Alesha's P.O.V

I grit my teeth as I pull the last bandage around my wrist. Since Peridot is now dead, I have the freedom to ransack this little hideout of hers and use whatever I find to my own advantage. Unfortunately, there was no incriminating evidence on me left out on any tables or pinned to the walls, leading me to believe that she really was anticipating my arrival. So, after growling to myself upon discovering that little tidbit, I got to addressing my wounds, bringing the bandages out and wrapping them around my ankle, my nose, and finally my wrist. Rubbing the back of my head, I stand up from the workbench I was sitting on and look around this barn. I want to go home, get these injuries treated better since wrapping them was only a temporary fix, and sleep. I would then feel more rejuvenated to search out the evidence Peridot and Lapis collected and kill Lapis too. But, I don't want to give Lapis the satisfaction of coming back here, to a place she would probably call home, and not suffer for her part in this. She invaded my home and now I invaded hers, but I'm not nice enough to leave it at that.

She'll return to a smoking pile of burning wood when I'm finished.

And though pain wracks my body, I build up the strength and get to work on making it happen. Bit by bit, I throw everything that's not nailed down into a big pile in the center of the bar, tossing entire tables, haystacks, and even spare wood pieces that were merely lying around onto the pile, not caring if I smash them or not. Now the problem is actually starting the fire. There's no gas or lighters around here anywhere. But then a metaphorical light bulb goes off over my head and I walk out the front entrance and back across the field to the car I stole. Popping the trunk, my hopes are rewarded with the sight of a gas can, which, upon grabbing it, is plenty full too. I then open the passenger's side door and dig through the glovebox, smiling when I find a cigarette lighter. I then trudge back toward the darkened barn, the gas in the gas can sloshing as I walk. And when I come to a stop at the entrance, my smile grows wider.

Putting the lighter away in my pocket, I open the tip of the gas can and walk inside, pouring it all over the ground and on the support beams holding the barn up. I then did a few circles around the pile before splashing some up onto the pile itself, leading a trail out to the entrance before capping off the gas can. I then step back a bit, not wanting this next part to backfire on me if I got gas on my shoes in there. I pull the lighter out, flick the flame on, and chuck it inside. Flames spread quickly and it wasn't long before the floor of the barn and the pile was burning.

Grinning at my handiwork, I turn away from the sight and trudge back to the car for the second time tonight. It'll be long destroyed by the time Lapis comes back because once those support beams burn and break, the roof of the barn will cave in. Besides, there's not a water source for miles, so even she, with water manipulation powers, wouldn't be able to put it out in time. It's not like that's her only form of manipulation anyway. My grin turns to a frown at that particular thought and I place the gas can in the trunk, roughly closing it and getting in the car. I give the burning barn one final glance before turning the key in the ignition and turning the car around.

Home, here I come!

Steven's P.O.V

I was expecting her to come through that door at any moment, which is why I've been sitting on the stairs with Connie's sword on my lap for the past hour or so. What I'm most conflicted on, though, is if I should just kill her when she walks in or catch her by surprise and knock her out. Lapis and Peridot want Alesha to be turned in so that my name can be cleared for the most recent murders, but I'm wondering if it'll make any actual difference. Just because I didn't kill my friends doesn't take away from the fact that I still killed Connie, her mother, and Kevin. Murder is murder and the town's opinion isn't likely to sway much from a few less bodies being pinned to my name. 

With my eyes trained on the door, off to the right of where I'm currently sitting, I lightly tap the flat end of the blade against my knee, mentally preparing myself. Taking her down won't be easy, but if I happen to fail, my next course of action is to get out of here by any means necessary and go get Lapis for help. I know it wouldn't be right for me to just show up at the Barn and ask for their help, but Lapis is a better fighter than Peridot, especially with her water manipulation powers.

Lapis. 

I sigh, my heart thudding against my chest as I say her name in my head. I wish she didn't have to leave, but I got myself into this mess, so it wouldn't be right of me to get her in trouble and potentially cause her death by asking her to stay. That kiss we shared is burned into my brain and I desire more, but I can't lose control and let my feelings drive my actions to such an extent.

There's suddenly a loud, desperate sounding set of knocks on the door, making me jump and flinch before composing myself and lightly going down the last couple steps. I quietly go over to the door and look through the peephole to see if Alesha is standing on the other side. To my surprise, though, it's actually Lapis. And she looks pretty frightened/upset. Unlocking the door, I pull it open and let her inside, Lapis scurrying in with no hesitation. My first instinct is to ask her what's wrong, but I focus on closing the door and locking it again before I pop the question to her. But, being as distressed as she is, Lapis doesn't give me the chance to ask, hugging me the second I turn around, which prompts me to hug her back and place a comforting hand on her back. I try asking her again, but I just can't get the words out. Instead, I slowly lead her over to the couch and sit her down, waiting for her to speak first.

"Alesha found the Barn" Lapis finally says, my blood running cold hearing that, "And Peridot.........Peridot....".

"Alesha killed her" I finish, Lapis nodding and gripping the cushions, her head hanging.

"I arrived too late to save her" She continues, "But then Alesha said she was coming for me next".

"We won't let that happen, Lapis" I say, putting an arm over her shoulders, "I won't let that happen".

"But what if she kills you too?!" Lapis cries out suddenly, "I just lost my best friend! I can't lose you too!".

"You won't" I say, turning her to face me and putting my hands on her knees, "Because Alesha's bound to come back here and when she does, you and I will take her down together".

"How can you be so sure?" Lapis frowns, yet still sounding hesitantly hopeful.

"When you left earlier, I went next door and got Connie's sword from her room. You know, the one that Bismuth made for her before she left? With your powers and the sword, Alesha can be stopped. And if it comes to it, I'll even use my powers too. Alesha is only human, we aren't" I say.

"I guess you're right, Steven" Lapis admits, "But whatever happens, don't leave me".

"I won't, Lapis. I promise" I sincerely state, taking her hands in mine, "After all, it's just the two of us now".

"Yes...it is..." Lapis murmurs to herself, but loud enough for me to still hear.

"Now, let's do something to calm you down in the meantime" I announce calmly, rubbing my hands together, "How about a warm drink?".

"Actually, I...." Lapis begins, her face breaking out in a blush, "....had something else in mind".

Judging by her expression, I had a guess as to what she was wanting.

"Cuddles?" I speculate.

"No..." She shakes her head, "...I...it's something more".

I'm willing to do pretty much anything, as long as it doesn't involve me murdering anyone, to ensure she's calm. Lapis acts on her own accord, though, and lightly pushes me down onto the couch pillows with her hands while, at the same time, slowly straddling me one leg at a time. A blush is still very much present on her face as she hovers just inches above me. She looks a bit nervous, as if she doesn't want to appear like she's forcing herself onto me but still has had those dirty thoughts propelling her natural love forward to another phase. I feel her warm breath against my face, love and restrained desire in her eyes before her eyes close and she leans in for a soft kiss.

|Lemon Start|

That kiss quickly turns to hungry as I hold her face in my hands and press my lips back against hers. Lapis increases her ferocity, pushing me down farther into the couch pillows as her breasts press against my chest. This gets my heart beating faster and makes my member start getting hard. But, I want to do most of the work here, since I'm trying to make Lapis feel better. With one arm going behind her and bringing her in closer by her waist, our bodies are now touching in more places than one. Her skin feels warm and soft, much like her kisses. It's more than inviting, which is why my left hand moves on its own and slowly rests on top of her chest.

Lapis gives me the wanting look of me to touch her, so I reach under her top and feel her breast with my hand. She moans into the kiss when I do that, finding the feeling so good that she temporarily pauses and sits up, pulling her top off and letting her breasts hang free. Her cheeks are dark blue and her eyes are a bit glazed over, more than likely from lust. I do her the favor of laying back down and guide her back down to me, kissing a path down her neck and to her chest. Lapis is no quiet lover, she sighs and moans the entire time. When I get to her bouncy chest, I kiss between her breasts, sucking the area briefly before I then turn to sucking on her right breast.

It feels so right that I just go for it, Lapis holding my face against her chest to encourage me. Between the kissing and sucking, my right hand moves up and down her silky smooth leg, the feeling of it enticing me even more. It also makes Lapis needy since she guides me to her other breast and all but pushes my face against it so I can give it the same loving treatment. She lets out a gasp when I start, not noticing my hand moving up her leg and caressing her smooth butt. It fits perfectly in my palm and I rub it ever so soft as Lapis begins unconsciously grinding on me. However, she does notice where my hands are at when my left hand joins the party, both my hands on her ass and rubbing it a bit more roughly. Pulling my head back, I barely have time to see how wet her chest is before she reconnects our lips together, pushing her ass up against my hands like she wants to really feel them. She greedily mashes her body against mine, her arms wrapped tightly around my waist as I pleasure her butt.

But things take an interesting turn when I feel between her legs and rub over something special. Something special and wet. It makes Lapis suddenly twitch, pausing the kiss and looking down behind her to see that my hand is touching her pussy. I, however, gently turn her head back to me and she closes her eyes, giving in to another kiss as my hand rubs up and down her entrance. It's also not long before Lapis gets to grinding on that too, telling me that she's anxious for the real deal. I'm debating on whether I should put my finger inside her, but I decide to save something else for that. And Lapis is clearly wanting to take things up a notch too, since she sits up straight, pulling back from the kiss and uses her hands to tug down her dress past her thighs and down her legs, tossing it to the ground. She now straddles me, completely naked, and moves up so that her pussy is over my face. Seeing what she wants, I mold my hands over her thighs and butt and bring her pussy down so that I run my tongue over it. Lapis's breathing increases and she puts her hands over mine, which are still holding her thighs, and pushes herself down more, making my tongue go inside her pussy.

Her thighs close in around my head and wetness begins forming around her pussy. Lapis sighs, her chest bouncing slightly and her head leaning back as she revels in the pleasure. It goes for minutes on end like this before I switch things up and reverse our positions, flipping Lapis around so that she's laying down on the pillows while I open her legs and continue eating her out. Her legs prop themselves up on my back and one of her hands pets my head as my now sloppy licking makes her lean back and groan loudly. She's too busy getting heated in the moment to realize that she's about to cum and I find out when liquids splatter onto my face and Lapis lets out a longer sigh than normal. Pulling back, her pussy all sorts of wet, Lapis's hand goes to her chest as if to stop it from heaving so much. She then opens her eyes and goes back to straddling me, both of us sitting up straight as she puts her hand on my cheek, pushes her body against me, and kisses me for the third or fourth time in a row. My hands find a home over her ass, still loving the feel of both of her cheeks in said hands. Between kisses, she tells me that when we're bed together, I can touch her as much as I want, making me squeeze her butt in response. She smiles gleefully and pulls back by an inch, her hands reaching for my shirt.

Lapis pulls my shirt over my head and tosses it to the side, kissing around my neck and down my chest before her hands immediately get to work on my pants, unzipping them and pulling them down. At this point, there's no question that my member is fully hard and Lapis sees for herself when my pants are pulled down just enough. Licking her lips, she eyes me lustfully before shifting her legs slightly, raising herself up so that her pussy is above my member, and lowering herself back down. I push right into her, her entrance tight but comfy enough as to where it's not painful for her. And since I don't feel a hymen, and apparently neither does she, Lapis goes right ahead and thrusts up and down at a not too fast but not too slow pace. Her arms link around my neck as she keeps going, the warmness of her inner walls making my member throb. That throbbing increases the longer she goes and I soon prove that I don't give warnings when I'm going to cum either since I release my load into her. Lapis's head dips back when I cum inside her, but when she glances back down at me, her gaze shows that she's not ready to be done yet. Lying down on the pillows again, I go right back inside her and now to the thrusting myself. With her legs trembling and lying freely on the cushions, Lapis puts her lips on mine to silence us both from making any further noise, the only sound being heard is the moans and the thrusting from our love making.

And, as it turned out, I had more than one in me because with how much our bodies were rubbing against each other and how hot and wet things had gotten to, I came in her a second time, both of us sighing into each other's mouths. I then pulled out of her and sat up, Lapis lying there for a second before she sits perpendicular on my lap, her left breast touching my chest. Our heads lightly touch each other and I rub up and down her leg a bit before she touches my chin and presses our lips together for yet another kiss.

|Lemon End|

The sound of a car screeching to a halt just outside makes Lapis and I both pale a bit in fear. That has to be Alesha, no doubt about it. Gulping, I hear a car door open and slam shut in a matter of seconds, making me hurry to put my shirt on while Lapis tries to cover herself/put her dress back on. I end up getting farther than Lapis when the door jiggles a little before shaking violently, eventually exploding open and slamming into the wall, Alesha rushing in. She pants from exhaustion, bending forward like she just ran a marathon. She still has my jacket on, but she also has bandages on her arm, leg, and nose along with a knife in her hand. I guess she just blew any subtlety or secrecy of her actions, even though she doesn't entirely realize it at the moment.

"Steven! Are you ok?!" Alesha exclaims, still panting, "The door wouldn't open and I was worried that....".

Alesha trails off when she stands up straight and sees Lapis standing there next to me, Lapis's chest still visible, due to her not getting her dress on fast enough, aside from her covering it with her hands. Alesha then goes stiff, a dark and evil look growing in her expression as she grips the knife in her hand.

"I knew it. I knew the slut would try and seduce my boyfriend with her body sometime. And I've caught you in the act. But, I guess this is also a fortunate opportunity as well. I was going to kill you when I found you, Lapis, but since you came to my very hideout, you've essentially come to me" Alesha rattles on, her words riddled with insanity, "Now I can kill you like I planned to and Steven will be all mine".

"You aren't harming her in any way tonight, Alesha" I say firmly, crossing my arms as my former girlfriend's gaze shifts to me.

"Babe, why do you say that?" She asks, almost sounding hurt, "Don't you know what kind of person she is?".

"I do and Lapis is not who you envision her to be. You, who goes behind my back and kills my friends" I frown angrily. 

Alesha looks down at the knife in her hand and at that moment, I think she realizes that the secrecy is up.

"They had to go, Steven. They had to. And so will the rest of this town if they stand in the way of our love" Alesha muses, "I killed them for you. I killed them because I love you. And they would've ruined that. They would've turned you against me. But I stopped them. Now they can't hurt you anymore".

"Well, I don't love you. Not anymore. Not after what you've done" I glare at her.

"You don't mean that. No.....Lapis has just corrupted you...yes, yes she has, hasn't she?" Alesha rambles on again.

"I do mean that!" I snap at her, "How could you ever expect me to love you for this?! Sadie! Jenny! Kiki! Buck! Sour Cream! Peedee! Amethyst! Peridot! Dad! They didn't need to die!".

"Yes they did!" Alesha argues back.

"You're a monster, Alesha!!" I growl at her, "You ruined any chance we ever had at a future together all on your own!"

"You're just saying that because that gem whore fucked you!" Alesha nearly screams, "Because she drew you in, took her clothes off, kissed you, and had her way with you! She's manipulating you! She's turning you against me, can't you see it?! Once I kill her, we can start a family right here this very night. We can go as many rounds as you want and we'll finally be happy!"

"You're deluded" I scoff, "You're a crazy, psychotic, and deranged killer. I don't want you in my life or anywhere near me anymore!"

"Stay out of his life!" Lapis snaps at Alesha.

"SHUT UP, WHORE!" Alesha yells, rushing at Lapis.

I stop her, though, and push her back, Alesha being forced back to where she was just standing. She looks hurt that I would push her away. That I would defend the person whom she hates, but I secretly love. Alesha trembles, looking like she's going to snap. Lapis puts her top on successfully, so I say to Alesha something I know will send her over the edge.

"Get out of here, Alesha. Get out of this house, get out of this town, get out of my life" I threaten her, grabbing Connie's sword that was lying against the couch and pointing it at her, "Because I swear, if you ever come near me and my girlfriend again, I will kill you".

The word 'girlfriend' certainly makes her eyes go darker, her head hanging and her teeth bared. Then, with a vicious cry, Alesha charges forward, her knife raised above her head. Her aim is clearly at Lapis, but I block her with the sword, our blades pushing against each other once they collide. It seems as though even Alesha doesn't want to fight me, she isn't backing down either from how much force she's putting behind her attacks. I'm not pulling back either, because her knife can still get me with how close we are. We're almost at a sort of stalemate, but it's one that Lapis breaks by taking the opportunity to step forward and punch Alesha in the face, Alesha falling back on her rear end. She scurries to get back on her feet, but Lapis slaps her across the face and holds out her arm, the kitchen sink trembling before exploding. Water then rushes out from the damage and Lapis draws it towards her, the water flowing through the air before forming a fist over Alesha. Alesha ducks out of the way before the fist can strike her, nearly becoming part of the small crater in the floor. Lapis, however, whips the water around to strike again, but Alesha jumps over the couch as Lapis strikes, the couch breaking in half. Alesha gets to her feet near the kitchen and is unable to dodge this next hit as Lapis smacks her through the counter. Alesha groans in pain, struggling to get up, making Lapis walk up to her.

Alesha must've been waiting for her to do that, though, because once Lapis gets too close, Alesha suddenly isn't in pain anymore and pounces on Lapis, trying to stab her. I intervene by putting my blade against Alesha's throat and demanding that she let Lapis go. Alesha says no and that makes me grab her by the back of the neck and forcibly lift her off of Lapis, throwing her into the wall. She makes an impact, but soon hits the floor. I quickly go to help Lapis up, Lapis thanking me before her eyes widen and she warns me to 'look out'. I don't turn around fast enough, though, and Alesha knocks me to the ground, that same crazed look in her eyes. Instead of going to cut me, like any other serial killer would, she leans down and kisses me. I don't let her into my mouth nor do I kiss back, instead pushing Alesha away. She pushes at my hands and works to keep herself on top of me. What finally makes her pause is when I slice her across the cheek with the sword, Alesha stopping at touching her face.

Lapis then intervenes and uses the leaking water to grab Alesha by the throat, constricting it tight and lifting her into the air. Lapis then summons her wings, lifts up into the air for herself, and tosses Alesha back into the living room. Alesha lands roughly at where the wrecked couch is, Lapis gliding towards her as I get up from the floor and step through the wreckage of the kitchen counter. Lapis then flings Alesha through the very ceiling before flying up through the newly made hole after her. I sprint through the living room and race up the stairs, not stopping for a second until I bust through the door in the hallway leading to the room where the ceiling hole was. Alesha has recovered rather quickly, now actually slicing at Lapis's water attacks. I briefly spot the stream coming up through the hole in this room's floor, but my attention realigns when Lapis is able to grab Alesha by her ankle and smack her against the far wall. But, when Lapis tries grabbing her again, Alesha grabs the water tentacle and yanks Lapis towards her, sending Lapis through the wall and into the Maheswaran house before she climbs over the hole after her.

So much is happening so quickly that my mind can't keep up, but I rush around the hole in the floor and climb through the hole in the wall so I don't lose those two. The three of us are now inside Connie's room, Alesha and Lapis on Connie's bed while Alesha stabs at Lapis but only creates holes in the sheets and mattress instead. I pull Alesha off of Lapis and punch her in the face for myself, sending her tumbling off the bed and onto the floor. She doesn't stay down, though, and as soon as I go to help Lapis up, Alesha is rearing up to stab her. I quickly pull Lapis off the bed as Alesha plunges her knife down, her strike missing and causing her to growl. Alesha hops off the bed, but I kick her in the stomach before she can prepare herself. She hits Connie's nightstand, her head banging into it and apparently dazing her. Alesha is rather motionless, her body limp and her head slumped forward. My thoughts are that this is just another ruse, so I hurriedly help Lapis to her feet and we back away from Alesha, giving both of us the chance to pause and look at her. 

Alesha's nose is bleeding again and combined with the cut across her right cheek, the blood is dripping onto her clothes, which are also partially coated with dust from her being knocked through the kitchen and ceiling. The wounds on her arm and leg are also bleeding again, the wrappings on those parts of her body turning red from the blood leaking through. Frankly, with how much of a beating she's taken in less than five minutes, I'm surprised she's not dead. After all, she's completely human. I hand Lapis the sword, her giving me a worried glance as I walk up to Alesha and bending down in front of her. She's regaining her senses and upon seeing that, I sock her hard across the face, her head smacking against the bed-frame. Alesha coughs and spits out blood onto the floor, not getting a chance to wipe her mouth before I have my hand on her throat, tightening my grip and beginning to strangle her. She resists, but her attempts are weak and futile. She can't even properly stab me, leading to me taking the knife from her hands and stabbing her in the side through the ribs. Alesha halfheartedly screams in pain, due to her getting severely beaten, but doesn't try to stab back. She kind of just sits there. I, however, stand up and walk back to Lapis, her still looking a bit distressed.

"What do we do now?" She asks, "Call the police and have them come get her?".

"No. Not while either of us have that sword and not before we have the evidence against her in our hands. We need that first to prove to them that she's guilty, because if we don't, we'll just look like the killers, especially given my reputation around town already" I explain, the both of us then glancing at Alesha, "Still, I doubt she has much fight left in her".

"Let's just finish right now while she's down" Lapis insists, holding the sword up.

"I won't ask you to do that, Lapis. I don't want you to have to live with that on your conscience" I say, grabbing the sword by the blade.

"But I can do it, Steven!" Lapis protests, "I'm burning with anger inside, especially since she forced herself onto you! I can kill her easily!"

"Lapis, Lapis" I say, trying to calm her down, "Don't. You're speaking like Alesha right now. Don't turn into her. You're better than that".

Lapis sighs, her hands shaking on the sword hilt. The water gem then lowers the sword and lets a couple tears out of her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, Steven" She bites her lip, "I just...hate her so much right now".

"I know, Lapis. I know" I console her.

Alesha then pulls the knife out of her side, red quickly coming out of the wound, and stands up with newfound vigor, rushing at us. I hear her footsteps approaching, so I turn around in time to stop her. However, she moves her hand mid-stab to try and get around me and I move my hand to grab her wrist. Unfortunately, I'm off and her knife goes through my palm and out the back of my hand. Almost immediately, Alesha retracts and nearly drops the knife in shock, her hands going to her mouth when I look down in shock at the wound in my hand. Lapis, on the other hand, swings the sword at Alesha and slices the left side of her neck. Alesha tackles Lapis to the ground, Lapis dropping Connie's sword, but since her wounds are multiplying her energy isn't high enough to prevent Lapis from getting up on her own. Lapis wrestles out of Alesha's grasp and goes towards the nearby window, Alesha grabbing Lapis by her ankle and knocking her to the floor. Lapis kicks her in the face when she gets up and I do the exact same thing to Alesha, grabbing her by the ankle and knocking her to the floor as well. Alesha is persistent, though, and gets up right after Lapis and charges at her, dragging me behind her as she tackles Lapis through the window. Glass shatters and the three of us fall to the grass covered ground below.

Though it isn't concrete, it still hurts plenty. Lapis, Alesha, and I are all sprawled out on the ground, each of us groaning because of the impact. Alesha, slowly and surprisingly, gets to her feet, walking/limping away towards the front of the house. Lapis and I get up from the ground and stumble after her, Alesha getting in the car she used to come here and starting it up. Before Lapis and I can grab a part of the car, Alesha drives off down the street, though not going incredibly fast either.

"She must be retreating in the hopes that she can hide out and come back again! Don't let her get away!" I urge Lapis. 

She nods and summons her wings, flying after the stolen vehicle.

"I'll be right behind you!" I call after her, Lapis and the car disappearing from sight.

Grunting, I turn around and force open the door to the Maheswaran house, knowing that the sword is lying on the ground up there. I don't care what Lapis says. I won't let her put Alesha's death on her conscience. 

Which means that I have to be the one to kill her.

Lapis's P.O.V

For someone that I sent through a ceiling, Alesha can certainly drive pretty decently. Well, maybe I should re-evaluate that since she's actually driving pretty recklessly down the road. Not out of place for someone that's running from danger, but it doesn't make her inconspicuous in the slightest. I have to fly faster to keep up, the car running over curbs and speeding around turns. I've never seen her try to run before, especially when I'm the one she wants to kill in the first place, but maybe she realizes she's been overpowered and is, in fact, trying to escape. 

Biting my lip, I keep my eyes glued to the vehicle and don't stop chasing it. People on sidewalks scramble to get out of the way when they see Alesha coming, then looking up into the sky to see me flying after her. I wouldn't quite know what to say to them if I did happen to pause, but that isn't my concern at the moment, so I simply let the thought slip by. Alesha is getting close to the town's outer limits and I have a feeling in my gut that, based on the route she's taking, I know where she's going. Or that could be Steven's load inside me, that train of thought explaining why I'm not running after Alesha. My legs would give out pretty quickly, seeing as the rough and passionate sex we had certainly made me not want to walk for a while.

Alesha is now driving in the direction of the Big Donut and she's not slowing down at all. And, at the very last moment, she jumps and tumbles out of the driver's seat before picking herself up off the ground and running off to the left. The car crashes into the Big Donut, smashing through the side and stopping halfway in. Luckily, nobody was inside or around at all, otherwise I'd be stuck with the dilemma of helping them or continuing chasing Alesha. The decision is easy, mainly because there doesn't need to be one, and I stay focused on following her in the air. She's now going for the cliff that the Crystal Gem temple was built into, running towards the sloped incline. However, she trips and falls to the ground when she reaches the bottom. Smirking to myself, I glide over to where she is and fly a little bit ahead of her, setting down further up the cliff. Alesha stumbles and struggles to climb up the grassy part of the cliff, occasionally having to touch the ground with both hands to keep herself from falling over. She stops, though, when she's right in front of me, looking up and spotting me standing there with my arms crossed.

"Did you really think you could escape?" I say, glaring at her.

"Escape?" Alesha chuckles, "Is that what you thought that was?"

I frown, watching her chuckles and then cough up more blood onto the ground.

"No. It was merely a way for you and Steven to be separated. And now that you're not with him, you can't stop me" Alesha reveals, lunging forward and grabbing me by the wrist, throwing me behind her.

I fall and tumble down the slope, landing in a heap at the bottom. Alesha takes her time walking down the slope towards me, casually stepping over me and planting her knee in my stomach. She then brings out her knife, hovering it over my face as she glares daggers at me.

"I would cut you open and let my boyfriend's fluids bleed out of you, but after I fracture your gemstone, that won't be necessary. And the best part is, I already know where it is" The crazy girl grins.

She then slowly runs the tip of her knife across my cheek, creating a cut that still deals pain. Panting and growling, Alesha looks down on me while the blood on her knife drips onto my clothes. With how bruised, bloody, and angry she looks, the girl almost looks like an actual monster.

"People like you disgust me to my core" Alesha snarls, the knife pointed directly at my face, "Always coming into other people's relationships and attempting to steal what's not yours. Steven and I were happy together. We loved each other. We even made love together more than once. But then you and your friends had to enter the picture and try to take him from me. I've told you that plenty of times already and you still refuse to listen. Death is the only solution! And very soon, you'll be gone, and I'll make Steven love me again. Whether he wants to or not!"

Growling at her, I spot something out of the corner of my eye. And I try not to show much surprise when I see Steven flying and landing behind Alesha with Connie's sword in one hand and his shield in the other. He looks angry, which won't bode well for Alesha. I just have to keep her distracted and Steven can get her from where he's at.

"You can't force people to love you! That's not real love!" I talk back to her.

"What does a slut like you know about love?!" Alesha snaps, Steven silently approaching her, "Nothing!! You would open your legs for anyone! But not anymore! Now you die!!".

And Alesha raises her knife above her head to stab me. But Steven saves the day by hitting her along her head with his shield, grabbing her by the back of her neck, and stabbing the sword through her back. And, just to make sure, he drives it all the way through so that the blade sticks a good five or six inches out from her midsection. Alesha gasps and gags, unconsciously dropping her knife onto the grass and falling back on her legs. I take the chance to crawl backwards away from her and stand up, Steven walking around Alesha and standing next to me. The two of us watch Alesha dying, knowing for sure that she won't come back from a wound like that. I sigh in relief, feeling like the danger will soon be over and a kind smile from Steven all but completes the moment.

But then, Alesha lunges forward in one last attempt to kill me. She's fast and I don't think I'll be able to get out of the way in time. Fear grips me and I prepare for an even worse pain in my body. And then I feel it, not from the sword, but when Steven steps in front of me and gets stabbed through the front with the sword sticking through Alesha. I let out a loud cry, the sword tip poking out of Steven's back. Steven is stuck standing up, Alesha holding onto him so that she doesn't fall. The psycho soon realizes what he did, looking down at the blade connecting them, but only looks up and says one final thing.

"I love you, Steven" The girl croaks.

Then Alesha lets go of him, falling to the ground on her side as she exhales her final breath. But I pass Alesha out of my mind and hurriedly rush to Steven, who begins to fall backwards. I catch him and ease down to the ground, sitting with my legs out and resting his head on my lap.

"Just stay with me, Steven" I panic, failing to keep the worry out of my voice, "Stay with me. You're going to be fine. I'll go to your mother's fountain and get some of that liquid to heal you. It'll only take a moment".

"No, no. Don't go" Steven croaks, touching my hand and keeping me down, "Don't leave me, Lapis. We promised."

"But if I don't get you help, you'll die!" I urge, tears threatening to emerge.

"It was going to happen anyway" He grunts, coughing a little as his hand covers the bloody hole in his chest, "Even if this didn't happen, I would've still been caught and forced to endure capital punishment, which would've still killed me. At least this way...I can die knowing that I protected you".

"Stop talking like that!" I snap, tears dripping down my face. 

I don't want to come off angry at him, but I just can't accept that Steven's dying.

"It's ok, Lapis. It's going to be ok" Steven sighs, "I was a very different person when this all started and I don't like to think what would've happened if I had stayed on that path. But thanks to you, and thanks to Peridot, I changed. And I would hope that at least in some way, I redeemed myself a little bit".

Crying and sniffling, I lean down and press a kiss against his forehead, cradling his head in my lap.

"You more than redeemed yourself today, Steven" I say, gulping down the sadness building up in my throat. He looks into my eyes and weakly smiles.

"I love you, Lapis" He exhales.

"I love you too, Steven" I reply, one of my tears landing on his face.

His smile then slowly fades, his eyes becoming more and more distant before they close completely. His breathing decreases further and further until there's not a single one left to be heard. His body goes limp and I hang my head in despair.

He's gone.