Title: The Ultimate Sacrifice

Pairing: Willie Loomis/Maggie Evans

Fandom: Dark Shadows

Theme: #21 Violence

"We're leaving...right now!"

"What? But Willie, I-"

"NOW!"

Stunned, Maggie dazedly allowed Willie to lead her frantically out of Josette's room and down the stairs and into the foyer, her eyes briefly locking with his as he silently pleaded with her not to ask any questions.

Biting her lip, Maggie followed Willie outside of the Old House and into the cool night air, a chill seeping through her slim form as a clap of thunder sounded overhead and left several ribbons of lightning in its wake.

"Willie" she pleaded, a sob now making its way into her voice, "please tell me what's going on...I'm scared!"

"As you should be" a deep, foreboding voice interrupted from behind. "I suppose that dear Willie has already informed you of my plans?"

Maggie gasped, slipping closer to Willie before grasping at his arm in fright. "What is Barnabas talking about, Willie?" she demanded, trembling in spite of wanting to appear brave. "Why is he staring at me like that?"

Willie opened his mouth to explain, only to immediately think better of it, seizing Maggie by the wrist before wrenching her around and forcing her into a sprint. "C'mon!" he urged, giving her a frantic tug. "Faster, Maggie, faster!"

"Willie, I can't!" she moaned, "I can't!"

"You must!"

Now sobbing freely, Maggie allowed herself the privilege of glancing back over her shoulder, only to witness a large bat swooping toward them at top speed. Screaming, the dark-haired beauty quickened her pace, desperately trying to stay on her feet as she and Willie tripped over several rocks and jutting tree roots.

Before long, the couple found themselves at a familiar ledge, Maggie release garbled cry once she spotted the crashing waves below.

"We're on Widow's Hill!" she exclaimed, trembling as she clung to Willie in fright. "What are we going to do?"

"What any normal human being would do...give up" Barnabas returned coldly from abaft, thus causing the pair to cry out. Noticing the fiery look in his servant's eyes, he continued, "Did you actually think you could save her from me, Willie? That you could prolong the inevitable and allow her to see the light of a new day? You're not God, you know."

"Well neither are you!" Willie spat, wedging himself in-between Maggie and his overseer so that he could no longer harm her. "If you touch her, Barnabas, I swear you'll be sorry!"

"Oh?" The vampire released a cruel, sadistic laugh, lunging forward so that he now had the naive young man by the throat. Squeezing the poor blonde's windpipe he continued, "I am waiting for my moment of regret, dear Willie, but alas, it appears that it is you who is sorry."

"Stop, please!" Maggie begged, molten tears streaming down along her cheeks like wax. "I'll do anything...just please don't hurt him!"

"Anything?" Dropping Willie down to the ground like a deadweight, Barnabas eyed the beautiful young creature before him with a newfound interest, holding out his hand before agreeing, "Since you have requested the boy's life be spared, I now have no other choice but to end yours. This is the sacrifice that you have so foolishly made, so now you must abide by it."

"Then...I accept" Maggie whispered, bowing her head as Willie frantically rushed over to her side.

"Please don't do this, Maggie...you don't know what you're sayin'!" he pleaded, shaking her by the arm so that she'd look at him. "I was goin' through all this trouble to save you, not me!"

"I'm sorry" she whispered, fondly touching his cheek. "I thank you for the sacrifice you tried to make, but now I must make mine." Turning to her captor she bowed her head, acknowledging softly, "I am ready, Barnabas."

"NO!"

Before either of them could protest, Willie had already leapt up and onto the ledge of the cliff, his voice hysterical as he hollered over the crashing waves below, "This is how it ends, Barnabas! My life for Maggie's...I refuse to accept any other option!"

"Willie, no!" Maggie screeched, reaching out for him in one last attempt at changing his mind from such rash behavior.

Taking her by the chin, Willie placed a quick desirous kiss upon her lips, stunning both her and Barnabas as he then turned and dove off the edge and into the tempestuous sea below.

"WILLIE!"

Dropping down and to her knees, Maggie sobbed hysterically within the security of her hands, finding it to be absolutely hard to believe that she'd never realized that there actually was someone out there who loved her more than life, itself. Alas, it was now far too late to amend the misdoings of her foolish heart.