The Burning in his cheast was hell. He gritted his teeth and clamped his eyes shut. The bullet wound was deep. His breath quickened and turned shallow. He coughed up blood. He knew that he wasn't going to be able to hold on much longer,much less until sunrise.He was dying. And He was alone.

This wasn't what he thought death would be like. For one thing, he thought he would live longer and two, the one person that he wanted there was already dead. Not that he expected to see her after...that night..

Still, He wanted her. And it tore him apart that he couldn't have her. It hurt worse than death. There was so much that he hadn't done yet, and he wanted to do it all with her. The ironic thing was, She would be there at the end of the bright white light. At Heaven's Gate. But he wanted her to hold him as he died and tell him he was loved.

It was cold. He was shivering. He was getting light headed and groggy. This was how it will end. In this stink ridden alley... alone without her. No. It couldn't happen this way...Hell No! He had to see it once more.

C'mon you lousy sac of shit!

Open your eyes, Damnit!

His lids wighed a ton, yet he managed to open them. the blurs that he saw cleared and he saw it. the night sky. The clear night sky. The wax moon. And the Snow.

Snow.

Her.

He was weak, but he managed to close his fingers around the shiny black gem around his neck. He coughed, convulsed and spasimed. Then he was silent. His body limp, relaxed, all except for the fingers around the jewel.

The Death Of One.

BY KHRYSTA

He opened his eyes. He saw a shooting star. No. It was coming towards Earth. It came from the heavens.He stood up and looked around at the ground. His body was nowhere to be seen. He looked back up at the sky. The light was coming for him. He knew it. It was so warm and loving. All the love.

Then he saw her.

She was partially hidden by the light, but he knew it was her. She was so lovly.

"Hello Brooklyn." She said softly, as if to do otherwise would scare him away.

"K...Khrysta...am I..."

"Yes." She looked sad but smiled.

"I'm not ready--" Brooklyn started.

She shushed him. "I know." Tears welled in her eyes. "It's out of my hands this time, I'm sorry."

"That overgrown Christmas light will take me to heaven?" Brooklyn looked up at the light that touched the stars.

Knrysta nodded.

Fuck! This wasn't right! Brooklyn couldn't place it, but something was wrong. He will be in heaven, he'll be with his lady love for the rest of Infinty, yet, something was wrong. She was reluctant and so was he.

"Why isn't my life flashing before my eyes?" Brooklyn asked.

"It's not your time." Khrysta answered.

"Yeah? Well a little pellet of gun powder just said it is." Brooklyn retorted.

"Brooklyn..." She looked hurt.

"Sorry." He appolgized. "I don't want to go." He said softly,less he hurt her feelings.

The tears in Khrysta's eyes spilled over and she ran to Brooklyn and threw her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry, I am so,so sorry..." She said as sobs racked at her body. Brooklyn held her and shut his eyes tight to block the onslaught of tears welling in his own eyes.

He wanted her here with him. Now she was here and it hurt him beyond imagining.

"Brooklyn. I don't want you to be dead eather. I thought that life...corporial life,didn't matter...I was wrong. I was so wrong. The soul, the spirit needs lifes pleasures. Death...is empty. Life is the ultimate expiriance. Death is a false beauty. I see that now. And it took death to open my eyes." She sobbed. "Don't be like me,Blondie. Don't--Just don't."

Therepy.

"If it's not my time, then what am I doing here?" Brooklyn asked.

"I have a secret," Khrysta confessed. "The 'Supream Being' belives it is your time, but it isn't and I will prove it."

"How--..." Khrysta lay her finger on Brooklyns lips.

"Shhh...We havn't much time. I just want to be with you for these short moments."

The minuts ticked by as the two Gargoyles held eachother silently, each lost in there own thoughts, but each thought shared by the other Gargoyle.

Finally, the solem silence was broken.

"Brooklyn?" Khrysta choked sadly.

Brooklyn remaind silent. He know what was coming.

"It is time."

Brooklyn kissed the top of the light blue Gargoyles head and reluctently pulled himself away from her.

"Don't forget this night,"Khrysta breathed. "and don't forget what I said." She took Brooklyn's hand in hers and placed something small into it. She then closed his fingers around the object.

The sky began to glow with a bluish-white light that was unbearably bright, yet Brooklyn could stare right into it. All he could see was the faint outline of Khrysta's form. All he could hear were words whispered into the wind.

I will always love you.

Brooklyn inhailed after he heared shuffiling and felt the cold concreat on his back.

He was alive.

But was it a good thing?

He reluctently opend his eyes and was startled by what he saw...

"KHRYSTA!?" He cried, bolting up into a sitting position.

"Hello Brooklyn." Said the girl weakly.

"Wha-...what happend to you?" He asked. "Your...Human?!"

"Brooklyn. I know you have many questions." The human said. "But I cannot answer them. not now,not yet."

" I thought you were dead!" The Gargoyles burst.

"Keep it that way." Khrysta said firmly. " I can no longer be a part of your life. You will not see me again. Not until death. I am sorry." She looked down.

"Khrysta? "Brooklyn took her chin and raised her head."What are you saying?"

"Brooklyn." Khrysta said angrily. "I AM DEAD!"

"Brooklyn felt the icy concreat on his back and felt the snow falling on him. He listened to his surroundings and heard only normal Manhatten sounds. He opened his eyes ans sat up, rubbing his pounding head.

What a dream.

Dream?

He looked at his balled fist and slowly open it. Inside was a bullet. And all the trouth of his encounter washed over him and he had a sad relif. He was alone. He was nearly clanless. But Brooklyn was alive...

And he was Loved

By her.

THE END

22/12/98 01:53 AM