Ghosts

Chapter 21

Well this new.

Mai opened her eyes, greeted by a never ending hazy sky and fields that expanded a far as the eye could see. What threw her off were the tones of green that seemed to encompass everything around her, like she was on an entirely different planet. Mai looked down, patting down her chest and abdomen. She proceeded to lift up her shirt, expecting to find a grizzly sight thanks to Mickey's shotgun. Instead, she only saw the scars she had earned over the last two years. The bullet entry point from the fighting arena, various scratches and cuts, but no sign of the shotgun blast.

"What are you doing here?" a young girl voice spoke.

The young woman's blood ran cold as she quickly stood up, looking around. What she saw made her step back, looking onward in confusion. Two years had passed since she heard that voice and hearing it hear was of no comfort. Seeing the person in question first hand was also a bit disconcerting. It only the lingering act she had dealt with ghosts for so long now that she did not turn tail and run the other way.

"Bee? Beatrice?" Mai asked knowing the answer already.

The last time she saw the tiny Bee, Mai had held her dying body in her arms in the middle of the fighting arena whee, like it or not, she had learned the skills that kept her alive to this day. In Bee's hand, she held another familiar sight. The Captain America comic that had been gifted to Mai on the day she was kidnapped. The comic she had given Bee and told her to be brave even in the face of death. But bravery did not save her. Mai couldn't even save her.

"It's not your time yet." Bee spoke as she crossed her arms, like she was getting ready to lecture Mai.

"What are you talking about Bee?" Mai asked but another voice cut through before the young girl could respond.

"Beatrice! Where did you run off to!"

Mai, ever so confused looked around once more. She had not seen anyone else, as a matter of fact, it was nearly impossible for anyone to hide in whatever place this was. Low and behold though, two other individuals approached. Mai stepped back as they approached her cautiously, seeing her near Bee. Mai squinted her eyes at the two strangers, a boy no older than herself and a woman she could have mistaken for her mother. For some reason, they felt faintly familiar.

The looked upon her with equal confusion before the woman spoke up, "My God, is that-"

Mai raised her hand, causing the woman to pause, "I'm going to stop you right there. I've seen enough weird shit to last a lifetime. Do I know you guys?"

"We're your family silly." the boy spoke up, his smile enchantingly comforting, though his words only confused the Seed girl more.

Her eyes narrowed as she carefully examined them over again. She recalled the stories her mother used to tell her about their family, and that's when it hit her.

"Uncle Takoda? Grandma Sokanon?" she sighed, almost relieved, but then began panicking. If they're here...if Bee was here..."Am I dead? Where's mom?"

"Your mother isn't here my love." the woman she recognized as her Grandmother spoke as she drew closer, "You shouldn't be here either."

"I told you so!" Beatrice announced as she scurried over to Mai, throwing her arms around the older girl in an embrace, "Scorch is around here somewhere. So is the lady in white and man in blue. They talk about you a lot. You should say hi before you go."

"Wait-" Mai interrupted, "I'm so fucking- I'm sorry, I'm just so confused."

"Don't worry, happens to the best of us." Takoda jested, "This was just a fluke. The other's still need you."