Nature's Gift

“So, you’re gonna kill me? Is that the plan, Kristin?”

“Very observant of you… at least Kevin picked someone with a brain…”

“You know this won’t make him come back you. He doesn’t love you…”

“Love? I don’t want him to love me. I just want him to pay, that’s all.” She laughed coldly.

“You’re an evil woman. Tell me… how did you ever manage to get your claws into him in the first place?” Night asked, trying to keep the conversation going long enough for him to devise a plan.

“I’m an actress… He bought the performance. Plain and simple.”

“I think there was more to it than that… I think you’re a great liar, too.” He reached into his bag.

“Oh! You wound me! But I’ve had enough talking! Its time for you to go…” She said as her finger tightened on the trigger.

In that same instant, Night’s hand came out of his bag, tossing the phosphorous into the pool, as he dove to the ground.

**********************************************

Kevin awoke to the sound of someone banging on his door.

“Kev… Kev… wake up!” Nick’s voice called urgently through the door.

“What’s goin’ on?” He called back as he climbed out of bed.

“There’s a fire! Come on… we’ve got to get out!!”

Kevin grabbed his jeans and quickly pulled them on as he hopped toward the door.

“Nick… you seen Night anywhere?” Kevin asked, obviously worried and a bit disoriented.

“No… he’s not with you?”

“He was when I went to sleep… but he’s not here now…”

“Maybe he’s outside… let’s go!” Nick urged as he grabbed Kevin’s arm and pulled him toward the stairs.

As they descended past several floors, Kevin began to wonder where the fire was. There was no smoke in the hotel, and there was no heat, either. He was beginning to think that something else was terribly wrong. Where was Night? Why wasn’t he in the bed with him? And why did he have this gnawing feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach?

They continued down the stairs and exited into the lobby near the back. That was when Kevin first saw the flames. It wasn’t the hotel on fire… it was the pool. As the smell of the flames reached him, Kevin suddenly put the pieces of the puzzle together. That was no ordinary fire. That fire was created with phosphorous… which could only mean…

“Night!!” Kevin yelled as he ran toward the pool, breaking free of Nick’s grasp.

”Kevin! Kevin… wait!!” Nick called to him, but it did no good. Nick ran after him.

“Night… where are you?” Kevin called as he frantically pushed his way through the crowd of people. Finally, reaching the door to the pool area, Kevin’s eyes began searching the pool for a sign of his lover. It only took him a few moments to find him.

“Night!! Oh God…” Night was lying face down by the pool, and Kevin ran to his side. He kept calling his name, trying to wake him up, but there was no response. He gently turned him over, and his eyes fell on the bleeding wound in his stomach.

“Night… baby… say something… wake up…” Kevin’s heart was pounding as he gently lifted Night’s head into his lap. He checked his pulse and breathing, both of which were weak. Nick had caught up to him by now, and stood there in shock at this sight.

“Night… baby please wake up! Don’t leave me… please…don’t leave me…” Kevin sobbed. Hearing the sirens outside, Nick ran to find help. Night’s eyes fluttered open and met with Kevin’s.

“Hold on, baby… its gonna be ok…” Kevin tried to force a smile, but his tears wouldn’t let him.

“Kevin… it… it was Kris… she’s here, Kevin…” Night struggled.

“Don’t talk, honey. Save your strength…”

“No… there is no time… You must continue… you must go on…” Night’s breathing was becoming very labored now.

“We’ll go on, Night… you and I… just as soon as you’re well… the paramedics are here… you’ll be fine, baby…”

“Kevin… I love you… always…” Night said as he reached up and gently caressed Kevin’s cheek, forcing himself to smile for Kevin’s sake.

“I love you too, honey…” Kevin replied as the paramedics took over.

**********************************************

AJ took a long drag from his cigarette as he waited for the others to catch up to him at the limo. They had a plane to catch in a little over an hour, and he was anxious to get going. By the time he had finished the cigarette, the others were getting into the car. No one said anything during the drive, nor did anyone speak during the flight. They were all lost in their own thoughts.

Upon landing, they were escorted to a waiting limo for the drive to their destination. Again, no words were spoken. Finally, getting out of the car, they all walked with Kevin into the beautiful wooded area. After a time, they could see the dome of the sweat lodge looming ahead of them. Waiting for them there were the Elders, who would join them for the rest of their journey.

When they finally reached their destination, Kevin, who was wearing his loincloth, dropped to his knees before the fire. The Elders smudged his face with ash from the fire pit, as they danced around him in a circle, chanting rhythmically. The ceremony had begun, and it would last the entire night.

As the sun began to break the horizon the next morning, Kevin performed the last of his duties. Lighting a long stick from the fire pit, he turned and walked to the wood that had been piled a few feet away. As Raven watched from its perch on Kevin’s shoulder, he shoved the burning stick into the center of the pile. Stepping back a few steps, he watched as the flames caught, growing quickly into a very large bonfire. Behind him stood AJ, Nick, Howie, and Brian, along with the Elders. Surrounding all of them in a large circle were several men with drums, who had begun to drum out a lonely rhythm. Kevin’s heart was broken, perhaps beyond repair this time. As he watched the body of his lover go up in flames in this ancient ritual for the dead, his strength left him and he fell to his knees. He cried out to his love one last time as his grief overtook him, and his sobs tore from deep within.

********************************************

Six months later, as Kevin faced the swarm of reporters, his four best friends stood beside him once again. As he stepped to the microphones to speak, Raven again landed on his shoulder.

“I’m going to make a brief statement. There will be no questions afterward. Today, my ex-wife was sentenced for the murder of the only true love I will ever know. I feel sad for her… but after what she’s done, I find it difficult to feel any compassion where she is concerned. Her sentence will not bring Night back to me… and in that respect, I have been sentenced too. We will be taking a break for a few months, so that I can have time to grieve. Until that time, I respectfully ask the media to allow me my privacy. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and its going to take some time. Thank you… that’s all I have to say.”

AJ put his arm around Kevin as they walked to the limo. The stunned reporters stood there as they simply watched the limo drive away…

alternate ending