{ Mia }
The gunshots still rang in my ears when it hit me—
a sharp, tearing pain up my back. My knees buckled, and warmth spread fast beneath my shirt. Sticky. Heavy. Blood.
Lili froze, eyes wide. "A-are you okay, pretty lady?"
I forced a smile, grinding my teeth. She's just a kid. She doesn't need this.
"I'm fine. Just stay low. Don't mo—"
Another wave of fire ripped through me, cutting off my words. I bit down a cry, swallowing it like glass.
"Let's… get you home," I whispered, forcing calm.
The world tilted sideways. Every step sent lightning down my spine, but I locked my knees and forced myself upright.
'You're insane,' Ash snarled, her voice a razor in my skull. 'She's dead weight. Drop her and fight.'
"No," I hissed. Blood drained faster than my strength, but I held Lili tighter.
'You're bleeding out!' Her fury crackled, hot and wild. 'I won't save you if you keep this up.'
"Then don't," I whispered, staggering forward. "But I'm not leaving her."
I closed my eyes and focused on protection. "Fix the wounds. I'll handle the rest," I whispered, knees buckling.
" Mia, you're bleeding out! Back off!" Scarlett scolded firmly.
" I know..." I whispered. " But I'll keep going at least until I get h—"
Another bullet tore through me. I stumbled forward, choking back a scream.
' the sheild didn't work... I'm... Too... Weak..' I thought my body trembling.
" Scarlett... Activate —"
Before I could finish the world tilted. I collapsed, clutching Lili tighter. A pair of legs loomed. 'I'm dead,' I thought, as the dark closed in.
******
' is this what death feels like?' I murmured rubbing my head.
' everywhere hurts...' I groaned looking at my reflection in the mirror.
' no wonder... I'm all beat up...' I sighed.
' Ash... Could you help fix me ?' As soon as those words left my mouth The air thickened, shadows bleeding across the walls until they gathered in front of me. A towering shape emerged, its eyes burning like coals.
' A-Ash? '
'You think you can just run into bullets and expect me to fix you?' Ash growled, but her voice faltered halfway. For the first time, there was fear in it.
'You were hit too many times…' A pause. A trembling exhale. 'You're going to die… and if you do, so do I.'
Tears stung my eyes and I turned towards her. ' I-I'm sorry a—"
"Do you even understand what you're doing?!" Ash shouted. "I'm bound to you — your blood is mine, your death is mine. And I'm not ready to vanish with you!"
I froze. " I-I'll find a way... I promise..." I whispered my hands trembling.
" You better!" She shouted vanishing in mid air.
I fell to the ground now full on sobbing ' I'm going to die and there's nothing I can do about it...' I chocked.
{ Lili }
I watched calmly as this pretty lady carried me in her arms like I was her lifeline.
She looked at meher face twisted in pain and whispered.
"Just lay low and don't mo—"
Before she could finish another loud gunshot echoed through the air and she winced.
'Whoa… she's sooo strong!' I whispered, my eyes getting big. Uncle couldn't do that… but Pretty Lady… she didn't even cry!'
" You can do this pretty lady!" I whispered hugging her tighter but she didn't hear me her face turned pale and she collapsed.
Tears stung my eyes. " Pretty lady... Wakeuppp ..." I sobbed. " You promised..."
I stood up abruptly deciding to take her to the hospital but then—
I was picked up by big strong arms I flailed trying to get back to pretty lady but the masked man wouldn't let me go.
For a second I stopped resisting as a strong dark smell envelopped me whole.
" Miss Lili you're coming with us."
I snapped out of my daze... I kicked I screamed I tried everything but I was stuck.
" Kidnapper successfully erased what do I do with her body?" I heard him ask touching his ear.
" Kidnapper ?!" I whisper trying to get a good look at the man.
" Yes sir, she's not hurt... What would like me to do to the kidnapper..."
I kicked and screamed a thick white cloth covered my mouth the smell strong and full of chemicals then, everything went black.