Masked

XIV

"Wake up you smelly piece of garbage. I have your girlfriend right over there if you wish to see her."

I shot up and glared at Sam before seeing Lacie bruised and bleeding across from the other side of the room. Her wings were torn and she was unconscious.

"Sam I swear if you killed her!"

"Easy Michael, I didn't kill her yet. Your sister is also in bad condition too, so I wouldn't push it if I were you."

"What do you want Sam?" I asked aggravated as I saw Amelia chained up. She wasn't beaten up as badly as Lacie but it was still noticeable.

"Chance Lacie back then you die," he spoke so casually I wasn't sure I had heard him right.

"Sam there isn't exactly a cure for this,"

"Oh... well that's too bad, because I'm not changing myself for her. So I guess she'll have to die," he said undoing the safety on his gun.

He then pulled Lacie up and slapped her cheek until there was a noticeable hand print there. Lacie stood defenseless as the chains held her back.

"Sam stop hurting her!" I cried and began pulling on mine.

They didn't budge any so I just stared at Lacie, "kill me now and let them go."

"I can't do that Michael unless you tell me how to change them. Then I'll let her and your sister go."

I stared at him in shock and shook my head, "I already told you there isn't an antidote to this. I don't know!"

Sam slapped Lacie harder as she fell forward this time.

"Lace!" I cried as her lip cracked open and the metallic smell of blood became stronger.

"Michael don't worry about me. Just get you and Amelia out," she whispered.

"Lace," I whispered and wished I could hold her close to me and comfort her again.

Pulling harder on my chains I felt them budge. I then leaped forwards and knocked the wind out of Sam. He just looked up at me and chuckled.

"I'm so scared Michael, is that the best you can do?"

"Michael don't listen to him!" Lacie cried as she struggled against her chains again.

I pulled back and went over, yanking the chains off of Lacie. My hand went to her cheek and gently rubbed the spot that was bruising.

"Michael watch out!" Amelia yelled.

I whirled around and saw Sam with a spear-like weapon in front of him that had a knife on the edge. Whatever the hell it was it seemed pretty dangerous.

Sam ran at me with it, but I deflected it easily. He doubled back around and tried punching me with his fists. I grabbed him and held him up as he tried to bite and kick me. Man this guy was pathetic.

Using whatever strength I had left, I tossed him against the wall as he struggled to catch his breath.

I ran over to Amelia and pulled her chains off of her. She stood up and hugged me fiercely.

"You stupid gargoyles think you could kill me?" he said standing up slowly and pointing a gun at Lacie.

I began to take a step but he shook the gun at me, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Your choice Mike, either she goes or Amelia."

I just stared at him, "how shallow are you?"

He grinned back, "very," before aiming the gun at Lacie's chest and looking at me.

"Tell me the antidote or she dies. Ten, nine, eight, seven,"

I thought quickly in my head for an excuse and quickly yelled without thinking it through, "Okay you win... there's an antidote and I'll tell you."

Sam looked at me cautiously, "if you're lying I'll kill all three of you."

I shook my head, "get a syringe and stick it in Lacie's arm. Do it once and majority of the liquid will come out." I really didn't know if it was true but I was buying time at the moment.

Sam went over to the table and got a syringe, he kept the gun pointed at Lacie and walked over to her.

"This better work Michael," Sam muttered as he jabbed the syringe into Lacie's arm and drew blood as she winced. After a few seconds the whole tube was filled with blood.

I stared in shock, that was supposed to be white...

Lacie stared at me in horror as I flew towards Sam before he could realize what was happening.

He stared at the tube then aimed the gun at Lacie's heart, my eyes watched as the trigger flew.

BANG!

"No!" I yelled as Sam chuckled and I threw a knife at him.

He fell to the ground panting and screaming as Lacie leaned against the wall in pain. Her shirt was soaked in blood.

"Lace you're going to be okay," I said as she slid to the floor panting and digging her claws into her wound. She pulled out the bullet and said, "this kills gargoyles," before going limp.

"Lace, no! Hang on," I slit my arm and tried to put some of my blood back into her but she didn't stir.

Amelia came over to me and rubbed my shoulder while I yelled. I didn't notice anything else around me except for the fact that I had killed my girlfriend.

I also didn't notice Mark and Liliana come a few minutes later and dispose of Sam's body. I held Lacie to me and saw her chest was barely rising. She wasn't breathing enough to save herself, and I knew that I had failed her.

"Michael you can't save her okay. She's going to die and you just have to accept that."

I shook my head and ignored my parents. They didn't know anything.

"Michael," Lacie whispered quietly as she coughed and choked on her blood.

"Oh Lacie I'm so sorry. Please don't leave me," I begged her.

"Michael I'm sorry... I love," she erupted into coughs as she struggled to breathe. "Don't forget... me," and that's the last thing she said as her eyes lost the spark I had grown to love so much.

I looked at her and waited for something else to come out of her mouth but nothing did.

"Michael we'll bury her but then we have to go."

I turned to look at my parents with anger, "no you two are the reason she's dead! If you had just accepted our love for one another maybe she would still be here. I'm out of here for good."

I flew out of the cave without another glance at my parents or sister, while flying Lacie's body to her parents house.

Ringing the doorbell, I laid Lacie on the ground with a note explaining everything and how truly sorry I was. Not waiting for her parents to open the door, I flew away and went towards a place where no one would ever find me again.

**To my silent readers, are you surprised she died? Any thoughts on where he's going?**