Syn's POV

So, we apparently slept almost the entire day after breakfast because, when we woke up, it was around eight o'clock at night. It seems like Micah's new favorite spots to be, are rooftops. While the hotel we were staying at was small and old, it still had a well-kempt roof to go up to. After I dragged myself back out of bed, I headed up to the roof to meet up with her. She was sitting and staring up at the clear night sky.

"Hey, Mi," I greeted, sitting down next to her.

"Hey," she said with a little smile. We gazed up at the stars in silence for a long moment.

"They're beautiful, aren't they? The stars. There are so many of them, yet there's still peace among them," she said softly, thought written all over her features. I nodded and smiled.

"Yeah. They are," I agreed. She laughed slightly.

"What?" I asked with a small eyebrow twitch of confusion. She shook her head, but kept her sparkling smile.

"Nothing. Just very old memories from when I was a kid. I remembered dragging my mom and dad outside one night just because I thought I'd seen UFO. It was stupid. I was just seven, though, so I guess it's only understandable for my imagination to be on crack at that age." I tired to hold back a fit of laughter.

"You and your odd metaphors," I commented with a sigh. But, every time she mentioned her parents, I'd feel guilty. I was the one who let them die. I knew I would have to tell her at some point. But I decided I would hold on to the secret a little longer.

"Why can't the world be like the stars? They work together to create something so pretty. But why can' people get along the same way?" Yet another thoughtful question that I couldn't answer very easily. She was right though. People always have bad thoughts about each other, even if it was about their closest friend.

"Because everyone is different. I'm a person who believes that there's good and evil in the world. But it seems that evil outweighs the good. None of us still don't know what Phoenix Fire want's with that ring of yours, but their actions say it isn't for the good of anyone else but them," I replied truthfully. She looked down into her lap.

"Do you remember the day you saved me?" she asked, meeting my eyes. Her usual dancing green eyes had faded into something I couldn't quite distinguish. I nodded.

"Yeah."

"The Phoenix Fire member… when he said something along the lines of 'when the girl's mother and father disappeared,' I couldn't help but wonder if he was talking about my parents." Damn, it was like she read my mind. I thought for a long while, debating whether I should tell her or not. No, I told myself. I'm not going to lie to her. I took a deep breath.

"He was. And by 'disappeared...' he meant, 'died,'" She nodded slowly.

"So… Were you protecting them? And if you were, was it for the same reason you're protecting me?" she asked. I nodded again, not finding many words to say.

"Yes. They were captured right out from under my nose. I should have paid attention more. But I was younger, and stupider than I am today," I explained, hoping I wouldn't get blown up at. She smiled. Unexpected, that reaction.

"I'm not mad at you, if you were wondering. My parents were good people. And I'm sure you were too. You just needed to try a little harder." She's more forgiving than Matt when I steal his sandwiches.

"Hey, you wanna go for walk? Not that this town is anything special to look at. I just thought it would be nice," I suggested.

"Sure. I'd love to."

We walked side-by-side, my hands stuffed in the pockets of my leather jacket, both of us staring around and admiring the… non-existent scenery? I didn't really care though. It was really only nice because of how quiet it was. It was getting cold though. I didn't really mind, but it looked to me that Micah, who only wore a plain black tank top, was starting to shiver.

"You cold?" She nodded. I slipped off my leather jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She smiled sweetly at the kind gesture and stuck her arms through the sleeves.

"Thanks, Brian," she said gratefully.

"Won't you be cold though?" she asked. I shrugged and shook my head.

"No. Me being from California, it feels nice to be away from the heat every once in a while. Of course, I guess you're from California too"

She shook her head, "didn't my mom or dad tell you? We moved to California when I was about fifteen or sixteen. Technically I grew up in Minnesota. I still haven't gotten used to the cold after all those years. And I prefer the heat anyways."

"Well, we found something we could disagree on, finally," I laughed.

"Yeah. We seem to agree on everything. But I guess climate is different." We stepped into the beginnings of a dark alleyway when I saw three, shady-looking guys all dressed in black glaring at us. We turned around and started to walk the other way to avoid trouble when another two guys showed up. We froze, staring at them with fear. My eyes drifted down to the collarbone of one of the guys. He had a detailed tattoo of a 'P.'

"Oh. This isn't good," I whispered, looking behind me, only to see that the three other guys had crept closer to us.

"Grab the girl," one of them ordered. Micah looked around frantically for a way out. The two guys in front of grabbed Micah and dragged her away from my side. I reached for her hand but I was soon assaulted with a punch in the ribs. I collapsed to my knees in pain, keeling over, and gripping at my side, where I'd been hit.

"Brian!" Micah shouted with concern. She was kicking and flailing around desperately in the guys' grasp. I saw the guy who'd punched me, pull a gun and point it straight at my head.

"You have five seconds, girl. You get to decide the fate of this little bastard. Which will it be? You surrender and he lives, or, you don't surrender, and a bullet blows through his head. Your choice." Micah stared at me, searching my eyes for the answer. Everything in my right mind was telling her to forget me and run.

"5." And the countdown had begun. Sweat was beading at her forehead.

"4." Her breaths were uneven and she was shaking with fear.

"3." She just sat there, looking on at the probably horrific scene unfolding before her.

"2." I saw her mouth the words, 'I'm sorry.'

"1." The man hissed.

"Stop!" Micah screamed. "Stop." She'd quieted down. "I surrender." The man grinned and pointed the gun somewhere at my torso and pulling the trigger. I felt a searing hot pain pierce the skin near my heart.

"Very well. Your wish is my command."

"No!" she wailed before being knocked out by being thrown against the cement wall of the alley. I saw a black SUV pull up in the back of the alley as the guys all began loading her into the back. All of the guys hopped into the car except for one of them, the guy with the gun. He kneeled down next to my lumped form. My breathing was a ragged mess and I heard the blood roaring in my ears as my vision started to fade to black.

"I'm not good at keeping my promises," he muttered in a murderous tone. He closed my eyelids over but I was too weak to open them again.

"Sweet dreams, Synyster Gates."

A/N: Wonder what happens next? You're gonna have to wait... sowwy.