4.14 Mine

Emit frowned at the settings as he made adjustments. "You know this is wrong," Peter panted from inside the machine "please let me go."

"Sacrifices need to be made" the blue haired man mumbled. He threw a switch. Peter's screams drowned out whatever reply he would have made.

Lunging for the controls Lincoln attempted to knock the older but larger man aside. "Can't you see your hurting him," his fingers slid past the switch as Emit knocked him to the floor.

"You stupid little boy," Emit kicked him aside "this is for the greater good."

"You're delusional," Lincoln spat holding his side "can't you see this isn't the way."

Emit glared at the young man writhing on the floor in obvious pain from the kick he had delivered. Peter lay slack in his bonds, mouth drooping, head lolling to the side. Remorse prickled the periphery of Emit's mind. How could he justify what he was doing? Peter had always helped him when he had asked. Was it so wrong to put family first? Chase, his granddaughters, they were all important to him. Would he want their memories ripped from him?

He knew the right answer. Knew he couldn't go through with what he was doing. He knew the moment he stopped, the future would change. The moment he stopped his worst nightmare would be realized. Oasis Landing would be no more. He had seen it happen once. He was powerless to stop it. Worst of all it was all his fault.

In a daze he pulled the switch cutting off the power. Releasing Peter from his bonds. In a haze he heard Peter's muffled thanks as he watched the scene unfold before his eyes. The sky grew dark as the ground shook. Screams of panic filled the air only to vanish a few seconds later. Silence ensued. Oasis Landing was no more.

Stumbling to his knees Emit let out a howl as if he were being tortured. Lincoln gaped open mouthed at him. "What's happening," he screamed as the shaking continued as if the ground beneath them wanted to swallow them.

"It's the end of everything," Emit cried collapsing on the floor.

***

Adam leaned against the wall absorbing the information Everette was providing. He asked few questions preferring to just listen. When Everett's monologue ran down, Adam nodded rubbing his chin. "There must be a door through the force field. The trick will be finding it."

"Won't we be affected by the time distortions if we go in there?" Everette asked.

"We won't be in there long enough to be affected" Adam assured him "the important thing will be getting Don and Malachi out."

"You're right," Everett agreed despite his foreboding. At this point he didn't know if his misgivings were founded upon tangible evidence or dread that once Malachi was back in the picture again Everett would lose all hope of getting Kimberly. "We better be going," he said gruffly moving past Adam.

"Son if you want to talk about..." Adam was about to offer when the young man shot him a withering look "alright have it your way. The offer stands if you change your mind."

Nodding he led the way from the house. "We shouldn't go into town by taxi. It might draw to much attention since it's so late."

"It'll take too long to walk," Adam sighed "are there any other modes of transportation?" he asked looking around.

Chuckling a little at the vampires expense Everett replied "other transportation yes. Faster than walking yes." Giving Adam an appraising glance "can you ride a bike?"

Adam gave him a dubious look "it's been years." He followed Everett to the side of the house where two bikes stood. "I guess we'll find out if the old saying's true." He followed Everett, at first his balance was precarious as he wobbled around swerving from side to side on the road. As they continued he became steadier, picking up speed. Coming alongside the younger man "I guess you really don't forget how to ride a bike."

Nodding Everett rode beside him in silence too deep in thought to talk. Kimberly's eyes kept coming to mind. Looking up at him entreating him to help her. Helping her meant giving up his dreams. Dreams he had no right having. He couldn't have her. They belonged in different dimensions.

Coming to a stop in front of the vacant lot. Everett knew what he had to do Even if it meant breaking his own heart he had to make sure Malachi was reunited with Kimberly. He loved her that much. Her happiness meant more than life itself. Turning to Adam who had come to a stop beside him "what do we do now?"

"First let's hide these bikes somewhere out of sight," Adam suggested scanning the area for a good hiding spot. "Then I'm going to use my vampire sight to find where the door is."

Nodding Everett peered at the empty lot. Putting a hand out he could feel the sizzle and heat from the force field. To his eyes he couldn't see anything. 

***

Malachi sat staring at the cartoon characters. It was boring. His eyes strayed to the large window where a bright flash attracted his attention. Looking behind him towards the couch where Don lay in a heap. Should he mention it to him?

Shaking his head he moved towards the window electing not to bother him. Despite his appearance he still maintained his intellect and previous memories. The flash appeared again. He couldn't believe his eyes. Someone was on the sidewalk forcing his way through the force field. It seemed the harder he pressed against the energy barrier the brighter the flashes became. In his eagerness, he pressed his small fists to the window as he screamed "Adam. It's Adam."

Don sat up rubbing his eyes distracted from his dark depressing thoughts by the commotion Malachi was making. "What  are you doing?" he asked stretching the kinks from his spine from too many hours of inactivity. Joining Malachi at the window he watched as Adam squeezed himself through an opening in the field.

Forgetting about Malachi he ran from the room, down the stairs to meet Adam as he came through the opening. In his excitement he grabbed Adam's flailing arm and pulled him through. "I'm so happy to see you," Don shouted throwing himself into Adam's arms.

Taken by surprise it took Adam a moment to realize the teenager was his son-in-law. "What happened to you?" he asked staring at the boy in disbelief.

"We're aging backwards," Don looked back towards the house "we have to hurry. Malachi doesn't have much time left."

"Get him," Adam commanded "I don't know how long we can hold the opening." Adam watched as the boy turned and ran wishing he could use his vampiric speed to get the boy himself. His strength was needed to hold the door open. Everett couldn't do it on his own.

Don raced up the stairs almost tripping over Malachi as he reached the first landing. Scooping the boy up Don turned and fled down the steps. As he neared Adam a bright flash appeared and the vile sneering face of Silver appeared cutting off their escape.

"Silver let them go," Adam demanded.

Turning Silver laughed his hyena bark "I don't need them anymore." His eyes glittered sending chills down Adam's spine.

Without taking his eyes from the evil menace before him Adam motioned for Don to approach. Cautiously Don stepped around the apparition expecting to be yanked back at any moment.

Adam waved to him to hurry up and with a sideways glance at Silver he slipped past him. "Go" Adam commanded through clenched teeth his eyes fixed on Silver watching his every move.

"Not without you," Don protested knowing he couldn't face Heath if he left Adam behind.

"Don't worry about me," Adam advised him. When Don was halfway through he called out to him "tell my family I love them." He stepped aside letting his side of the opening close hoping Everett could keep his end open long enough to get the kids out.

"Good decision," Silver nodded in approval.

"What do you want?" Adam asked trying to ignore his repulsion of the man's gloating sneer.

"Only what belongs to me," Silver shouted causing Adam to take several steps backwards pressing into the force field behind him.

"I'm not yours," Adam told him taking several deep breaths.

"We're connected through the child you bore," Silver closed the gap between them "my child," he hissed sending spittle into Adam's face.

"How?" Adam swallowed "how did you..."

"How did I find out?" Silver asked wrapping his hands around Adam's throat "he told me. I was all set to take that sniveling weakling of yours when he tried to save him." His fingers tightened cutting off Adam's oxygen. "All the time I wasted on him when I already had what I wanted."

"You can't have my son," Adam struggled in the man's grip.

"I already have him," Silver corrected "I only need you to complete my happy little family." With that he snapped his fingers causing them both to vanish into thin air.

Everett and the others stumbled to the ground as the energy surrounding them disappeared. They stared in bleak fascination at the building where Don and Malachi had been trapped for months. 

"Adam" they called out knowing it was futile gesture.

***

The severe ground shaking and the wild screams of people panicking around them penetrated their consciousness keeping them from maintaining their connection with Keenan. "What's happening?" Kimberly shouted above the chaos

"I don't know," Heath shook his head keeping a firm hold on his daughter afraid if he let go she would be swept up in the mad dash from the park.

Once they were alone and the ground stopped shaking Heath helped Kimberly up. "Can you reach either of your grandparents?" he asked after failing to contact them himself.

"I'll try," she closed her eyes to help calm her mind. Sighing she reached for his hand trying to boost her ability "no it's no use. I can't reach them." She crawled into his arms seeking comfort "what's happening daddy?"

Stroking her long dark hair he sighed "I wish I knew."

"I have a feeling it's bad," her voice small like she was a little girl afraid of the dark "it's very bad." 

Heath held her close wishing he could give her some reassurance that it wasn't as bad as she thought. Every fiber in him was shouting at him that something drastic had changed. There was only one thing he was sure of "your grandparents will do everything they can to fix this. Grandpa is in Oasis Landing..."

"Can we trust Emit?" she wondered aloud. She of all people could sense his intentions being a descendant no matter how far in the future.

"I hope so," Heath murmured "I really really hope so."

"Then there's Grandpa Adam. He's going to rescue Malachi and dad," she sounded confident in her grandpa's ability to do anything.

Smiling Heath remembered feeling the same way about his dad. In many ways he still did. "I guess we have nothing to worry about than." He kissed the top of her head. They both knew that wasn't the case but it sounded good.

***

Keenan lay curled in upon himself on the dirty floor where Silver had thrown him. It took all of his concentration to keep his defenses up. To keep Silver from invading his mind. It had been so stupid confronting Silver the way he had. He should have kept the necklace his dad had given him to keep Silver from detecting him.

The brief contact with Silver's vile thoughts was enough to confirm the man's evil nature. Pushing himself into a sitting position he wondered why Silver had locked him inside this room. Pushing out with his mind he tried to connect with anyone in the outside world. Nothing. Nothing but static. He was alone to endure whatever evil vile thing Silver had in store for him. Remembering the man's words Keenan shrank into himself. If being strong meant being like him he would rather be weak.

A noise outside his door had him scrambling to the far corner. He pulled himself to his feet preferring to face Silver on his feet then cowering on the floor. Whatever power Silver possessed Keenan had it too. He wondered if he could tap into it without it over powering him. Could he use it without it changing him? Knowledge was a powerful thing once you used it you could never unknow it. It became a part of you. Could he tap into the evil without becoming evil?

A man was pushed inside followed by Silver's shard hyena barking laugh. "You should have known better than to hide my son from me." He kicked at the figure lying prone on the floor.

A muffled moan from the man had Keenan moving from where he stood. Reaching for the dark haired man his eyes lighting up in recognition. "Dad" he cried out sensing rather than seeing Silver maneuver around for another kick. "Stop" Keenan screamed "he's done nothing to you."

"Nothing," Silver growled "what do you call hiding my son from me?"

"Protection," Keenan said keeping his face neutral devoid of all emotion.

"We'll see how much protection he can provide now," kneeling he stroked Adam's cheek.

Adam glared up at him eyes swimming with undisguised hate. "What do you want from me?" He attempted to jerk his face away from Silver's touch.

Increasing his grasp Silver sneered into Adam's face "I remember your body well."

Adam shivered struggling to get away from the man's touch. Silver lifted him to his feet forcing a kiss on him "I look forward to exploring it again."

"Don't you touch him," Keenan shouted trying to break the man's grip on his dad.

"Together we'll produce more progeny," he licked Adam's neck moaning "this time you'll remember my touch. Your body will crave mine. Even now you can feel it."

"No" Adam shouted attempting to push away from Silver who made his considerable strength look feeble in comparison. "I won't."

"You won't be able to stop me," Silver pressed in closer "you may not have inhabited your body when the boy was conceived but your body was. It carried my seed. We are bonded now. You are mine."

"That's why you wanted Heath. He could produce children," Adam felt nauseous thinking about what Silver wanted from him. 

"Funny how things worked out isn't?" Silver released him taking a couple of steps back "I wanted Ambrogio but he needed a body. Yours was perfect. Ambrogio didn't know you were capable of having children otherwise he would never have allowed you to go along with his plan. When he proved disloyal I moved on to Heath. He was docile and could be easily overpowered." Walking towards the door he stopped giving Adam a nasty grimace "I look forward to breaking your spirit. It's been so long since I've had the pleasure."

Author's Note: Now that Don and Malachi have been rescued I need help in deciding who should be with Kimberly. So I'm turning to you the readers to see who you would like to see with Kimberly. Please vote for you favorite. The poll will be open for a week or so and you can vote however many times you would like.