What Was Left Behind

Chapter Four: Betrayal?

I do not own DC2. mowr

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Monica?"

"Max! What are you, why--" Too unnerved by his presence before her, Monica failed to see the boy Jace leave their company.

"You didn't think I'd let you just leave, did you? Especially seeing how you wouldn't even speak to me normally. Besides--"

"You idiot!" She punched him in the cheek, more violently than she expected to. "Maybe there was a reason I didn't want you to follow me!"

"I know, I know, just listen." He broke in, one hand holding his stinging cheek. "The people you spoke of, they came very shortly after you left. I did not tell them I saw you. So quit scowling. But they told me what everyone believes you've done."

Monica gasped and stepped back a trace. She almost looked as if she was about to run.

"Monica--" He found her eyes. "You didn't think I actually believed them, do you? You were here, with me. You couldn't have done anything!" Softening his voice, he said, "But I think I know a way we can deal with this."

"'We?'" Monica said half-heartedly. "There isn't a 'we' this time, Max. This is my problem, and I will find a solution. I've already dragged you into enough messes."

"Yes but those messes concerned me as well. And don't forget I agreed to help."

"This problem doesn't concern you, Max."

"Yes it does," he pressed, "because you are hurt by it. That's reason enough to make it deal with me as well."

Looking into his eyes, Monica found no jest, no uncertain emotions of what he just said. Monica opened her mouth to make a feeble reply, but Max was determined to finish his mind and uncharacteristically intervened.

"We've been looking after each other for a long time. And just because our initial mission was completed does not mean we can abandon each other."

"I was trying to help you." She almost seemed offended.

"By keeping me blissfully unaware? That didn't help me when I was secluded in Palm Brinks, not knowing of the world outside its walls."

Max paused, as if rethinking. He looked at her again, "I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but you have to accept my help! And I do have a way we can work this out."

Monica silently debated within herself as to whether she should actually risk his aid. But she decided to at least listen to what he had to say.

Confronted with her lack of answer, Max decided to continue, "We already know all your charges are false, so--"

"Not exactly."

Max's eyes shot up in brief surprise, "'Not exactly?' But you were here, you couldn't have done anything."

"I abandoned what was left of my kingdom. I failed to check if any of my notices got through to ones who would help in my absence. I caused a bitter rebellion from leaving my time and retrieving you."

"Do you . . . regret that?" His voice was slow.

"I . . ." At her hesitation and when her eyes strayed from his own, Max felt his chest compress. "No. I guess I don't." She looked back up at him, but her gaze was devoid of confidence and Max felt he wasn't completely convinced.

"Well . . ." He began, a little flustered at her dubiety. "If we can return to your time, we can find my mother, and Lord Agaris--they can help prove your innocence."

"Max . . ."

He raised a hand, "Besides them, I have--"

"Me."

Monica and Max turned their heads to the owner of the voice. He stood tall, in regal assurance.

"I am on your side, cousin."

"Eldrinn?" Monica questioned, truly surprised at his appearance. She had thought he would have felt only bitterness toward her for having left Lebrante so suddenly and without warning.

"The charges upon you were nothing more than accusations of stress. You were missing, the king was dead. They made too hasty of assumptions. When word spread there was no way one could silence all their shouting voices. However, moods have simmered, in the least, and so now may be the only time possible to plead your innocence. Don't run away. We can straighten things out again."

Monica looked at Eldrinn, who faced her with his arm outstretched, then at Max, who politely moved aside so she and her cousin could converse. He wore on his face a slight smile but it was in his eyes where a bright sparkling hope glittered. He truly had confidence.

So, with Eldrinn, Max, Jace, and the men accompanying her cousin, Monica found a little flicker of hope enter her own being as she nodded her head and traveled to her time.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monica opened her eyes slightly, feeling a pain in her wrists and a massive headache. Her sight was met with austere greyness, save for a small break that was the door. Looking at her arms, they were held above her head in tight shackles. Her legs were also bound to the wall, lest she try any tricks. They had taken Crest's starglass away from her as well.

She remembered agreeing to return to the future. She remembered then many arms grabbing her and a sickening blow to the head. She remembered Max's horrified cry before everything turned to an empty ebony vastness.

Eldrinn . . . he was bitter toward her, more than Monica expected. But what about Max? He wouldn't possibly trick her, would he? Max was the most pure-hearted soul she knew. However, he could have believed Eldrinn's lies just as easily as she had. So where was Max now?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Thank you, young Maximilian. Without your aid we would be searching for her still."

"I thought you wanted to help her!" Max spat.

Eldrinn narrowed his eyes, "And why should I? She ruined hundreds of lives. Even if she didn't kill the king Jasan, she stole his Atlamillia and escaped from prison after thieving from a sage."

Max found himself momentarily silenced. Then he raised his head, "Where is she?"

"In the prison cells, below our feet. But don't think you can try anything, boy. You'll be sent back home where you can't intervene."

"Can I speak with her?"

Eldrinn put a hand to his chin in though. "I'll allow five minutes, bound, blindfolded, and supervised."

Max nodded.

From the far side of the room, Eldrinn's two guards came forward. Harshly two cords were clasped about his wrists and were crudely tightened. One man walked in front of him while the other was behind as they walked through bleak, dark corridors. Max was not to be blindfolded until they came to the dungeons. He tried to take in the passageway's appearance, as if somehow that would help the situation.

When the floor leveled and the two heavy men stopped, Max felt a rough fabric slide coarsely over his eyes. Tautly it was tied behind his head.

No sooner had it been tightened had Max felt a strong hand from behind push him forward into a walk. He heard the sound of a small key being fitted and turned, then the squeak of an iron door as it swung open.

The guiding hands gripped his shoulders, signaling a halt.

"Max?" A voice pealed through the darkness.

"Monica—I didn't know—they . . . " Now that he was able to speak with her, he found himself bereft of his planned words. The guards still had hold of him securely.

"It's all right, Max. It's not your fault." Her voice was incomplete; empty. There was no reassurance, but there was not doubt either. She held no emotion.

At this, Max felt a frustration well rebelliously inside of him—however he did not mean for their limited time to be solely for self-pity. Before Max could make any utterance, Monica spoke.

"What's going to happen to you?"

"They're sending me back."

"That's probably for the best."

"No—it's . . ." He stopped his voice—forcing himself again not to waste time.

"And you?" He asked, unable to still his voice from betraying concern.

A sigh.

"Most likely I shall be executed."

Max's voice caught strangled in his throat. His brows tightened behind the cloth. Only a feeble whimper escaped his lips.

"They're taking no chances, not since Griffon. Five days is all I have left. Without doubt it would be in the ruins of my—ah!"

Max felt the guards start beside him; heard the sound of flesh on flesh, a hard contact. With a rush of realization he knew what Monica had attempted.

"Your minutes are over." A deep voice bellowed.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well mowr.

Um . . . lately I've been kinda worried about this story. Whenever I write something that's not supposed to be "odd and funny" it turns out to be a tad . . . troubling. And yup; I can see it happen to this one, too. Sorry.

"troubling" as in a little too -strange- dark. I dunno. Now I'm confusing myself.