Stone

Lily's blouse what was left of it, was saturated in blood, as Stone moved his hand out in front of him to get up, he could see it dripping off his fingers. When he tried to lift her up, she screamed in pain, making him ease back down cradling her against his chest. Stone's mind made mental notes of her condition as he tried to formulate a plan. He needed to get her to a doctor immediately but Stone couldn't handle the pain he say in her eyes when he had tried to move her.

"No! Stone wait!" Lily whispered. "It's too late for me. But you must watch out for the children! They will need you; I won't be there for them. You must be there! Promise! Promise me!" Lily beseeched him, clinging desperately to Stone's topcoat sleeve, as her life's blood seeped into the front of his cotton shirt.

"What children, Lily? Answer me, who did this, and why? Tell me what happened?" Stone pleaded as the cop in him took over needing details.

"The Children of Tomorrow, Stone, they're the only ones who can save your world! I saw what Arno did so I had to die. But Arno doesn't know about you! You have to help the children; you have to. Promise me!" Lily begged with the last of her strength.

Stealing herself against the pain she raised herself up, to look into his silvery gray eyes for the last time, an for a moment all the love Lily felt for Stone came flooding back into her eyes as their undying love seem to connect for one last time. As she strained to hear the final words from his mouth, his hair had fallen across his face, Lily reached up with her small delicate hand but her fingers never reached his face. Stone's mind registers the burned fingertips and the way her hand seems to be bent the wrong direction as she struggled with her words. Stone could see the blood bubble up inside her mouth as he whispered his Promise to her then she fell limply back into his arms.