No. This can't be happening. Maria had never felt anything like this before, but she knew it was dangerous. She was being pulled into Michael’s mind. she could feel it surrounding her, enfolding her, a touch that was light but almost irresistible, that was trying to draw out the most secret part of her, trying to mix her and Michael together, like two pools of water being stirred. Maria could feel that Michael was as startled as she was. The only difference being that he didn’t seem to be resisting the force. he didn’t seem terrified and unhappy as Maria was. He seemed…exhilarated and wondering. Like someone sky diving for the first time. That’s because he’s crazy, Maria thought dizzily. He loves danger and enjoys courting death.- I enjoy you, a voice said in her mind. Michael’s voice. Soft as a whisper, a feather touch that shook Maria to her soul. While one part of her mind yelled desperately, “He’s here, he’s here, he’s inside, what are we going to do now?” another part threw up a smokescreen, flooding her thoughts and visions of mist and clouds. There was something like a swift gasp from Michael. Maria, don’t. Don’t hide form me You’re not allowed here, she snapped back, this time directing the thought straight at him. go away! I can’t. for just a moment his mental voice sounded confused and scared. She hadn’t realised Michael could be confused and scared. I’m not doing this. It’s just-happening But it shouldn’t be happening, Maria thought, and she didn’t know if she was talking to him or just herself. She began to shake. she couldn’t resist the pull that was trying to bring her soul to the surface and intermingle it with Michael’s-she couldn’t.it was stronger than anything she’d ever experienced. But she knew that if she did she was dead. Don’t be afraid. Don’t, Michael said in a voice Maria had never heard from him before. A voice of desperate gentleness. His mind was trying to wrap around hers protectively, like dark wings shielding her, touching her softly. Maria felt her insides turn to water. No. No…. Yes, Michael’s voice whispered. She had to stop this-now. She had to break the contact. But although Maria could still feel her physical body, she seemed powerless to control it. She could sense Michael’s arms supporting her and His lips moving against hers, His warm tongue, darted slowly in and out of her mouth, in a sensuous dance, hinting at intimacies to follow. And yet she couldn’t so much as move a finger push him away. The muscles that she’d trained so ruthlessly to obey her under any circumstances were betraying her now. She had to try another way. This shouldn’t be happening, she told Michael. I know. But that’s because you’re fighting it. We should be somewhere else by now. Maria was exasperated. Where else? I don’t know, he said, and she could feel a tinge of sadness in his thought. some place-deeper. Where we’d really be together. But you won’t open you’re mind…. Michael, what are you talking about? What do you think is going on? He seemed genuinely surprised. Don’t you know? It’s the soulmate principle. Maria felt the floor drop away beneath her. No. That’s not possible. That can’t be. She wasn’t talking to Michael anymore, she was desperately trying to convince herself. I’m not soulmates with Michael. I can’t be. We hate each other…he hates me…all we ever do is fight…He’s impossible and dangerous and hot-headed and stubborn…he’s crazy…he’s angry and hostile…he’s infuriating and he loves to make me miserable…And I don’t even believe in soulmates. But she could still feel it pulling at her, trying to strip the layers of cloud she was hiding behind. It wanted Michael to see her as she truly was. And it was trying to show her Michael. *flash* A little boy with unruly spikes and eyes that burned with intensity, watching as his father walked out the door-again. Going to play alone in the darkness, amusing himself. *flash* A young girl, herself throwing him a ball in the playground, inviting him to join in the game. *flash* A slightly older boy, even more unkempt, watching his father walk out the door for the last time, never to come back. *flash* Hunting for food, sleeping in an empty house that got messier and messier. Learning to care for himself. Training himself. Getting harder in mind and body, seeing a sullen expression when he looked in the mirror… *flash* A boy even older watching humans, who were weak and silly, but who had everything he didn’t. Family, security, food every night. *flash* Watching Other Worlders, the elders who felt no responsibility to help an abandoned alien child. I never knew, Maria thought. She still felt dizzy, as if she couldn’t get enough air. The images were dazzling in their clarity and they tore at her heart. *flash* A boy who started a gang to create a family. The two of them grinning wickedly, running wild in the streets, finding others. Collecting children the adults couldn’t control or wouldn’t miss. Walking around the worst parts of town, unafraid – because they had one another now. The images were coming faster and Maria could barely keep up with them. Dashing through a metal scrap yard…with Maria…. Hiding from police…with Maria…. His first big kill, a homeless man who with his drunken ramblings had scared them…. And Maria by his side, helping him defend himself the only way he knew how…fear and happiness and anger and arguments, hurt, sadness, and exasperation-but always with Maria interwoven into the fabric. She was always there in his memories, haloed by a golden aura. I didn’t know... how could I know? How could I realise I meant that much to him? She could feel something bubbling up inside of her. Michael, she whispered with her mind. She could sense the fear within him, the instinctive need to run and hide, he hadn’t meant to show her these things, they were being forced form him in much the same way they were forced on Maria. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to look, I’ll go away, she told him. No, he wasn’t hiding anymore, don’t go, I want you to stay. Maria felt herself flow towards him. She could feel his mind touch hers, the very essence of his soul. It was unbelievable, the fear and pain she had carried with her for an entire lifetime disappeared in that moment. Pleasure she could never have dreamed of overtook her as the feeling of content, rushed through her warming her all over. And then as if a huge red light started flashing a warning, she remembered who she was... who he was. Are you insane? This is Michael let him in, bear your soul, your secrets and you won’t live long enough to regret it. He’ll tear your throat out the minute he discovers your…Maria cut the thought off in panic. But still the force pulling her towards Michael kept pushing, she didn’t want to resist it any longer… but its not just your life at risk, a tiny voice whispered…Uncle Jeff, and Aunt Nancy, Liz and… and Alex, you have to protect them. Maria couldn’t put the lives of the people who had loved and cared for her in that danger, the whole Other World would be out for their blood, they were too close to knowing the truth. So Maria did the only thing she could think of. She threw an image at Michael, of her, walking out the door, leaving him. It had never actually happened, it was a symbol. It was bait. She felt it hit Michael's mind and clash there, sparking memories and feelings of pain, confusion and loss. *flash* The first meeting of the gang with her not there. Questions. Puzzlement. *flash* Searching for her, at first trying to make a game of it, laughing as they called her name, then laughter turning into annoyance when she did not appear. Annoyance turning into worry. *flash* Uncle Jim’s house. The gang crowded on the doorstep, Michael in front. Uncle Jim looking lost and sad. “I don’t know here she is. She just-disappeared” *flash* Worry turning into gut-wrenching fear. Fear and anger, sorrow and betrayal. If she wasn’t dead then she’d abandoned him. Just like everyone else. Just like his father. *flash* And then…her reappearance in his loft today. Obviously alive, insultingly healthy. And unforgivably casual as she refused to tell him where she’d been. *Snap* The physical sensation of breaking apart actually hurt as Maria found herself hurtled back into her body, away from Michael’s mind and the warmth it gave. Maria blinked trying to focus on her surroundings, kneeling on the floor with Michael still holding her. Then suddenly the arms around her let go and she fell in a pile on the floor. She tried to figure out which muscles moved what, Her lips felt bruised and raw, and the cold night air made her shiver. Beside her Michael got to his feet, walking over to where she’d thrown her jacket, he picked it up and threw it at her. “Get up, and get out” he said harshly. Before Maria could respond, a loud racket could be heard outside. Laughter and shouting along with loud trampling up the stairs announced the arrival of four rowdy teenagers in through the window. The Gang was here to play. TBC

Part 6