A split second was all it took to shatter his dreams. A split second and all he'd hoped for was gone.
"No!" Molly screamed as she crawled frantically toward Nephlite.
"Run!" He called over his shoulder, but she kept reaching for the cluster of thorns that pierced his chest.
"Don't be foolish! RUN!" He yelled again, pushing her away. Stubbornly, she grasped the thorns, using every ounce of her strength to pull them free. Electricity sparked and danced around them as Molly pulled at the thorns, chafing her hands until they were scraped and raw.
"Nephlite, Don't die, please don't die." She sobbed.
Suddenly, Nephlite felt the thorn budge. He looked at his chest in shock. How was it possible? This didn't escape the creature's notice, however.
"Now I'll have to get rid of them both!" She sent a ray of lightning shooting towards them.
Nephlite rolled to shield Molly from the blast, the motion sending the thorn deeper into his chest, destroying what progress she'd made.
"Molly…you ok?" He rasped, his face covered in sheen of sweat. He doubled over in pain.
"Well done girls!" Nephlite cringed at the voice of his rival. Zoyicite appeared, floating high above them. "You're pathetic Nephlite," she spat, as the crystal floated effortlessly off the ground and into her hand. He despised the mocking edge in her voice. What he wouldn't give to show that insufferable creature what he thought of her at this moment.
"First you lose your star crystal and now you lose your girlfriend too! We don't tolerate traitors." As quickly as she appeared, she evaporated into thin air, a cruel smirk on her lips.
Nephlite winced as waves of pain washed over him. "What a heartless creature." Molly whimpered beside him. "No..no…" Was all she was all she was capable of uttering. "Leave me." Nephlite whispered.
"Ha! Parting is such sweat sorrow." One of the creatures shouted, her hand poised to deliver the final blow when a loud cry caught its attention.
"Hold it!" Nephlite shifted his gaze toward the sound. Sailor moon and the other scouts stood nearby. He watched as the scouts finished off the creatures, their ashes evaporating into thin air.
When they finished, the scouts stood around him, watching him suffer as Molly held him in her arms.
"Sailor moon," he said.
"Yeah?" She asked, taking a tentative step forward. "It looks…like your true identity will remain a secret." He groaned as another wave of agony shot through him.
"What are you saying…?" She asked. Her pity for him almost looked sincere.
He turned toward Molly and placed his large hand over hers. "Sorry." He said.
"For what?" She asked, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Don't think we'll be having that chocolate parfait." He said. His voice was mournful. The tears in her eyes spilled over and he reached up to brush them away. He hated seeing her cry.
"I'm sorry I lied to you again, but this time I didn't mean to. Forgive me." Molly griped his hand in hers as the tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
"Don't forget me…I just want you to know you're in my heart." He said. He could feel the thorn sucking away the last of his strength. It wouldn't be long now before he evaporated into nothing.
"Don't go…" Molly sobbed, clenching her fingers around his. He looked at her, his eyes filled with sadness. Filled with regret. He knew he had brought this on himself. It was his fault entirely. At least I saved Molly he thought as her warm tears spilled onto his hand.
"Nephlite please, don't leave me!" She cried and flung her arms around him, burying her face against his shoulder. His weakened body barley supported her weight, but he managed to wrap an arm around her back. "I'm sorry, Molly…so sorry…" He whispered.
"No, you can't leave me." She said, her voice raw from crying. "Don't die. You don't have to. Please…" She closed her eyes and placed her forehead against his, at that crucial point from which he drew a human's life force. Suddenly, Nephlite felt a wave of energy coursing through him. Her pain, her joy, her fear…he felt all of her essence, her energy coursing into his bloodstream. It reached his limbs, giving him strength. The intensity was overwhelming. He felt Molly's body slump against his chest. Gripping her shoulders, he gently pushed her away from him and onto the grass.
Her energy pulsed in his veins, his muscles clenching with power of it. His breaths quickened as he wrapped his hands around the thorn. He couldn't help but smirk. The pitiful thing was no match for him now. With one forceful pull, he ripped the thorn from his chest and flung it across the grass where It landed several feet away.
Nephlite rolled forward onto his hands and knees, his breathing still labored and raspy from the force of Molly's energy. He felt a prickling sensation where the thorn had been beneath the bandage Molly made for him. Molly…
She lay in heap on the ground next to him, face down. Gently, he rolled her over, brushing away a stray lock of hair from her face. "Molly," he whispered "can you hear me?" She only moaned softly in response. Her normally ivory complexion had taken on a sickly pallor. He had to get her back to her home. He lifted her light body into his arms.
"Hey!"
Nephlite turned at the sound of Sailor Moon's shrill voice. What did she want?
"Where are you taking her?" She shouted, stepping forward aggressively. He paused for a moment, his brows knitting together as he considered whether or not to acknowledge her question.
"I'm only taking her home." He responded curtly. "She'll be safe." I'll make sure of it. He teleported away before she could say anything more.
When he arrived in Molly's room, he lay her down gently in bed the way he'd seen her before. He took the rumpled blanket and tucked it around her shoulders. He looked down at her, watching her shallow breaths. She looked so small and fragile lying there, her skin so pale, shadow-like bruises forming under her eyes…her red, scrapped hands peeked out from beneath the covers. His fists clenched. He couldn't leave her like that, but there was nothing to cover the scrapes. Unless…he remembered the scrap of Cloth around his arm.
He pulled his own shirt over his head and tore shreds of the fabric between his teeth. He took her hands and wrapped the cloth into a tourniquet around each one. When he finished, he stood back to look down at her sleeping form. She looked so peaceful lying there in her bed. She was the gentlest thing he'd ever seen. It was hard for him to believe the power that coursed through her, or that she'd had the courage to rescue him. And now, it was time to leave her. His heart twisted at the thought, though he didn't know why. He ran a hand across her forehead, his long fingers brushing over her smooth skin. It was his goodbye. He withdrew his hand and turned away from her, a look of anguish marring his features before disappearing into the night.
Molly woke slowly, her mind in a fog. She felt drained, as if some powerful drug had sedated her. With a soft groan, she rolled over to face the too-bright sunlight pouring through the filmy curtains. She shielded her eyes with her arm, threw the covers off and sat on the edge of her bed. She felt a strange sensation in her hands. She looked down to see a purple fabric wrapped around both of her palms. She ran her fingertips over the material, feeling its softness…Nephlite. The name shot through her mind as she turned her palms over, examining the fabric. It was identical to the shirt he'd been wearing last night. Her eyes widened with the realization that he had done this for her, so he must be all right. But would she ever see him again? And what if he wasn't all right? Where was he? Molly shook her head. She needed answers and soon. Carefully, she unwrapped the bandages Nephlite had made and placed them in the drawer on her night table. Slowly, she made her way to the bathroom. Every step felt like cinder blocks were tied to her feet.
When she reached the end of the hall, she flicked on the light. Molly stared at her reflection. She looked as awful ash she felt. Her skin was pale and chalky, shadows formed under her eyes and her auburn hair had fallen out of its ribbon.
She splashed warm water over her face and ran a brush through her unruly hair. She went back to her room and dressed quickly in a pair of shorts and a tank top, now sure of her mission. Her mother had already left for work by the time she got downstairs. She was always busy, even on a Saturday. As she walked into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of the luke-warm tea her mother had made. When she sat down at the table, she noticed a note laying there, the corner of an opened letter beneath it.
Please read this, it's very exciting news! Have a wonderful day sweetie.
Love, Mom
Molly opened the envelope to reveal a thick, off white card. Her eyes scanned the first line of the elegant, swirling script.
You are invited to the grand opening of the J.W Marriott Hotel...
She felt a mix of excitement and dread as she remembered her last extravagant Gala event. She'd been a wallflower on the edge of the dance floor, bored out of her mind until he showed up. He'd taken her hand and led her through the crowd of dancers where they stood on the balcony beneath a star-studded sky. I'm so glad I ran into you tonight, Molly. She smiled at the memory. When he'd put a hand on her shoulder, Molly had been sure he was going to kiss her, but Oddly enough, she couldn't remember anything after that moment.
Sliding the invitation back into its envelope, Molly gulped down the rest of her tea and headed for the door. She slipped on her favourite yellow flip-flops and made her way down the four flights of stairs to the street below. She walked quickly, her head held high, purposeful. Her heartbeats became more frantic with every step. It was as if she'd developed tunnel vision, filtering everything from her senses but the path in front of her.
Molly was nearly running by the time she rounded the corner leading to the forest. Her jaw was set firmly, her teeth clenched in anticipation. Her eyes scanned all around her, but there was no sign of him. Nephilte, where are you?
When she reached the clearing, she stopped suddenly. She found herself fighting the urge to cry. This was where it happened. The early afternoon light filtered through the trees, making patterns in the grass. A robin swooped into a nest to feed its baby in a branch above her. It would all look peaceful and perfectly normal if it weren't for the gaping hole in the ground. Molly circled it slowly, every memory of the night before flashing through her mind, melding into one another. Thorns. Lightning. His laughter. The way his face softened at the things she said. Molly's eyes searched the treetops, as if he might be hiding somewhere in them.
"Nephlite?" She called, her shaky voice echoing through the empty forest. The sound made her startlingly aware of how alone she was. Molly sighed sadly. She didn't know what she'd been expecting. Nephlite wasn't there and for all she knew, he never would be again. She continued pacing through the grass, her fists clenching and unclenching with nerves. When she couldn't stand it anymore,Molly sat down next to the tree where they'd shared their only truly happy moment. Maybe we could get some parfaits sometime.
"I'm so stupid." Molly muttered. The thought taunted her over and over. Stupid, stupid, stupid. The urge to cry was stronger than ever now. She slumped back against the tree trunk and let the tears fall.