5. P R E D A T O R S : Nightmares

Part II: CHAPTER I

MacKenzie stood at the edge of the lake in the Animal District, hands clasped and held low. The water's surface gleamed with a yellow sheen in the light of the rising sun.

One tear trickled from each of MacKenzie's eyes. We were supposed to be swimming here yesterday, she thought sadly. Things weren't supposed to be like this...

Ca-chik.

"Kenzie."

MacKenzie jolted slightly, startled by the sound of Addison's voice. He had spoken from behind her, a split-second after the telltale sound of a loaded gun being cocked.

She turned slightly, not daring to look over her shoulder. "Addi?" she asked, her voice breaking.

"Don't," Vision warned sharply.

MacKenzie froze.

"I can see your hand moving." Vision took a hit from his cigarette and let it out, lowering his shades. "You're trying to contact the C.P.s, right?"

"You need help," MacKenzie replied in a shaking voice. "You're not yourself."

"I'm as 'myself' as I've ever been," Vision retorted. "The only difference is I've embraced my primordial side."

MacKenzie swallowed hard. That's not true, she thought, the words on the tip of her tongue. But instead, she asked, "Why'd you come?"

"I wanted to make sure you were alright—y'know, that you made it through the night."

"By threatening me with a gun?"

"What, this?" Vision wiggled the gun in the air. "I brought it just in case you turn on me."

"I'm trying to help you," MacKenzie insisted, her voice shaking even more violently as her tears threated to overflow.

"The help you're offering isn't any kind of help I want," Vision growled.

The two were silent for a moment.

Then MacKenzie whispered, "Why a gun?"

Vision frowned. "What?"

"You have your sword. Your fire. Why not use that?"

Vision hesitated before sighing roughly. "Because if I'm gonna kill you, I want it to be quick," he confessed. "I still love you, Kenzie. I don't want to risk you dying slowly and painfully."

"But you'll still kill me," MacKenzie snapped accusingly.

Vision shrugged. "If it comes to it... yeah. I will."

MacKenzie finally turned around, glaring despite her tears. "Well, then... it's gonna come to it," she said brazenly. "I'm contacting the chairpersons."

"Kenz—"

"If you don't want me to, then shoot me," MacKenzie interrupted, reaching into her pocket. "But I'm calling your bluff, Addi. If it's really you, you'll never pull the trigger."

Vision's three eyes widened.

"You shouldn't have come," MacKenzie told him angrily, removing her hand from her pocket and revealing her cellphone. "You put yourself in a really crappy situation."

"You stinkin' brat!" Vision spat, moving closer.

Suddenly, his body jerked, and his right hand came arcing across his body, dropping the cigarette and grabbing his left wrist. "No—" he grunted, beginning to tremble. "Don't—"