"Where are we going?" I panted as we ran down alley after alley. "Shh," he warned. "Don't say a word, unless you are spoken to. We must get them away from here so they don't discover my location."
Overhead, the crack of thunder sounded in the gray sky that covered the sun. We arrived at an old parking lot, surrounded by the intimidating men.
"Hand over the millennium rod, or face the consequences," the leader, who I assumed was Raefe, said in a menacing tone. His men cracked their knuckles threateningly.
"No," Malik challenged, just as equally threatening. 'Is he trying to get us killed? What is he thinking?' I thought to myself.
"Do you think we're kidding around?" Raefe pulled out a burnished black gun from his trench coat, as his men followed suit. 'My gods, I don't want to die. Please don't let this be the end. Please, no. I can't die. I don't want to die yet!' I thought desperately. Malik stood completely still with a grim expression on his face, and in his eyes was a glint of what appeared to be ridicule. With a flash of gold, he held the millennium dagger against my throat.
"Shoot and this boy dies," Malik retorted with complete seriousness. 'Malik, what are you doing?!' I cried out in my mind. My breath strained as the dagger pressed hard against my throat. This was the end. . .
"Shoot him dead!" Raefe ordered angrily. The men hesitated. "But sir," one of them spoke, "I think he's serious! That guy's psycho!"
"I would be wary if I were you," Malik warned, but somehow did not seem as confident as he did before. "You thieves have not committed such a heinous crime as murder before. Do you really want to stain your hands in blood? ….And innocent blood at that…" He added, looking at me. "If the police caught you, you wouldn't be charged with only a petty crime of stealing. You would be put to death for your actions. Are you really willing to risk everything for your leader? Even if that means your life? Is that really worth it?" The men glanced uncomfortably between each other, which enraged Raefe even further.
"Fools! Don't listen to such nonsense! With that rod, we'll be unstoppable! The police won't stand a chance against us. Now kill both of them, now!" One of the men trembled as he cocked his gun, shaking it in terror, unable to pull the trigger.
"Dammit, forget it! I'll do it myself!" Raefe growled furiously as he ripped the gun from the man's hands a
nd pointed it toward Malik. Malik looked at me with wide frightful eyes and quickly tried to assemble it back together to mind control Raefe, but in an instant, I saw a speeding silver blur out of the corner of my eye. I did what came to my mind first, and threw myself on Malik, pinning him to the ground (we didn't see that one comin'! ^_^) as the bullet whirred above me, so close, it rustled my hair as it flew past.
I stared into Malik's eyes, lavender pools of shock and surprise, but there was also something else. . .something that I couldn't quite name, something I had never seen before in another's eyes. We gazed at each other, and time seemed to stop. Our breath mingled, my lips hovering above his, my mind lost in a turbulence of emotion.
"Get them, or I'll kill you all!" Screamed Raefe, followed by a chain of shots in our direction. Our eyes broke away from each other, and we ran for dear life. Entering the darkened passages, Malik pulled me into a side alley to quickly get us out of sight. My heart beat furiously in my chest as I leaned against the wall for support.
"Are. . .they gone?" I gasped out loud. Malik's lips silenced my own, their tender touch bringing chills to my body. I embraced the kiss, wrapping my arms around the small of his back, and letting the pure ecstasy fill my senses with passion.
Overhead, the gloomy sky was brightened by the sun piercing through its dark sheen of sadness and for the first time, I could feel its warmth and happiness.
"I heard one of them! Over here Raefe!" One of the thieves shouted as they ran past our figures cloaked in darkness. Our lips parted, and I let out a soft moan, not wanting the happiness to leave me.
"Let's go Ryou. It's getting late," Malik whispered as his breath rose in the chilling air of upcoming evening. I nodded and followed him, watching the sunset in the distance with a distant smile, a smile of hope.