✓ | DALLIANCE → madwheeler

ten

LABYRINTHINE ( adjective. )
twisting and turning.

MIKE COULDN'T TEAR his eyes away from Max, who sat against the wall of the growing ever darker room. She hadn't spoken once since he had revealed to her what might happen to the two of them.

His eyes raked over her face, which was bruised. Her hands were shaking and she twisted her fingers together as she tried to make them stop.

Fury rose up inside his chest. This never should have happened to her. She should have never become a target. This was all his fault.

"Mike?" She said hoarsly, turning to look at him. Her blue eyes locked on his, and he felt his heart jolt.

"Yeah, angel?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry for not listening to you about Ace. This is my fault. I should have paid better attention."

"I'm gonna stop you right there." Mike held up a hand. "Angel, none of this is your fault. Do not blame yourself."

"But-"

"Don't." Mike snapped. "God, Max, this is my fault. If I hadn't gotten thrown away- if I wasn't-"

"If you weren't trash?" Max said quietly.

Mike flinched. "How-how did you know-?"

"Ace." She said evenly. "He hates you."

He looked away from her. Before he knew what he was saying, the words had slipped out of his mouth: "Do you think I am?"

She stared at him. "Mike-"

"Forget it." His voice had returned to normal. "Stupid question."

"Mike, you risked everything so you could protect me. You're nothing close to what they describe you as."

He smiled faintly, looking at the scar on his wrist. "Wish I could believe that."

"Well isn't that sweet." A voice sneered.

The two looked up, and Mike instinctively drew as close to Max as the ropes would allow. Jack Foster was standing in the doorway, watching the pair with a wicked glint in his eye.

"Exchanging sob stories?" He asked innocently. "Don't mind me. By all means, continue. I would love to hear all the reasons Mike Wheeler is weak all over again. Not that I wasn't there for most of it of course."

He grinned again, and Mike felt his stomach churn as he saw his hand slip into his back pocket and withdraw a knife.

He looked at Max. "Ethan wants to see you, baby. So I'm here to collect."

His eyes roamed over her body. "He said I could have a treat if I do. Isn't that lovely? Me and you, alone, my hands on you, your hands on me-"

"Shut your fucking mouth!" Mike snarled.

Jack's gaze shot to his, and his smile curled. "Well."

He knelt down in front of Mike, spinning the knife slowly in his right hand. He tilted his head at him, seeing as Mike strained against the ropes.

God, he was enjoying this. Mike Wheeler, helpless. Mike Wheeler with nowhere to turn. Mike Wheeler dangling like a puppet before his eyes.

"So help me God," Mike said, his voice raspy with fury. "So help me God, I will kill you- I will crack your neck in half if you- if you touch her-"

His voice shook and broke. He could feel sobs threatening to escape his throat.

Jack's expression twisted. "Did you just threaten me, Wheeler?"

Before Mike could answer, Jack had tore him to his feet, slamming him against the wall. He aimed a punch at his stomach, where he had cut him earlier. Mike's breath caught in pain, squeezing his eyes shut as specks of blood flew out of his mouth.

Jack's hands found his throat and he was squeezing, Mike choking for breath and clawing at his hands. Before he knew his air was almost out, Jack let go, watching him crash to the floor, gasping for air.

Max was watching petrified, her voice hoarse from screaming at Jack to stop.

"Jack- he could have died-" She said, her voice trembling. "You could have killed him- J-Jack, oh my God-"

"Get the fuck on your feet, or he gets worse." He shot at her.

She was shaking, sloppily trying to get to her feet, and he yanked her up.

"Max, no-" Mike coughed from the floor, still trying to gain his bearings. "I'll kill you, Foster, I-"

"Disgrace." Jack hissed at him, and Mike flinched hard, as if the word had scalded his skin.

Using his momentary shock as a distraction, Jack shoved Max towards the door as she wrenched her horrified features around to try to get one last glimpse of Mike.

"Max!" Mike tried to scream, yanking furiously as the ropes burned against his skin. "No, fuck no- fuck- I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, FOSTER! YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD!"

He slammed his fist against the wall, over and over again until his knuckles were bleeding. And then, he buried his face into his hands and began to sob.

~

"How long until The Changing commences?" Dallas asked.

"Any time." Jack said, leaning moodily back in his chair. "God, if it wasn't for Charlton I would have had my way with her on the way back."

"Watch it." Carter said. "Charlton says she's his, and his only."

"Mmm." Jack muttered, his tone shifting. "We'll see about that."

All of a sudden, the door swung open. Ace entered, his eyes bloodshot, and he surveyed the scene before him; the three boys sitting in chairs and keeping a careful eye on the unconcious redhead in front of them.

"You got her then." He stated, not looking at Jack.

"Yeah." Jack said. "How helpful have you been Ace?" His tone had gone hard.

Ace's eyes flashed, but before he could respond, the door opened again and Ethan strode into the room.

"Foster, I didn't think you had it in you." He said as he approached Max, touching her hair and moving it to the side. "You may have to replace Casper."

Ace's whole face twisted, but Ethan had stepped back, his hands gripping Max's shoulders.

He focused every ounce of energy he had into this. Into The Changing. After it was over, he stepped back, breathing hard.

"Do you need to-" Ace started, but Ethan cut across him. "I'm fine. Now, we wait."

They did, and then, in seconds, her eyes began to slowly flutter open.

As they did, Ethan realized they were no longer blue. They were pitch black. As they watched in silence, she leaned forward, her red hair falling across her face.

She met each of their eyes, and her mouth shifted into a smirk.

"Which one of you is the Lord of the Fallen Angels?"

END OF ACT ONE