Not long after HRA lifted me into her arms, I passed out. Perhaps it was due to the overwhelming, throbbing pain in my back. Perhaps it was due to pure fatigue. Whatever the reason was, I was locked in a dreamless sleep.

When I came to, I found myself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. I sat up, though my body felt heavy. I let out a grunt in pain, catching the attention of HRA, who was kneeling by my side.

She tilted her head.

"Do you feel alright?"

"Were you watching me sleep?"

As soon as I questioned her, she looked away sheepishly. Her lips were pressed tightly together, trembling. With that kind of demeanor, it's hard to believe that I just watched the same girl confidently behead a mech with nothing but the kick of her leg. Was it true she received special treatment from Malware? If that were the case, I would think she would have acted much more malicious towards me, the one defying Malware's order.

The room we were in was small, incredibly small. It was the size of a walk-in closet, though little was inside. There was a tattered blanket, a stuffed rabbit missing an eye, and a few pieces of chalk. On the wall, there were a couple of chalk drawings that looked like they've been done by a child.

"Where are we?" I asked.

HRA did not look back at me. "My room."

"...Oh."

There was silence. HRA's shoulders began to nervously shudder. Was she weary of me?

Half-heartedly, I tried to put her at ease with small talk.

"...Those your drawings?" I asked.

HRA's eyes were fixed on the floor. "Yes."

"I see. They're nice. Like to draw?"

HRA didn't give me an answer.

Again, there was silence. HRA folded her hands together, remaining still, hesitating to make a move. I tried small talk, it failed, and I wasn't going to waste any more time with it. Perhaps I only tried it in the first place because she looked no older than ten, which feels stupid to admit. This wasn't the time to act soft or for mercy, and I shouldn't go treating "Malware's lapdog" like an innocent child. I had to get to the point.

"Why did you save me?" I asked. "You said you wanted me to live, right? Why? Do you want something from me? You should know that I'm not in a very giving mood. If you want to use me like some pawn, I suggest you give it up right now."

"It's nothing like that." HRA shook her head. "I'm simply tired of watching death, and you have a chance at survival. I brought you here to convince you to take it."

"A chance at survival? You're not going to tell me to start working for Malware, are you?" I sneered at the thought.

"That's exactly what I'm going to tell you. Stop resisting. Obeying Malware, conforming to his standards and rules, that's the only way you could live on."

"... Thanks, but no."

"You are making a mistake."

"And you're wasting my time. No way in hell will I become Malware's slave."

I stared at the girl with burning eyes, a stubborn huff escaping my lips. HRA lowered her head, wearing a downtrodden expression as if I was someone to be pitied.

    "I understand—" HRA began.

    "Good," I said. "Now, where's Malware? I'm gonna kill that bastard."

    "...I understand that words alone are not enough to convince you." HRA stood up and extended her hand out towards me. "Allow me to show you what happens to rebels. I want you to see with your own eyes where this path will lead you."

    "Did you not just hear me?" My blood began to boil. "I will not become Malware's slave! Nothing is changing my mind, ya hear? Stop wasting time already and just tell me where Malware is!"

    HRA finally met my gaze, the sour look on the face made her dwindling patience clear. She reached forward and grabbed my hand. I was yanked onto my feet, thankfully the pain had faded enough to a point where I could stand and move easily. She spoke with a different tone in her voice. The meekness was replaced with hardness.

    "We are going to a place where rebels rest. If you still wish to try and 'kill' Malware afterward, which is essentially suicide, then I will take you to Malware myself. Do we have a deal?"

    The last thing I wanted to do was bend to the commands of a little girl, but at this point, it seemed like the best option. If I could just deal with the stupid detour, I would have a personal escort to my best friend's killer. I guess I couldn't afford to be picky.

    "Fine," I said. "Deal."

    HRA didn't say another word. Her gaze shifted back to the ground while the edges of her mouth curved into a small smile. She turned to the exit, still holding tightly onto my hand, and led me into the hallway. Whatever building I was in, it's interior was just as uninspired as everything else I've seen as of late. Gray was getting redundant.

    "Does Malware have something against the concept of color?" I asked.

    HRA put a finger over her lips. "Shush. Malware is very busy currently, so he shouldn't have noticed that I've brought you here. I'd prefer it if things stayed that way."

    I lowered my voice. "Where is 'here?'"

    "The center of it all," she said. "I've taken you to the planet that serves as Malware's headquarters. The building we are inside... this is his head of operations, his personal quarters."

    "Wait, wait wait. You took me to another planet? How? Did we fly through space on Malwares mothership or some crap?"

    "...No. Interdimensional portals."

    HRA spoke of portals as if it were nothing, while to me it sounded like insane science fiction. Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised after all I've experienced.

    Our conversation ended there. The hall we walked down was long, straight, and narrow. It seemed endless, and the silence between the two of us made the air heavy. She wouldn't let go of my hand, which made things feel all the more awkward. Small talk was pointless, but the eternal walk was beginning to wear me down.

    "How big is this damned place?" I asked.

    "Quite big," she answered.

    "Are we almost to wherever we're going?" I asked.

"About halfway," she answered.

    "Halfway? Seriously?" I pulled my hand apart from hers and crossed my arms. "What a pain. Well, it's too quiet. Talk to me."

    HRA kept walking, eyes forward. "Talk to you?"

    "Yeah. Talk."

    "About what?"

    "What's on your mind?"

    HRA paused. "Well... I suppose I would like to know your name."

    "It's Connie."

    "...Connie?" HRA stopped walking and looked at me. "That's your name? But... isn't that a girl's name?"

    "...I'm not the one who chose it. Quit looking at me like that." I held a hand over my face, hiding from her stare.

    "I didn't mean to insult you. I think it sounds very nice... Connie. Connie. It has a nice ring to it. It sounds like the name of someone kind, I like it." HRA nodded to her own statement.

    "Someone kind? What a joke," I scoffed. "That's not me at all. Whatever, I guess I don't hate my name. What's yours?"   

    HRA's face went blank, her brain probably went static with confusion. "...You're asking about my name? I believe I told you already, I am HRA."

    "You're joking right?"

    "...No. What else would I be called?"

    "I dunno, maybe Jane? Ashley? Tabatha? Not HRA, that makes you sound like a robot."

    The girl flinched as I said the word "robot." Her hand slowly reached for the metallic half of her face, her fingers grazing the surface of her metal cheek.

    "But... I am nothing more than a robot."

    Her voice was shaking. In response, I poked the human half of her face. She jumped as I pressed my finger into her skin, then winced as I pinched her cheek and tugged gently.

    "Are you dumb or something?" I asked. "You are clearly not a robot. You might be a half-metal freak, but you still got half of a human face, right?"

    Without answering, HRA brushed my hand away from her face. She ran her fingers through her frizzy blonde hair, gnawing at her lip. That green eye of hers began to shimmer, becoming bright. She smiled an earnest smile.

    "My name is not HRA. I am not a robot. My name is Rini. I'm... Rini."

HRA, or rather, Rini took a deep, deep sigh as if saying her own name sucked all the energy out of her. She stood a little straighter like a weight was taken from her shoulders. She looked better with a smile on her face.

"Rini," I said. "Now that's an improvement."

"...Thank you."

"Now let's get going. I think we've stood around long enough."

"Of course..."

We continued our way down the long hall. Soon enough, a faint, sour scent hit my nostrils. Within a matter of seconds, the scent became a heavy, intolerable stench that smacked me across the face. I pinched my nose as my stomach twisted.

    The distinct rotten, sickly-sweetness that hung in the air, there was absolutely no mistaking it. It was the scent of death.

    Rini continued forward, eyes straight, as if she couldn't smell it at all. Or perhaps, she had grown used to it... what a disgusting thought. When I began to cough and hack, she looked back at me with nothing more than a cold disposition. 

    "I'm sorry. I should have warned you about the smell."

    "No fucking kidding!" I shouted. "Where are you taking me, a morgue?"

    "If that's what you want to call it. But... I feel it would be more accurate to call it a graveyard."

    The smell only grew more potent the further we continued on, and soon enough, we were standing in front of a large double door. They were clearly made of thick, heavy steel, but Rini pushed them open effortlessly. My breath was taken by the sight that awaited me behind those doors.

    Rini took my hand and pulled me inside the disgusting scene. I found myself in a large room structured like a fancy ballroom, decorated with a countless amount of corpses. Some of them were human, there were also a couple of broken mechs, but by far, the majority of the corpses were cyborgs. They were rotten, decomposing, bloated and disintegrating, some have been reduced to nothing but bones. And they were everywhere.

    They covered the ground like a carpet, they were hung on railings like streamers, they were strung from the ceilings by their necks like hanged men. Electric chills ran up my spine, I wasn't breathing, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe—

    "Breathe Connie," Rini said. "Breathe."

    Her hand laid on my back. My legs went numb. I fell onto my knees. Rini knelt down beside me, rubbing my back with a gentle touch. I guess she was trying to comfort me, but to me, it felt like pure condescension.

    "Why?" I asked, short of breath. "Why the hell would you bring me here?"

    She answered me with a matter of fact tone. "... Because words weren't enough. So I had to show you where rebels are destined to lay in rest."

    "...Oh. Oh, I see. This is supposed to get me to enslave myself." I laughed, although I didn't know why I was laughing.

Rini was silent, looking at me with disbelief. Guess I couldn't blame her, why was I laughing? Was I just trying to laugh away all the pain? All the stress? How pointless.

"This... this doesn't change a thing!" I spit out through my laughter. "I'm still gonna kill him! I'm gonna destroy that bastard!"

As my laughter slowed and came to a stop, Rini remained quiet. However, when I looked at her face, I saw it contorted with frustration. Her teeth were bared, but she didn't look at me. She hung her head, gripping her knees so tight that I thought she might just crush her own metal in her fists.

    "What?" I asked. "You look like you have something to say."

"... Are you an idiot? Look around you! You'll die if you don't bend to Malware's will! Can't you see this place is filled with cyborgs just like you? They were fools. They were fools who thought they could rise up, start a rebellion, but there is no stopping Malware! There is no such thing as killing him! There is no way you'll win against him, you'll just be slaughtered and strung up as a warning! Don't you get it?"

    Rini screamed at me in what could only be described as desperation. Regardless, at that moment, I couldn't care less. I slowly pushed myself back onto my feet, overcoming the shock and horror that's shaken my heart.

    " Oh, I get it, alright. And I don't care. It's time to hold up your end of the deal."

    "Please... listen to me. You don't have to die. These cyborgs that rest here... they didn't have to die either!" Rini shook her head, standing back up. "Don't be stupid! Your death... it'd be such a senseless death!"

    I snapped back at her without a second thought. "And living to serve Malware would be a senseless life, now wouldn't it?"

    Rini stumbled back with wide eyes. "... At least... at least it's a life! It may be senseless, but it's a life!"

    "...I take that back. It's not a senseless life. It's worse, it's much worse."

    "...Worse? What are you saying?"

"It's a selfish life," I said. "A selfish life based upon selfish logic. 'If I don't obey Malware, I'll die. So I'll follow orders, cause destruction and death by my own hand. It would all happen with or without me, so at least this way I get to live.'  That's your line of thinking, isn't it, Rini?"

All frustration within Rini was gone in an instant, one could tell by simply taking a glance at her. Now, she was left with shock, alongside a new emotion. She took another step back, recoiling from me like I had hurt her.

Unfortunately, I was too caught up in my own dumbass impatience and anger to notice that.

"I'll take that as a yes. What right do you have to tell me what's senseless and what's not? Are you happy with that kind of life? A life where you survive by trampling over others? I'm not that weak!"

A approached Rini with stomping feet, practically getting in her face while I shouted at the top of my lungs.

    "I'm not weak like you! I'm not a coward like you! My friend died because of Malware, my home has been destroyed! Now you want me to bow down to him like some ant?! I'd rather die! It'd be much more honorable than enslavement!"

    "... Get away from me!" Rini pushed me back frantically, turning away to hide the shame written across her face. From the corner of her green eye, I could see tears beginning to drip and slide down her cheek.

    I opened my mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by the scratchy audio of an activating intercom. A voice I've heard within a dream, mechanical and wooden, spoke over the intercom. As flat and electronic as it was, I could still hear the maniacal glee hidden deep underneath.

    It filled me with rage.

"How amusing," it said.  "The little rat insists on death. Really, it's funny. Its small brain can't process the basic facts. As expected from a child of man."

    At the sound of the voice, Rini retracted into a shell. She hugged herself with her arms, her entire body shaking uncontrollably. The voice laughed, which sounded strange, to say the least. It somehow sounded fake, synthesized, but at the same time felt genuine and real. It was a paradox, I swear it.

"What's the matter, HRA?" it asked. "Don't tell me you thought I didn't know. I always keep an eye on you, girlie. Foolish of you to forget that. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Rini was dead silent.

"Nothing? Sounds about right." It laughed again. "Don't you worry now, I'll punish you adequately for this little misstep of yours. Was it worth it, HRA? Trying to save someone who did not want to be saved? Fleabags like him are hopeless, I keep telling you that."

"Malware..." I looked up to the ceiling, my hands balling into fists. "That's you, right? Quit talking like I'm not here! You're going to pay, got it? You killed Raiden!"

"Oh. You're mistaken, maggot. You know my name, but you seem to lack understanding of my might. You really think you could make me pay for the death of who I assume was some inconsequential rat like yourself?"

"Shut up! Just fight me, you coward!"

"Fight you? I believe the right word in this context would be 'execute.' But fair enough. I suppose you've killed a couple of my soldiers, so you could say you've earned death by my hand. HRA."

As Malware called her name, Rini flinched. He kept talking regardless.

    "Take the little rat to me. And be quick about it, I don't have all day."

    The audio from the intercom cut off right there, leaving us standing in silence among the rotting corpses.    

    "...Connie," Rini muttered. "You... you should run..."

    I glared at her. "Do you really think I'll go and do that?"

    "...No."

    The girl collapsed before me, falling to her hands and knees with her forehead pressed against the ground. More and more tears flowed from that green eye, the eye that was like a window to her soul. I could see the hope inside of her being crushed apart and destroyed, an expression that didn't suit such a young face.

    "You're gonna die!" Rini choked out through her tears. "You're gonna die, Connie! There's nothing I could do! Nothing! And Malware's gonna punish me again!"

    She screamed and wailed in a way I couldn't describe, it was almost inhuman. It was so painful to hear because it carried so much pain within it, perhaps pain that was deep inside her for god knows how long. I guess that's when I came to the realization of who Rini really was: A scared, broken person. Thinking back to all those claims I made about her selfish choices, well, I started to regret them. The choices I were making weren't all that selfless, either.

    The longer she went on crying, the more and more I felt like a piece of shit.

    I let her cry. Once she sobs grew softer, and she became somewhat calmer, I approached her.

"Hey, hey hey. Your face is much too cute to go ruining it with tears." I stood above her, gesturing for her to stand. "C'mon, on your feet."

    As she pushed herself back up, I offered her my hand. She grabbed it, and soon enough, she was standing back up looking up at me. She didn't let go of my hand.

    "Geez, look at you. Worrying about some dumbass like me," I said as I brushed the tears off her cheek. "You must be very kind."

    Rini shook her head. "B-but you were right. This life that I live..."

    "I was talking out of my ass, Rini."

    "...Huh?"

    "I ain't one to judge. All my life, I've only looked out for myself. I did whatever I needed or wanted to do, ignoring bullshit morals and whatnot. But look at me now, trying to claim so moral high ground. I was just angry, I'm still angry. But really, I shouldn't go about taking it out on little girls."

    "Then w-will you reconsider?" Rini wrapped both of her hands around mine. "Please! If you just apologize to Malware, maybe then—"

    "No."

    "B-but—"

    "The answer is no. I refuse. You're going to have to accept that."

    Rini hesitantly released my hand, lowering her head in her despair. I untied my hoodie from around my waist and threw it into her face.

    "A-ah!" Rini caught the hoodie in her hands. The confused look she gave me made me chuckle.

    "I accept your choice to live your life, gruesome as it may be. And if you're going to continue on living it, then you might as well do it in comfort. Consider it a parting gift, I ain't going to be needing it where I'm going."

    I laugh a dark laugh. Rini clutched tightly onto the hoodie, pressing it against her chest. She averted her downcast eyes from me, as I suppose my smiling face was too painful for her to look at.

    "...Are you not afraid?" She asked. "You... know that you'll die."

    "I've accepted death, Rini. I accepted death long ago." I look down to my own body, the 'me' covered in bruises and a red pattern, the 'me' that's been obscured by mechanical 'improvements.' My dark laughter persisted.

"It's kind of funny. I've been turned into a weapon, something barely human, something that's supposed to be a tier above humanity. And yet, still, my days are numbered. My body is destroying itself from the inside. If Malware doesn't put an end to my life, my disease will."

    Rini gawked at me, still clutching onto my hoodie like someone was about to rip it from her. "... You're sick?"

    "Sick as a dog, living day after day knowing the end is inevitable. Yet, then again, I suppose that's true for everyone. Sometimes I try to forget about it,  but then I remember 'memento mori.' Remember your death, a truth that even I must face. With those numbered days, I decided to live my life the easiest way I can. I never even told my best friend of my condition, that would've been too hard. I could only imagine the sad, sappy look he'd give me."

I found myself unable to laugh anymore, not even out of ruefulness. I was left feeling only silent regret. I guess it's only natural that as you stared at your death right in the face, you think back on your life. Yet, even when I first realized my body was destroying itself from the inside out, I never stopped and passed judgment on myself. For the first time, I took a good look at me, the boy named Connie. I thought about what I was, not in a literal sense, but as a person.

    There I was, going on and on about avenging Raiden, but I didn't appreciate him when he was alive and well, right in front of me.

    I'm a fool.

    "I never really told him much, really," I confessed. "My friend, my best friend, he was a really great guy. Super kind-hearted, always tried to make me smile. It took his death for me to realize that maybe I should've tried to make him smile, too. Not that it would be a challenge, the damn guy always had a smile on his face. But no, even that simple task was too hard for someone like me."

    "...You must have loved him." Rini buried her face in the hoodie as if she were trying to hide. "I don't know what it's like to have a friend, but you must have really loved him."

    "...I guess I did love him. But what's it matter now? He's dead."

    "I'm sorry he's dead."

    "Yeah. I'm sorry 'bout that, too."

    I turned my back to her, gesturing for her to follow me. "That jacket ain't a pillow you know, put it on. And then hurry it up. I've got places to be."

    I gave Rini no choice. The time for my death march had come.

*  *  *

After leaving behind the ballroom that reeked of death, following Rini to a grim destination, I listened to her hum a song. It wasn't a song I've heard before, but since she likely comes from a world much different from mine, that's to be expected. The song was slow and somber, like a lullaby. It was nothing like those chipper tunes Raiden was always humming. It made me wonder if Rini once had, or still had, a love for music.

    It didn't feel right to ask her, though. A world of distance was between us during my death march, and I thought perhaps she was bitter towards me. But whenever I looked up and caught a quick glimpse of her face, she didn't seem bitter at all. Just sad.

    When we reached another pair of double doors, Rini turned to me with a sudden request.

    "Malware is just beyond these doors. Before we enter, I wish to ask a question."

    I shrugged. "Fire away. Guess I owe you after taking me all the way here."

"Alright," she said. "...Would you consider me a friend?"

    It was a strange question, one I certainly didn't expect. I could see a sense of longing in her translucent eyes. Those eyes, they wanted something from me, they were pleading to me. I didn't get it.

Rini seemed to pick up on my confusion. "I... I know it's a weird thing to ask, believe me! But... but I couldn't help it! I don't remember ever having a friend before... and you were nice enough to give me this jacket."

    The hoodie rested on her shoulders as she hugged herself, cuddling within its warmth. I smiled.

    "Sure," I said.

    Rini perked up. "Really?"

    "Yeah."

    Rini smiled brightly. It really was a nice sight.

    "You should smile more," I said. "You have a really nice smile."

    Before she could answer to my compliment, before I could have any hesitations, I stepped forward and pushed the doors open. I was greeted by a dark room with small, multicolored flashing lights surrounding me. And there, right there was him.

    I saw a large monitor, resembling a flat-screen TV. It was covered with static, but through that static, I saw the flickering image of a red eye. The monitor was floating, defying gravity. It had long tentacle-like wires extending out from its side, too many of them to count. Four giant metal, robot-like fists hovered around the monitor, a couple of the wires loosely attached to the fist's knuckles. The fists were the size of a modestly sized room.

    For the first time since I've woken up, the voice inside my head spoke to me.

    "That's him, your master," it said. "Show some respect."

    Respect? Like hell I'd give Malware any of my respect.

    "What a freakish pile of bolts. You're supposed to be the great Malware?" I pointed straight at the monitor, gritting my teeth. "I've got something to say to you!"

    Malware's monitor remained still, but its tentacle-like wires extended towards me. Before I could react, they wrapped around my throat tightly. I tried to rip away the wires as I struggled to breathe, but surprisingly, the wires wouldn't budge regardless of my strength. My face was slowly turning a shade of purple.

    Malware dismissed me. "As if I'm interested in what a maggot has to say."

    "Connie!"

    Rini called out my name. Within seconds, Malware released my throat from his wires. I gasped for air.

    "On second thought, maybe I'm being too hasty. You seem to have something you want to say, HRA." Malware started to snicker like a mischievous child. "Tell me, do you like this maggot?"

    "...Yes, sir! I... I really like Connie! Please, spare him—!"

    "Kill him."

    Rini stopped her begging, taking a massive step backward as her face twisted with absolute awe and horror. "W-what?"

    Malware repeated himself firmly. "Kill him. That is an order, HRA. Kill him."

    Rini opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again. She froze, motionless like a statue, her eyes fixated on me. What a twisted game Malware was trying to play. I wasn't going to take part.

I stepped forward, pushing Rini further back. I shouted, "This doesn't involve her! This is between you and me, bigshot! I'm not yours, I will never be yours! So come at me, you murderer! Let's settle this!"

    I walked towards Malware, ready to face fate, only for a pair of hands to wrap around my arm.

    "No! No!" Rini cried hysterically, holding onto me with all of her strength. "Stay with me! Stay with me! Please, stay! Please! Please!"

    "Rini! Let go!"

I tried to shove Rini away, but she stubbornly clung onto me. Then, we both were struck.

It happened without warning. I heard the whistling of air before I turned and saw nothing

but gray. Next thing I knew, I was flying. I crashed into a wall, collapsing beside Rini. I didn't feel any pain, most likely due to shock. I shifted my gaze towards the ceiling to see one of Malware's fists hovering above us. I came to realize that was what just hit us both.

    Malware's metal fist descended, opening up as it came closer and closer. I tried to stand up and move out of its way, but I was caught in its grasp before I could get back on my feet. Malware's fist gripped me tight as it lifted me into the air. Rini watched with the wide eyes of a scared child, leaning against the wall with blood dripping down the side of her face.

    "Watch, HRA," Malware. "I'll show you how it's done proper."

    Malware's fist tightened its grip even further, squeezing the breath out of me. I wanted to cuss, but I couldn't utter so much as a word as I felt my ribs crack under the pressure. I coughed, and I swear I saw droplets of blood leap from my mouth and into the air.

    "No..." Rini buried her face into her hands. "No...!"

    "Do not avert your eyes, HRA."

    Malware's grip on me loosened, only to tighten once again. I screamed. Malware raised his voice so he could be heard over my cries of pain.

    "This is where your futile attempts to save such trash leads. Death. This is where his futile attempts of rebellion lead. Death. Do you wish to continue disobeying me? Do you want to die, HRA? I'll make your death painful, just like his."

    Malware released me from his hand, sending me falling to the ground. I landed right on my back, wheezing and hacking. My vision was a blur.

    "You have no use for this rat in your life, HRA. Understand? Your purpose is to serve me and my empire. I gave you the order to kill him. So, kill him. Before I run out of patience."

    I couldn't move. I heard footsteps approaching me. Through my double vision, I saw Rini's face as she stood above me. Tears wouldn't stop rolling down her face, almost like a river stream. Our eyes locked, and I could sense her apprehension. But, at the same time, she still had an undying will to live. It was as clear as day.

    She knelt down, gently placing her hand on my forehead. She stroked the side of my face with care, almost like a mother would.

    "I'm...so sorry, Connie. I'm so, so sorry."

    To think, this was how I was going to die. I always thought I'd die somewhere cold, almost certainly alone as I waited for the end to come. However, my end would come by the hands of someone who cared about me, though I wasn't certain why. Somehow, a jackass like me was enough to capture this girl's heart. Then again, perhaps it was just because she lived a lonely existence. I guess I could relate. If it weren't for Raiden, my existence would've been one of solitude.

    But even with Raiden gone, I wouldn't be leaving this life in solitude.

    I could barely breathe, but I managed to say two final words to the crying Rini.

    "I'm... happy..."

    The last thing I saw was Rini's stunned expression... how cute. I shut my eyes, and shortly after, I felt something pierce my chest. A hand crushed my heart.

*  *  *

    I'm surrounded by marigold flowers, all bright and healthy. Their petals dance in the breeze underneath the endless, cloudless sky. It's beautiful.

    "Hey, Con."

    I look to my side to see Raiden, laying on his back with the marigolds swaying beside him. He's grinning.

    "Where's my cig?"

    Figures that'd be the first thing he'd ask me, the bastard. I laugh. I laugh, and laugh, and laugh until I fall back into the marigolds right beside him, admiring the blue sky above me.