Chapter 22

Sauli and Adam sprinted through the hospital, occasionally shoving into doctors or nurses by accident as they passed. They ran up stairs and down several halls until they finally made it to room 240. When Adam was about to walk in, Sauli stopped him by placing a hand on his chest.

"Wait," said Sauli panting softly, "let me go in first. She might get angry if she sees you without an explanation." Adam looked skeptical, but moved aside to let Sauli pass. "I'll be quick, I promise." Sauli rushed into the room and saw Angela sobbing lightly at the end of the bed. Her face was hidden in her hands, her cries muffled by her fingers. Tommy laid motionless in his bed, everything about him pale and sickly. He looked like a ghost in an eternal state of rest. However, despite his grim appearance, his heart monitor beeped slowly, each beat separated by at least 7 seconds.

"A-Angela," said Sauli softly, "how much time-"

"Not long," interrupted Angela quietly, her whisper filled with despair, "The doctor's say he doesn't have much time left..." Sauli placed a hand on his friends back and rubbed it soothingly as she cried.

"Don't cry, Angela," he said, trying to sound hopeful, "I know how to fix this." Angela looked up at Sauli, her face and eyes red from crying, her cheeks still wet with tears.

"Really?" Sauli nodded.

"But you have to trust my judgement, okay? It's the only way to save him." Angela looked uncertain, but then caught a glance of Tommy once more.

"Okay," she said assured. "Whatever it is, just do it...Please." Sauli walked over to the room door and let Adam inside. Angela rose to her feet angrily, ready for a fight. She placed her arm in front of Tommy, protectively shielding him. "No, Sauli," said Angela. "I won't let that thing near him. He's the reason Tommy is like this in the first place!"

"Angela," said Sauli pleading, "please, you said you would trust me!"

"How do I know I can trust you?! That thing probably has you under its spell!" Angela grabbed the lamp off the side table next to the hospital bed and prepared to hit Adam with it if he stepped closer.

"Ang," said Sauli, carefully putting his hands on the lamp, lowering it slowly, "I promise you that he won't hurt you or Tommy anymore. He's the only way Tommy is going to live. Are you willing to take the risk, or not?" Angela, panting nervously, looked at Adam viciously, then took another look at the dying Tommy, who's heart monitor was beating even slower now. She sighed, placed the lamp back on the table and walked over to her previous seat. Adam walked in, mentally taking notes of any possible escape exits just in case. He got down on his knees beside Tommy's bed, positioning him at about eye-level with the young man.

"Poor thing," whispered Adam sadly, placing a hand on Tommy's, "What have I done?"

"Don't touch him!" Snapped Angela angrily, making Adam jump with surprise. "Don't you fucking touch him."

"In order to heal him," said Adam impatiently, "I'm going to have to touch him. Okay?" Angela scowled at Adam, but nodded in agreement. Adam took a deep breath, then carefully turned Tommy's face toward him. He ran his fingertips down Tommy's cold lifeless cheek as he began to sing sweetly.

"See the pyramids along the Nile,

Watch the sunrise from a tropic isle.

Just remember, darling, all the while...

You belong to me."

Adam's smooth and intoxicating voice echoed through the room. It seemed like everything else in the world went silent just to hear him sing. Adam gently ran his fingers through Tommy's hair, continuing to sing as he did so.

"See the marketplace in old Algiers,

Send me photographs and souvenirs.

Just remember, when a dream appears...

You belong to me."

Suddenly, Tommy's pale white hair slowly began to regain color. This time, however, it was a light shade of pink instead of purple or blonde.

"And I'll be so alone without you...

Maybe you'll be lonesome too...

And blue..."

The color in Tommy's cheeks began to reappear and his heart monitor started to pick up speed. Angela smiled in excitement and tears of joy began to form in her eyes.

"Fly the ocean in a silver plane,

See the jungle when it's wet with rain.

Just remember, til you're home again...

You belong to me."

Sauli smiled at Tommy, who was looking much like his old self again. Then, his smile faded at the sight of Adam. His human disguise seemed to be fading with every word. Wrinkles slowly formed on his aging face and his fingers became dry and bony. A panicked chill ran up Sauli's spine.

"He's dying!" Thought Sauli. Adam's singing slowed and his breathing grew heavier.

"I'll be so alone without you...

Maybe you'll be lonesome too...

And blue..."

"Stop!" Cried Sauli, placing a hand on Adam's practically skeletal one. "He is better now. You don't have to keep doing this to yourself." Adam looked up at Sauli's sapphire eyes, the light of his own eyes fading fast. He let out a small chuckle and delicately moved Sauli's hand off his own.

"I have to finish the song," he said almost breathless, "It's the...only way to save him. I...took his life force...I have to give it back."

"But," said Sauli, a small sob escaping his throat, "y-you'll die." Adam kissed Sauli's hand and nuzzled it with his nose, a small smile on his pale face.

"Don't think of it...as death," he replied in a whisper, "Think of it...as release." Sauli looked heartbrokenly horrified as Adam released his hand and turned back to Tommy. Adam sang the last verse of the song, his voice still sweet and lovely even though it was slowly dying.

"Fly the ocean...in a silver plane.

See the jungle...when it's wet...with rain.

Just remember...til...you're home...again..."

Before he sang the final line of the song, Adam turned his head to face the tearful Sauli. Instead of watching one of his friends pass, he had to witness the death of someone he loved. It was a lose-lose situation for him, there was no bright side this time. Sauli got down on his knees beside Tommy's bedside, directly across from Adam. He leaned in close to Adam's now disintegrating face and longed for one last kiss. Instead, Adam placed his bony index finger on Sauli's plush lips and shook his head.

"I cannot, my love," whispered Adam faintly, "It's too risky for me to feel your affection in this state. I...won't be able to control myself."

"Take me then," whispered Sauli pleadingly, "Tommy will be saved and you can live forever." With whatever strength he had left, Adam managed a small smirk and a faint chuckle.

"What good is forever if I can't share it with you?" Sauli began to sob, tears leaking down from his eyes, and his heart sank as Adam looked him in the eyes one last time and whispered with a voice like silk,

"You belong...to me."

Tommy's eyes shot open with a gasp and Adam's body fell limp onto the bed.

"Tommy!" Angela wrapped her arms around Tommy and kissed him passionately. "Oh, thank God you're alright!" Tommy looked around confused.

"What happened? I felt like I was dreaming."

"It doesn't matter now," said Angela, caressing Tommy's cheek, "What matters is that you're back." Angela and Tommy snuggled close to each other, happy to be reunited, but Sauli could not say he felt the same happiness as his friends. He looked down at Adam's lifeless body with tears blurring his vision. He delicately ran his fingers through Adam's now white hair and gasped as his head turned to reveal nothing but a skull. Tommy and Angela gasped at the sight of Adam's body slowly disintegrating into nothingness.

"No!" Cried Sauli, trying to hold Adam's body before it faded completely. "No, no, please! Please don't go!" Adam's lower half was ash now, and Sauli weeped as he took Adam's skeletal palm and placed it on his own cheek. "Please," whispered Sauli as Adam's chest began to disappear, "please don't leave me..." The room was dead silent. The only sound that could be heard was Sauli's light sobs, his tears dripping down onto the ground, and Tommy's heart monitor steadily beeping. Sauli closed his eyes slowly and rested his head against Adam's skull. He nuzzled Adam's jaw and whispered sorrowful, "I love you." At last, Adam's body completely turned to nothing but ash, and Sauli covered his face with his hands, sobbing hysterically. He would never see Adam's face again, he would never feel the soothing touch of Adam's hands against his cheek, he would never feel the amount of passion and love that he felt when Adam's lips collided with his own, and he would never hear the beautifully captivating sound of Adam's singing ever again.

"Sauli," said Angela, walking over to Sauli and placing a hand on his back, "I-...I was wrong about him. I'm really sorry."

"He's gone," sobbed Sauli into his hands, "He's really gone."

"Don't think of it as him being gone," said Angela, rubbing Sauli's back, "Remember what he said? It's a release. He's free now. He doesn't have to hurt people anymore." Sauli looked up from his hands and looked at Angela, his cerulean eyes red from crying.

"I-I guess you are right," he said sniffling, "I just wish we had more time together."

"I know, Sauli," said Angela, wrapping her arms around Sauli in a warm embrace, "but...you can't change the past. I'm sure that he's in a better place now." Sauli wasn't sure about that. Adam was a demon, a being of hell. Where else would he go after death? It certainly could not be any place good.

"Yeah," said Sauli trying to sound reassured, "you're right. I will just have to keep him alive in my memory." Angela gave Sauli a warm smile and patted him on the back.

"That's the way to think." Angela walked over to Tommy and gave him one last kiss on the forehead before she headed to the door. "I'm gonna tell the doctor that Tommy's doing much better. Then, once everything's settled, how about we all go get some coffee? My treat!" Sauli did his best to smile and Tommy nodded happily. Angela smiled back, then gave a nod before she walked out of the hospital room. Sauli sighed and placed his hand on Adam's ash-covered clothing that laid on the tiled ground.

"Sauli?" Said Tommy, sitting up from the bed.

"Yes?" Replied Sauli, still looking at Adam's clothes.

"You gonna be okay?" Sauli closed his eyes and thought about the kiss Adam and he shared at the lake earlier.

"I don't know," said Sauli, rising to his feet. He walked over to the window and looked out at the city lights illuminating the night. "It will probably be awhile before I can say I'm truly alright again." Tommy nodded.

"I understand. Ang says he's in a better place, but, do you really think that's true?" Sauli closed his eyes once again, trying hard to open them again and wake up from this horrible nightmare. He thought about Adam's horns, his tail, his wings, and his vicious rows of teeth. Then, he thought about Adam's gorgeous blue eyes, his smooth skin, and his loving smile.

"Wherever he his," said Sauli, opening his eyes, "I just hope he's finally at peace."