Author's Note: Ah :'( The end is in sight. Only one more chapter to go! This is kinda short, but have tissues handy! Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty Three: Unconditional
Gold's body convulsed in utter shock against the door frame, fighting tears that longed to be released. I think he had only just realised that he had shot Cyan, and successfully killed him. Obviously there would be consequences to such actions, which he must not have thought about.
I glanced at the corpse of my nemesis, motionless on the floor. At least his devil days were over.
"...Silver..." Gold croaked out weakly, tears flooding his face as he looked at me. It was breaking my heart to see him so pained. He did a good thing, yet obviously not everyone would see it that way.
"Just calm down..." I murmured, walking towards him to place my hands on his shoulder's. He tensed immediately, his whole body shaking against my touch.
"...I just...he was trying to...I couldn't...I had to..."
"Shhh~" I cooed softly, wiping tears away from his face as broken amber eyes stared into my own.
"You didn't do anything..."
He shook his head desperately, disagreeing with me.
"I...killed him!"
Then my ears detected the sounds of sirens, police sirens at that. This wasn't good. If they came in here and saw Cyan's body, and discovered Gold killed him he would definitely go to prison. Chewing my lip I had to think of something to give us some more time.
And then it clicked.
I reached down to pick up the gun and inspected it. It was fully loaded, just like Green had assured me. Gold's whimpers and cries still entered my ears.
"He...was going to...hurt you...I...I...just shot him and...oh God..." Gold cried out helplessly, and instead of saying anything I pointed the gun at the wall and shot again, hearing the sound resonate off the walls. Gold leapt up in shock, golden eyes wide in terror.
"What...are you doing?!"
I threw the gun back on the floor, glancing briefly at the shot in the wall.
"Giving us some time..."
The dark haired boy sat down on the floor, his back against the door.
"...for what?"
"To think of some sort of alibi..." I murmured, kneeling down to his level. Once again he shook his head desperately, refusing my help. He closed his eyes, allowing tears to trickle down his face.
"No...I need to take responsibility for this...I...killed him!"
Then a thought hit me. There was no way I was going to let Gold go to prison for this, not if I could help it. And as I looked at his pained expression I couldn't help but say;
"You didn't do anything..."
"I did! I shot him!"
"No...you didn't...I did."
His eyes flashed open, sparkling with tears as his lip quivered in sadness. His face portrayed just how confused he was. But this was the only way.
"W-what...?" He struggled to say, his voice croaking a little. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.
Wasn't this what Cyan spoke of before? Taking the bullet?
"I...shot him,"
"But...I did! He was trying to-"
"No Gold!" I said sternly, holding his hands in mine gently. His eyes met mine once again, before trailing to the floor in sadness.
"The story is...I shot him, you had nothing to do with this!"
I watched as he shook his head desperately, refusing to accept this alibi. I sighed heavily and stood up, combing my fingers through my hair. At least by shooting a second time the Police would assume there were hostages and not just burst in here.
"Silver..." Gold murmured, causing me to look at him. "I am not that ten year old boy any more...who cried when things got tough. I am all grown up now...I can look after myself..."
"No..." I muttered, shaking my head. There was no way he was going to get blamed for this. I had to protect him, and I promised that I would.
"Do you...know what unconditional love is?" I asked him, watching as sparkling golden eyes blinked in confusion, before he shook his head.
"It's...when you would take the bullet in place of some-one you love, die for them. And that is what I am doing. I am taking that bullet...for you..."
More tears cascaded down his face as my heart rate increased ten fold inside my chest. It just seemed that it would literally burst through my ribcage eventually.
"...you can't...protect me from this..."
"Yes I can!" I cried in anger, once again combing my fingers through my hair, pacing around the room. Thinking, of things that would make this whole mess right again. But nothing surfaced. Gold's whole body slumped against the door.
"Silver..."
"I will not let you go to prison for this!" I said determinedly. Of course Gold didn't want me to go to prison either, but he had no choice. I made a promise to myself that Cyan would not hurt him, or ruin his life. So I had to take the blame, it was more believable anyway.
Gold looked up at me, smiling weakly as the tears continued to fall down his face, breaking my heart slowly, painfully. Even though he did the right thing he would still get punished. That wasn't going to happen.
"Did everyone else get out of the hall?" I asked, trying to change the subject. Gold's expression changed from sorrowful to anguish in a matters of seconds, as his body started to convulse once again.
"Not...everyone..."
So Cyan was right, people were hurt.
Were two of his friends really dead? And what about Crystal?
It seemed that he read my mind because he answered all my questions.
"...Crystal...her legs were crushed...they reckon...she won't walk again..."
My whole body froze like I was encased in Ice Beam.
So she was crippled? Wouldn't walk again? Oh my God...
"...the others?" I choked out. I knew Red and Blue were alive and well, if not a little shaken up, but I didn't know about anyone else. I wanted answers. Gold's head bowed lower in sorrow as he sighed heavily.
"...Ruby and Green...they...they..."
And just like that he crumbled down in front of me, burying his head in his hands as he cried. My heart echoed pain throughout my body with every cursed beat as realisation started to seep into every crevice of my being.
They were...dead...
"This is all my fault!" I cried, feeling panic wash over me for a moment. Red must have been devastated. The one person he loved most in this world was gone, and there was nothing he could do to bring him back.
It was all my fault...
"No...you weren't driving the truck." Gold defended me. I shook my head.
"I might as well have been! None of this would have happened if I had just kept my mouth shut!"
I gripped my head tightly, thinking about all those times when my life had started to tumble downhill into a pit of never ending despair.
If only I had let his brother win that battle...
"Stop blaming yourself..."
Unable to keep still I decided to sit down beside Gold, my eyes scanning the ceiling in thought.
What had I done...?
"How can I not?"
"You told me once that you never apologise for being you, so don't start doing it now."
I looked at him, seeing a weak expression of determination through his crumbling facade, and I knew he was right. I never apologised for any of my actions, but this was different. I had caused hurt, pain and suffering, even death because of what I did. Blaming myself was okay this time.
The sound of sirens returned and it sounded like they were just outside the hall, but no-one seemed to be coming in, which was a relief. We needed more time to get our stories straight if they were going to question Gold about the event.
"Okay...our story is...you came in because you heard shouting and then a loud bang. When you came in Cyan was already dead, okay?"
Gold's face expressed indignation, but it seemed he understood.
"But...what if they check the gun? They will find my fingerprints."
"I used the gun to shoot at the wall, mine are on there too."
I did that for a reason, to bide us time and to put evidence on the gun. If Gold spoke against me then they wouldn't suspect him, and besides...it wasn't the first time I got into trouble with the law.
"Silver..." Gold murmured weakly, eyes gazing into my own.
"That is the story, okay?"
He weakly nodded, obviously not happy with lying to the Police, but he had no choice. I wasn't going to let him take the blame for any of this. I glanced at the wall, seeing the bullet embedded in the wallpaper and sighed.
Was this really how it was going to end?
"But...you'll go to prison!" Gold cried, sniffling back his tears. With a heavy sigh I shrugged. That was a small price to pay.
"I know..."
"I don't...want you to...leave me..."
He rested his head on my shoulder and I watched as with every breath his whole body trembled slightly, like a candle in the wind. He was really struggling to keep composed, and once again it was my fault. I smiled softly;
"This is the only way..."
I glanced at him as golden eyes shimmered with tears. He forced a lopsided smile at me.
"I wish...I could have been a better boyfriend to you..."
In disbelief I shook my head, smiling to myself.
How could he even say that? None of this was his fault.
"Don't talk like that." I said sternly, feeling his arms wrap around my waist desperately.
"...I should have been there for you...I should have known that Cyan..."
"It wasn't your fault," I assured him. None of what happened was connected to him. He wasn't to know that Cyan planned any of this.
"I can't...ever forgive myself," I rolled my eyes, holding the dark haired boy against me.
"Stop blaming yourself. You did what you could. I don't hate you, and most of this happened because of me, so stop beating yourself up about it."
Once again he forced a smile at me. As my eyes diverted to the ceiling I could vaguely hear Officer Jenny outside demanding that I come out of the hall with my hands above my head. Right now, I wasn't going anywhere. These moments would probably be my last with Gold, and I didn't want them cut short.
I sighed heavily as I reached out and picked up the gun. As my eyes inspected the weapon Gold's weak voice entered my ears once again.
"What's going to happen now?" I shrugged, deciding to take the bullets out of the gun. Gold wasn't watching what I was doing and was too preoccupied by staring at the same spot on the wall.
This gave me some time...
"I admit that it was me who shot Cyan...and you get to move on with your life."
His head bowed lower as the words processed. He would be able to move on and live a normal life. Crystal would need him, especially since she was crippled for the rest of her life. She would rely on him more than ever.
"...I can't..." He murmured weakly, as I took the last bullet out of the gun and hid them underneath the edge of the carpet.
"You don't have a choice."
His eyes refocused on mine, and for that split second I could see my world crashing down in his eyes, watching it all burn to the ground.
"You do! I could tell them it was me,"
"Not going to happen..."
He sighed, slamming the back of his head against the wall in annoyance. We had already decided this, we were just going over old ground now. And once again Officer Jenny's voice was heard vaguely, reminding me that I didn't have long left to hand myself over to the police.
Time... was of the essence, and right now I didn't have enough of it left.
"...Silver..." Gold murmured, eyes sparkling in sadness.
"Crystal will need you to look after her, Red too."
He shook his head as once again fresh tears fell down his honey coloured cheeks. And I could feel my heart breaking more and more inside.
"But...I need you..."
And that was it. He just broke down. His whole body collapsed into my arms as he cried out in pain, hands covering his face desperately trying to fight the sadness that had burrowed deep into his heart. I frowned sadly, hating the fact that even now I was slowly tearing his world apart.
"...I know..." I murmured, holding him tightly, frightened to let go. These moments would be the ones he would remember forever, so they needed to be good.
"Please...I don't want you to go..."
Blinking furiously I tried to hold back tears that were threatening to fall from my eyes, as my feelings just ran havoc inside me, pulsating a pain like no other.
I wanted it to stop...
"...Gold..."
"Stay with me..." He pleaded, his hands desperately clutching at my shirt, wishing that if he clung hard enough I wouldn't be able to leave. And I didn't want to go, but I had to. He needed to be able to live a normal life, with or without me.
And I would do that...for him.
"I won't ask again! Come out with your hands behind your head!" Officer Jenny's voice boomed louder so I reckoned she was using a megaphone. Sighing heavily I tried to prise Gold away from me, giving me enough time to stare into broken golden eyes. They shimmered like fresh spring dew on a leaf.
"...No..."
"I have to go..." I murmured quietly, picking the gun up and placing it in my pocket. He shook his head wildly.
"It's...too soon!"
"It will always be too soon..."
Instinctively I placed my hands either side of his face, watching as his eyes closed in pain, refusing to even look at me. Taking a deep breath I assured him of something.
"But...don't ever forget that...I love you..okay?"
His head nodded weakly, more tears cascading down his cheeks. Wiping them away with my thumbs I decided that it was now or never and stood up. I gave a final glance to Cyan, pleased that he was dead but scared for my life right now.
"I...love you too..." Gold uttered weakly, his whole body shuddering against the wall. I smiled, and it was a genuine one. At least this whole mess had something positive mixed into it. I found out how to love some-one, and that was more precious than anything.
I opened the door, hearing Gold's cries haunt my ears and as I walked out into the silent corridor I wondered about something. I couldn't go to prison, I would be in there for life after admitting to this. I would never see Gold again, and it would kill me to know he was out there waiting for me to come out. He might never try to move on, and would beat himself up about it all the time.
No...I had to make sure this was final.
I placed one hand on the empty gun, knowing that I had strategically placed the bullets right beside Gold. It would give me enough time before he realised just what I was planning. There was no way back from this. This was definitely the end for me, and for him.
Opening the large doors of the hall out into the open I noticed that the whole area was surrounded by police cars. Officer Jenny stood a few metres away holding the megaphone, whilst other Officer's stood armed and ready to shoot at me if I dared make a wrong move.
A weak smile played on my lips as I closed my eyes. Just what I had expected. Then a desperate voice entered my ears;
"Silver!"
I stole a quick glance amongst the crowd. It was Blue, and she was holding Red desperately as, just like Gold, she was breaking down for me to see.
Did she know what I was planning?
Red looked completely devastated, like his whole world had crashed and burned, and now he had nothing left to live for.
I smiled weakly at Blue, and watched as she caught Red from falling to the ground. His eyes looked glassed over, emotionless. It was as if someone had literally ripped his heart from his chest and stabbed it in front of him.
And for that moment I felt sorry for him.
"Put your hands behind your head!" Officer Jenny boomed, and instinctively I did as instructed.
The other Officer's did not approach me, they must have seen the gun in my trouser pocket and decided against it.
Even though...it wasn't loaded. No-one knew that apart from me.
My eyes scanned across the crowd, only noticing Blue and Red amongst them, no-one else I recognised.
So...Green and Ruby really were dead.
"Silver...no! Please...! I...can't..." Blue wailed, holding Red stable as she too broke down. I frowned at seeing my closest friend crumble in front of me. And this was all my fault. But I had to do this, for her, for Gold, for me.
Taking a deep breath I gazed up at the night sky, looking at the beautiful stars, remembering a time when I used to wish upon them to make things better.
I remembered it well. It was the only time I felt close to my mother. Whenever I gazed at the millions of stars in the sky was the only time I felt safe, secure, like nothing could hurt me any more. That was what I needed right now.
"My name is Silver..." I started, watching as the Officer's got their guns prepared, just in case I did try to strike them down.
"...and I am responsible for the murder of...Cyan."
I saw Blue gasp as more tears fell down her cheeks. Even Red seemed to acknowledge my existence for that moment. Officer Jenny seemed to grow impatient as she stared at me.
Was she waiting for me to willingly get arrested? No chance.
I stood there, refusing to move, counting down the seconds.
This was it...the end. Everything I had done and achieved was all going to be lost forever.
Closing my eyes I moved one of my hands from my head, hearing Officer Jenny's loud voice boom in my mind. But I didn't care. None of it mattered.
As I placed my hand on the gun that wasn't loaded I heard a scream, and the sound of frantic footsteps edging closer to me. It was Gold. He must have realised what my plan was.
I wasn't going to prison. Never.
"SILVER STOP! THE GUN ISN'T LOADED!" Gold's wailing voice haunted my ears as I took a deep breath.
No Gold...it's just too late.
And as a faint smirk teased my lips and my heart thundered in my chest I mumbled the words;
"...maybe in another life...Gold..."
I pulled the gun from my pocket and pointed it at one of the Officer's. As I pulled the trigger and heard the sound, and knew that no bullets were going to be flying at any Officer's I waited. Waited for the sound of another gun shot.
And then I heard it, closely followed by an excruciating pain searing through my body.
"NOOOOO! SILVER!" Blue's voice haunted my ears as my legs just collapsed underneath me like a card tower. My vision started to get blurry and with the final moments in sight I smiled.
It was finally over...all of it...it was all over.
Author's Note: NOOOO! Silver! What will happen next? The last chapter will be coming very soon!