Of Phantoms and Thieves

Lost and Found

Ren steadied himself against the alley wall. He'd successfully entered the Metaverse. There was no need to enter keywords, no struggle of any kind entering. Ren still felt weak, but that didn't stop him. He looked up at the palace. It seemed to be a theater of sorts.

Just when he thought he was perfectly hidden, a semi truck crashed into the alley. Ren climbed up a fire escape for cover and watched as the truck sped past the space much too small for it. The roar of a motorcycle split Ren's ears and he watched as Makoto and Johanna raced by.

Wait.

Ren called out to Makoto, but it was no use. Just what exactly was happening? Ren watched in horror as the truck smashed into Makoto, and she tumbled to the ground. He moved to stand, but stopped. Why was Makoto all alone? Where were the others? And why were they in the Metaverse without him?

Ren climbed down from the fire escape and ran over to Makoto. He bent down next to her. A crash... Her arm was definitely broken. She'd lost consciousness. She wasn't breathing. Ren panicked. He rolled her onto her back and began to administer CPR.

"Come on, Makoto! Breathe!"

Ren pressed harder against her chest and she started breathing. He sighed in relief and shook her.

"Makoto. Makoto, wake up."

Makoto's eyes fluttered open. She looked up at Ren and grimaced in pain.

A broken arm...

Ren shoved the thought out of his head.

"I know it hurts," Ren muttered. "You have to stay awake. We need to get you healed. Here, I'll use my persona, and..."

Makoto grabbed Ren's arm. He paused.

"Ren?"

"Yes, Makoto. It's me."

"What are you...? Where's Sis?"

She probably hit her head, Ren thought.

Ren moved Makoto's hair out of her face and saw the injury on her head. He forgot about the other Phantom Thieves. Ren couldn't use his persona. Whoever's palace this was, they didn't see him as a threat. He hauled Makoto to her feet, and she slumped against him.

"We must get back to reality," he muttered to Makoto. "It will be alright."

Makoto nodded.

"Can you tell me what happened? Why did the others leave you?"

Makoto glanced up at Ren, and then looked back down at the phone in his hand.

"Ren... They need to be warned..."

Ren looked back at Makoto. "The others?"

Makoto swallowed and nodded, grimacing again.

"Warn them about what?"

"The Metaverse... We need to find a way for Futaba to hack the Nav..."

"The Nav? What's wrong with the Nav?"

Makoto took a shaky breath and didn't answer. Ren decided not to push her. He opened up the Metaverse Navigator and returned them to the real world.

<><><>

Ann carefully popped the lid off the vent and dropped down below. The walls in the hallway that she'd dropped into were partially demolished by pillars made of an unidentifiable substance. Ann examined the hall just to make sure there were no Shadows in sight. She then motioned to the others that the coast was clear. Ryuji was the first to jump down.