Michael: Part Nineteen
Michael appeared to be weak, but was braced, ready for the attack, but Paul had blinded fury on his side. He managed to slam into him, knocking him against the opposite table. Instantly he regained his balance and squared off against Paul.
Management was out there in a second. The beefy woman looked down-right outraged. "Teenagers!" she raged. "Out, out, out! Before I call the cops!" Bus boys ran over to straighten the table back up.
"Cops" was the key word. The five of them filtered out into the cold and the moment they were outside, Paul kneed Michael in the stomach and heard a satisfying "oof!"
Macy was screaming. Adam and Dylan were trying to keep Michael back. With a roar, Michael sprang forward, snapping out a side kick that sent Paul to the ground. He heaved slightly and felt Michael's fist connect with the bottom of his jaw. Paul's head snapped back.
Straddling Paul, Michael grabbed Paul's throat with both hands and started squeezing. With blood running from his nose, he looked murderous, unstoppable. Paul grabbed his arms, trying to pull them away, but couldn't budge him.
"Stop!" cried Macy. "This is lunacy!" Adam and Dylan continuously yanked on Michael's shoulders to get him off Paul, but nothing would do it.
Oh my god, Paul thought, struggling, vaguely surprised. Michael is going to win. It had never, ever occurred to Paul that anything could go this wrong. Carlos promised security and riches. Not death. Paul's world was going dark. He tried to buck him off with all his strength, but Michael was stronger.
This....is....it, Paul thought hazily. This...is...the...end.
Suddenly the pressure around Paul's neck released.
With a huge, sucking rush, air poured into his lungs. Light filled his eyes, and he was gasping, wheezing, gulping in air.
Michael got off Paul.
"Get," Michael panted. "Leave. Get out of my sight. I'm not going to kill you, but if you come around again, I will."
Paul staggered to his feet and dashed away from the IHOP.
Just as the police sirens came tearing down the highway.
Leanne barely had time to finish her first beer when her beeper went off. Mason, who was sitting opposite her, paused and watched her facial expression change.
"I have to call the number back," she explained and did so. Just by the one end of the conversation, Detective Mason knew this was the end of the case. They finally had the kids. He was already on his feet when Leanne snapped her cell phone shut.
She stood up too. "They're at the IHOP outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A call was reported that a couple of teenagers got into a fight there and the SUV parked outside fits the description. We'll take the chopper down. There's no way they'll escape now."
The pair of them ran from the bar.
Ready to end this once and for all.
"Everyone into the car," Adam said hurriedly, tossing the doors open.
Macy restrained him. "No," she hissed. "They'll be looking for our car. We'll take shelter in the nearby woods."
The four of them sprinted across the parking lot as the obnoxious wailing of the sirens got louder. The moment they slipped deep into the woods, they stopped abruptly, concealed by the towering shadows of the pine trees.
Several squad cars at once surrounded the IHOP.
But only Michael was paying attention to the police officers. Macy, Adam, and Dylan were looking at Michael. They looked grave serious. "So," Adam said slowly, "How the hell did you know where we were at?"
Michael caught his breath and sturdy himself. "Lucky guess. You eat at IHOP too much, Adam."
Michael was relieved to see their grave expressions change quickly to smiles. They began to laugh. Except - Michael was having difficulties laughing. A pain in his chest caused a sharp intake of breath.
Dylan stopped laughing. "What's wrong?" he asked urgently.
Michael waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing." He tried to convince them, but Dylan stepped forward and tore away the jacket. Macy gasped, Adam swore loudly.
"Dude, you were fucking shot!" Dylan breathed.
The more they talked about his injury, the more Michael tried to be nonchalant, but he felt his energy quickly evaporating.
"We have to tell the police," Macy said. "Here," she shrugged off her jacket. "Michael lay down, use my jacket as support. It doesn't look all the bad. W-we'll get through this. Adam, come with me." She pulled on Adam's hand and they headed back to the IHOP.
Dylan cautiously laid Michael on his back. "Did you know that wasn't me, the other Michael?" Michael breathed.
"I did."
"When?"
"Right away."
"How?" Michael persisted. "We look identical. He even had identical scars and scratches. He was wearing my clothes. How could you tell us apart?"
Dylan looked down at Michael and grinned, making Michael's world brighter. "Not once did he look at me when I was in my underwear."
A second later they were laughing as hard as possible. Gently, Dylan laid his head on Michael's chest listening to the harsh breathing.
Michael gazed upwards. Towering pine trees stretched high above them. Snow swirled around them and landed softly on their bodies. Michael was smiling. "You know, this is my fantasy."
Dylan lifted his head. "What's that? Being shot?"
Michael managed a chuckle. "No, being lost in the woods with you, on a snowy evening. Feeling the snow on our bodies."
"You are very open about your fantasies," he laughed shakily. "I would never tell anybody about mine."
"I just wanted to say something incase..."
Dylan pressed his lips against Michael's, cutting his sentence off. Michael ran his hand over Dylan's back, around his chest, dipped them down into his underwear. It was pure bliss. Everything Michael could hope for and more.
"I love you Michael Alan Douglas," Dylan whispered in his ear. "We have a long, lovely trip ahead of us."
Michael continued to smile, but a loud chopper over head drained out his words. They were surrounded by the police. Suddenly they heard people tramping through the underbrush. The crackle of frantic police radio calls ricocheted through the forest. In a few seconds EMTs and police officers were lead into the clearing by Adam and Macy.
Dylan was sitting beside Michael. Just keeping him company. Michael truly did feel a rush of passion seep through his body, despite the frigid air. Here he was, with Dylan. Blissfully, Michael closed his eyes. Heard more frantic yelling.
The forest around him disappeared and then reappeared a second later. This time everything was pearly white. Birds flew over head. Snow landed on his bare shoulders. Dylan emerged from behind the trees. Perfectly nude. His pecs polished, his abs perfect, and his tan penis dangling perfectly.
They approached each other. Kissed each others lips. Made each other perfectly stiff. Loving every curve and dimple of their perfect bodies. Michael soon felt Dylan move inside of him and realized all along that this was - heaven.
"Oh no, oh fucking no..." Dylan repeated over and over.
Macy's legs gave out, and Adam hugged her tightly. Adam's voice, crackling: "Fuck, fuck, fuck..."
Nobody could take their eyes off of Michael's face. He was smiling. Blood blossomed across his shirt. Dylan reached out and touched Michael's hand. Squeezed it tightly.
Racking sobs started to work their way through Macy's body as Adam continued to embrace her tightly. Forcing her to stay away. All the while, Adam bit his lip attempting to stop the tears from flooding his eyes.
A police officer attempted to pull Dylan away, but he shook him off. He was beginning to understand that this was real. These emergency lights, they weren't in his head. Michael was dead.
Macy sunk to the ground, howling. Adam sat down with her, staring in awe.
Another group of officers made their way through the forest. A lady was leading them. "Prosecutor Boyle," an officer said, "one of them is dead."
"His name is Douglas....Michael, correct?" The Prosecutor asked, she looked, surprisingly, upset. Her facial expression only read sympathy. "He was one of the four?"
"That's correct."
Prosecutor Boyle nodded and knelt down next to Dylan. He stared daggers at her, realizing this was the end. "You may stay here with him," she said softly. "I just need to know how you are affiliated with Michael."
Dylan tried to say something, but the words caught in his throat. Finally he sucked in a breath, wiped his eyes. "I once loved Michael. Still do -- actually. Put that in your books."