I take a painful step towards the marble floor podium, a dozen of armed cupids, holding their bows ready to fire the arrows on command, stand at the side, their icy stares on me as I take another step forward.

"Lila," her name rolls off of my tongue in a whisper, for me only to hear. She has to be here, close, and I need to find her and if possible, to save her.

No, I have to save her.

The marble floor beneath my feet is covered by a thick crimson liquid and it sticks to my shoes as I step on it. The metallic stench fills my nostrils and I wrinkle my nose in disgust. But yet I stay focused on finding her, and I won't stop until I do.

They gave their lives for her. All of them.

A broken bow on the floor to my right, catches my attention. It's broken beyond repair and stained of the same liquid that covered the floor. It just laid there, worthless to all, because all who saw hope in it are now dead; just like the owner of the bow.

A warm tear runs down my pale cheek, right over the bloody gash that will some day become a scar, a reminder of what happened here today, and how I couldn't stop it.

Cal, you bastard. Why did you have to die?

But I knew the answer to that question, just how I knew why everyone else, my friends, gave their lives in order to save their spark of hope, Lila, and that's exactly why my brother did the same.

But even though they gave their all, it was futile.

Just under the tall double doors, a female is peacefully lying on the cold floor. Her golden locks cover half of her face and are sticking to the small cuts on her rose cheeks. The white dress she's wearing is ripped in several places and stained by blood.

But she isn't moving, and I can't see the rise and fall of her chest.

Lila. No, Lila.

So I start to run. I run to her. Kneeling down by her side, I take her fragile body and hold her to my chest, feeling the warmth slowly seep away from her body. I couldn't help but let tears freely roll down my face and I scream with all of my might, at Venus for taking her away from me, and at the world for giving me the joy of having her in my life and then ripping her away harshly from me.

This can't be happening.

"Cupid, wake up."

I open my eyes to see Lila's worried face staring down at me. My breathing is heavy and I'm covered in sweat, "Lila?" her name comes out from between my lips like a prayer that this is real, that she's really here.

"Shhhh! It's okay. It was just a bad dream."

I cup her face with my hands, looking at her sparkling eyes, "You're alright."

And with those words said, I hug her, thanking the heavens for having her here. I hold her close to me, my fingers tangled in her hair, a smile stretched on my lips.

"I'm never letting you go again. I promise, Lila."

____________________________________
Finally finished the one shot story for Cupid's Match. I rewrote the story four times for it to fit the 500 words limit and it ended up being long 545 words. If that's a problem that I broke that rule, I'll rewrite it again.

Also, thank you Lauren for writing such an amazing book! ^^

Hope you like this contest entry! LEPalphreyman