Shadows of the Mind

Part 12

Chad's muscles began to strain.  He wished he could get down, but he knew, from being in Ryan's head long enough, that he would kill him.  And he knew that Alyssa's other personality, Jane was it?, would probably help him, gladly.  But Alyssa's reaction to not seeing him, that was the saddest of all.  He watched her run to Ryan, thinking it was him.  He wanted desperately to leap from his perch and entangle her in his arms, kiss her, hold her until she stopped shaking.  But he couldn't do that.  Not yet.  And besides, she probably still hated him.  Chad snapped back to attention.  He listened intently as they began to converse.

"Were is that little pest?" Ryan growled.

"Don't ask me!  Why don't you find him?  You were his head-mate forever!" Jane snapped.

Alyssa just sniffled.  Chad had known her long enough to know that meant she was trying not to cry.

Chad couldn't hold his position any longer.  He could've blamed it on his abs, his arms, his all-around tiredness, but he didn't.  He blamed it on the fact that the girl he loved was about to cry.  He released his fingers, tucked his arms in, and twisted.

He landed smack dab on Ryan, mid-growl.  He stood up and bowed, as if he had just ran a triathlon.  Jane snorted and rolled her eyes, but he saw her lips twitch into a smile.  Alyssa couldn't help it.  She burst out laughing.  She walked over and hugged him.

And then she whispered, "I may not know why you kidnapped me, but I know it wasn't by choice.  I forgive you."

And then she kissed his cheek.  Chad just about melted into a puddle.  And he would've, if not for the flashing lights and the blaring sirens that started immediately afterwards.

And that's when he slumped to the floor, unmoving and unaware.