Song used is by Lauren Christy. Don't own anything.

RnR

God bless.

----------------------------------------------

Mask Comes Off

Two months of quiet bliss have passed. The siblings were nursed back to health and now Robbie, as usual, was spending days getting tan on the beach, surfing and in the evenings when everyone gathered around the fire he would play his guitar. Blaze would cuddle to him and close her eyes with a smile. Dingo and Janey enjoyed Robbie's songs - his repertoire mostly consisted of Chris de Burgh's numbers and rock ballads - and would often sing along. As for Leilani, she would watch Martin sitting quietly with his hands on his knees and looking into the fire. As the time passed, it seemed to her he became a little softer - talked more, laughed more; he started to train Dingo in Judo and asked Robbie to teach him to play the guitar. Still, Martin would often wander off into the woods, sometimes only returning the next day (he would spend the night at the forester's hut). The other times though he'd let Leilani, out of all Lost Boys, to accompany him. They would stroll through the groves talking about everything under the sun, pick berries and fruits together and swim in the Silver Mirror. Leilani showed Martin the cemetary - a lawn by the lake where the Lost Boys burried their parents and Rick. Martin stood in silence for a while, looking at the handmade wooden crosses, then turned to her and suddenly took Leilani's hand in his. Again, he said "I'm sorry", then turned on his heels and walked away without saying another word. He still wouldn't talk about his past, which bothered her somewhat. Leilani suspected that back in the city Martin had some sort of a run-in with the Locos - she noticed how he would tense every time they were mentioned on the radio or wherever Dingo would start his "When I grow up I'll beat all the Locos" routine - which left him traumatized. Maybe he had a friend killed by them; maybe a girl he loved; he would not tell.

"Blaze and I are thinking about maybe going to the city in a couple of days," said Robbie as him and Martin, having finished fishing, were returning to the store.It was dark already. Each carried a hand-made spear and a bucket. Robbie, as usual was in a good mood; Martin was not. He was tired (the fishing location where Robbie took him was about three miles north) and there only were four fishes in his bucket. "Seeing as the order's been restored there more or less. We'll do some trading. You want to come along?"

Martin frowned. Going back meant having to disguise himself again and having to explain why he is doing so. And if he was to be recognized... Martin didn't know exactly what would happen but surely nothing good would come out of it. Too many people in the city still remembered Zoot with fear and hatered. He missed his daughter, but he knew she was safe in the mall, and so was Trudy. Showing up there, well it was just a plain bad idea which could only do harm to all three of them. Another reason was Leilani and the time he could spend with her while Robbie and Blaze will be away. Out of all Lost Boys Martin enjoyed her company the most as he felt comfortable around the girl; they talked about almost every subject, shared laughs and would often wander in the woods together. And there was something else about his feelings towards her, something Martin felt uneasy with, even feared; something he did not like to think about.

"No, think I'll skip." Martin said. "And you guys be careful with the fuel, there is only so much to go there and back. So..."

"You heard what I said, bitch! Get down! Get the fuck down!"

"Please don't...!"

"Get the fuck down! On your knees! NOW!!!"

The voices the wind carried from around the small cape where the store stood were growing louder; one of them, a terrified, pleading one, belonged to Leilani.

There was a loud, hoarse laughter. A sound of a child weeping.

"On your fucking knees you slut and open wide! Or you want me to shoot one of the kids?! Get the fuck down I said!!!"

The bucket dropped from Martin's fingers. Without saying a word he gripped the spear with both hands and ran, with Robbie in tow.

Two boys, both of the Demon Dogs tribe, came to the island on a motorboat. Both were armed, having managed to stash an old rifle and a M-16 during the virus days and the searches that followed. Both resented the new regime, longed for the anarchy of the tribal war days with and wanted to escape the city. "I've died and wound up in paradise" one of them said after discovering that the island they landed on was appearently uninhabited except for two chicks and a pair of snoty kids.

He was now pointing his rifle at the terrified kids who slumped in the corner as one of the chicks, the red-haired one, lay face-down on the floor, unconscious. As the Dogs stormed into the building, she ran into the manager's office, grabbed a gun and pulled the trigger, targeting at them. Luckily, the gun jammed. They wanted to kill her on the spot, but why waste a slave? Instead, the bitch was hit in the head with a butt of a riffle and knocked out silly.

The other Demon Dog had the second chick on her knees and was now demanding a solo on a skin flute. He was the first one to see Martin who appeared in the door.

Just like on that night in the mall Martin felt sheer, white-hot, burning fury overtaking him. The Demon Dog stared at him in shock, momentarily too stunned to move. Then he made an attempt to pick up his M-16 which lay on the ground. As he did, a spear thrown by Martin ripped through his neck; he collapsed. It all happened within two seconds.

"What the... Drake!" said the second Dog, turning around in time to see his friend convulsing on the floor. He raised his eyes and screamed.

Across the room stood Zoot, that prick who led the Locos, who had single-handedly killed four of the Dog's tribe mates and who has been dead for more than three months now. He stood, his leather pants, bare torso, face and even his dreadlocks splattered with blood which was spewing from the dying boy's torn arthery, fists clenched, teeth bared in a menacing scowl, eyes shining with rage. Then he started advencing slowly.

"You will not hurt them again," said Martin and made a step forwards. The words came out sounding more like a low, primal growl. The Demon Dog screamed again and discharged his riffle, missing.

"You will never hurt them again."

The intruder was backing away, firing shot after shot but missing each of them, as his hands shook in horror. Through the red haze of rage Martin noticed that the Demon Dog had wet himself. He laughed.

"Never."

Demon Dog, with his back now against the wall, began to whimper and hurled the riffle at him. Without stopping, Martin caught it in mid air and tossed it away. The haze was getting thicker and it was hard to see. The fury within him was growing still.

"Never."

The boy dropped on his knees, screaming and trying to cover his head. Martin pounced at him.

"Never. Never. Never.Never.Never! Never! Never!! Never!! Never!!NEVER!!! NEVER!!! NEVER!!!"

"Martin!"

"NEVER!!!"

"Martin, it's over, it's over, stop!"

"NEVER!!!"

"Martin, please!"

"NEVER!!!!"

"MARTIN,NO!!!"

"NEVER!!!!"

"MARTIN!!!!"

He was being dragged back by two pairs of hands. The haze was beginning to fade. Martin looked around and his eyes met Robbie's. Leilani stood next to him, looking at Martin and covering her mouth with her hands.

"Man, it's over," said Robbie quietly. "Calm down. It's over."

He looked down at his chest, then at his arms. They were stained with blood; blood was even dripping from his dreads and running down his back. On the floor lay a body. It's face was blue, mouth opened in a silent scream, glassy eyes staring at the ceiling. It's neck carried deep red fingerprints.

In silence, Martin turned and staggered out of the store.

Leilani found him by the lake; Martin sat on the shore, hugging his knees and staring blinklessly into the dark water as blood was drying on his skin.

"Martin," she called quietly. He didn't move. "Martin, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

No response came. As if he was in a catatonic state, the boy didn't react when Leilani leaned over him and touched him by the shoulder. His gaze was blank, face showed no expression whatsoever. With both of her hands Leilani began to scoop water from the lake and wash the dark, sticky stains off his arms, chest and face. Finished, she sat beside him and hugged Martin by the shoulders.

"Martin? Can you hear me? I wanted to thank you for saving us again. We all love you very much. Thank you."

Martin sighed and closed his eyes. For a while, they sat in silence, engulfed in silvery moonlight.

Then Martin withdrew, looking a little embarrased.

"Thanks," he mumbled, "I guess I needed that. And sorry I freaked out."

"No, thank you," Leilani grinned. " If it wasn't for you... I don't even want to imagine what would they do to us."

Silence fell again. Leilani reached out and caressed Martin's cheek.

"The kids had to witness all that mess," he finally said, looking down. "I really should've controlled myself. But I couldn't help it. I had to defend you. Cause I love you guys and I love this place... and also cause I think..."

He took a deep breath and shook his head.

"I was afraid of this... I think I'm in love with you Lani."

Martin looked up just in time to meet Leilani's lips with his.

When all was finished they lay on the grass, looking up in the stary sky. For Leilani it was a first time; for Martin it was not, but it was very different from his previous experiences. With Trudy, sex was bittersweet; they both were nervous and somewhat awkward. With Ebony, it was always rude, fast and hard. Passion wasn't there - they were simply getting off. "Don't call it making love - we're just fucking like two jack rabbits" she once told him. With Leilani though they did exactly that - made love, slow, soft and gentle, very passionate, each of them eager to make the other feel good.

Leilani sighed and put her head on his chest. His fingers were now toying with her long hair.

"You know, I sometimes think you are Heaven sent," she said. "Sort of like a guardian angel."

Martin kissed her on the top of the head. His voice now sounded sad.

"I'm everything but an angel. You just don't know me Lani."

"Then I want to know you." she said simply.

-------------------------------------

You and I moving in the dark

Bodies close but souls apart

Shadowed smiles and secrets unrevealed

I need to know the way you feel

------------------------------------

"The less you know know, the better. I'm talking about not just you, but the whole tribe. Believe me, if you knew me you..." he swallowed hardy and didn't continue.

"I know more about you than you think," said Leilani patiently. "As in, I guess I know. You were a warrior. Maybe a loner, maybe with some tribe, but I can tell you were a fighter. You're good at this stuff. And I've noticed how you tense everytime you hear the names "Locos" or "Zoot". See? Just like now."

-------------------------------

'Cause I'll give everything I am

And everything I want to be

I'll put it in your hands

If you could open up to me

Can't we ever get beyond this wall?

'Cause all I want is just once

To see you in the light

But you hide behind

The color of the night

--------------------------------

"What happened to you in the city, Martin? The Locos killed someone you loved, right? And they nearly killed you? It were the Locos? Maybe Zoot himself? I heard he was a madman. Zoot did this to you?"

"Yes," said Martin hoarsely. "You could say so. Zoot did this to me."

Leilani sat up and looked him in the eyes, squeezing his hand gently.

"You don't have to be afraid anymore." she said. "They will never get you here. Not the Locos, not Zoot. He's dead. Zoot is dead."

"He is not."

----------------------------

I can't go on running from the past
Love has torn away this mask
And now like clouds like rain

I'm drowning and I blame it all on you
I'm lost

God save me

-------------------------

Leilani's eyes widened.

"How do you know?"

He was silent.

"Martin?"

Leilani's hands wrapped around his neck, but he withdrew. Getting back on his feet, Martin turned away from the girl.

"Martin?" she now sounded alarmed.

---------------------------

'Cause all I want is just once
Forever and again
I'm waiting for you, I'm standing in the light
But you hide behind
The color of the night
Please come out from
The color of the night

--------------------------

His eyes shut and looking into the blackness, he spoke:

"I know Zoot is not dead Lani... Because I am Zoot."

After what seemed like an eternity, her soft voice sounded in his ears.

"I love you, whoever you are."