Lost

Maria gripped the sheets to her chest. Her eyes where playing trick on her. She was seeing unimaginable things. Things that shouldn't be seen. They where all over her room. Black clouds seemed to swim over her walls. Small sounds could be heard from outside adding to the fearful movement. She pulled the sheets over her head and squeezed her eyes shut. But that didn't help. She could see colors. She could feel them. Like vengeful emotions flooding her brain. Maria felt like a six year old that had stayed up to late watching a scary movie. She was shaking now. The fear held her in a death grip. She curled up in a ball and began to cry. They where looking for her. All of them. She could feel chills run over her body. Someone was touching her to. She kicked her leg to remove the invading object. But there was nothing. But she could still see them. Everything was so clear now. They had been here the whole time. The dark figures on her walls seemed to come to life. And she screamed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Michael hey." Isabelle said brightly as she walked to the booth Michael was sitting in.

"I feel fine Isabelle." Michael reassured her. For the past couple of days since he decided to spin a cocoon she had been over doing the motherly attitude.

"I didn't say a thing." she told him and sipped her drink. "Where's Max?"

"I don't know. Liz came in hear all worried and he followed her to the back for some major discussion. I'm guessing more over active hormones for the two of them." But in truth he had no idea. She looked genuinely worried. "Speak of the alien." Michael said softly enough for only Isabelle to hear.

"So what was so urgent that you weren't ready to leave?" Isabelle asked him a little annoyed. It was Friday. She had to get ready. And she couldn't do that unless she went home.

"Liz can't get in touch with Maria. She didn't show up to school today or work. I'm brining Liz over to Maria's." Max said and grabbed his keys off the table.

Michael jumped up out of the booth. "I'm coming."

Isabelle frowned. "I guess I am to." she said annoyed. Of course Michael would leap at the sound of Maria being in trouble. That girl had him on a leash.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's unlocked." Liz said as the door opened. "She has to be home."

"Her parents aren't home?" Isabelle asked surprised. She thought she would have been since she made those ridiculous alien things.

"No." Liz said softly. "Her Mom works two jobs." Liz explained as she led the other three down the hall.

"And her father?" Isabelle questioned.

Liz grimaced. She didn't like revealing Maria’s personal life. But Isabelle asked. And Maria and Liz knew there biggest secret. "Is nonexistent." Liz said. It was the best way. She had one of course. But he wasn't anywhere to be found. But they weren't trying to find them anyway.

"Oh." Isabelle responded softly.

"Right here." Liz whispered as they reached Marias closed door.

Michael just wished she would open it already. He was about to die not knowing what was going on and why Maria hadn't told anyone anything.

Liz turned the knob gently but it turned only slightly. "It's locked."

"Let me." Max said and stepped in front of her. He passed his hand over the lock and it clicked softly. He placed his hand on the knob and turned it gently. As the door opened they all where forced to squint as the bright sunlight filled the room.

"Max." Liz started. The curtains where ripped from the windows laid in a mess on the floor. The windows gapped wide open. A further observation of the room revealed the walls to be empty. Things that should have been on them laid on the floor either torn or broken. "Maria." Liz gasped. She hadn't realized it to be her. A white blanket covered Marias from that laid on the floor. Liz rushed forward and threw the blanket off of Marias. Her chin began to shake with fear she turned to Max. "What's wrong with her?"

Michael dropped to the floor next to the other. Maria laid on the floor unaware of their presence. Her eyes where wide open and flashed all over the room but never landed directly on the people in front of her. One of her hands clawed back and forth through the carpet. Her hair was damp and matted to her head. Her small body was sweat slicked and was only covered by a pair of underwear and a tanktop.

Liz reached out and touched Marias face gently. Her hand snapped back as Maria jumped up and crawled backwards until she ran into the wall.

Marias eyes flew around wildly finally taking notice of the people surrounding her. But it brought her no comfort. She crawled her way along the wall until she hit another and found herself backed up into a corner like a scared, caged animal. Realization began to take over Maria and she was brought back to reality. Only partially. "It was to dark." Maria said like a scared child. "And they where on the walls. I had to get them off the walls. But they'll be back. Once the light leaves they'll be back. But the light doesn't like me either. It makes me hot." Maria explained to them as if she was sure of herself.

Liz crawled over slowly to Maria as to not scare her away. Something was very obviously wrong. They had to be careful. "Do you want me to help you Maria?" Liz asked like she was talking to a child. But Maria most likely needed to hear a sweet caring voice right now.

"H-how?" Maria asked confused. How could she help. She couldn't even see.

"Somebody go get me a wet washcloth." Liz said softly still keeping her eyes on Maria. She caught a glimpse of Isabelle making her way slowly out the door. "Maria do you know who I am?"

Marias looked down and began combing her fingers through the carpet. "Yea." she said softly and nodded.

"Do you trust me?" Liz asked her.

"Yea." Maria said again and nodded.

"Liz." Isabelle whispered.

Liz turned and retrieved the washcloth from Isabelle. "Come see Maria." Liz said and crawled forward a little more.

Maria looked up at Liz unsurely.

"Remember Maria. You can trust me." Liz told her genuinely.

"Okay." Maria said and scooted forward.

Liz got off of her hands and sat down slowly. Once Maria was sitting in front of her she spoke again. "Are you tired Maria?"

Maria nodded. "But I can't sleep. They won't let me."

"Well, they have to. Because we're not going to let them keep you awake. We're here now. Lay down." Liz told her softly. Maria curled up and laid her head in Liz's lap. Liz took the washcloth and began to wipe it lightly across Marias face. "Max?"

Max wasn't sure what to say. Liz seemed to be holding together better then the rest of them. But he knew it wasn't true. She was only doing it for the sake of Maria in her fragile state. "I don't know Liz. It's obvious she isn't sane right now. This isn't something normal. My only guess is that it could have something to do with us. But I don't know what."

"Well, how do we find out?" Michael finally spoke up. What had he been supposed to say before. He couldn't help Maria. Liz was better equipped to handle this type of situation. "Couldn't Isabelle dreamwalk?"

"Are you crazy?" Isabelle whispered loudly. "Her mind is probably so out of whack right now who knows what would happen."

"So we let her stay like this then Isabelle? She risked her life to help me. I'm not about to let her die." Michael grounded out.

"Fine. When she is asleep I will-" Isabelle began but was cut off my Liz.

"She's already asleep." Liz spoke up.

Isabelle sighed and nodded. She crawled over to where Liz and Maria where and laid down in front of Maria. She reached out and touched Marias hand and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isabelle opened her eyes and found herself in a very bright but cold room. The walls where white, but it actually had a carpet, which was also white. And once again Maria was laying on the floor combing her fingers through the carpet. "Maria what is going on?"

"Maria what is going on?" Isabelle asked her as she walked toward her.

"I lost something." Maria told her and continued on her quest of the carpet.

"Obviously." Isabelle whispered. "What did you lose?" she asked her.

"Maria." Maria told her.

Isabelle shook her head. "Maria you're right there."

"No. I'm only some of me. Someone else kept the other some." Marias explained to her. Of course it made no sense for a girl who was already cracked.

"Okay so pretty much your only half of Maria. Someone has the other half. And if we put those two halves together we have the normal Maria?" Isabelle asked. That was the dumbest thing she ever heard of. Who the hell would be keeping half of Maria if it was even true.

"Yea." Maria said.

"Then where is the rest of you?" Isabelle asked.

"I don't know. Some of me is here. But the other some is somewhere else like here."

"You mean in someone's else's mind?" Isabelle asked. She was rewarded with a nod of Marias head against the carpet. "Why is the other half of you in someone else's mind?" Isabelle asked confused. How could Maria have managed that. She couldn't have. Not on her own.

"Because I was there in their someplace. But when I left they didn't want to let go. I only got away a little. But I don't like it here. The other place was nicer. I was wanted there." Maria told her and looked up at Isabelle. "It's getting dark." Maria said fearfully. "Their coming back."

Isabelle didn't have time to respond. She was yanked out of Marias dream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isabelle's eyes popped open and she was met with Marias wide fearful eyes. Isabelle sat up and looked at the others. "Now that was a trip. This is Maria's body. But only half of her is in there. The other half of her is somewhere else in someone else's mind. Or at least she claims."

"It's dark." Maria whined and gripped onto Liz's leg and curled up tighter.

"She says she was in someone's mind, but that they wouldn't let her go. So they still have half of her. Also she said she liked it better there. She was wanted there. But I know exactly where the rest of her is." Isabelle said proudly.

"Where?" Liz asked.

Isabelle frowned. And she was supposed to be the smart one. Isabelle leaned down on her elbows and faced Maria. "Maria. Do you know where the rest of you is?"

Maria shook her head quickly.

"Maria your still half there." Isabelle whispered. "Who's mind where you in when this happened. Who would want you there?"

"Nooo." Maria moaned and shook her head.

"You know don't you Maria?" Isabelle stated to her more then asked.

"No." Maria said quickly.

"Why don't you know Maria?" Isabelle asked.

"Liar." Maria said stubbornly. "Lied to me."

"Who did Maria?" Isabelle prodded.

"No!" Maria yelled and jumped up. Her eyes flew wildly around the room. The three people in there stood up and stepped back from her. Her eyes landed on the one person and she launched herself on him. "Give me back!" she screamed she pounded on his chest. "I want back! I want back now!" she yelled.

Michael grabbed ahold of her of her swinging arms and held her away a few inches. "Maria what the hell are you talking about."

"You have the other half of her Michael. When we went into your mind to pull you back to reality you didn't want to let Maria go. You wound up holding on to half of her." Isabelle told him. But she didn't stop Maria's attempts on hurting him. It served him right.

"Isabelle that's crazy. Don't you think I would know." he said but did not remove his eyes from Maria who had finally halted her attempts at killing him. Even in an insane state she still managed an evil glare.

"I don't know. But out of all three of us yours is the only one's mind she has been into. And out of all three of us your the only one that would actually want to keep her there and not let her go. You've got to give the rest of her back." Isabelle ordered him sternly.

"How?!?!" Michael exclaimed.

"When we where in you it was practically like dreamwalking. You could go into her mind and give her her other half back." Max explained.

"Give it back." Maria ordered him like a wanting child.

"Alright." Michael agreed. It couldn't hurt.

Maria smiled and bounded onto her bed like gleeful kid.

"Get out." Michael told them. "I don't dreamwalk like you do Isabelle. The last thing I want to do is do it with an audience. Come back in here in a couple of minutes." he said to them. He finally turned and faced the others. His eyes has been trained on Maria the whole time.

"Alright." Max agreed and led Liz and Isabelle out the room.

Michaels eyes followed them all the way out the door and he still didnt turn away till the door closed. He then turned back to Maria who was still sitting on the bed waiting. He sighed and walked towards the bed. Michael sat down on the bed and looked over at Maria. "If you're right I'm sorry Maria."

"Hurry. They are going to be coming soon. You see." Maria said and pointed to a wall. "Their moving."

Michael looked in the direction she was pointing and only say shadows on the walls from the setting sun. "Okay." he said and laid down on the bed. Maria joined him and curled up against him. He turned on his side to face her. "Close your eyes." he whispered. Maria followed his instructions obediently and soon he felt himself being pulled into her mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Look!" Maria exclaimed as soon as they opened there eyes. The surrounding revealed white walls and a white carpet. And it was freezing. He looked in the direction that Maria was pointing in and he found another Maria laying on the carpet sleeping. "You brought me back!" she said excitedly.

"So this is the rest of you?" Michael asked hopefully.

"Uh huh. But that some of me was sleeping. So you didn't know that some was their in you. But I can have the rest back right?" Maria asked hopefully.

Michael nodded.

"Do you want me to stay here?" Maria asked him.

"What?" Michael asked confused. Why would she want to stay.

"I could stay with you in here. I like it here. Here wants me. Do you want me to stay here?" Maria asked again.

"No. I want you to stay with me outside of here." Michael told her. "All of you."

"Okay." Maria said and nodded and then walked towards her other half.

Michael watched in amazement as she seemed to step into the other Maria and actually lay down inside of her. The two Marias blurred together then the vision sharpened and he only saw one. Soon after that one Maria, which was hopefully the whole Maria, began to move. He waited impatiently as she pushed herself up into a sitting position.

"You know Michael, you are causing much more problems by keeping away from me." Maria said and stood up. She turned to face Michael. If you would never have pushed me away in the first place you wouldn't have kept me here and had the other half of me going crazy and going nuts at the site of shadows!" Maria yelled.

"Nice to have you back." he said sarcastically.

"Yea I bet. You probably would have left me like that spouting nonsense like a child and playing with the carpet. And to top it off my room is now a mess. You better plan on putting in some extra time and straitening it up. Oh know you don't Michael" Maria walked towards him as he began to fade.

"Sorry Maria. Got to go." he told her.

"I'm sleeping right next to you. Don't think your getting to far." she told him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marias eyes opened. She had half expected Michael to actually get up and run. But the site that met her was his eyes staring right back at her. "I thought you had to go?" Maria asked him softly.

"Out of your dream. The whole cold white room made me nervous. Are you okay?" he asked genuinely.

Maria nodded. "I'm just kind of tired." she admitted. "I was to scared to go to sleep before."

"I'm sorry Maria. I didn't even know I had done that. If I had, I would have fixed it right away." he started ramble.

"Shhhh." Maria said and covered his mouth with her hand. She was suffering from so much lack of sleep she felt almost delirious.

"Do you want me to-?" Michael began but the door opened and they all soon came walking in. He pushed himself up a little and looked at them.

"Did it work?" Liz asked hopefully.

"Yea she's back together, see for your-" he stopped as he looked down. Her eyes where shut but he noticed a finger being held to her lips. "Well she is sleeping now."

"Maybe we should leave her alone then." Max said as he watched Marias still form.

In response to Max's statement Maria scooted closer to Michael curling herself up around him and wrapping her arm around his waste, tightly. "No, I think I am going to stay." he didn't have much choice with the grip she had on him.

"You sure?" Max asked.

Michael nodded. "When she wakes up I'll call you all."

"Take care of her." Liz told him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as the door closed he laid back down on the bed and looked at Maria who's eyes where now open. "Why did you do that?"

"Because I didn't feel like dealing with a whole in depth conversation and I wanted you to stay. You're going to stay?" she asked him to reassure herself.

Michael nodded. "I went through all that trouble to keep you in the first place I'm not going to let go of you now."

"So do you do this to all the girls you like? Keep half of them in your mind and make them crazy?" she asked him with her eyes close and her head settled on his chest.

"No, your the first." he admitted in his usual casual tone.

"Good. I think." Maria said. He didn't say anything back though. Not that she minded. He wasn't all that open. She knew how he felt though. By the way he held her, the way his hand rubbed her back softly.

"You are aware that you are half naked?" Michael asked. He had just realized it to. And it was making him nervous as hell now because he could feel the exposed part of her back where her shirt had lifted. Luckily for him he had pants on.

"Uh huh." she mumbled. "Why? You mind?"

"No, not at all." he told her. He felt a soft laugh come from her as he chest shook against him.

"Good. Because I didn't want you to be offended if I have on less later." she told him and smiled softly.

"Oh." Michael said quickly. He silently yelled at himself for the high pitch his voice had just taken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The End