If I Lose You...

The chambers of Mementos echoed with sound of Heavy Pound brass knuckles finding their target and striking true. Queen successfully landed three critical hits on a Bugbear, transforming it back to a Shadow of a defeated lovesick schoolgirl. After the lovesick schoolgirl thanked the Phantom Thieves and vowed to change her cyberstalking ways, she dispersed into light leaving behind a floating, luminous capsule. Joker snatched it up and swiveled towards his teammates.

"Nice work everyone."

"Another case solved. What's next? Do we keep exploring?" asked Queen.

Joker ran through their inventory and scanned the party's overall status and energy levels.

"Let's head back to the entrance. We'll come back another time once we've healed up and restocked our supplies."

The Phantom Thieves agreed and left through a glaring red portal. Just then, a tremor shook the floor of Mementos causing the tunnel lights to flicker. The train tracks rattled and groaned.

"What was that?" asked Panther trying not to sound panicked.

"It's the same feeling when a Palace is about to collapse." Fox noted.

"But the wrecking just happens in Palaces after we steal the treasure, don't it?" asked Skull scrunching his eyebrows.

"I'd rather not stick around to find out. Everyone, run!" Joker dashed forward but skidded to a halt just as two Shadows contorted and burst into four Lamias, circling them.

"We're surrounded!" Mona groaned.

"We don't have time for this! Charge, Johanna!" Queen rammed her motorcycle into all four Lamias who crumbled and dissolved upon impact.

"Thanks, Queen!" called Panther sprinting up the path.

"Mona!" yelled Skull. "Hurry up and turn into a car!"

More Shadows spawned and morphed into three inky blobs, blocking Joker and Fox's path. Stagnant Air emitted from their pores.

Fox kicked off the wall and somersaulted over them. The amorphous piles of living sludge slithered towards Joker, spewing acid, forcing him to spring back a few paces. With the Lamias decimated, Queen charged to his side, steeling herself for battle.

"Joker! Queen!" Fox unsheathed his katana and was about to rush back when the floor shook again and a rock narrowly missed his head.

Joker drew his dagger and slashed at them, trying not to inhale the toxic fumes. "Get out of here!"

Right as the Black Ooze released another round of Stagnant Air, Queen drove Johanna between it and Joker.

"Vajra Blast!" All three fizzled on impact, their garbled cries grated Queen's ears.

Joker gave her a curt nod in thanks and raced towards the platform.

Queen attempted to follow suit but a Bringer of Misfortune impeded her. She clicked her tongue. "They're so persistent!"

It taunted her and she unleashed a nuclear spell. It dissipated with a screech that sounded ominously familiar.

"Stop! You can't!"

Queen was startled. Was it just a coincidence?

"No, have mercy!" begged the voice of a man filled with compassion.

"He didn't say that." she said in a strained whisper. Her head swam. She clenched her teeth. "He never begged for his life." No, it's just an illusion. A nightmare. You swore you wouldn't be afraid of it anymore. Fight it. Just like you did before.

Queen saw her teammates surmount a nearby platform. Fox teetered as the ground quaked beneath them. Skull and Panther each grabbed one of his wrists and pulled him up. Joker spotted a Pisaca lumbering towards them. Before it had a chance to release its Dream Needles, Joker fired a shot straight down its gaping maw. With a shrill wail it crashed forward, a lifeless corpse once again that faded into black particles. "Go!" she heard him yell.

She charged forward. Without warning, an Ascended Feline swooped down and swiped at her with deadly claws. She evaded the attack but the hind claws of the Feline nicked her shoulder. Queen doubled back and slammed into it.

"Father!" shrieked the voice of a terrified girl. The same shriek made by a terrified teenager, that jolted her awake from repeating nightmares surrounding her father's murder. Queen faltered.

"Stop it…" she cried weakly. Johanna vanished. Pipes snapped and burst as the ground shook violently beneath her. I need to run. I need to run. I need to run! But her body refused to respond. Her legs were like lead weights. All she could do was watch the ground splinter around her feet.

Joker looked back and saw she was lagging behind. "Queen!"

Then the ground split and caved in. Queen plummeted into the void.

Joker dived in after her.

Amid the roar of crumbling debris and stones breaking, she heard a voice calling.

"MAKOTO!"

Two arms caught her and wrapped around her protectively, shielding her head. Then darkness overtook her and she knew no more.