“Did you find her?” Liz asked frantically.
“Does it look like we found her?” Michael responded, obviously frustrated.
Isabel threw Michael a look and then he continued. “We didn’t find her but I think she might have stopped by my apartment not too long ago.”
Isabel jumped in and asked, “How do we know she didn’t decide to just skip school and…take a joy ride or something?”
“Because that’s not Maria,” Liz said. “She wouldn’t do something like that without mentioning it to me, or Michael, or someone, first.
Isabel opened her mouth to respond. “But,” she began until she was cut off by Max when he touched her shoulder, silencing her.
“Well, whatta we do next then?” Kyle asked.
They all looked at each other as they tried to come up with ideas. They all became preoccupied with the task, so much so, that they didn’t notice someone approaching them until Kyle jerked his head up and appeared to stare. They all in turn lifted their heads.
“Hey guys,” Maria said weakly trying to fake a smile despite the pain she must have been in. Bruises like the ones Liz had discovered days earlier were more visible and there were more of them. There were even some on her face that traveled down to her shoulder until they disappeared under her shirt. She had appeared weak in her legs and seemed to be limping. What seemed to worry everyone the most though, was the way she was acting. She obviously not herself because her voice was weak and soft, not loud and full of excitement or nervous energy like usual.
“Maria,” Liz said so softly that it was barely audible. Everyone seemed to be in shock. No one moved. Except Michael. Michael was not unfazed but apparently he understood that he was needed and he cared about Maria, therefore he didn’t hesitate. He began to move to her and she tried to meet him halfway but it was hard and she had obviously already used up most of her energy trying to find him. Michael reached Maria and helped her lean on him. Then he looked up at the others expectantly.
“Well?” he asked. “Where are we going to take her?” When no one answered quickly enough for Michael, he grew impatient and made a decision. He lifted Maria carefully into his arms; she was still bewildered by the events that were happening and this different side of Michael. She knew he wasn’t the tough, cold person he made himself out to be to everyone else but this new sense of command and protectiveness, especially in front of others, was new.
As Michael turned to the cars with Maria safely in his arms, he told the others, “We’re going to my apartment.” Max moved slowly to comply with Michael’s announcement but the others were all almost frozen in place. It took Michael turning back to them to get them to move. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go, come on!” he said loudly. Everyone immediately jumped into the car they arrived in, with the exception of Maria, who sat leaning against Michael in the backseat of Kyle’s car.
When they arrived at Michael’s apartment, Michael was the first to the door despite Maria, who was once again in his arms. Apparently having mastered the art of it, he kicked the door open and held it open with his foot until he had made his way inside. Michael glanced around for a place to put her down and he decided to place her on his bed. The others followed not far behind. They crowded by the door of the room but didn’t enter. Max was the last to join them and he quietly motioned for them to follow him back out where Isabel collapsed onto the couch. Liz and Max didn’t sit, they both paced the length of the couch. As Kyle took a seat next to Isabel, Max glanced at Liz. When she looked back he asked, “What do you know?”
Liz sighed before answering. “I know that there were bruises before. I noticed them Saturday or Sunday last weekend,” Liz told them, remembering. “She told me she didn’t know where they had come from and that she didn’t want me to tell anyone. I wanted to but I didn’t want to lose her trust,” Liz pleaded with group, and herself, for understanding.
“You should have told someone,” Isabel said to Liz.
“You would have done the same as she did, Is,” Max said gently. Isabel looked like she wanted and was ready to disagree with him but instead surprised them all and said, “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
They all looked scared to ask the obvious question. Max finally broke the silence and asked, “Have any suspicions on who it was?” he asked.
Liz shook her head. “That’s the problem, I’m basically clueless.”
Michael leaned over Maria as he tried to make her more comfortable. Then he moved a chair over next to the bed, continuing to look at Maria. He had tons of questions to ask but he didn’t know where to start. He asked one of the first that came to mind.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Maria looked at him while he continued. “I know this isn’t the first time this has happened, Maria. Damn it, I need to know why you didn’t tell me.” He wasn’t yelling and he wasn’t mad but he was concerned; Maria could tell. Her eyes began to glisten as she spoke.
“It’s not that I didn’t want to. I didn’t want you overreacting over some little thing because of me. I just want us to have a normal relationship.”
“Too late for that,” Michael said and Maria actually almost smiled.
“I was scared, Michael, I was scared to tell you.”
Michael sighed. “You shouldn’t have been scared to tell me. I could have helped. I thought we didn’t have any secrets now.”
“We don’t, not anymore. No more secrets.”
Michael reached for her hand and gently held it, rubbing her knuckles softly. Then he brought it to his lips and placed kisses the back of her hand. He drew her hand away from his mouth and looked into her once bright eyes, searching for answers. Maria knew Michael had the ability to read her like a book, not because of any special alien power, but because he was Michael. She looked away but he reached for her chin and soothingly rubbed his index finger along her jaw line, pulling her head back to face him.
“Maria, let’s get Max in here and let him heal you but then I need answers. I want to know who is doing this to you.”
Maria hesitated before responding. “I think you should try first.”
“Max is more experienced with this stuff Maria; I think it might be a good idea to let him—“
“Please?” Maria whispered gazing at Michael. They stared at each other a few seconds before Michael nodded.
“Sure, I’ll give it a try,” he said. Michael stood up and sat next to Maria on the bed. He surveyed her, realizing that the bruises were mainly contained to her arms, shoulders and neck except for one ankle, that was either sprained or twisted because it was swollen to almost twice its original size. He placed his hand on her arm, deciding that it didn’t really make a difference where he started. As he looked up at Maria’s face he found her eyes wandering, watching his hand. “Maria,” he said quietly, “I need you to keep your eyes on me.” She raised her eyes to look into his and he continued. “It’s important because I haven’t done this a lot and you’ve gotta look at me so I can keep a connection.” Maria just nodded and Michael started trying to make a connection. He tried his hardest, knowing that this time he wasn’t just practicing with his powers, he was needed and he desperately wanted to get this right. Making the connection with Maria wasn’t the hard part. It would be actually healing her. When the connection was made, flashes of images ran rapidly through both of their minds. There were images of Maria as a small girl, running through the grass at school with Liz; Maria singing, accompanied by Alex on guitar and then later with The Whits. Then, more images — of himself. Their very first kiss and the first kiss when Michael actually let Maria “see” him. Suddenly, the images dissipated and he couldn’t keep the connection. Michael was breathing more heavily then before and he glanced at Maria’s arm where his hand was. Nothing had changed.
“Shit,” he mumbled. He glanced at Maria quickly before standing up. “I don’t know what happened…I guess I’d better go get Max.”
“Wait, Michael,” Maria said. He looked back at her again. “I don’t think Max is going to be able to help,” she told him.
“What are you talking about? He’s done this more, I’m sure he’ll be able to heal you,” Michael responded. He didn’t like the fact that he wasn’t able to help her but he was more concerned about her well-being and if Max could help her, he wanted him there now.
But Maria shook her head. “What I mean is, I don’t think any of you are going to be able to heal me.”
Michael stared blankly at her before saying in a frustrated tone, “Maria, what do you mean?”
Maria took a deep breath and reached for his hand. She gripped it as tightly as she could before looking back up at him. “I just have a feeling. I think you need to know what’s going on, the reason I’m like this...and the other reason I didn’t want to tell you what was happening to me.”
TBC
