I Just Want To Be Normal

Isabel blinked as she recognized the garish decorations of the Crashdown. "The hell?"

Not sure how she got here, but familiar enough with Fandom weirdness to not completely discount a surprise trip back to Roswell, Isabel slowly walked to the back room. "Michael? Maria? Liz?"

Burgers sizzled on the grill as she walked past and Isabel stared at them curiously. They looked like little alien heads. In the storage room she could hear someone…thing? rustling and started over to investigate.

Only to hear an engine rev in the alleyway. Racing out the door, Isabel stopped and boggled at the sight that greeted her. It was as if every conspiracy freak's dream of an alien craft had come to life in the alley. Saucer shaped and shiny, it had a glass dome-like covering in its center. And in it, wearing the Crashdown antennae; stood Parker and Jack. As she watched they turned away from her and started to press buttons on the console.

Isabel stepped towards the ship, only to be thrown backwards as it lifted into the air and shot away

Shaking her head, she opened the screen door and walked back into the kitchen. It had been empty when she left, only seconds before, now Bel stood at the stove wearing Michael's usual t-shirt and bandana. "Bel…," Isabel whispered.

"You gave them everything," he said brusquely, handing her a plate with a Galaxy Melt combo on it. "But they'll still leave. Everyone will leave. Now go, that order's up."

She wanted to stay. To talk to him. To apologize for not being able to save him. But as she stepped forward she wound up in the dining room where a frantic Maria took the plate from her hand and handed her two bottles. "Go! Make the smoothie. Cypress oil and Tabasco! It's the new rage."

"Maria!" Isabel called impatiently, stepping after her. But the sight of the customer Maria delivered the burger to made her stop. She didn't recognize the guy with the curly hair, but despite it being almost a year since that horrible detention, Isabel recognized Dream instantly as the memories rushed back.

Closing her eyes to block the flood of images, Isabel waited a long moment before opening them again. She shook her head, recognizing the dim confines of the pod chamber and the flashing lights of the Granolith. Before she could say anything Tess touched the Granolith and vanished.

Isabel turned, searching the room, certain Max had to be there somewhere. He stepped towards the Granolith, meeting her eyes sadly. "I'm sorry Isabel. This is the way it has to be." He reached for the stone.

"No!" Isabel cried.

Liz Parker stepped between them, blocking her view. "You've always been loyal to him. But he's made his choice. He's leaving you." Behind her, a dark shape skulked through the shadows of the chamber.

"No, I have to stop him! It's a trap."

She rushed forward, reaching for the Granolith only to run into a man wearing a suit and holding a platter of cheese and crackers. "Do you hanker for a hunk of cheese?"

"What?" Isabel asked, stepping back and banging into a wall. She was in a small, dark space; the only light was coming from a half bricked up opening. As she watched, a savage looking girl dropped another brick in place. "What are you doing? Why are you doing this?"

"You're going to wind up alone," Liz replied, watching calmly as another brick was put in place. "No matter how loyal you are, there's nothing you can do to stop it."

The light got dimmer as the bricks were put in place faster and faster. "Liz, I don't understand. Why are you letting her do this?"

Liz didn't answer as the last brick was put in place, cutting off all light and air. Isabel pounded against the wall, gasping as the air got stale. Her last thought as she slipped to the ground unconscious was that she didn't want to die alone.