Part Nine

"Say goodbye, Punk.."

Sora heard a soft click and clenched his eyes shut. There was a loud pop but Sora was surprised when he didn't feel any pain. There was a thump as something heavy fell to the ground. Sora however kept his eyes clenched shut.

"Sora? Sora!"

Sora didn't open his eyes and flinched as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Easy, Sora.. It's okay.." said a soft voice.

Sora looked up, finding it hard to really move as he was lying on his stomach.

"M..Mia?"

He was carefully rolled onto his side, and to Sora's relief, it was indeed his friend.

"Sora, are you okay? Oh GOD! Y-you're BLEEDING!"

"M-Mia.. W-what're you DOING here!?" Sora said, his voice now becoming frantic.

"I've been looking EVERYWHERE for you-"

"Y-you don't UNDERSTAND!" Sora interrupted. "You have to get OUT of here!"

"Sora, it's okay!" Mia assured him as she carefully undid the binds. "You're gonna be okay!"

Sora was surprised by her reaction but soon cringed as his arms were freed from his binds which had been a thin wire. As he moved his arms, Sora cringed as a sharp pain went up his right arm and shoulder.

"Sora!"

Sora clenched his eyes shut as his entire body and his head became overwhelmed with pain.

"C'mon, we better get outta here!" Mia said.

Mia began to lead Sora out of the alley when Sora heard a soft click and he froze.

"Sora?"

Sora took a shaky breath as he saw movement from the corner of his eye. Thinking quickly, Sora shoved Mia to the side, just as a loud pop rang out. The duo saw a small hole in the wall just where Mia had been standing. Sora turned around and quickly stood up, standing protectively in front of Mia, his brilliant blue eyes flashing in anger.

"Screw this!" the man shouted.

He took aim at them. Mia stood protectively in front of Sora, catching Sora a bit off guard.

"Any last words before I kill yer a$$es?" the man asked.

"I don't care who you ARE," Mia growled. "I'm not letting you hurt my FRIEND!"

"Heh.. You're so pathetic.." the man sneered. "Say goodbye.."

The man took aim and pulled the trigger. Mia had closed her eyes and by hearing distinctive shot, she was surprised at the sound of metal hitting metal and soon opened her eyes. Mia stared in shock as she saw Sora standing in front of her holding a metal trash can lid and pipe he had found nearby and seemed to have used the lid to deflect the shot away.

"Sora.." Mia gaped in shock. "H-how did you.."

"I told you, Mia.." Sora started with a smile. "I've always got your back."

Mia was overwhelmed with shock but soon smiled and nodded.

"You gotta be KIDDIN' ME!" the man growled.

He took aim and fired again. Acting quickly, Sora moved the lid in front of himself and his friend and another bullet bounced harmless off the metal lid.

"Stay here!" Sora ordered.

"But Sora-"

"I've got your BACK!"

With that being said, Sora let go of the lid, allowing Mia to use it for protection as he headed toward the man who continued to fire the gun. Sora ducked behind the nearby dumpster while Mia hid behind some nearby trash cans. The sound of metal hitting metal rang out throughout the alleyway. As the man was trying to reload, Sora hurried toward him and used the pipe to knock the gun away.

"It's OVER!" Sora shouted, making sure to keep the man away from the gun.

The man growled and kicked Sora in the gut, knocking him to the ground.

"SORA!"

The man ran over to the gun and took aim at Mia. He, however, did not have any bullets left as he had not had the chance to reload the gun and so the gun only continued to click over and over again. The man used the side of the gun to knock Mia to the ground. Mia rolled to a stop on the ground as the lid flew from her hands and rolled across the ground. The man took that moment and quickly loaded the gun. Sora looked up from where he had fallen to the ground.

"MIA!"

Sora scrambled to his feet as the man took aim at Mia. Mia scrambled back, trying to reclaim the dropped trashcan lid as the man took aim again.

"Say goodbye, b*tch.." he growled.

Mia clenched her eyes shut as the man took aim and fired. At first, Mia was confused as to why she hadn't felt any pain and so she opened her eyes. She stared up in horror as Sora stood in front of her.

"Sora?" she said.

Sora stood completely still, his back facing toward her.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Sora continued to stand in front of Mia, having leapt in front of her as the man fired the weapon. He was staring in shock as he felt a sharp pain beginning to fill his chest.

"Sora?" asked Mia.

Sora tried to respond but could only make a pained choking sound and cough as he stood where he was, shakily gripping at his chest. Deep crimson blood began to seep through the fabric, coating Sora's hand in red. Sora could feel a tight and painful pressure grip his chest as he collapsed to the ground.

"Sora!" Mia cried.

Sora coughed and winced as he clutched at his chest, trying to stem the flow of blood the best he could with his hand. His breath came out in ragged gasps as he tried to breathe. She hurried to his side on the ground.

"Sora! Oh GOD! SORA!"

The man chuckled cruelly as he moved closer toward them.

Author's Note: I'll try to get more up soon..