TWO

Dime

"I love you." Micah whispered again and again against my ear as she wrapped her legs around me. Her breath sent a quivering sensation of desire down my spine to my hardening sex.

"Oh God, I love you too." I said in between kisses, wanting to make her feel how much I mean those words. It was amazing me how the feelings I have for her overwhelms me. It seemed to consume me far beyond than my survival instinct does.

My hands roamed over her soft naked skin and she moaned as I cupped her breast. I trailed kisses down her chin, her throat and closed my mouth over a nipple. Her hands clenched and unclenched on my hair. "Take me, Dime..."

I looked up torn between my own desire and the need to restrain myself. Micah has been through so much, and though it's already been a year since I saved her from those filthy animals, who couldn't seem to keep their pants on, I still thought that she's not ready.

Micah's hand found mine. Something tugged at my heart as she brought it to her lips and kissed my palm. "I want you, Dime. Stop thinking like I'm asking you to take me just because I want you to be satisfied. I want you as much as you want me. Take me, I'm yours."

My lips found hers and though I wanted so much to take her, to make her mine and be one with her—I didn't. She protested when I departed from her but I hushed her with a soft kiss, willing her to trust me.

Slowly I unknotted her legs around my hips and found the soft curls between her thighs. She moaned and I watched her respond to my touch and oh, how beautiful she looked. Her jade green eyes dilated in pleasure, her long chestnut hair fanned across the bed, some strands lay on her face and just above her rising and falling chest. My mouth closed in on its peak while my hands continued their work.

Micah clung to me, crying in ecstasy as she came shuddering to her climax. I held her tight like clinging for dear life. Though desire still throbbed between my legs, I kept my control. "I won't ever do the things those bastards did to you. I'll protect you no matter what. You're everything that I have."

I felt her caress my chest. "I know you wouldn't, Dime. Don't leave me."

"I promise I won't." And I knew I wouldn't, ever. Even if that meant leaving the Brotherhood to keep her safe, to keep them from taking away what's mine.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing!?" I barked as hooded men seized me by my arms and dragged me towards the ritual chamber.

Micah's waiting for me. I told her to wait while I tell the Brotherhood that I'm leaving. We already planned to go to Babylon where peace lies, where God exists and where we decided to start a new life together.

I struggled away from the men but there's just too many of them, all wearing black cloaks. I knew it wasn't easy to leave, I pledged my loyalty and there's no turning back. They'd be performing the usual "ritual." It made me sick to just think about it. They took women, sometimes girls who haven't even reached eighteen yet. They hunted them just as they hunted for food—for the Council that kept everyone safe.

Ten men from the Council would take their turns raping them and once satisfied, they would take turns stabbing and killing the women. I felt sorry for them because they don't get to just simply die.

Just as I was about to break free, the men bound my hands in long chains attached on the wall in front of the Ritual Table. My heart pounded. Why are they making me watch this? Realization hit me. Oh God no! It can't be possible that they've found Micah. No, no, no. Please.

All the color left my face as the Council emerged with a naked woman, her hands tied behind her back, her head covered in white cloth. My heart sank and fear choked me. I knew that body, I knew every inch of it. I could never go wrong, but then I wished I were. I hoped and hoped that I got it wrong, that it's someone else.

Unconsciously, I walked forward but the restraints pulled me back. "Micah... Micah!"

Her head jerked up, "Dime? Dime where are you? Where are we?"

Panic rose and I started to struggle. I barely felt the chain cutting my flesh. "Let her go! Please. Let Micah go!"

One of the hooded guys from the Council stepped forward and removed the white cloth from Micah's head. Her terrified face mirrored mine. No one spoke, no one made a sound for that's how it's supposed to be. All that can be heard are the jingle of chains, my cries of plea and her current sobs.

"Please, don't do this! I beg you. I won't leave if that's what you want. I'd stay and never speak of leaving again, just please let her go. Don't do this. Not her, please!"

The hooded man who removed the cloth, pushed Micah's head down the stone table so she bends forward, facing me. She screamed as her head vehemently bumped the other end of the table. Blood started dripping from her head. Bile rose to my throat.

"Damn you son-of-a bitch! Let her go or I'll fucking kill you!" I said still struggling free from the metal chain. It bit my flesh more but fear and panic numbed the pain.

I knew without seeing that the man behind the hood is smirking at me, knowing there's nothing I could do. I swore that once I got the restraints off, I'd fucking kill every single one of them.

He then drove inside Micah, making her scream once again and I struggled and cursed even more. Again and again he pushed his way in until he stilled, spilling his dirty seeds inside her.

I fell on my knees, feeling helpless as I watched the Brotherhood desecrate the one I love. My everything. Why? Why couldn't I do anything but watch and cry out empty threats? "Dime! Help me! Please, make them stop."

I heard a piercing scream as someone fisted her. But I just knelt there, still unable to get off the chains, tears streaming my face. I vowed to protect her, to keep her safe but I was powerless. What a fool I was thinking that we could really reach Babylon alive?

It was then that I realized that the Council had finally stopped, satisfied. Now comes the final part of the Ritual. Micah sobbed as she looked pleadingly at me and I felt a twisting pain inside my chest, something I've never been familiar with, combined with an indescribable fear.

"No! Please, I'm begging you. Don't." I started struggling from the chains once again to no avail. Tears filled my eyes because I knew, I knew what would happen next but I still hoped they would listen. I hoped that I was just dreaming. That soon I'd wake up and find Micah beside me. I even tried praying but I guess prayers only work in Babylon—I was unheard.

A shrilling cry echoed the place as one of them plunged a dagger in Micah's shoulder blades. "No! Micah. Please don't. Enough please. Give her back, give her back to me. Don't—don't kill her!"

Blood oozed from the wound and she cried harder as the hooded guy twisted the dagger. "Please..." I whimpered.

He withdrew the weapon and passed it on. Another hooded guy pulled Micah's hair up and in a swift motion stabbed her on the stomach. Blood gushed from her mouth and I ran towards her only to be painfully pulled back by the chains.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Micah I—"The look in her eyes, I knew it was something that would haunt me for the rest of my life. Disappointment, anger and regret.

"You promised." She choked. "I trusted you." Another stab from behind took away the life in her eyes.

No! Don't leave me. I'm sorry. Stay. Please stay with me. I swear I'd make everything right. Please, don't leave. I—I can't live without you. I'm sorry.

I couldn't find my voice anymore to swear and curse the goddamn Brotherhood. I just watched as they kept passing on the blade to one another stabbing her even though Micah's already dead.

Nothing else seemed to matter, nothing. I lost track of whatever happened, the next thing I knew I was being hauled from the place and was thrown out in the open field, where death lies everywhere. I scrambled to my feet as they threw Micah's body in the heap of decaying corpses.

I was punished for being too ambitious. I should have been contented with just Micah by my side. I shouldn't have asked for more. I wished they had killed me instead. I wished they'd just let me be with her in the other world.

"Isn't she the reason why you were tempted to leave the Brotherhood? Now she's dead, there's no more reason for you to leave."

They said more but I didn't really hear their words. I seized Micah's body and held it tight. She's all that matters to me.

I stayed like that holding Micah in my arms. I already missed her warmth because she's all but a corpse now. No, she's still my Micah. The only girl I've ever loved. The only one whom I've ever felt so attached to. The one who responded to my touch and kiss. The only one who had ever made me feel alive. The only person I'd want to be with my entire life.

Now she's dead, what else am I supposed to do?

I looked up at the sky and saw tiny droplets of water falling. "Can you see this Micah? Even the sky is crying. The sky is mourning your death. Didn't I tell you you're beautiful? See now? Do you believe me? The sky is crying because someone so wonderful, so beautiful passed away like this." My teeth clenched and I cried. "She's—she's crying because someone so beautiful had been defiled by such brutal death."

I let out a howling cry remembering her last words. "You promised. I trusted you." The look on her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry Micah! I couldn't do anything. I was leaving. I was going to leave the Brotherhood so we could be—we could be together... I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep my promise. I'm sorry..."

I clutched on my chest as the painful realization struck me. I won't ever see her smile again, I won't be able to hear her laugh at my lame jokes, I won't be able to hold her, kiss her and I'd have to spend the rest of my life without her, missing her.

There's just too much pain, I'll never see her again. I never thought someone could feel as devastating as this. I never thought I'd ever feel this way.

We were going to start a new life. How can I start alone when all the plans I have included her—all for her sake? I was at a loss. It was too much to bear.

Someone, help me. Anyone...

Just as I was at the brink of insanity, I heard a voice. An angelic one.