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"Zoey, please" Rumi watched in horror as her other friend raised their weapon, the last glimmers of hope fading from her chest.
She had lost everything. She ran out of time. The people she cares for most in the world hate her, they fear her, and she has lost all will to fight it. There is nothing left that she can do to fix this, she can't even fix herself. Maybe she never could. Maybe this was all she was ever going to deserve.
Rumi fell to her knees,
"Do it."
She didn't dare make eye contact with the girls: she couldn't bare to see the hurt in their eyes, pain that she had caused, for even a second longer. She couldn't take anymore guilt than she already felt.
"What?"
She should've expected that response. Her sweet Zoey, of course she wouldn't think to hurt her. Perhaps it is cruel to put this responsibility on them: hasn't she put them through enough already? They shouldn't have to be the ones to do this, but Rumi has decided that for once in her life she's going to be selfish; she wants to at least die surrounded by the people she loves. She knows it's a kindness she doesn't deserve, but it is something she craves so very much. She'll finally get to be close to them, even if it's only for her final moments on this mortal plane.
"Do your jobs, before I destroy what I swore to protect"
There's a harshness to her voice, bordering anger.
"Please"
That word came out quiet and weak, like she struggled to force it out of her throat. It was pathetic really, this disgusting demon begging for the mercy of a quick death, begging that those who once called her a friend, called her their family, be burdened with carrying out this task. Begging to be freed from this torment, from her misery.
Rumi still stared at the floor. She didn't dare look up, didn't dare to meet the eyes of the people who she had caused so much pain. Had she looked at them, she might have noticed looks of concern followed by pure horror sweep over their faces the moment she uttered those words.
Silence.
The only thing Rumi could hear while she awaited her fate was her own ragged breaths. It felt like hours had passed before anything moved (though it really couldn't have been more than 30 seconds).
The loud clang of metal hitting the floor does little to pull Rumi from the trance-like state she's put herself in. She doesn't even fully register when she's surrounded by her friends, who are now knelt down at her side.
They're talking. She knows they are talking, she can make out the gentle hum of their voices.
Gentle? That can't be right: they should be mad. They should be screaming at her. They should be furious at her for lying, for forcing them to spend time with a monster like herself.
She finally looks up. She meets Zoey's eyes, eyes, eyes that are filled with concern and fear, but not fear of her, fear for her. Rumi still can't quite make out what she's saying (the sharp ringing in her ears still far too loud for that) but can hear the tone of her voice; It's soft and comforting. So much more comforting than she deserves.
Without warning (or atleast not one that she picked up on) four arms surround her. She's pulled into a tight hug and that's all it takes. The warmth and safety is what finally breaks her resolve to stay strong. She can't do anything to stop the rivers of tears from flowing.
"I'm sorry, I should've-"
"No"
Mira's voice, soft but firm, interrupts before Rumi can spiral,
"Later, we'll deal with whatever the hell this is later. You need to be ok first."
Rumi relents and holds them just as tight as they hold on to her. She doesn't know what she possibly could've done to deserve these two and the warmth they've shown her, but there is no way she is letting go of it.
Not one of the girls has a clue how they are going to defeat Gwi-ma. They don't know what the hell they're going to do about the Saja Boys, or how they'll explain whatever the hell just happened on stage, but they'll figure something out.
Together.