A Missing Ring

Not One but Two

As their body dropped to the ground, it felt like time moved by slowly. As Ava's body dropped to the floor, everyone's face dropped. Andrea, though with her blurry vision, saw her... die. "No!" Lucas yelled as he rushed to her body.

    Lucas picked up her body to his lap, as he caressed her cheek. Diego, Asher, Ryker, and Astra stood there in silence. Lucas couldn't hold in his tears, which streamed down his cheeks. The room was cold, and as they stood there. The longer they stood, the colder it got. Her body was limp, while Lucas held her to his chest, he couldn't help but cry. "No... my- love" he choked out, as he felt no pulse, nothing. Lucas stroked her cheek, as she appeared to be sleeping, it was so much more.

    No one said anything, no one knew what to say, as they all saw their friend persih right before them. Diego took the first steps, as he was closer to Ava than anyone else. He kneeled down to her other side, and looked up to Lucas. Lucas quivered, as he gazed back down to Ava, then back up to Diego. Diego put his hand on her right cheek, moving the strands of hair that fell, and let them drop to the floor. Her body temperature had dropped, and her body had no motion, they didn't want to think so.

    "I can't believe it, all this time together, the plan, everything still failed" said Ryker to those beside him, as they hung their heads down. Even within the year, their bonds were like no other. No one could process this death, as she waited so long to see Andrea again, and may never see her well.

    "Oh Ava... she d-didn't deserve this, none of this" Lucas sobbed, letting the tears run down his face again. As the wooden floor became soaked with tears, Diego and the rest were tearing up as well. Their eyes glossy, Diego let his drop, along with Asher and Ryker.

    Asher and Ryker walked up, the floor creaked with each step. As no one said a word, paid their respects to those who loved Ava the most. Asher went by Lucas, Ryker went by Diego, as they both rubbed their backs. Kneeling down they looked at Ava. Her head hung back, and her chest didn't rise, they wished it was a dream, hoping they would wake up. As Ava's hair hit the floor that stood on her chest, they knew it wasn't fake. Their emotions were nothing but sadness, and their lives lost a chunk.

    As Lucas then placed his hand on her face once again, her skin cold to his warmth. He pushed back her hair for it all to fall to the cold floor. Nothing mattered, no one made a sound. Andrea, she could barely tell what had happened, still felt hurt. She saw people huddling around one, as she saw someone within the darkness. Andrea guessed someone must've gotten hurt, or worse, her wounds clouded her mind.

    I can't tell what happened, but I hung my head down, and for some reason, felt myself wanting to cry, but I didn't see what happened, everything was a blur.

    Everyone had their eyes closed, as Asher was the first one to stand up. Grieving for the last couple of minutes which felt like hours, everything passed quietly. No one knew what to do, how to react, it all happened so fast.

    Asher wiped away the tears that fell, though more just kept coming, he stopped the silence, "We have to leave". Everyone looked up, Lucas stayed down, Ryker and Diego stood up. "We can't, how can we think of that after what just happened?" said Diego with a lump in his throat. No one wanted to hear those words, they planned to come back with everyone, and still, their mission was only half completed.

    They lost a member, not even one, they lost a part of their family, someone salient in their lives. "We can't just leave Asher, we know their relationship" Ryker was the only one who could speak calmly, as he could hold in his reverence. Lucas looked up; disgruntled at Asher, he only sighed. Asher knew they were right, but they all forgot.

    "I loved Ava like she was my own sister, she considered me her brother. I didn't want to lose her, but I don't plan on losing anyone else today" Asher pointed to Andrea as they looked over, forgetting their main objection to the mission.