Emoni McLaris

Chapter Thirteen: Goodbye, Sista Girl

"No, she's not, she's alright."

A quiet Andy looks at me gravely.

"Don't look at me like that, she's alright!" I insist. "Back at MAZ I saw her cry about Fin but here he is on the Ship-he never really died, so neither has she." I need to fight reason.

"Emoni...I'm sorry but it's true. Sasha, one of the Med Staff, discovered that the barcodes on everyone's ribs were programmed to release some type of cancerous chemical, set off by someone in close proximity. Someone on the Ship murdered Ruby."

I'm going to find that son of a bitch and kill them.

"Wait, Em, where are you going?" Andy begs to know.

"To find whoever killed my best friend."

"Listen, I've already rounded up all the Staff and there's no way of telling who did it. It could be more than one person, and I will admit that there are a few Staff who would rather have stayed behind...let's just say not everyone is here willingly."

I have no idea what they're talking about, all I know is that my Sista Gurl is dead.

I'd spent so long in MAZ convinced that she had already died from her wounds there. I only accepted it then because I believed that it was also the end for me.

"Do you want to see the body?"

No, why the hell would I want to see 'the' body? It's her body, it's her.

"Yes." I croak.

I follow Andy to whatever room Ruby is in. There's no hesitation when they walk me up to a table with a sheet that covers her body.

Andy pulls it back to reveal my friend's face and I hold my breath. It looks like her, but it isn't.

This is not my Ruby.

My Ruby could very well be out shoe shopping, enjoying sunny weather and eating a strawberry sundae.

This body cannot move or dance around, walk in heels or appreciate pink ice cream.

This body isn't what Ruby was. She was happy in love, the biggest personality in school, my sister. She was so much more than just this body I see in front of me now.

I feel so empty inside, like I never had a heart; she's taken it with her.

I've forgotten how to breathe and everything that was in my stomach is now rising up and putting pressure on my chest, constricting my lungs even more. My eyes burn from dryness and my throat is drowning.

I try to speak but don't trust that things will stay in my mouth so I wave frantically at Andy, motioning them to follow me. Running seems too dangerous so I walk as fast as I can and Andy catches on and realises that I'm going to be sick-they lead me to a toilet, hold my hair out of the way and rub my back as they make soft noises in a soothing tone.

"It hurt, it hurts, Andy" I cry. "It all hurts."

"Shhh, I know, sweetie, it's alright." They say.

Once I've given up everything I have to the toilet bowl, Andy hands me a towel to clean my face.

"Come on, honey, you're okay." They guide me over to a bed. A bed? "Here babygirl, why don't you have drink, hey?" Andy passes me a glass of tepid water and I sip gratuitously. "Good, good."

"Thankyou." I say. "Where are we?"

"Doesn't matter, just have a rest, yeah? You'll feel better when you wake up." Andy stands up to walk out, but I won't let them.