost in this innocent embrace, for like forever. �Iz, where are we?� Michael finally broke the embrace and looked carefully around him. �I don�t know. Somewhere in the woods, I think.� �How did you get here?� �I don�t know. I couldn�t sleep. There were these feelings. They were so painful. I felt so sad, so alone. Like something was missing, like I�m losing something, something that I can�t lose. So I left in the middle of the night and walked and walked and the next thing I knew I was here. The night was so beautiful and the sound of the water was so peaceful that I couldn�t leave this place. It�s all so magical. What about you?� �I guess the same thing that brought you here brought me too,� Michael said, standing up and avoiding her gaze, not wanting her to know about Hank and all the dirty things that filled his life. �Are you Ok, Mikey?� Iz asked concerned. �Yeah, sure.� �Why won�t you look at me then?� �Why would I want to look at you?� he retorted. �Michael Guerin, look at me now,� Isabel demanded. Reluctantly, Michael turned to face her, afraid of what she might see looking into his eyes. Afraid of what he could find in her eyes. Afraid of finding something, but much more afraid of finding nothing. But all his fears went away when he turned to her and she gave him a sweet smile in return. She held his hand and he felt a wave of energy running through his body. It felt so good, so safe. �I�m glad you're here, with me,� she whispered sincerely. �Me too, Iz. Me too,� he said softly, giving her one of his rare true smiles. The two friends spent the whole night gazing upon the stars together until they fell asleep in each other�s arms. ######################## This place had become their secret, not even Max knew about it. A small grin forms on his face as he remembers how they used to stay here, sometimes all day, leaving Max totally crazy looking for them around the whole town. Whenever they were sad or scared or whenever they wanted to be together, just the two of them, they went there. In the beginning, they went there every day. They would talk, joke or play. And Isabel would use her powers to tease him. Sometimes Isabel tried to teach Michael to use his powers. Sometimes they just stayed there silently looking at each other. However, as time passed those meetings became more rare and the time they spent in silence longer. And after the events of two years ago the meetings stopped completely. Well, at least for him. He remembers that just after Alex died, he went for a walk and ended up there. And there she was in tears. She never noticed that he was there. He felt this strong urge to go to her. To embrace her and make her feel better, but he didn�t. He knows that he should have, that she needed it. So, why didn�t he go to her? He still doesn�t know. He just left the place. He just left her. Michael sighs. He's been there, sitting one inch from her, for a long time and she hasn�t spoken a word yet. �Iz?� he tries again. �Is my fianc� still alive?� she finally speaks. �Yes. He's a lucky guy. I couldn�t find him.� Isabel smiles weakly. �You know just like I know that you would never do that, Michael.� �Yeah, you're right, but I could have hurt him pretty bad.� �I know.� She looks at him for the first time since he got here. Michael can see all the sorrow hidden in her eyes. And it hurts to know that he and Max are the reason for her red eyes. �I�m sorry, Iz. For everything.� Isabel just nods sadly. �Max and I talked, and we realized that we haven�t been fair to you. You can marry Jesse if this is what you want.� Isabel eyes widened. She looks at Michael in disbelief. They are giving her their permission. She can marry Jesse. This is all she wanted to hear, right? Then, why is she not happy? Why is she feeling worse than before? �I�m sorry for the way I reacted over there, Iz. I shouldn�t have used my powers against you�� �I�m sorry too, Michael. I shouldn�t have knocked you and Max out. It was stupid. And I shouldn�t have said all those things to you either.� �No, we deserved it. You were right after all.� �No, I wasn't. It�s just that I got so mad�� �It�s Ok, Iz. Really. Don�t worry about that now.� �Thanks,� she says and takes his hands on hers. Michael stares at her speechless. There are so many things he wants to tell her. But the words keep on getting stuck in his throat. �Iz� You remember that day in the library when we tried to contact Nasedo�� Isabel looks at him, surprised at his question. She is about to say something, but he goes on. �You said that you would always be there for me�� he goes quietly. �And I always have been, Michael, I always will be�� She squeezes his hand. �I know. And I�m sorry that I couldn�t do the same for you.� �Don�t say that. That�s not true. You were always there for me when we were young.� �Maybe, but that was then and now�� �Now you're here with me, aren�t you?� Isabel interrupts him. �In a way you have always been, because every time I started feeling low, all I had to do was close my eyes and remember the cute little boy that used to join Max and tease me at school�� Michael laughs. �Yeah, but you're the one that was always using your powers to tease us. Like that time when you made our hair pink or when you used to appear in our dreams to scare us.� Isabel laughs too. �That was funny.� Suddenly, Michael frowns. �I can�t lose you, Isabel,� he whispers, his voice full of tenderness and his eyes gleaming. What ravages of spirit conjured this temptuos rage Created you a monster broken by the rules of love And fate has lead you through it You do what you have to do And fate has lead you through it You do what you have to do Isabel gasps when her eyes meet his and hold. A wave of feelings runs through her. There�s so much sincerity in his voice, and his eyes seems to reflect her own soul. She is crying again lost in a mixture of joy and sorrow. And I have the sense to recognize that I don�t know how let you go Every moment marked with apparitions of your soul I�m ever swiftly moving trying to escape this desire The yearning to be near you I do what I have to do The yearning to be near you �You won�t, Michael. You will never lose me.� She embraces him, leaning her head on his shoulder. Michael inhales her sweet scent that takes his breath away. A shiver runs up his spine. This feels so good, so right, that Michael could stay like this forever. All the emptiness has gone. For the first time in a long time he feels complete, happy; alive. �No matter what. Forever.� Her voice resounds in his mind over and over again until he has a flash. ########### A little girl with beautiful hair that shines like the sun is crying in the middle of a strange forest where the trees glitter changing their color all the time. The sky is a light pink, like when there�s a sunrise. And the soil has an emerald tint. A little boy comes near the girl. �Why are you crying?� �I�m lost,� the girl says softly. �No, you aren�t. I found you.� He puts out his hand to her. The little girl takes his hand. **************************** The little girl who was walking hand to hand with the boy, releases his hand and runs to another boy. �Zan. Zan.� She jumps into his arms. �Lonnie. I was so worried. Where have you been?� �I got lost. And this boy found me,� she says pointing to the other boy. Realizing who they are, the boy immediately bows in respect. �I�m sorry, your highnesses. I didn�t recognize you I...� �What�s your name?� Zan asks. �Rath, your highness.� �Thank you for helping Vilandra, Rath. From now on you have all my friendship and respect. And I would prefer if you called me Zan.� �As you wish, your highness. I mean Zan.� The boys shake hands. Lonnie smiles at them. ************* �We had better go now, Lonnie. Our protectors must be looking for us. Dad will slit their throats if he finds out that we escaped from the castle.� Lonnie nods. �Goodbye, Rath,� she says sadly. �Am I going to see you again?� Rath asks. �Maybe in your dreams,� Lonnie replies. Vilandra and Zan are leaving the forest, but at the last moment she looks back and run into Rath�s arms. �Thank you for finding me,� she whispers to him. Rath smiles and hugs her back. ************** �What is it that you want to show me, Lonnie? And where�s Zan?� a slightly older Rath asks Lonnie. �Shhh. They will hear you. Zan couldn�t come. He has some royal duties to do. Here. Let�s go.� She waves her hand and a big passage opens in front of them. Inside there�s a brilliant place. �What�s this?� �This is the Granolith.� �Wow. It�s incredible.� �Only the Royal family has the power to use it.� �Oh, and what does it do?� �Well, actually, I don�t know. My mother says it makes wishes become true. Come on, make a wish.� �Sounds like nonsense to me, Lonnie.� She glares at him. �Ok. Ok.� Rath closes his eyes. �So. What do you wish?� �I wish that we could stay together forever.� Lonnie smiles and give him a small peck on the cheek. Rath blushes. ****************** �No!� Vilandra, now a woman, yells. A gust of light is about to hit Rath. She jumps in front of him, being hit instead. �Vilandra. Nooo!� Rath shouts in despair. Vilandra falls into his arms. There are tears in the eyes of the great warrior. �No, Lonnie, please.� He is sobbing. "You can�t leave me. I love you so much. I can�t lose you.� With her last bit of strength, she raises her hand and run her fingers across her beloved�s face. Rath holds the hand and kisses it gently. �You will never lose me, my love. Ahhh..� she screams in pain. With her last breath she says her last words. �Remember�it is forever.� �Noooooooooo��.� ############## Michael gasps. �Michael? Michael? What�s wrong?� Isabel calls to him. Michael snaps back. �Huh? Oh, nothing. Let�s go, Iz. Max is probably completely crazy by now.� �Are you sure you're Ok? You're pale.� �Don�t worry. As long as you're here with me, I�ll be OK.� Michael stands up and helps Isabel to do the same. They leave the place together, hand in hand. And I have the sense to recognize that I don�t know how let you go I don�t know how let you go A glowing ember burning hot and burning slow Deep within I�m shaken by the violence of existence for only you I know I can�t be with you I do what I have to do I know I can�t be with you I do what I have to do And I have the sense to recognize that I don�t know how let you go I don�t know how let you go I don�t know how let you go |