new5

Mel laughed at Darren`s attempt to wash the floor. The hut hadn`t been used in a year, so it was full of dust. It didn`t smell so good eighter. The two of them tried to get the place cleaned up, but Darren just made everything wet.
"Darren can you cook?"
"No not so good I think.......why?"
"Maybe you can fix us something to eat. I`m sure your cooking skills can`t be any worse than the way you wash the floor."
Darren smiled as he looked at the trail of water he had left behind. He took the hint and started preparing dinner. They worked in silence for a while. They both felt so safe at the time. Just Leo and Dan knew where they were. There were also the fact that they were alone together, that made them nervous, but in a good way.......

"Who owns this place?" Mel swallowed the last bite of her dinner. Actually it were eatable. Not the best thing she had tasted, but not the worst eighter.

"Me actually. I bought it 2 years ago. Whenever I felt like being alone, I could go here. ahhh.....it hasn`t been used a lot though. But still.......I just love this place. The best thing about it is watching the lake in the moonlight. It`s just so peaceful....You`ll love it."

"You? Hmm....I hadn`t quite pictured it belong to you. But then again, you`re nothing I pictured you to be....." She quickly closed her mouth, scared of what she were about to reveal. Darren looked surprised at her, but he didn`t push for more details.
They cleaned up, and Darren opened a bottle of red wine. He poured it into two glasses.
"mmmm...that`s good. Darren I thought you didn`t drink?"

"I don`t usually. But now and then I can enjoy a glass or two. Shall we go outside my dear?" He smiled and gave her his arm.

"Oh my. I will follow you sir..." she smiled back.

They sat and stared at out in the night. Beautiful full moon, wine, a man and a woman. The night couldn`t be better.
"Mel, do you want to tell me how you and Michael met?" He was a little scared that she would pull away and don`t want to answer. But she didn`t.

"Ahh....I met him at a party my dad had. He was the son of one of his partners. I was currently dating Howard, but the first time I saw Michael I knew in an instant that we were meant to be. We got married 6 months later." She looked up at the moon and smiled.

"That`s so beautiful. Love at first sight huh? Sometimes I thought of that just as a clishe, but then you hear of stories like this, and you realize that it does happen to someone."

"You sound like you never have been in love Darren. But you have been married haven`t you?"

"Yes I have. She was the best....it wasn`t love at first sight, but....."

"It was love......." They looked at eachother, and they started to smile. Darren was amazed how wise she really was.

"Will you ever fall in love again?" Darren looked at her, and waited for the answer. It was important for him to know, otherwise he would have to start repress his feelings, that had started to grow fast.

"Yeah.....I think I will.........maybe I....." she stopped and looked at him. She twirled around in the magic he seemed to give her at that moment. Darren carefully leaned in and lifted her head. He stopped and looked at her, but when she didn`t try to stop him he kissed her. He started carefully, but when he felt her arms around his neck, her hands in his hair, the kiss grew more passionate.

A man stood behind them, and watched them for a while. He turned around and walked up to the hut. Better leave them alone. Michael knew that she was safe for now. He was glad that Darren was here. He was the one for her. But it still hurted a little to see them together. Funny, he thought. I didn`t believe that angels could be jelous.Still, he wanted her to feel like this again. Wanted her to have love in her life.
He stopped when he reached the hut. He turned around and looked at them for a while. The full moon laid a magical vail over the two people down at the lake. Michael started to smile as he faded away, and left them alone for the first time.

Darren pulled away and watched Mel`s face turn from red to white, back to red again. He was nervous that she might regret this, and he decided to be the first to speak
"I won`t say I`m sorry, because I`m not." His voice were firm. And she looked down at the ground. He lifted her chin with his finger. "look at me........"

"I`m not sorry Darren, and that`s what scares me. You make me feel so........."
she stopped as she didn`t know what to say. He waited shile she searched for the word. "........alive i guess." Darren stroke her hair and wished that he could freeze this moment. He didn`t think that anything could ever be any better than this. Right here and now. He could feel her shiver as a cold breeze swept in from the lake.

"Maybe we should go back inside....It`s getting chilly out here."

"I guess we should." Mel wasn`t to keen on letting this moment go. They stood up and walked up the path. Once inside they sat down at the sofa and talked. Mel was leaning her head on his shoulder. He told her about his childhood, Daniel and how his life was like after he had become famous. And she listened in silence. Once in a while she asked him about things. And they realised that it was easy to talk to eachother. Like they were soulmates.
Mel`s eyelids were grewing more and more heavy as hours passed by, and soon she dozed off.
Darren carefully lifted her up and carried her to bed. The hut was made in that way that it were no walls. You could look right down to the "livingroom" from upstairs. The only room seperated were offcourse the bathroom. Darren thought that this was good now. It made it all easier to have control over. There were no rooms to hide in for the intruder.
Mel mumbled something in her sleep when he pulled a blanket over her. He just smiled and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight Mel" he wispered softly in her ear. He walked back down and started to clean up the dishes after the dinner. He tried to keep the noise down, but hey.....he was just a man. Luckily she didn`t wake up from the noise.
When he finished he found his notebook, and started to write on a lyric. He must have been sitting there for at least an hour when Mel`s scream startled him. He started running up to her, and he realized that she was having a night mare. He sat down on the bed, and carefully shook her shoulder.
"Mel, wake up. It`s just a dream.........."
She opened her eyes and looked around. All confused. She focused in Darren, and she breathed heavily. "Are you ok? It`s just a dream." She nodded. And laid back down. He sat there and wondered what she wanted him to do now. She turned her head an looked at him. "Will you stay here with me till I fall asleep again" her voice sounded so vulnerable, and he couldn`t refuse. Not that he wanted to eighter. He removed his clothes and slid down under the blanket. She moved closer to him. Her arm around his chest, and her body fitted his so perfectly. As if they were made for eachother. Soon they both drifted into sleep.

The next moning she woke up first. She watched Darren. He looked so innocent. His eyelashes made shadows on his cheek. The soft curve on his lips made her think about last nights kiss.
Her heart made a jump, and she felt her cheeks get red. She touched them,and then placed her finger on her own lips. This feeling felt so new to her. It scared her, but mostly she just felt wonderful inside.
Maybe she already had fallen in love again? She didn`t know for sure. All she could say was that Darren made her feel again, and she didn`t want to reflect to much over it. It was one other thing that needed to be resolved before she started to think to detailed of her future.

He opened one eye and glanced and her, made a grunt and burried his head in the pillow again.
"Hey, sleepy head. Did you have sweet dreams?"
He mumbled something down in the pillow.

"What?"
He sighed and rolled over. Still with only one eye open.
"No, I didn`t sleep well.....! I kept having these dreams."
"What kind of dreams?"
He blushed, and closed his eyes.
"nothing I want to share right now."
"ok, can I make you some breakfast? What would you like."
Darren was glad she didn`t persue this issue more.
"Ahh........can you make pancakes? I really like that."
"Sure. Anything for you........." she smiled. Darren lifted his hand and stroke her cheek. "It seems I have fallen deeply for you......." he whispered and kissed her. Mel felt tears come to her eyes, so she stood up and walked down to start on the breakfast. She could her the shower start a few minutes later, and she tried to get her emotions under control before he came down.
Darren walked behind her. He laid his arms around her waist, and leaned his cheek on her shoulder. Mel jumped. "Darren! You`re wet......!" He giggled.
"That`s what showers do to you, my dear. Do you want me to help you with something?"
"Yeah, you can set the table if you want."
Darren found some plates, and Mel finished the pancakes. "Do they taste alright? I wasn`t sure how you wanted them........"
"mmmm....they are great. The best pancakes I`ve ever tasted,.......probably because you made them......"
"aww........you`re so sweet to say that Darren." He put another piece in his mouth.
"no........I`m quite adorable actually."
They finished up, and he insisted on cleaning up since she was the one that had made the food. Mel walked down to the lake with a cup of coffee. She sat down on a rock. It was a beautiful day. The sun reflected in the water, and made the snow up in the mountain glimmer like a thousand stars.
When Darren finished he came out and joined her. They sat and talked. But Darren started to get more and more preoccupied with his own thoughts.
"OK Darren. Go get your notebook. Get it out of your system. I`m not getting through to you anyway, so you might as well get some work done." He smiled and kissed her before he hurried to get his notebook. "Darren! Do you have some paper I can draw on?" Mel shouted after him. It had been a while since she had been drawing anything. But here, it was quiet, a really special place. And she felt like putting it down on a drawing. Try to catch the magic in this place.
Darren laid his head on her lap while he was writing in his notebook. Mel placed her paper so that she could draw.
"Daz?"
"Yeah?"
"I`m sorry to bother you, but can you move a little? I really need to stretch my legs."
Darren sat up and watched Mel walk around.
"Are you hungry?" At first he was a little confused by what she ment . But he managed to clear his mind enough to answer.
"Yes, a little. Are you cooking again?"
"Yes. It looks like I`m gonna starv to death before you cook anything......."
"Hey!.........I cooked yesterday. I can`t do that everyday. You`ll get spoiled!" Mel laughed.
"ok Darren. I call for you when it`s ready. Just go back to your writing again."

Later that night, they sat down to play some chess. But Darren wasn`t the patient kind of guy, so they finished quickly. He played drums on the table while he hummed on a tune. Something she could recognize as "I want you". He stopped and sighed a couple of times.
"What shall we do now?"
"One day here, and you`re bored out of your mind??"
"I`m used to having a lot of people around me at all times. Comes with being a star I guess. And I miss the traffic noise. My tv. It`s getting to quiet for me here......"
".................and now you want me to entertain you?"
"....yes something like that. And I`ve got a few things in mind." He started to smile childishly, and Mel that this was going to affect her in a bad way.
Few minutes later she was soaking wet. Darren was still dry, except from his shoes, but that was all he had gotten on him when he threw her in the lake.

"The least you can do is join me!" She wined. It was cold in the evening breeze.
"Are you kidding?! The water is freezing. I`m wiser than you......oh no missy, I`m not coming.........!"
"Oh....you........you...........ahhhh!" She splashed water at him. Darren quickly jumped away while he giggled. She was indeed a sight. She looked like a drowned cat. With her clothes clinging to her body, and her hair was dripping with water. And he knew he would eventually pay for this prank.
"Yeah.........I know......I know........I`m bad!" He laughed while she tried to gain balance on the rocky ground. He eventually decided to reach out a hand to help her.
Stupid of him really. Because seconds later he had his head under water. When he had reached out his hand, she pulled him in with her.
Darren splashed and wined. "Oh......God........That`s cold.......oh......." He was gasping for air, and this time it was Mel`s time to giggle. She was now, safe on dry land.
"Are you still bored Darren?" she smiled innocently, while he was trying to reach the shore.
"Ahh.......ask me when he get warm again. Right now I can`t even think........MAN, this is cold...."
Mel tried to hold back the giggling. " You can`t think?! But Darren that`s something you never do anyway............" she started to run back up to the hut, she quickly locked the door to the bathroom, seconds before he caught up on her. She turned on the water while he was knocking on the door.
"Oh Darren, it`s so good taking a hot shower after a refreshing bath. Don`t you think?"
"Melody.........!" His voice warned her.
"Yes Darren........oh, I`m so sorry. Did you want to take a shower? Don`t worry, I won`t use all the hot water. I`ll be out in 15 minutes........"
She laughed as she heard his objections on the other side of the door. She felt a little bad about what she was doing so she finished up in about 10 minutes. She opened the door and listened for any sound that would tell what Darren was doing, fearing that he had planned a revenge. But all she could hear was the teapot whistling downstairs.
She got dry clothes on, and walked down. He was standing with his back to her, stirring around in a cup. It was a sea of water at his feets. He turned around and saw her.
"So.......I guess the shower is ready huh?" She smiled.
"mmmm......yes it is. Plenty of hot water left.......have you made tea?"
"Yes, I got a little cold........you know. I think I`m gonna go to the shower now....."
He smiled and kissed her cheek on his way pass her. He walked upstairs, still with a cup of tea in his hand. Mel reached for a cup, added tea into it and lifted the pot.
"Darren!! You......ahh......" she started to laugh as he leaned over and looked down at her from the top of the stairs.
"What`s the matter hon? No water?" He laughed and ran to the shower. Mel shook her head and started to boil more water.

She took the teacup with her to bed. Darren was already there, curled up under the blanket, with only his hair showing. He opened his arms when she lifted the blanket, and she curled up close to him.
When they started to feel warmer the sleep they both drifted into a deep sleep. Darren was probably dreaming of cold mountain rivers, because Mel woke up by his sneeze a couple of hours later. She laid her hand on his forehead, and felt him sweating.
"Darren, you have a fever!"
"Tell me something I don`t know!" he said, with a obviously soar throat. Mel felt a little sorry for him.
"I`m sorry.......I guess this is kinda my fault....." He turned his head to her.
"Well guess what little Missy! If your not sick by tomorrow morning, I`ll throw you back in. I refuse to be the only one sick here........" Mel smiled and kissed his chest.
"I doubt that you will be in shape to throw anyone in the lake tomorrow.....You`ll probably feel even worse....."
"Thank you.....you certainly know how to make a man feel better!"

Mel was right. The morning after Darren felt a whole lot worse. His throat was so soar he could barely speak. But he was thankful that she seemed to had developed a cough during the night to.
They stayed in bed for about three days. Mel wasn`t in such a bad shape as Darren, so she was the one that made food, and boiled water for the tea. Darren was sleeping a whole lot, so it was many boring hours for her. But the bright side was that she got to lay next to Darren. It made it all worth it in a way. On the third day Darren finally got out of bed, but he was only up for an hour or so before he cuddled up under the blanket again. He wasn`t one of those who could just go on when he had a fever. Mel cared for him the best she could, but she couldn`t get him what he wanted the most. Obi and his tv. So she had to listen his complaining about that throughout the week.

Darren was his usual charming self again. Still a little soar throated, but it only gave him a a sexy voice. It didn`t bother him anymore, so he was constantly talking to Mel. Making up for all he hadn`t had the voice to say in so many days. Mel was surprised that so much nonsense could come out in such short time, and without a pause in between. Oh well, he was kinda adorable with all this enthusiasme.
One night when Mel had fallen to sleep from this meaningless blabber and he was still wide awake. His eyes suddenly saw a movement in a corner, and he felt his heart jump. A shadow stepped out of the darkness.

"Oh, it`s you. You got me a little scared there Michael." A low laughter seemed to fill the room. Darren laid a finger to his lips, and looked at Mel who was sleeping.
"She won`t wake up. I made her sleep heavy, she`s having the dream of her life."
"I haven`t seen you in a while...." Darren wondered if the word "seen" was the right one to use for someone who obviously wasn`t of this world.
"No, I stepped away for a while. You and Melly could have a little pivacy. But now you`ll soon be in danger again. So I`ll be closer to you again..."
"Soon......?" Darren didn`t understand what he was saying. "Do you meen he doesn`t know where we are yet, but he will find out soon?"
"Yes."
Darren was thinking about this for a while, and when he woke to himself again and looked for Michael, he was gone.
"Well. goodbye to you too!" he said into the empty room. Mel looked at him.
"Who are you talking to?"
"Huh? was I talking to someone?" He tried to sound casual.
"Yeah you said goodbye to someone. You probably was talking in your sleep or something." Darren laid down beside her again, and kissed her hair. "yeah, something like that."

Last nights visit destroyed the paradise for Darren. Now he was worried again. He had to start paying more attention to everything. This guy could come here anytime. He was tempted to call Leonie and ask her and Dan to be more careful, afterall they were the only ones to know where they were.
So the guy must have received the information from them. He found that a little to hard to believe to, because Leo and Dan were capable of keeping a secret. Unless Jeremy had found out, and he had blabbered about it. No he couldn`t call them. The phone could be traced.
No it was safe to say that Darren wasn`t feeling safe at all. He was watching Mel`s every move, scared that someone would just jump out from a corner and take her away from him. He couldn`t live with himself if something happened to her. He couldn`t bare to loose her.
Mel tried to ignore Darren`s sudden change in mood. She could understand what was happening in his head. She felt the same way. Scared of him getting hurt, or maybe even killed. But she didn`t speak, didn`t want to confess her true feelings for him. Afraid it would hurt her even more if something happened to him, after she had told him she loved him. But she did. She watched him walk around outside, with his very noncholant attitude. The worried mime on his face told her otherwise, but still........there was something so special and rare about him. She doubted that she had met anyone before that was so much of everything. He could feel her eyes on him, and he turned around. Their eyes met through the window, and for one moment they could see what the other one felt. It was so pure and simple love.

They walked towards eachother, fell in eachothers arms. Darren kissed her almost desperate. And held her so tight, she almost couldn`t breath. If it came from the kiss or the hug, was hard to tell.
"I`m so scared of loosing you........" he whispered, and she could see tears in his eyes.
"I`m scared too.........."

"I swear I will do anything to protect you. He will get to you, only over my dead body....."
Mel swallowed. She saw how determined he was. He really love me she thought. But the feeling wasn`t so good anymore. It was frightening. Anything to protect her........
"That`s what I fear the most......" Darren couldn`t find the words to answer her at this. He had spoke the truth. He would do anything for her. Even if it ment.......He felt himself shiver a little. It was scary to have these feelings for someone. And he wondered what gave her the power to cast this spell on him. She was something special, no doubt about it.
Mel was enjoying this moment in his arms. Something was different tonight. As if they only just now realized how fragile their love really was, how magic it was. With the blink of an eye, it could all be over. She felt so powerless, but yet so wonderful inside.

"Live for the moment Darren. Afterall that`s all we have......" she looked at him, and he saw the emotions that were raging inside of her. He swallowed hard, and kissed her deeply. He wondered how she would be like if she could live without fear in her life. Oh, I hope I will find out someday.
"I would travel to the edge of the world for you if that would keep you safe. You know that....? Living in the moment is something I`m not so good at......" Mel smiled, and then whispered softly.
"Look out there Darren. The edge of the world is right there,........you see, where the lake, the mountain and heaven join eachother.......That`s the world we will be tonight."
She looked out into the bright night. Darren laid his arms around her, leaned his head on against hers and looked in the same direction. This has got to work out right. I can`t loose her. I`ve only just found her............my soulmate. Darren tried to loosen up a little, tried to see the beauty of the nature, he didn`t think it was possible, but little by little he started to see the world she was talking about. And he started to smile.
The mountain, the lake, the heaven and them. Taking a moonlight bath, all entwinded in eachother. He could enjoy this moment, pretend that life were different. With her soft voice she managed to make him see the beauty of living in the moment. With the touch of her hand she made him fly.

Leonie stirred around in her cup and got a angry look from Daniel.
"Do you have to make so much noise?"
"Oh you are in an awful good mood today Dan. I`m only stirring around in my cocoa."
"Yeah, We can hear that!" 3 pais of eyes looked at her. Maybe Leonie wasn`t aware of it, but she was capable of creating a lot of noise, with small things. Like a fork, or a spoon........even when she opened a letter.
Jeremy and Howard were planning a new club, and Daniel had suddenly joined them. Now he even wondered about being a partner himself. Howard and Jeremy was thrilled by this. A famous man would definetly draw attention to this club. Leonie was bored. They had been sitting there planning the club since she woke up this morning. And so she had made a lot of noise. Humming to herself, banging with casseroles. And hadn`t got their attention. But when she was sitting still at the table and drinking of her cup, then they suddenly decided that she made a lot of noise. She took a hint and said goodnight.
Obi followed her to bed. Daniel knocked on the door an hour later and asked if it were ok if Howard stayed for the night, since it were getting so late. Leonie was only glad to have more people there. A lot safer she thought. This house didn`t seem so secure anymore. She made a bed for him in Mel`s room. When she fell asleep, she could still hear them talking and laughing downstairs. "humpff.....and they say that I make a lot of noise. Men!!"

At a lake up in the mountains, three magic words were spoken.
"I love you....."

Darren woke up really early the next morning. It was about six am, and he didn`t want to wake her up. He had to travel downtown for some shopping today, so he wrote her a note, grabbed the car keys, and closed the door silently after him. Once out he stopped and turned aroung. He didn`t like leaving her like this. All alone.
"Mike?! If there is any danger around, you say so now! Ok?" He waited for an answer. This time he didn`t have to wait long.
"Go...."
"You watch her!! " Darren sat in the car and started to drive the long road down to the city. It was about an hour trip, but he made it in about 40 minutes. He wanted to get back at her as soon as possible. He didn`t feel so safe, when he couldn`t stay and make sure nothing happened to her.
He got all the food supplies they needed. An on the way to the car, he walked pass this store that had shotguns and pistols. All kinds of weapons. He knew he shouldn`t do this. He was against guns. But yet........anything that could help him keep her safe.
About an hour later he stopped infront of the hut. He was relieved to see her sitting in the kitchen, reading a book and sipping to her coffee. Her hair was still wet, so she had probably just woke up and taken a shower. He hid the gun in the car, didn`t want her to know about it. He knew that she would worry about it. She looked up and smiled as he entered.
"Good, you came back. I was starting to wonder if you were one of those; Love them and leave them kind a guy."
"Oh I am. But I just came back because I forgot my notebook. Can`t go anywhere without it..........I`ll be gone as soon as you look the other way." He smiled and gave her a hug.
"....suit yourself........I`ll eat all the pancakes alone then." Darren looked around the room.
"You made me pancakes! Oh......I adore you!"
"......says the man who was about to leave me few minutes ago! I`m not sure I want to share them with you anymore.." Darren sat down on his knees infront of her. "......please?" she laughed.
" Stop with those puppy eyes, I can`t resist those...."
The day passed on quickly. And they went to bed kinda early. Tired as they both were this evening they fell asleep really fast. Noone notised how the wind seemed to grow in strength. They didn`t hear the warning in the howl it made. They didn`t feel the cold breeze blowing in from the lake. And Darren didn`t hear Michael`s desperate calling for him. "........he`s coming Darren!"

Michael had to do something. Danger was near. He searched around the room for something he could use, something at all.
His eyes fell on Darren`s notebook that was laying on his bedside table. He focused all his energy in his hand and hit the book. It went as planned. The book fell on Darren`s face.
It took a little while before he woke up, and Michael was starting to panic.
Imagine that......an angel with panicattack......But then Darren felt something on his face, and started to brush it off. With a lot of grunts, and dammit`s he managed to get the book off him and he turned on the lights. He was confused at first, didn`t know exactly what was going on.
But then it hit him. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. It was in the smell in the air, the whole atmosphere in the room was screaming at him to get out.
"It`s time Darren!"
He didn`t ask any question. He could tell that this was it. Afraid of waisting time he shook Mel`s shoulder.
"Wake up Mel. He`s coming, we gotta get up."
Mel looked at him, confused. What the hell was he talking about? But something in his voice kept her from asking any questions. Whatever it was,......it was clear that Darren felt it was an emergency. She got scared. Darren had never acted like this before.
Without saying anything they stood up and quickly got some clothes on.
Darren ran out to the car and got the pistol from under his seat. He put it inside his pants and made sure that noone could see it.
He ran back inside. Mel was standing in the middle of the room. She looked so incredible helpless, and he rushed over to hug her for a little while. He was as calm as could be. He knew that it were up to them now, and panic wouldn`t help them one bit. He rocked her back and forth.
"Shhh....it will be ok. I`ll protect you..........I love you."
He could hear that the storm was coming closer to the house. And a sudden strike of light lit up the room as if it was daylight. Darren was thinking hard. Where would be the safest place to be? If they stayed in the hut they would be trapped. Only one door, and they would be like live targets here. On the other hand then he could enter only through that door.
He remember that he was supposed to call Leonie if something happened. He picked up the phone and dialed the number back home, but the phone wouldn`t work.
"Dammit!!" he threw the phone back on the table. Mel looked at him.
"The phone won`t work. Probably because of the storm."
They stood there staring at eachother when a sudden crash in the window made them jump backwards. A tree had been hit by the lightning and fallen throught the window. Rain was pouring inside.
"Oh for Christ sake!! Can`t we have at least one safe place to be? Why is it that we must fight everything at the same time?"
Mel screamed. He could fully understand her desperation. But it was no time to panic. A thought suddenly hit him. He threw on his jacket and made Mel put on hers.
"The lake...."
Fighting their way throught the wind down to the lake, they could feel that it was a little calmer and quiet there. But they still had to scream at eachother.
"Stand......back against.......water! Only.......way.....come from!"
Some words were wiped away by the wind, but she understood what he ment. If they stood with their backs against the water, he could only come from one direction.
Mel felt Darren`s hand in hers. It was wet and cold, but still it managed to give her more security and warmth than ever before. For the first time she depended fully on someone else.
Michael was near. Darren could feel him in the air, and almost smell his desperation. His mind repetedly tried to gain contact with him, but he could feel that it was straining his concentration., so he stopped.
The weather didn`t get any better, and he worried about how long they would have to stay here. Mel`s lips had gotten the colour of blue, and he couldn`t feel his own anymore.
They didn`t have much choise really. They couldn`t go back inside, it was a suicide to try to drive the car back down in this weather, and presides, they probably would get in a head to head collision with her stalker. If he ever got so far as to here.....Darren wondered how anyone could drive a car in this weather.....but if you were desperate enough.....
No, this was the only close to safety. There were no trees that was near enough to crush them, it was only the threat of him here.......
Darren could see something in the corner of his eye, and turned his head to look. About 25m away he could see a shadow walking hastily towards them, Darren started to walk backwards, pushing Mel closer to the water.
"Stop!"
A voice shouted angry. He was now very close to them. Darren felt Mel`s hand stiffen in his for a while.
"Howard....?"

Darren searched his mind. Now where had he heard that name before. Ahh, the one she was dating when she met Michael. Jeremy`s best friend........no wonder he had always found her.
"Move away from her!"
Darren stood still. No way was he putting her on line here. He met Howard`s eyes. He shook his head. His stomach made twist and turns. He had never been so scared in his entire life. But then again, noone had ever pointed a gun at him before eighter.
"I said move away from her!!"
Mel could hear in his voice that this was the final warning. Darren just shook his head at him. Mel couldn`t just stand there and let Darren sacrifice himself for her. What good would that do? He would shoot him no doubt, and then come after her.
But if she came willingly, maybe he would spare Darren`s life.
Making this desition she took one step aside and walked towards her husbands murderer.
"NO!"
Darren let out a scream and tried to grab her arm to hold her back, but his fingers were grabbing into thin air. He could see how the man grabbed her and turned her around, still pointing the gun at him. His eyes moved to Mel. She looked so scared. The wind kept growing in strength, or was it his soul that was screaming? He could see Mel`s lips move, the man listened to her, but then threw his head back in laughter.
It was a sick laugh,evil....
It stopped, and Howard watched Darren. Calculating, still with a little smile on his lips. His arms that he had lowered while Mel talked were raised again, and pointed at Darren.
Darren swallowed hard and knew that his last moment had arrived. He looked Mel in the eyes and mimed the words "I love you".
Mel cried and tried to escape from the firm grip she was held him. Her arms were stretched out. "Darren........" Her voice were so desperate. Howard leaned down a little and whispered in her ear. "Prepare yourself now Melody.......".
Her eyes were still locked with Darren, but now she closed them. She couldn`t see him die........

A lightning lit up the sky, and striked down at a tree near them. And as it started to crack, Howard panicked a little and loosened his grip on Mel. She took this opportunity and managed to run out from his arms. She didn`t get far.
"Stop..."
His gun were now pointing at Mel. She was still standing a little out of Darren`s reach. She stopped and turned around.
"Don`t think you can run from me. I own you. You are mine. How often do I need to remind you? Now to be honest, I`m getting sick and tired of running after you. It`s time that you understand......."
"No"
Her answer interrupted him. And from what Darren could get out of his eyes; it made him even more mad. Not so clever Mel, not so clever at all......
Mel knew that it wasn`t so smart to say that, but she couldn`t help it. There was no way that she would go anywhere with him. And presides, he had made it quite clear that he was going to kill Darren. And if that happened she had no reason to live eighter.
"You sicken me. You are disgusting. I wouldn`t touch you with a stick, I wouldn`t touch you if someone payed me too......am I getting through to you, or are you just to stupid to see the obvious. I DON`T WANT YOU....!"
Darren closed his eyes. Howard was yelling at her to stop at almost every word she had spoken, but she just went on and on about how much she hated him. Darren knew that this were moments before he exploded, and so he was prepared when it finally happened. He reached for his gun, but where was it? Now time was short,.....he quickly made his desition.
He could see his finger on the trigger, and he saw that he was preparing to pull it. Darren started to run to Mel, Howard glanced at him and.....

Mel heard a shot pierce through the air before she found herself on the ground with Darren rolling on top of her. Then she heard another. She couldn`t quit figure out where the other came from, because it sounded more distant.
The first one however, that came from Howard. Darren was still on top of her.
"Darren..?"
"Ahhh....."
Silence. Mel waited just a few seconds, but......something was wrong. Why didn`t Darren move? She rolled him off her, and her eyes searched for Howard. He was laying with his face down, he didn`t move.
Mel turned to Darren and rolled him over on his back. His eyes were closed. She searched his body, and felt her stomach turn to a tight not when she saw it.
His shirt that had been white few minutes ago, did now have a spot of red on it, and it seemed to grow......