Kevin Ryan: Nightscape

"I would do what he says. He can be… unpredictable when he's angry," Max said.

Reluctantly, the men took off their ties and white shirts. Now they were left with only their shorts and undershirts.

Max found himself smiling, and saw that Michael was as well. "I'm glad you think this is funny, but when… "

"Shut up!" Michael said. "You just don't get it. Now take off the T-shirts."

The agents complied, and Michael said, "Another word and you know what will happen."

With that, the two men, wearing only their underwear, turned and headed back the way they had come.

Liz watched as Max and Michael quickly put the sheriff in the squad car. They sat him up in the seat, reclining it as much as possible.

"Are we just going to leave him?" Maria asked.

"We don't have a choice," Michael said. "It's pretty warm… he'll be okay until he wakes up."

"That will be in maybe an hour. That means we'll be lucky to have that much head start," Max said.

"We could smash the radio, do something to the car to give us more time," Liz suggested.

"No," Max said, shaking his head. "What's the point? The Special Unit will be onto us long before he wakes up."

Liz marveled at Max. He had just saved that man's life despite the fact that as soon as he woke up he would probably start a massive police search for them. Max just accepted it and moved forward. And the next time the same thing happened, he would do it again… heal a person who might destroy him.

Of course, that would only happen if they got away this

time. They would have both the Special Unit and the local police scouring the area for them for some time now.

Once the sheriff was set and Michael had changed their license plate number, the group got into the van. And not a moment too soon: Almost as soon as Liz closed her door, the rain started to really come down. Watching the rain, Liz suddenly remembered her premonition. It was raining there, too. Liz felt a chill run down her spine at the memory.

It didn't look good for them, she realized. The rain meant it would be harder to put much distance between themselves and this place now.

The only consolation was that the people after them would have the same handicap. The difference was that they could afford to make a mistake. More than ever, Liz was sure that her life and the lives of her friends depended on avoiding their enemies.

"Like Tom Joad: Doing good deeds and avoiding the law," Liz thought. She had said that when they had decided to leave Roswell. It had started when she and Max had used their powers to save that woman who was about to be killed by the mugger in the alley by the Crashdown Cafe.

Liz had believed it was possible for them to do that, to be like Tom Joad. She had known the life would be dangerous, but living in Roswell had been dangerous. The thought of making a difference had sustained her when she had decided to leave everything she had ever known… her family, her home… and the certain future of college and a good career.

And in the less than two weeks since they had left, they had made a difference to some. They had helped the people in Stonewall, and Max had just helped the sheriff. But they

had been on the road for less than two weeks. Would that be all the time they would get, before the Special Unit got them? And even if they avoided the law forever, Liz's visions had told her that they would all die in a final battle with an alien menace that would take them one by one, and then take Max last.

Once, Max had come from the future to warn her of what would come. He had told her to stay away from him so that Tess would stay and help in that fight. A lot had happened since then, and now Tess was dead. And Liz knew that fight would still come.

In spite of all the moments of hope and happiness she had found with Max and her friends since this trip had begun, Liz felt hopelessness wash over her. She looked at Max and saw none of that feeling on his face. It was raining hard and was getting difficult to see in the fading light, but he had nothing but determination on his face.

That sight lifted her spirits slightly. Maybe there was a way. And if there was, Max would find it.

"Maxwell, we have to get off this road," Michael said.

"I know," Max said, scanning the road ahead of them.

Liz could see the problem, though. They were in a remote forest road. There had not been an exit or turnoff for miles. It might be many more miles before they saw another one. As it was, it would be painfully easy to track them.

The Special Unit agents would know their direction and would have maps of the area. They would also be able to call helicopters. It would not take them long to find a single van on a nearly empty road at night.

Then something caught her eye as they passed. "There," she said, pointing. "Max, stop."

Without hesitating, Max pulled over. "What?" Michael said.

"Just back up," Liz said, and Max did so.

"Stop," Liz said when they reached the road she had seen. Actually, road was a strong word for it… it was more like a path, covered by years of leaves and brush. Liz had to struggle to see in the fading light, but she could see that although it was narrow, it was paved.

"What is it?" Kyle asked.

"Some kind of road. Maybe an old logging road," Max said.

"It looks like it hasn't been used in years. It could be blocked, washed out… who knows?" Michael said.

"If we stay on the main road, they'll have us in a couple of hours at most," Liz said.

"What's the word, Maxwell?" Michael asked.

"I say we try it," Max answered.

"That's it, then," Michael said.

"No," Max said. "I won't make this decision for all of us."

"We don't have a lot of time here, Max," Michael said.

"We vote first," Max said, his voice firm. He turned to Liz and said, "What do you say?"

"We have to get off the highway," she said.

"I'm with you," Michael said. Then he turned to the back and said, "What about the rest of you?"

Isabel, Kyle, and Maria all agreed.

"It's unanimous, Max. Can we go now?" Michael said, his voice impatient.

Liz understood Michael. Everyone was still getting used to the idea that Max refused to take charge of the group

anymore. She understood. He still blamed himself for everything.

Michael started to open the side door and said, "Hang on, let me blast the chain."

"No," Max said. "I'll do it." He turned to Liz and said, "Drive through. I'll meet you on the other side."

Max jumped out and Liz slid over. She watched him touch the chain on one end. There was a flash, then the chain separated and one side fell to the ground. As she drove over the chain, she watched Max use his powers to put the chain back together. Then he waved her forward and kicked up the brush and leaves behind the van to hide the fact that they had been there. Max jumped back into the van as Liz moved over to her seat. The first thing he did was turn off the headlights. Then he started driving.

Liz was amazed. Max's actions might have given them the extra time they needed to get away. He might well have just saved their lives, but he still doubted himself. Now he was driving in nearly complete darkness on a narrow forest road. Whether or not he thought he could handle it, Liz had no doubt that all of their lives were resting on his shoulders. And Liz knew she wouldn't want it any other way.

It was almost completely dark when Max made his first turn onto a gravel road that Liz herself had missed. The rain was coming down heavily now, and Liz didn't see how Max was even staying to the road.

Finally, he turned on the headlights… just in time to see the large tree that had fallen across their path. The van came to a jerky stop.

"I'll get it," Max said, reaching for the door.