Mark turned and ran, Marrissa laying bridal style in his arms. He was panting. Not because she was heavy but let's face it. When your running from a 17 foot tall monster that's a combination of poisonous snake, eagle and lion, you kinda don't want to have extra weight to slow you down when running for your life. Even if that weight is of the girl you love.

The 4 Ensnakli rushed toward them, brushing people aside with their tail, crushing them underfoot, killing and maiming. Their red eyes glowed with aggression, focused on their 4 targets.
Mark got to the bikes, put Marrissa on with a helmet, and climbed on. As he started up, Jonathan touched his arm.

"Take care of her." He said.
Mark nodded to him. "You know I will."
Jonathan nodded back and then hopped on his bike, riding after Clare who had hopped hers, going toward the monsters, shooting at them. Jonathan drew his sword.

Mark pulled his gun, and sped off. He looked back only once to see his two friends, basically family, riding toward possible deaths.

*******************************
Jonathan rode under a monster, slicing its legs, cutting down to bone on two. The monster screeched and collapsed. He got out just in time then rode past its head stabbing its eyes. Then he got knocked off his bike by the tail of a second. He lay on the ground for about a second before getting up, scooping up his sword, and running at the beast. It grazed his arm with a talon, making him yell as he lopped off its head.

His two finished, he looked toward Clare. She was on the ground, hand to her face her two dead. Jonathan caught her as she passed out. She had a long gash going down her face, for head to chin, just missing her eye. It would scar badly.

He scooped her up, put her in an abandoned hover car, ripping apart his torn jacket, placing it on her face to staunch the flow of blood. He wrapped the rest on his arm, and started driving.

*******************************
Marrissa felt groggy . She opened her eyes to see a mirror. She was in a black jacket, gray T-shirt and ripped bluejeans with combat boots. Her hair was in a side braid, the purple streaks weaving throughout it. But the most disturbing thing was that she was 11 years old again. Her electric blues eyes flashed with fear as she looked at herself, putting a hand to her jet black hair. She looked around the room... Her room. The bedspread was black and purple, dark curtains, purple walls, wooden night stand with a purple lamp.

"Marrissa! Come and get your lunch you are going to be late for school!" Yelled a voice. It was slightly slurred.

Suddenly she was watching her eleven year old self roll her eyes and run out of the room, grabbing a black knapsack and note book. Another weird thing, she could remember exactly what had went on in that little mind of hers. Every second.

'Moms actually up? Well, I guess that new program Safety 54 is working. Huh, she's making breakfast too. That's a sure sign she isn't drunk again, maybe just hungover?' 11 year old Marrissa thought, grabbing a piece of toast off a plate and a lunch bag. The house was a mess, despite Marrissa having tried to clean it. Multiple beer cans littered around the trash can.

"Mom, you are going to try and clean today right? At least look for a job." She asked, looking at her mothers strangely clear eyes.
"Of course sweetie, now off you go."

And she was pushed our the door..................... .......

Marrissa heard a door slam. She was twelve now, a year after Safety 54 started. She ran downstairs, and saw a man putting down a suitcase. He had blonde hair, electric blue eyes, black rimmed glasses. Her mother walked in, wiping her hands on a dishrag. She screamed in delight and rushed to the mans arms.

"Oh! Your back! I missed you so much!" She said, and kissed him.
"I'm sorry for leaving honey. I should have never left . I won't do it again." He replied, then looked at Marrissa.
"Marrissa, honey. This is your father." Mrs. Gray said. Marrissa stared for a moment, the punched him full in the face.

He reeled back, holding a hand to his nose. It wasn't bleeding. He shook his head. "Well, I guess I deserved that."

"Hell yeah you did!" She screamed and went on a rant at him. But they just stood there, letting her vent . -abandoned me! Left me alone at 5 years old! Left with a woman who turned into a drunk! A woman who I was afraid to leave alone! How could you??? Come back here and act like we are going to be a family!?!?! Look at this!" She showed her arm, covered in scars. "I started at 10 YEARS OLD!! 10! HOW IS THAT RIGHT??? YOU SON OF A B****! I HATE YOU! SAFTEY 54 GOT MOM BACK ON TRACK! MADE HER BETTER! BUT IT SURE AS HELL DIDNT MAKE YOU COME BACK UNTIL NOW! " She screame, tears pouring out.

He wrapped her Ina hug."Marrissa, I'm sorry. So so sorry. I should have never left but it will be better now. I promise."
And it was. It was like he never left in the first place..................................

Marrissa was pulling on her jacket when a hand touched her shoulder.
"Marrissa, your not going to school today." Said her father. She looked at him.
"Why?"
"Just come."

16 year old Marrissa got in the car with her 13 year old self, as they drove to the hospital.

13 self got scared. "Why are we here? I'm not sick!"

Her father turned to her."oh yes, you are." He said, placing a chloroform rag over her mouth. 16 year old Marrissa clawed at him, but her hands passed through him like smoke.

"Nononono!!" She screamed. The the scene changed again. She was herself this time. She looked around. She was in her room. The one that she had now. She was in a pink nightgown, looking at her arms and the white pink trimmed walls. No scars. She looked at her mirror. She was thirteen still, same hair. But she looked more girly. The strangest thing however was that...... She was at peace.

*******************************
Mark never left Marrissa s side for a minute for the whole 4 days that she was out. Occasionally she would mumble something like. "No." And "Hate you." And "Not sick."
Jonathan was gone dealing with the "Cleanup." Which entailed getting those chips out and restoring the city and its inhabitants to their proper state.

Then, on the fifth day, Marrissa woke up.

"NOOOOOO! NO NO NO! NONONONONO!" She screamed, shooting up. She hit and clawed at the air, eyes squeezed shut, screaming her head off. mark jumped about three feet off his chair, his book dropping to the floor. He rushed to her, pinning her arms down to her sides.
"Marrissa! Hey shhh, your okay. Your fine! " he exclaimed, worry evident in his voice. She stopped thrashing but still sobbed as tears struggled out from her closed eyes. Mark held her face, wiping the tears with his thumb.

"Open your eyes. Come on." He pleaded with her. She did and looked at him, tears still streaming. "Mark." She whispered, and hugged him. He held her close, whispering assurances. "Its okay, your safe. Your okay."