Love Struck
Chapter 118 - Not The Help I Wanted
Shadow's POV
Mark Slowly approached me with the lighter in hand and placed the flame right under my nose.
"Smell that?" He asked as my eyes laid on the fear of burning alive.
Shade was shaking in fear as I slowly looked up into the eyes of someone equal to death himself.
"Your going to burn." He stated sadistically as I lowered my head feeling nothing but loss.
Mark patted my shoulder and slowly walked to Shade grabbing the tape around her mouth.
I heard him tear it off and very sadly I looked up into her eyes.
Shade remained silent as Mark said.
"You can try to scream. You can try to run. But the truth of it all is no matter what ether of you do you will end here today and it's sad to think Shade all you had to do was give me a little bit of money."
Mark slowly walked backed to my side and gently undid the tape on my mouth. Blood drooled off the side of my teeth as he leaned into my ear.
"You can try and fight this boy, but you know you can't but I'll give you a far shot. You have ten seconds. Use them wisely."
I coughed up blood as Mark approached the exit with his friends.
They watched as I didn't do a thing but sit there in pain.
Shade was scared and afraid for both our lives and I heard beg.
"Please try!"
Mark smiled while igniting the lighter and began to count.
"One."
Shade glanced at him and back at me and yelled.
"Please do something Shadow!"
I couldn't.
"Two." Said Mark as I remained in the seat.
Shade began to cry as I remained frozen in time itself.
"Three."
"Please Shadow!" Begged Shade in tears as I lowered my head letting what was left of my blood drip out onto my lap.
"Four."
Shade didn't say a word. She was losing hope by the second as I went still.
"Five."
"Shadow…please!" Pleaded Shade.
"Six."
I wasn't going to move.
"Seven."
"Pllllleeeaaaaaassssseeee!" Cried Shade as I let some tears fall on my lap.
"Eight."
Each drop of sadness hit the carpet as Mark said.
"Nine."
Shade lost all hope of living as I took a breath.
Slowly Mark's men opened the door leading out of the house and both me and Shade went silent as Mark finished.
"Ten."
Mark slowly took one last look at both of us and with a small smile he tossed the lighter up in the air .
Shade stared at it as it hit the ground instantly making circles of flames around us.
"SHADOW!" She screamed as Mark shut the door leaving us all alone in the heat of death.
I gently shut my eyes as the flames approached us.
Shadow's Mind
"Shadow." I heard as my eyes opened in shock.
I found myself standing in the center of light as she called to me.
"Shadow."
"AMY!?" I shouted in response to her voice.
She was there but I wasn't able to see her.
"WHERE ARE YOU!?" I screamed as I looked all over the room for her.
I got no response as Death appeared before my feet.
He was still in my brother's body and we both stared into each others eyes as he asked.
"Do you still want her?"
Immediately I replied.
"YES!"
Death instantly took my arms and shook me.
"THEN GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE!"
Shadow's POV
"SHADOW!" Screamed Shade as I opened my eyes to see the flames had reached her feet.
She cried in pain as they touched her shoes and immediately I began to twist my hands.
The tape was sticky but I was getting out of here for Amy.
As the tape was getting looser I heard.
"I HAVEN'T KEPT YOU ALIVE FOR THIS LONG FOR YOU TO DIE NOW!" It was Death.
Slowly the tape mixed with the fire snapped.
"SNAP!"
My hands flew forward and immediately I went for my feet.
Shade was watching me as I was being yelled at by Death.
"IF YOU WANT HER BACK THEN DO AS I SAY AND GET OUT!"
I knew Shade couldn't hear him. It was all in my head.
Quickly I undid the tape on my legs and went for my stomach.
Using my teeth I bit through the duck tape and fell forward into the fire.
"AGHHHH!" I screamed as it got on my fur.
Instantly I leaped up to my feet and patted what I could out then went for Shade who was nearly on fire.
"SHADOW!" She screamed in dry tears as I went behind her seat.
Quickly I undid her hands and as she went for her feet I got her stomach.
"SNAP!"
Shade went down but I caught her and got her to her feet.
"GET OUT!" I heard Death scream as I looked for the door.
The front door was blocked by fire and I took Shade and went for the back.
As we ran to it the ceiling came down in front of us.
"SMASH!"
"AGHHHH!" Screamed Shade as I held her in my arms.
The door was blocked now by flaming wood and debris and I ran Shade back into the living room.
With quick wits I took her up the stairs.
To my demise the men covered the house in gas and everything was on fire.
There is no way I'm getting out of here.
As we stood at the top of the stairs Shade pointed to my room.
"IN THERE SHADOW!"
Immediately we ran through the flames and I bashed down the door letting the flames in.
I took a look around and nothing was in here. We were trapped.
The flames entered fast as I listened to Shade cry.
My eyes widened in hope as I saw the small window leading outside.
"SHADE!" I screamed as I ran to it.
Shade saw my ray of hope and ran with me.
"GET IT OPEN!" She begged.
"I CAN'T IT'S STUCK!" I replied feeling the fire reach us.
"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" Shouted Shade in hopelessness.
"NO!" I screamed as I picked her up.
"SHADOW WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" She asked as I backed up into the fire.
Shade widened her eyes as I bolted at the window with all my adrenaline.
"AGHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed as I leaped at the glass.
"SMASH!"
Our bodies went through the window and out into the sunlight as the fire poured out of the house.
"AGHHHHHHH!" Screamed Shade as we went for the ground.
"SMACK!"
My back hit first and I rolled with Shade in my arms as we tumbled through the yard. The concrete hurt like hell and I felt my bones crack as we finally came to a stop.
By then Shade was out of my arms and a few feet across from me as I laid face first on the solid ground in a bloody hot mess.
The house continued to burn as Shade stared at it in shock.
I wasn't getting up.
"Good job Shadow." Said Death as I coughed up more blood.
"Shadow!" Shouted Shade as she came to me.
Shade carefully rolled me on my back as I continued to breath heavily in pain.
She hugged me tight as I heard Death say.
"You saved yourself and her."
I smiled a little as Shade cried on my burnt chest.
"I can't believe we're alive!" She stated as I rested my hands on the concrete.
Slowly I stared up into her red crimson eyes as her tears poured onto my burned skin.
As she cried and I rested calmly in agony Death gently said.
"It's not over Shadow."
My eyes shut in sadness as Shade continued to cry in happiness.
"Start now Shadow. This is how you bring her back. This is how you save yourself and your family. Do it." He ordered as I let a few tears roll down my cheeks.
Shade hugged my head as she said.
"We need to get you some help."
With tears inside me I replied.
"I'm sorry Shade."
Shade slowly released her grip on my head and I opened my eyes to stare into hers with sadness.
"For what Shadow?" She asked as the house continued to burn before us.
Opening my palms I replied.
"For what I have to do."
Shade looked at me in confusion and asked.
"What are you…!?"
As best as I could I wrapped my arms around her head and squeezed as hard as I could.
Shade panicked as I choked her and began to flail her arms and smack the back of my head as I cried.
"I'm sorry!"
Shade was getting softer by the second and with tears rolling down my face I gave it one last squeeze with everything I had.
Shade tried her best to break free and get me to let her go, but I couldn't. I had to do this. I had to kill her.
Gently Shade stopped moving and her arms came to a stop on my sides as I shouted in tears.
"I'm so sorry!"
I kept squeezing and even though I knew she was dead I kept going.
"Stop Shadow." I heard Death say.
With all my tears coming out I released my grip letting Shade's head fall on my lap.
With sadness and every other emotion I felt her face saying one last time.
"I'm so sorry Shade.
Shade's red eyes were still open and gently I shut them using my fingers and with all intent of being careful I let her head rest on the concrete.
The pain had still held it's grip over both me and my heart but I had to go.
I slowly glanced at the house to still watch as it burned into smoke.
My tears still hit the floor and as best as I could I took one last look at Shade and made my way out the back gate leading into the alley.
You could smell the smoke as it piled through the air and I slowly entered onto the street as people from all over came to see the fire.
No one saw me as I walked by and with pain covering my form and sole I went to the only place I had left to go.
Home.
No one saw that coming. Please let me know what you thought and I'll see you all with the next chapter tomorrow.