Drown (Doomed sequel) - Oli Sykes fanfiction

28. Leaves you broken instead

CW: There's a LOT and not in any particular order: Heartbreak, betrayal, anger, near death experiences, physical pain, suicide attempt, sickness, hospital treatment, relationship problems, anxiety, guilt, magic, bloodlust, self harm (cutting). I think that's everything.

Mia and Josh quickly checked in and boarded the plane and soon they were on their way to Malta. The flight was about three and a half hours long and Mia was anxious the whole time. She vented to Josh about everything that had happened since Oli joined her on the tour, recalling how everything had actually seemed better while he was there.

Josh validated everything she said, but reminded her of how it looked to Oli too. Of course, she knew that and that's why she was so worried about him. She took some comfort in the fact that she had been able to get through when she was with Vegan, but time was precious.

"I'm sorry if I seemed a bit shitty when I arrived at yours earlier," Josh spoke up after a period of silence.

"No, don't be," Mia replied, offering him a half smile. "I just thought it was aimed at me. Lisa was so pissed at me, I thought for sure you would be too."

"She was," Josh admitted with a guilty look on his face. "That's why I was pissed. We sort of had a fight about me coming out here with you."

"Oh god, I'm so sorry!"

"Please, don't apologise," Josh stated. "You know how she gets sometimes. She's as stubborn as they come."

"Yeah I know," Mia sighed. "But I don't want this to come between you."

"It won't," Josh replied. "She knows I'm doing this for Oli, exactly as I said to you. I'm not taking any sides, but you're both my friends and I'll always support you however I can."

Mia nodded gratefully and the rest of the flight continued in mostly silence. She filled Josh in on everything else that had happened on tour and he gave her his own theories, though most of them had already been debunked by the rest of Oli's bandmates.

Finally, they landed in Malta and they were straight off to the woods to portal up to the places Mia could remember from her honeymoon. As soon as they reached the hot, arid wasteland at the edge of the main island, Mia began to shake.

"Mia?" Josh turned to her, his brow furrowed in concern as the beads of sweat dripped down his face.

"I-I'm okay," she stammered out, swallowing thickly and taking a steadying breath. "I'm certain this is what I saw in my vision or whatever it was that Vegan had me do. We came out here on our honeymoon, but the vision thing had me walking out towards the little islands over there."

Josh squinted across the desert to the mists that separated the archipelagos from the main island, shielding his eyes from the sands with his hand. He took a flask of water from the backpack he wore, taking a long swig and offering it to Mia before returning it to the bag. "Okay," he breathed. "Let's go, let me know if you need anything, yeah?"

Mia nodded and they began the slow trek across the desert. Mia wanted to move faster, but Jordan had advised them to conserve as much energy as they could and portalling the distance wouldn't work since neither of them truly knew where they were headed.

As they approached the edge of the island, Mia began to feel more uncomfortable. She fiddled with her rings anxiously, scratching erratically at the skin around her fingers. She let out a hiss of pain as the discomfort turned to a burning sensation and Josh tilted his head in concern at her. Mia shook her head dismissively, gritting her teeth through the odd sensation and soon, it passed.

"I can't see a thing!" Mia cried out frustratedly as the two of them attempted to squint through the mists that seemed to refuse to clear.

"Maybe it's not the right place?" Josh suggested, but was quickly shut down by Mia shaking her head violently.