I bit my lip as the plane shuddered and began to free fall towards the ground. I clenched the seat buckle tightly until my hands started to lose circulation in my fingertips.
When I felt the crash I flew out of my seat and onto the floor, ripping the buckle clear out.
I wasn't scared of what was about to happen. Nothing scared me. Nothing phased me. I would never beg for mercy or pray for life. I would accept what was coming and take it bravely.
I looked and saw Alpha. Everything was going perfectly. Alpha was conscious, and so was Beta, but Sigma has her little head tilted to the side.
I had always told myself I was excited for her first mission, but now all I wanted was to send her home.
"Opening bay doors," the pilot groaned from her seat.
The doors slowly creaked open, clearly straining against whatever weight was on it.
We were surrounded by a grassy field covered with a dusting of snow.
"Alpha and Beta go flag down help. I'm gonna make sure Sigma is okay," I grabbed my shield before lifting her up carefully and walking with her outside. Maybe the snow would wake her up and I could have time to say one lasts goodbye.
"Siggy," I whispered quietly.
Snow continued to flutter from the sky and landed on her helmet carefully, like perfectly choreographed little dancers, falling into their rightful place.
I heard her mumble something and remembered what Ellie had said to me.
"Ellie says hi." I lifted her head slightly and tried to get her to regain consciousness.
Suddenly bullets rained down, disturbing the peaceful quiet of the snow.
I lifted my shield up and stood in front of Sigma, prepared to give my life to make sure she got back to the miserable lab.
I pushed my weight against the shield as she slowly sat up. She coughed harshly, causing blood to shatter into her snow covered hand.
I coughed into my hand and saw a small spattering of blood against my dust covered skin.
"SIGMA GET THE GUN," I screamed over the chorus of ammo.
She glanced at the gun which was slightly out of reach.
"GRAB THE GUN," I repeated loudly.
She crouched and reached her hand out slowly. Just then a bullet hit the ground almost an inch from her hand.
She yelped, causing me to turn and make sure she was okay.
I felt a stabbing pain in my stomach as my vision almost instantly blurred. I leaned backwards slightly and fell to the snowy ground, crimson red was all I could see in the snow. Everything blurred, and the feeling of warmth spread through my body despite the snow on the ground.
"Don't let me die. Please, I don't want to die. Not yet. Please," I cried, but Sigma didn't seem to hear me as she hugged my tightly.
She rolled me slightly in the snow and gasped.
"Please. Please god. I'm scared. I'm so scared, I don't want to die."
She pressed on the bloody wound as tears streamed down my face.
"STOP," she yelled over the bullets.
"PLEASE. PLEASE STOP," She cried as I felt the weight lift from my shoulders. I didn't want to leave, but that wasn't my decision anymore.
"I'm scared," I uttered one final time.
With my remaining strength I held her hand tightly with the pendant in it.
