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ooc: I'll just go with this assumption until someone tells me differently.
disclaimer: I think Syria came from a book I've read. I'm not sure. If it came from anywhere besides my own imagination, I'm disclaiming it.
<center> Maria </center>
We're about to leave when I hear the roar of a motorcycle engine. Michael, I thought breathlessly. I turned quickly to find him zooming down the street in the direction of his apartment. Tears unexpectedly filled my eyes. Why did it feel as I'd never see him again?
"No," I whispered sadly. "Michael..."
"Is that the guy that broke up with you?" The boy asked me, noting my reaction. I turned back to him.
"It doesn't matter. Let's just go." I said quickly, smiling with an effort. "You know, you never told me your name."
He laughed, and it was a pleasant sound. "Sorry about that. I'm Andrew." He held out his hand and I took it.
"Hi, I'm Maria." I replied, shaking his hand.
He let go of my hand and then glanced at his watch. "You ready to go?"
"Yes, very much so." I replied. We walked to his car. He held the door open for me, and I thanked him and got in. He then got in the driver’s side and gunned then engine. I laughed as we roared out of the parking lot. I noticed we were going in the way of Michael’s apartment as well, and I winced when we drove by it. I hoped he hadn’t seen us. We drove for a while, and the scenery eventually turned into desert landscape.
“Where are we going?” I thought to ask finally. I had been in such a hurry to leave, but now it finally hit me that I was with a strange man and very much alone. I shivered.
“Are you cold?” He asked, sounding concerned once more. I ignored his comment and asked my question again.
“I think it is time that I dropped all pretense,” He said, more to himself than to me.
“Wha—what?” I asked, feeling the fear rise in me. He turned to look at me. I met his eyes, determined to hide the fact that I was scared.
“I know about Michael. And Max and Isabel,” he added as an afterthought. “I’m a skin.”
He might have said more, but his voice was drowned out by my scream. His face twisted as I continued to shriek, and he waved a hand at me. I felt my mouth close without my permission, my vocal cords stop vibrating without me telling them to. This made me want to scream more. I opened my mouth again.
“Jesus, would you please stop?” He asked quickly, interpreting my intention correctly.
“You tell me you’re a skin and you just expect me to react well?!” I asked, my voice rising an octave. Then I did something that surprised both of us. I launched myself at him. I sent blows to his back and shoulders, yelling at him as I went.
“You're—trying— to— hurt—Michael—you—son of a bitch!” I said, accentuating my words with punches. He let out a string of curses and then lifted his hand at me again. I instantly flew backwards and landed with a soft thump in my seat.
“You realize I have the power to kill you?” He snapped in annoyance. All my bravado left me as my face drained of color.
“I won’t,” he continued quickly, as if he cared for my feelings. “Just let me explain, ok?”
“Explain what?” I asked shakily. I had no way out, and this skin was going to deliver me directly to Michael’s enemies. What if they used me to get him? He was bound to come if they sent word that they had me! Maria, what have you done?
“We’re not what you think we are. We’re not evil. At least, most of us aren’t.” He took a deep breath, and I waited, wondering if I should believe him. “We don’t want to hurt you. Or him. Or any of them for that matter. We just want Rath… Michael to talk to us. We’ve been searching for a very long time.” He ended wistfully.
“Really?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. “Then why am I here with you? Why are you driving me, at this very moment, to some skin secret hideout?” I challenged him.
“You are his queen.” He replied simply, and I opened my mouth dumbly. “He will come for you.”
“But… but Michael isn’t a king. Max is. Nasedo said that if Michael were to meet you guys and become king that Antar would be doomed.” I put quotations on the word 'doomed' for effect.
“Nasedo? Who is this person? I assure you it would not mean the end of Antar.” He stopped and sighed. “But I can understand why he would think this way. Allow me to tell you the whole story?”
Seeing no other way, I nodded my head.
“Centuries ago, our two planets - Antar and Syria - waged a war. No one really knows what caused it, our who started it, but eventually Syria was overtaken. Our king was snatched by Antar, meant to be put to death on false charges. But, for reasons we have never known - although we suspect that Zan had a kinder heart than he let on - our king was taken in by the royal family. He was not allowed to leave, and yet he was treated like family… like a brother. Eventually he took up a place beside the king, becoming his second in command.” He saw my eyes widen and he nodded his head. “Max was king of Antar, but Michael is not Antarian. He is Syrian, and he is our king."
I sat with my mouth hanging open for about a minute. When I finally managed to make my lips work, I croaked out, "No shit?"
He nodded, smiling slightly. But his smiled faded as he continued. "That is probably why this person thinks Antar will be in danger. A rebellion took place not so long ago, and we regained our planet. We are trying to find out rightful king, but not for revenge. We just want to have our home back."
He pulled off to the seemingly empty desert. "And now me must walk." He must have seen my hesitancy, because he said earnestly, "Please do not make me carry you. I can force you to come, but I'd much rather you did it on your own. One must respect one's queen." He winked at me.
I glared at him for a second and then got out of the car. "Where to?"
