The Redemption of Maximus

Uh Oh- Emily

Damn it. It looks like this time I have really poked the beast. I was hurt when he wouldn't even answer the simple question to why he hasn't shifted in so long. I was honestly curious. I never figured that there could be something wrong with his dragon.

When I felt his body jerk on the couch I was knocked to the floor. I looked at him in confusion thinking that he accidentally knocked me off. What I ended up seeing made me really hope instead that it was an accident.

As his nails grew into long sharp claws I found myself scrambling to get away from him. My heart hammered in my chest as I ran to the wall on the opposite side of the cabin to escape him. He growled so loud that I could feel my bones shake. Before I could react once more his anguished cry reached my ears.

"GET OUT" he screamed.

For the life of me I can't understand what force would not let me leave him in this state. Everything in me screamed for me to run and save myself. As I watched him struggle patches of his chocolate skin started to turn black. He fell from the couch, and I watched as a this giant man curled in on himself like a fetus in the womb.

His head shot up from that position and the eyes of his dragon appeared. I took a cautious step toward the door while holding his gaze only to get rooted to the spot as he screamed. "Don't leave me." His words had me freezing and for some reason when I tried to move I couldn't. it was almost like a weight had settled on my body and was keeping me in place. I felt commanded to stay like a dog on a leash.

"RUN!" he screams at me in his voice. I balk and feel all the color drain from my skin at his eyes. One is the normal black iris, and the other is that of his dragon. I have never seen them surface at the same time before.

In fear I felt as the tears started to come. I was going to die in this room. My pride and not keeping my mouth shut have finally gotten me into trouble that I can't get out of. More tears fell as he jumped up from his position on the floor. In a split second his body started to fade. My muscles were released, and I felt myself sag to the floor as I fought to catch my breath.

The room has gone quiet, and the roaring has stopped. In this position I still have a clear view of where he stands. Wiping my blurry eyes I rise to my feet and stare. I'm so confused. I wait for him to say something or for him to step closer, but he doesn't move. His body has an odd shimmer to it. He almost looks frozen.

"Maximus?" I say calling his name. I stand still across the room and look at him waiting for him to answer. No answer comes. I take a step closer to him and watch as his body shimmers more. His eyes are closed, and he has yet to move. Cautiously I close the distance between us. I wave a hand in front of his face and get no reaction. Tentatively I poke his shoulder and jump back waiting for him to move.

But nothing happens. "Maximus" I call him once more. however, he still doesn't move. In a panic I start to pace. What the hell have I don't to him. As I pace I think. I don't even know what to do. I don't have a phone here or any way to contact anyone. I'm not even supposed to be here. Every time I pace in front of him I try something new trying to get his attention. I poke him. I push him. I scream in his face. I clap my hands. Nothing I do gets him to respond. He just stands frozen.

After a while I grow tired. Looking outside the window the sky has started to lighten. He has been frozen like this for hours with no change. Finally deciding that I need some rest because there is nothing more I can do. I curl up on the couch. At this moment, I wish that Julia were here. She would come up with a plan and know what to do. As I settle into the cushions of the couch I feel my eyes water.
Here I am granted with a man and the first thing I do is break him.

He has done nothing this entire time to cause me any harm and at each turn I have hurt him. he didn't hide what he was from me. He shared things with me. He let me talk to his dragon and still it wasn't enough. I just had to push him. Now I don't even know if he will be okay. I don't even know if I will be okay. As I lay there on his couch I fall into a restless sleep hoping that things will be better in the morning.

As I awake in the morning I jerk out of my sleep with my heart racing. Trying to calm myself I take a few deep breaths as the tremors from the nightmare I had slowly go away. opening my eyes however is a different story. Here I am still stuck in the nightmare. It wasn't a dream at all.

I really did break him. As I toss my short legs over the sides of the couch my bare feet hit the cabin floor. I wrap my arms around myself trying to combat the chill of the air. I approach Maximus with hope in my chest to see a change. But he still stands there unmoving. He is still frozen just as much as he was last night.

As I stare at him with a heavy heart my stomach growls loudly breaking the intense silence of the cabin. Not knowing what else to do I head to the table and pick up the container of food he brought me last evening. I toss it in the microwave and eat it standing at the counter. I watch his still form as I shovel the food in my mouth barely tasting a single bite.

I sit the container to the side once the food is gone and approach him once more. I wish that I could go back to last night. If I could have prevented this from happening I would have. I want nothing more than to go back to the moment of last night of laying his arms. Feeling his heat against me and listening to his deep baritone as he plays games with me.

Seeing comfort I lean my forehead against his chest wishing for him to return. His body is cool to the touch and immediately I miss his heated skin. Shivering against him I bring my hand up to lay against his chest as I look at his handsome face. If anyone else were to see him they would probably think that he is sleeping. The anguish of his expression from last nice is gone. He just looks....well peaceful.

Bringing up my hand I lay my palm against his cheek. I should have kissed him last night when we were in the heat of the moment. The fear that I felt when I asked to meet his dragon is all but gone.

There is only this intense desire to look into his eyes once more as I stand here willing them to open. I was supposed to leave but I know that I can't leave him like this. I said that I would get my answers and go. Now that is no longer an option. I don't even know when I started to care for him I think to myself.

I jump out of my thoughts when there is a loud bang that echoes through the cabin. For a moment I feel fear knowing that I am not supposed to be here. Wait, but they could help Maximus. With hope I run to the door and throw it open. Before, I can even get a word out of my mouth, I look up and scream.