The X-Realm

Dead, Deader... Deadest

Finnegan Fairchild lay on the cold marble floor, the large metal spike piercing all the way through his chest. Blood poured from the open wound, soaking through his battle armor. The pain made his vision blur, tears welling up in his eyes. This wasn't him. Finn did not cry. In all of his year in the X-Realm he'd never felt pain at this magnitude. Sure he'd died  before, but it was always quick and relatively painless. Not like this. It was never like this.

Finn also never imagined he'd be spending his Saturday pinned to the floor by a giant metal spike. Nevertheless here he was. Gasping for breath, Finn tried to lift himself up slightly so his lungs could get air, but the pain was too much to withstand. He wished that his heartbeat would just stop so that he could hurry up and die already. His head felt like it was going to explode.

He tried to think about other things besides the metal in his chest. Imagining Percy, his best friend, standing above him. He could see the look on his face now, his lips pressed in a thin line of worry, his dark hair hanging in his face as he prayed that his friend would wake up and not be caught in limbo.

Oh no, Limbo.

The very word caused Finn to panic. What if he got stuck like this forever? What if he never woke up? Could that happen in the X-realm? Surely not.  Finn tried to get his mind together but after what happened to his sister he couldn't be sure. Limbo was not something you wanted to happen. Not to anyone.

Finn looked up at the ledge that he had fallen off of. Or rather was pushed off of. Startlingly his killer was still there, face covered by a black metal mask. Often people would hide their identity in the X-realm. Finn understood why. Nobody wanted to be hunted down in the Outer Rim, they already had enough to deal with. Although he had made the mistake years ago of not hiding his identity. The mistake caused him many problems in the Rim. Too many problems.

The black figure paced the cliff above him, as if they were waiting for something.

"Probably for me to die"  Finn thought, "Join the club."

Percy was right, he never should've came back, he was too rusty. But the potential of his sister being out there was too much of a temptation, he had to try.  

Above him the masked figure in black turned around sharply, and caught a silver arrow flying at their chest. But they weren't quick enough as the second imbedded itself in his killers head. The mysterious stranger exploded into bright blue cubes that signaled they had officially died. Finn tried to look around and find who had shot the arrow.

"Well, well, well" called a familiar voice, "If it isn't Finnegan Fairchild."

He could hear the sound of boots on the marble floor, nearing closer to where he lay.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time Finn?"

Finn laughed slightly, the movement sending immense pain throughout his entire body.

"Hello Jango, did Percy send you to kill me?"

The Asian boy leaned over him and cracked a devilish smile.

"Maybe." Jango replied coolly, "Or maybe I just volunteered."

Finn smiled "Well hurry up already, I probably need to calm Percy down before he destroys the entire building."

Jango laughed, "You should see how you look right now though, Percy is going nuts."

"I look that bad?"

"There's blood everywhere."

"I'll heal." Fin replied.

Jango shrugged, "I don't know Finn, this might take more than you think."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know If you noticed or not Finn, but you're impaled my a giant metal spike." Jango laughed.

"Oh thanks for pointing that out for me." Finn rolled his eyes, "Can you please just hurry up?"

Jango nodded and notched a silver arrow in his bow.

"Just so you know, I thoroughly enjoy this." The boy said grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah whatever just do it." Finn replied.

And the last thing he saw was the arrow flying at his face.