Tick Tock

Chapter Seventeen

"Morning!" Lala smiled happily at her parents and sister as she came downstairs. It was a miracle, Lala had woken up on time. Her family stared in shock at the surprising situation.
"O-Onee-Chan .... mom!! There's an alien who looks like a Onee-Chan!" Non yelled as she ran over to their mum and hid behind her. "What did you do to my sister!" Non demanded pointing at Lala with an accusing look. Lala just looked at her annoyed.
"I woke up early cause there's supposed to be a special show in TV this morning," Lala smiled proudly and her family clapped their hands. "Hehe! I'll be putting it on now," She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV and the news turned on. Lala was about to flick channels when she saw a familiar face. "Yume!" She yelled in shock. On the screen was a picture of her missing friend.
"-in an accident and unfortunately passed away at the hospital, witnesses say she didn't look well before she fell into the road. The driver has been fined but since it was an accident he will not be arrested," the news reporter stated. Lala didn't listen to anymore, she dashed out the door without a second glance.
"Lala! What about breakfast!" Her mum called after her.

"There's no way..." Lala mumbled as she sprinted to the familiar building where she'd always train and see Yume. However, when she arrived there was no ombré haired girl smiling, instead there were worried or confused faces just standing around. Koharu's crying was the only sound heard. They all turned to look at Lala. "No..... i-it's not true...." Lala felt her knees begin to go numb and fell to the floor as they're faces darkened.
"We saw her body..." Laura started before she started to shake. Mahiru began to squeeze the pillow she was hugging and placed her face onto it. Small muffled sobs could be heard coming from her.
"Where's Ako..." was all Lala could say, the cat girl was missing from the room.
"She hasn't left her room since we got back," Laura replied. Silence took over the room again.
'I-it's not real... this can't be real....it's got to be a dream!' Lala thought, but when she thought of how Yume had missing and the way she acted to the last time she saw her... "it's my fault..." Lala realised. "If... if I hadn't told her... if I hadn't found out the truth... she never would've run away! She'd be here right now with us! It's all my fault!" Lala started off quietly but grew louder until she was screaming hysterically. "IT'S ALL MY FAULT!!"

Slap

Lala touched her cheek feeling a sting. Ako stood in front of her with her bangs hiding her eyes.
"It's not." She quietly said. "It's not anyone's fault, stop it... stop blaming yourself," she lifted her head and stared straight into Lala's eyes. Ako's eyes were red and puffy and her cheeks were tear stained but she stared at Lala without any hesitation. "If I ever hear you blame yourself again I won't stop with just a slap," she told her before leaving the room again.
"Ako's right," Lala turned to see Koharu, she stopped crying and was trying her best to smile. It was a shaky smile and looked like it could crumble away any second. "Yume wouldn't want you to blame yourself," Lala slowly nodded... her lip began to shake and she burst out crying.

The door burst open again standing there panting were Sophie, Mirei, Dorothy, Leona and Shion. They all looked worried.
"Anyway... we don't think it was an accident..." Laura suddenly spoke. "It's just a feeling we have... there's no evidence but it feels too well planned out..." she explained. 'Of course there's always the chance... that... she's still...' Laura thought.

After small talk Laura went back to her room. She slowly locked the door and stumbled to her bed. Her determined face began to fade and she stared to tremble. Her eyes watered and soon she was crying.
"Yume.... there's no way you're dead... I just can't believe it..." she mumbled.