******
That night, they all gathered at Maria's apartment. Isabel clung to Alex like a lost little girl, and Alex had his arm around her, and looked willing to protect her from anything. Sheriff Valenti's face showed his fear, but also showed his calm certainty that this was the right thing to do. Tess somehow seemed apart from the group, but was trying her best to fit in. Michael and Maria weren't touching, but, somehow, they still seemed to be connected in some secret and special way.
Max stood in the center of the room, his face somewhat older than it was that morning. The leader was back in place, and the boy was gone forever. He looked around at the group. Maybe they weren't the stongest bunch, but they would do the job. They would succeed. They had to. "It's time to take action," Max said aloud.
The all looked back at him, awaiting his words.
"We can't let them make the next move. It's our turn."
"What do you want us to do?" Tess asked. In some ways, she was still the submissive girl they had all known ten years ago. She always needed to hear everyone else's opinions before voicing her own.
"We need to find out where they are, what they're planning." Max looked at Isabel. "Can you dreamwalk, and try to find out more about them?"
"I can try." Isabel's dreamwalking had improved incredibly over the past ten years. Isabel lay back in Alex's arms, and let her mind drift. She quickly pushed past the familar minds of Roswell, until she landed on the one she knew to be Howie's. She scanned through his old memories, shuddering at the cruelty they depicted. Finally, she came to an image of a building in Roswell, and a picture of someone she once knew quite well. She jerked awake.
"What did you see?" Maria asked urgently. "Do you know where he is?"
Isabel nodded, not telling them yet about what else she saw. "He's in one of the buildings in North Roswell."
"Is he alone?" Max asked.
"I think so. I got a feeling of utter lonliness. It felt like he's never cared for anyone, and no one ever cared for him. It was sad."
"Anything else?" Max asked. "Any idea of what he's planning?"
Isabel took a deep breath. "There was something..."
"Well, what was it, already?" Max was growing impatient. Why wouldn't Isabel just say it?
Isabel bit her lip. "I saw a picture...."
"And?" Max asked, fearing the answer.
Isabel looked up, her eyes full of sympathy. "It was Liz, Max. I saw Liz."
TBC...
