Masked

XII

I didn't notice when Lacie woke me up to take watch again until I felt her lips on mine. Opening my eyes, I pulled her closer to me. She locked her arms around me and wouldn't let me go, which I wasn't about to complain.

We sat there for a few seconds before I broke us up and went to take watch for the second time that night. Lacie followed and sat next to me.

"Lacie you don't have to watch with me. You should get some rest for when Amelia wakes you up."

"I don't really mind, and I'm not tired so I'll just stay up with you."

Deciding I didn't want to argue with her on that, I just enjoyed her company instead.

"Michael how long are we going to stay like this?" Lacie asked taking me by surprise.

"What do you mean?" I asked her unsure if she was talking about our relationship or us hiding from my parents.

"Your parents views on our relationship. We shouldn't be ashamed to where we have to hide this, nor be afraid of what they think."

"Lacie this affects both of our parents and my sister greatly. I don't want her to be in trouble for this, but especially don't want us to end this relationship. I'm not sure what we should do at the moment, but we'll come up with something I promise."

Lacie nodded silently and stared intently at the waterfall.

We sat in silence not sure what to say or do. Dawn slowly came up and made the waterfall glitter like a million diamonds. It reflected off of Lacie's hair making it shiny and giving it a lighter tint. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her beauty. How could she be human and look like that?

"Are you sure you aren't an angel or something? Normally humans never look this extraordinary. No offense," I ended.

Lacie laughed and shook her hair, causing it to shine even more, "no I'm human as far as I'm aware."

I didn't quite believe her and decided I might have to ask her parents later on.

I looked behind me to see Amelia packing her pajamas into her bag. She then stood up and came over to us, "what do you guys want to do now?"

Lacie and I looked at each other, "no idea."

"Well I brought food for us, but only a days worth," Lacie pulled out some frosted flakes in mini boxes.

We each grabbed one and downed the cereal in minutes.

"Should we move camp or stay here for awhile since you're parents are going to start looking for us?"

"I think we should stay here for now and then determine whether or not to leave depending upon how it goes," I said and heard my phone vibrate. That could only mean one thing.

"What do I do Amelia?" I gazed at my phone to see that Mark and Liliana were indeed calling me.

"Answer it but don't say where we are," she said as I answered my phone.

"Hello?" I spoke calmly.

"Michael where in the world are you? Why did you run away with your sister and girlfriend. Do you even realize how much trouble you are in?"

I listened to Mark's rantings as I waited for a chance to speak. "I'm sorry Mark but I had too. I love Lacie and she loves me too. You and Liliana just need to accept that, Amelia has and agrees with me."

"Michael please come back, I'm sorry we said the things we said... we'll accept Lacie. Just please come back so you're not in harms way," Liliana interjected before handing the phone back to Mark.

"I think it's safe to speak for me and the girls that we will not be returning anytime soon. Goodbye," I hung up before my parents could add anything else to the conversation.

"Don't answer your phone Amelia, whether it's Mark, Liliana or a restricted number," I told her knowing she loved to play along with prank calls.

"I won't Michael I promise," she said gloomily and then tried to smile, "we should probably move camp or at least make it look like we were never here."

"Good idea Amelia!" Lacie began helping her pack and clean up the area.

I went around and put everything back in it's place before grabbing the bags and Lacie.

"You ready?" I asked as she got on my back.

"Yep!" She seemed totally excited and ready for a new adventure.

We set off past the waterfall and into the blazing sky, I looked behind me and didn't see anyone following us. Thank God.

Sighing with relief, I focused on the task of finding a safer spot where our parents couldn't find us.

"Amelia where are we heading to?" I asked as we were getting farther north.

"Not sure yet. Far enough for now until Mark or Liliana won't even think to check for us there."

"That would be like Antarctica or Iceland," I chuckled.

Amelia turned her head, "we might just go to one of those places or back home even."

I didn't think about going back home but it could be a good idea. They probably wouldn't check their first anyways.

"Let's not go home first, just in case your parents start their search there," Lacie advised.

"Good point Lacie," Amelia said continuing to fly north, but unsure where.

 "Well wherever we stop it should still be far away and not in the same direction so your parents can't find our scent," Lacie suggested.

"The only problem with that is our parents are excellent trackers, so it's going to be a challenge."

I could tell Lacie was a little disappointed but was still trying to haide it.

"Don't worry Lacie we'll make it through this."

She looked at me with hope in her eyes, but the spark that was usually there was fading.

"Lace what's wrong?"

She tried to smile at the mention of her nickname but she couldn't conceal the worry in her voice, "it's nothing Michael. Don't worry about it."

"Lacie tell me what's bothering you?" We had stopped to rest in the trees for a little bit. Amelia dropped to the ground and walked around some so that we could be alone.

Lacie began crying as I held her gently to me, "Lacie what's wrong?"

Her body shook with sobs as I kissed her hair and waited for her to say anything.

She waited a few moments, and whispered, "my days with you are numbered Michael."

I immediately knew where she was going with this, "we can change you. I just have to get the supplies and I need my parent's assistance,"

"Michael your parents would never help you at this point with us running away and all. We're doomed."

Her tear-stained face was killing me, especially now since it was all smeared. I wiped off her running mascara and kissed her cheek. "Lace I promise we will change you, even if my parents hate me for the rest of my life."

I saw her about to protest and I added, "but it'll be worth it to show how much I love and care about you. One day hopefully they will understand that," I said and kept the rest of the thoughts to myself about how I could be separated from her if my parents found out.

'It'll never work Michael. Give up,' my so-called conscious was telling me in the back of my head.

I'm glad I just listen to my heart and gut because both of them were telling me it was going to be fine.