Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Decide

Michael ran halfway to his house, stopping at a street light. He had to catch his breath, he looked up towards the cloudy night sky. It began to drizzle a little, Michael began to run again. Once he got to his house, he saw none of the lights were on. That kind of made him worry, considering the girls usually stay up to wait on him whenever he had gone to some sort of event, and the living room light would be on. He walked up to the door, placed his hand on the knob, and turned it carefully. Michael walked through too quickly, before the door was opened all the way, causing it to make a boom sound.

" Nicole, Sasha, Shauna!" he called out, but there wasn't an answer, yet, there was a small giggle. It was coming from behind him, Michael just stood there. Not knowing what to do or say, because the giggles were getting louder and closer...ever so closer..

" Michael!" a female voice yelled his name behind him. Michael swiftly turned around, it was Holly. He eyed her down," You scared me..." His wet curls stuck to his moist face, eyes intensifying.

Holly crossed her arms under her chest, giving him a serious look," Looking for someone?" Before he could answer her, she motioned her arm to the door and for some people to come in. The girls came in, Khadija followed behind. Michael finally relaxed himself.

Looking pass Holly and Khadija, he stared straight at the girls. Firmly, he asked them," Where have you been? Didn't I make it clear that none of you leave my house without my permission first?" he pointed his fingers in each of their faces. Khadija stepped in between them, she looked up at Michael," Hey now, don't get onto them. Holly and I got to them before you...for some reason, ran here instead of calling your driver. What's up with that, man?"

Michael hovered over Khadija, turned his back to them all and walked off to the kitchen. " Well," he began," I was worried, they didn't have a baby sitter," he shouted from the kitchen, then came back with a cup of water," Mark, Jason, or any of the bodyguards aren't here and I forgot." he took a sip. They all went into the living room and sat down.

Michael asked," How did you guys get to them anyway?"

Holly looked at Khadija, and smiled. Khadija looked back at her and said," I know that look, you want me to explain. Okay, see, what had happened was...."

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About 20 minutes earlier

Holly's Mansion Party

Holly and Khadija wondered why he left in such a big hurry, then they thought. Maybe it was the girls. Were they in trouble? If so, he doesn't need to run, it would be too slow to get to them. Holly went up to her mom," Hey mom, Khadija and I will be right back." Her mom looked at her and nodded with a smile. They went out the door to Holly's dad's fancy car.

" Well you know I'm too young to drive, you drive." Holly told her friend. Khadija got into the driver's seat and started the car when Holly got in. Quietly they drove down the slippery road, Holly looked out the window and saw Michael running. She said," Hurry..."

Khadija drove a bit faster at the same time not letting Michael notice them. Finally, making it to his house. They saw the lights were on. Holly got out the car before Khadija, and told her," Park across the street, Michael knows what my dad's car look like." Khadija did as told, Holly walked up to the door, knocking on it quickly. Nicole answered it.

" Yes?" she answered. Holly looked at her for a second and smiled..." Hey, I'm one of Michael's friends, Holly... My parents hosted the party that he went to." she thought again," I was... too young to be there so i decided to come here. Along side with my friend." Khadija walked in beside her and waved.

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" And that's what happened." she smiled. Michael leaned on the arm rest of the couch, still holding his cup. He looked down and then back at Khadija," Where did you guys go then whenever I came back?"

" Oh, that's easy. We were walking in your back yard." she told him. Michael rubbed his free hand down his face, feeling as if he was over reacting the whole time. The room fell silent.

.....

Holly spoke," Michael..." he looked at her. " Why were you dancing with Jasmine?"

Shauna turned her head toward Michael and asked in disbelief," Jasmine was there? You danced with her?" His eyes hardened," I believe that is none of your business, Shauna." he said defensively, turning to Holly," Why would you bring that up?" Holly eyed him.

" I don't know, you were the one dancing with that devil. Did they order you do? Are you tricking everybody in here?" Holly lashed out at him.

Sasha asked," They? They who?" Michael just stood there, not saying a word.

I can't believe this is happening. he thought to himself. Holly gazed upon the floor, fiddling her fingers, she asked quietly," You didn't tell them... Did you?" All eyes went on Michael. He cleared his throat.

Nicole said," Michael, what is going on?" He just shook his head. Khadija fell in," Michael..." He looked at everyone, nervous, he walked to the kitchen and placed the glass cup into the sink. There was a lot of tension going on in that house at the moment. Khadija told Holly," Well if he doesn't tell them, then I think we should." She looked at each one of the girls. They watched back impatiently waiting for the 'news' their friend was supposed to tell them.

" Well," Holly began," Michael, Khadija, and I are apart of this group, a mafia. We're supposed to kill you three."

Shauna gasped out sharply," Wait, what? We're going to die!?" Khadija put her finger up," Hold on, girl, let her finish talking first."

She began again," But-We don't think it's necessary for us to do it. We're playing as the good guys. So we have our own group now."

" What if I don't want to be the good guy?"

Everyone turned their heads to the voice, Michael stood in the door way, revealing a gun in each hand. " What if, I want to stay bad?" he lifted both hands at them, Nicole quickly stood up," Now Michael, you don't have to do this."

He mimicked her," Michael you don't have to do this..." his eyes were cold, dark. As of for right now, he didn't care about anything," You don't control me." there was a click from his guns. Khadija shook her head," Never thought I'd go out like this, damn."

Just when Michael was about to pull both triggers, he made a grunting sound. All of them watched as he dropped both of his guns, reached behind his back and took out a needle with a small container. He looked at it, then to the people in front of him drowsily.

" Michael?" Sasha called his name. He took a step forward, fell on his knees then to the floor completely. Shauna looked up," Jasmine?" everybody looked up. Anger swept across Khadija's face, and she walked up to Michael and grabbed his gun off the floor.

" Oh heck no... Girl, you can't just come in here like you own the place, shooting people in the back with needles like you crazy cause I know you are." she pointed the gun at her about to shoot. Jasmine dropped the tranquilizing gun and held her hands up in defense," Whoa, whoa, wait. I just saved you guys from a man that was about to shoot you and now you threaten to kill me? Wow."

Holly walked up beside Khadija and put her hand on her shoulder," lower the gun please. Jasmine why did you do that?" Sasha walked up and kneeled by Michael and shook him gently.

Jasmine answered, slowly moving her hands down," Because... I want to be with you guys..." Sasha looked up at Jasmine whenever he didn't respond," What did you do to him??" Jasmine told her," Calm down, I just put him to sleep. He'll wake up sometime the next morning"

Nicole asked," Why did he want to kill us just then?" Khadija answered," Probably under all this pressure, lately." Jasmine nodded. Holly wasn't understanding," you want to be with us? Why?"

" Because, being with the bad people isn't all that good, you know. Plus they aren't telling me anything anymore since I didn't completely kill him that night, so I don't know what their plan is..." she explained. Shauna told them," We should get him upstairs to his room." Jasmine walked over to them, she and Nicole held him over their shoulder and carried him to his room...

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July 18th, 1992

The Next Day, 7:45 AM

Michael woke up in cold sweat to the bright sun shining slightly through his curtains. He looked to his window, then fell back down on the bed, whipping the sweat off his face. Then he looked over to the chair across the room, the rays from the sun made it to where he could only see a silhouette of the figure sitting in that chair. Half sleep, he thought he was imagining things, that is, until the person turned to look at him.

Jasmine...

His body grew weak, she stood up slowly from the chair. Her gentle brown eyes made it clear that she wasn't going to hurt him. Jasmine walked up to him and sat down on the bed. The curls in her hair fell over her shoulders as she leaned over to him. She smelt of roses and other wonderful flowers.

Worriedly, he asked," Why are you here?" She was close in his face, then smiled," to help you." He was puzzled, struggling to remember anything that happened last night after he made it home from the party, it was all cloudy to him.

" What happened last night? Why can't I remember anything?" he asked. Jasmine rose up from his face," Oh, that's because I shot you with a tranquilizing gun." Michael looked at her suspiciously, and she continued," Don't give me that look. I basically save all the girls' lives... You were about to shoot them." His eyes widened, and brought her in for a hug," Thank you... I think." they both giggled.

She held onto his shoulders," See. You're such a good person. You forgive me even though I stabbed you twice..." she murmured the last part. " But now, you have to decide. Are you good, or bad? Just think about it, because there is a place in that heart of yours, and I know it's love." she patted his shoulder, got up and left his room.

Michael sat there, thinking for a minute.

....

Later that day he climbed a tree in his backyard. One of his favorite trees, he named it his Giving Tree. There, he had a notebook and pencil, just then, his new song was created. He named it, Heal the World.

" I'm still good." he decided with a smile.