Super Glitches 3: Stranded

Nostalgia (And Other Stuff)

Pain coursed through me and blood bubbled up in my throat, spilling over my lips and staining my collar. I retched and spat out a mouthful of red liquid all over the street. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, could barely think. I'd only just half-healed my spine and now every bone in my body was splintered and had pierced my organs. 

"Vital signs," I wheezed, "fading... Heartbeat slowing down... Breaths getting harder... Brain clouding... Pain e-v-e-r-y-where..." 

"Shaade?" Georgina said in a panic. "Are you alright?"

"Stupid question," I gurgled, "of course I'm not."

"What happened?" Sophie asked, fixing her arm back on. 

"Did you forget to save yourself?" Rebecca said, drifting over. 

"Where's Emmi and Pengy?" Sophie said. 

"Can demons die?" Rebecca queried.

"What are we going to do?" Sophie wailed. 

"Everyone is going to shut up," Georgina shouted. "We need to think. Shaade, can you heal yourself?"

"Nu-uh," I mumbled. 

"Fantastic. Um... how hurt are you?"

"Very."

"Great! Where are you dying?"

"Everywhere."

"Hurrah... Um, how long do you think you've got left?"

"Before?"

"Before you die?"

"Seconds." I tried a tentative smile. "Sorry."

"Sorry?" Georgina echoed. "Sorry?! You're the only way we can get home! Even if I have to put you back together with my bare hands you are going to take us back to England!"

"Why? What have you lot done for me?" I narrowed my eyes. "All I've ever done is run around after you lot, saving your lives and causing a bit of mischief. You do nothing for me apart from get me hurt!"

"Do you want to be saved or not?" Georgina threatened. 

"No, I don't," I snapped. "Let me die. Why would you lot care?"

"Because you're our friend," Sophie said, confused. I laughed bitterly, partially dry blood sticking around my mouth. 

"Friend?" I said scornfully. "I'm not your friend. Look at me! I could never make friends with mortal humans."

"I'm a ghost," Rebecca pointed out.

"And I'm dead," Sophie added.

"I'm fabulous," Georgina concluded. "And I did die, remember. We don't know what I can do."

"Well I do," I growled. "You can't do anything. You're just a useless, mortal human who nobody cares about. Stay in New York. See if I care."

"What happened to being really happy I was alive?" Georgina protested. "You were bouncing off the walls, Shaade."

"A moment of stupidity," I sneered. "Why would anyone be happy someone as boring and plain as you would be brought back to life?"

"You were the one who brought me back," Georgina pointed out, folding her arms and raising her eyebrows. "Get out of that one, bozo."

"Mistakes, my girl, mistakes," I said. "I was five minutes away from giving up. Five minutes. But for some reason I continued instead of taking a break early. The biggest mistake of my life, that."

"Sparrow, shut up and get your head back under control," Georgina snapped. I froze.

"How dare you call me that?" I hissed venemously. "My name my not be uttered by a mortal! Leave me, peasant!"