The Unknown

Chapter VII

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Music: Mirage from Gradius ReBirth

In a sudden move, Mia collapses to the ground. Everybody else in the group lets out a collective gasp at the sight.

"MIA!" Mackenzie screams, running to her sister's side. "Mia, what's wrong?!"

"N-nothing... I'm fine..." Mia says, her voice shaky.

"You're not fine!" Tears are flooding Mackenzie's eyes.

Music: "The End of All Things" by Panic! At the Disco

Sam and Heath are by the two a few seconds later. Heath checks Mia's pulse, then looks to Sam, his expression saying it all.

"Mackenzie..." Sam says quietly.

"What" Mackenzie squeaks, already knowing what he's about to say and not wanting to hear it.

"Her pulse... It's fading."

"No... This can't be happening!"

"We've gotta get help," Avery urges. She tries to run off, but slams right into the same invisible barrier that has kept many others trapped in this place. Elle, Sean, and Shanna join her at the barrier, and they all press up against it like mimes do.

"Yeah... that's what I wanted to tell you about," Avalon says sheepishly. The realization hits everybody at the same time.

Mia is dying, and there is absolutely nothing any of them can do to save her in time.

The rest of the team crowds around Mia. Elle, Sean, Shanna, and Avery get on their knees next to her just like Sam, Mackenzie, and Heath are. "I-i'm sorry... I should've told you this sooner, but... I-i didn't want you guys... to worry..." Mia croaks, her voice constantly stuttering. She then unzips her jacket, revealing a bullet wound the size of a baseball covering her stomach and bleeding through her shirt. Another collective gasp emits.

"W-what happened?" Shanna stammers, unable to believe her eyes.

"I-i went to find the ghost myself... I found him... And this happened..."

There is a shared look of horror among the group. "T-there has to be something we can do! W-we can fix this, can't we?" Shanna looks around for some sort of response, but it is obvious to everybody else that nothing can be done.

"Shanna... Death is harder to fix than most things," Avery says solemnly. Shanna just looks down into her lap, processing this information.

"Guys... this isn't so... bad..." Mia smiles weakly. "Dying isn't as s-scary as it seems..."

"M-mia... Please, don't go!" Mackenzie cries, holding onto Mia tightly.

"H-hey... Don't cry... I want my last memories to be worth more than the people I love crying while I die..." Mia says, brushing her hand against Mia's cheek lightly.

"Y-you're my sister... You can't be dying... Not like this!" Mackenzie shouts.

"I-i can't control death... No one can. But I... I think that things will be better off this way..." When Mia says this, she lets her facial expression relax and become more peaceful, which leaves many of the group members in dismay.

"That's not true, Mia." Sean sighs.

"Just think about it... I caused this mess... I've done way too much damage... Heck, I'm pretty sure I'm... happier this way..." Mia laughs weakly. "God, it's so weird how everything seems... Lighter... when you're dying."