Everything was silent, I didn't know if I was alive or dead, if I was in heaven or on Earth. My eyes slowly opened and I gasped in shock as I saw Zoro standing in front of me. His arms dangled there as he stood perfectly still.
"Zoro?" I asked fearing what was going to happen next. I stood up and walked to his side. I gasped in horror as I saw a sword sticking into his stomach. Thankfully he wasn't stabbed in the heart or he would've for sure been dead. I turned to find Lily with a shocked expression on her face as if she didn't expect that to happen. I turned back to Zoro and looked at his face. His eyes were emotionless, as if he was dead.
"Zoro?" I asked again and there still was no answer. Lily pulled her sword of his stomach and picked him up by the collar, she stared into his eyes for a moment.
"You're an idiot!" she spoke through her teeth. After that, she threw him into the wall that was closest to her. Zoro's body made a loud thud and he fell to the ground like a rag doll. I started to run to him but Lily reached out her foot and made me trip and I landed on my face. My body twitched and I laid there for a moment. In the distance I could hear Luffy shrieking with anger towards Lily. I could hear him screaming Zoro's and my name. I turned to him with sadness in my eyes and gave him a nod as if to tell him I was alright. I ran to Zoro and helped him sit up. I leaned my ear against his lips and I hear him breathe slightly. He was alive for the moment. Zoro's eyes were half opened, about to close for good. I placed my hand on cold cheek.
"Oh Zoro, I wish I was in your place, I would give anything," I sobbed through my uncontrollable tears. Zoro started to cough and bits of blood spit out onto my cheek. Blood started to drip from the corner of his lips.
"I'm. Sorry," He spoke through heavy breathing; his left hand fell onto his chest.
"For what?" I asked with a little chuckle.
"For what I did to you, I didn't mean to hurt you so badly. You're so important to me," He spoke in between breaths and coughs. This time he was coughing out of control and it made me want to cry. I turned to his wound where blood was staining his green sash. His hand moved towards the wound to cover it. I tried to wrap his arm around my neck, to at least attempt something.
"Let's take you back to the house so Chopper can fix you up," I said as I struggled to get to my feet. Zoro winced in pain with every move I made. I could barely stand because of him being so heavy.
"Come on Zoro, you got to help me out here, I'm not going to lose you. Not now, not ever. Come on Zoro, come on!" I try to motivate him but nothing seemed to work and I was getting nowhere, I wasn't getting any help from him at all. I positioned Zoro in the exact same place after giving up. Zoro continued to breathe heavily.
"Come on Zoro don't give up, didn't Luffy tell us not to? You're supposed to be the greatest swordsman in the world. You said that death can't and won't stop you from pursuing your dream, Please Zoro, for me," I begged but nothing seemed to be working. Zoro's hand reached to my cheek and I grabbed it gently, I could feel his fingers twitching underneath mine.
"Remember when you asked me if I still loved you?" Zoro asked as if he didn't hear a word I said. His voice was starting to crack and I continued to cry knowing what he was going to say next.
"I do," He said with a smile. My tears flowed out of my eyes like a water fall; my eyes were starting to get sore. I couldn't emotionally handle this.
"I love you too my Zoro," I sobbed with a smile. I was starting to sniff now.
"I love you Jade, my sweetheart," Were the last words Zoro spoke before his eyes closed for good.
"Zoro darling, sweetheart?" I asked knowing that he wouldn't answer. I suddenly felt a hand grab my shoulder and Lily pulled me away from Zoro who sat there lifeless. I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders and saw Luffy kneeling beside me protectively. I could see he was upset just as much as I was. He turned to me with a worried look and I could tell that he already guessed that Zoro was gone. I turned away to let him know that he was right.
"Zoro?" Luffy asked as Lily grabbed Zoro by the neck and pressed him against the wall and Zoro's body hung there lifeless. I could hear blood dripping from the wound to the floor as if it was water dripping from a faucet to the sink. The eerie sound was echoing off the walls.
"How are you going to save your friends now Zoro?" Lily teased. I couldn't stand what I was seeing, how could Lily be so cruel? Lily turned to us and laughed deviously.
"Look at your crewmate Luffy, Isn't he pathetic?" Lily asked as her head fell back and she continued to laugh. Before Luffy could, I charged at Lily and tried to punch her. I thought I was going to hit her but instead she grabbed my left wrist and kicked me to the ground still holding on. She then twisted my arm until it snapped. I shrieked as the pain ran up my arm feeling as if I was paralyzed. Lily allowed my arm to fall and I winced as my arm crashed onto the cold cement floor.
"Jade, are you alright? Jade?" Luffy shrieked. I wanted to call to him but the pain was too much for me to handle and was preventing me from even speaking, not even a little sound.
"You're so amusing little sister. Just like your pathetic boyfriend over there," Lily laughed out of control.
"Jade!" Luffy shouted again. I couldn't even turn my head to look at him to let him know that I was in pain; all I could do was whimper. Luffy charged for Lily without hesitation and gave her one of his infamous punches. Luffy helped turn me over to my back and I screamed as he moved my arm to a better position. I lifted my good hand for Luffy to shake and I held onto it tightly.
"Kick her ass for me," I was barely able to get the words out but I'm sure Luffy was able to understand. He charged for her again and I struggled to sit up. I moved over to Zoro's body and leaned against the wall to catch my breath. While I did, I stared at Zoro and smiled as I imagined him sleeping there like there was no care in the world. I watched Luffy's arms stretch all over the place. When this was over, I got to think of a way to say thanks for helping us. Maybe I could buy a whole bunch of meat for him at the butcher shop in the village. Suddenly I saw Luffy crashing to the ground.
"Luffy," I shouted with my weak voice. Lily lifted Luffy's head by his hair and grabbed one of her swords that were nearby. Lily grabbed Luffy's hat and then slammed his face into the cement.
"What is this straw hat doing here?" Lily asked as she observed.
"Give it back!" Luffy and I shouted at the same time. With a devious smile, Lily threw it to the ground and smashed it with her foot. Luffy screamed with terror.
"Lily stop, leave him alone! That's his treasure!" I shouted as loud as I could. With all my might, I struggled to my feet as Lily continued to step on it. Without thinking, I ran to her and dove for the hat so that she won't ruin it anymore. I felt her foot stomp on my back, making me flinch as the pain went through my body.
"I said leave him alone!" I shouted looking up at her. Lily glanced at the two of us.
"You two are pathetic and you call yourselves pirates," Lily teased.
"Pirates that are going to kick your ass," Luffy threatened. Lily stepped over him and lifted Luffy's head by his hair as she grabbed one of her swords that were nearby and placed it upon his neck. I sat up and held onto his hat tightly.
"Lily, please stop,"
"Zoro and I made a deal Jade don't you remember? I kill these two for your life. What's it going to be, his life or yours?" Lily was making this unfair. "If you die this would all be for nothing; Zoro would've died for nothing," Luffy's arm stretched and grabbed his hat. I thought he was going to place on his head but instead plopped it onto mine. Luffy never gave me his hat before and this was a great honor.
"Jade, don't worry about me, run to the house and warn everyone, help them escape to the ship," Lily pushed the sword closer to his neck and lifted his head closer to her.
"Oh, I see you have a scar under your eye Luffy, with stitches. Should I help remove them?" Lily asked as she removed her sword from his neck and up to his eye. Luffy screamed at her to stop.
"I'll save you Luffy!" Marissa shouted as she came through the door. Her arms were outstretched over her as if she was about to take flight. Everyone stared at her as if she was crazy.
"What the hell?" Lily thought out loud.
"Marissa, I thought I told you to stay at the house," Luffy shouted, trying to forget what was about to happen to him. Forgetting about Marissa, Lily was about to dig out the stitches with the tip of the sword. Luffy didn't do anything except wait for the pain that was about to come.
"No Lily please, I'll do anything!" I begged. Lily turned to me with a pissed off look.
"Jade, what did I just say? You don't want Zoro to die in vain do you?" Lily asked, hoping to hear the right answer. In that moment, Luffy pushed her off of him and grabbed her arms, wrapping them behind her back. Luffy turned to me as he struggled to keep Lily in place. Lily got free and grabbed Luffy by the neck, her squeezing getting tighter and tighter as seconds tick by.
"Jade, get Marissa out of here, and keep my treasure safe for me, that's an order!" Luffy stuttered. I nodded, turned to Zoro with a sad look, and after I ran to Marissa's side; I grabbed her arm.
"Jade, what are you doing? We can't leave him behind," Marissa pleaded. I gave her a cold glare, telling her to listen to what I had to say. She said no more and followed me. In the long hallway leading to an unknown destination, my arm ached with pain, I couldn't move it. I held back the tears so I could be strong for Zoro, for Luffy and for Marissa. The tears were threatening to overflow. Giving up the battle, I let them stain my cheeks and fell to my knees. My eyes were puffy and the warm tears left a stinging feeling as they fell. Marissa waited for me to say something.
"Zoro's gone Marissa. He died protecting me," I shouted through my sobs as I held onto the edges of Luffy's hat. I told her everything Lily told me with her plans.
"That's awful," was all Marissa could say and I don't blame her. She doesn't know what it's like to lose someone dear to her.
"The last thing he said to me was that he loved me, if I was able to, there were so many things I needed to say. It feels like my soul was ripped from me when his eyes closed. I can't feel anything and my heart is empty Marissa! He was the love of my life; I was over reacting with this whole ordeal. Lily said that Zoro talked about me all the time. I feel so stupid," I sobbed. Marissa put her arms around my shoulders.
"It's not your fault Jade, you didn't know. If anything, it's Lily's fault for doing this to you guys. I'm sorry you lost him; I know how much you guys mean to each other. If something happened to Luffy, I don't know what I'd do; I'd probably be just like you right now," Marissa assured. I felt so bad for Marissa, knowing she has to deal with me being depressed for the rest of my life.
"I just, don't know what to do," I sobbed; with my good arm I placed my fingers up to my eyes to rub away my tears.
"You got to keep it together, show Zoro how strong you can be," Marissa encouraged. I suddenly heard footsteps and turned around. I quickly stood in front of Marissa protectively. Lily appeared before us with sweat on her brow and was panting. Anger struck through me as I realized that Luffy wasn't right behind her.
"Where's Luffy you bitch?" Marissa asked concerned. Lily's devious laugh echoed through the halls, making an eerie sound that gave us chills. Lily crept closer and I readied myself for an attack, wishing that I had at least one of my swords.
"Don't come any closer!" I threatened as I protected Marissa. My arms twitched as I formed a battle position. The fingers on my left arm struggled to form a furious fist as it screamed at me to stop moving.
"Are you really going to fight me with a broken arm?" Lily chuckled. I was distracted for a bit, thinking on how I was going to fight her.
"Marissa, you are to run to the house you hear me? Warn everyone!" I demanded with me barely looking at her. As she started to run, Lily grabbed my neck and slammed me extremely hard—as if she broken my spine—against the wall. She placed the sword that had Zoro's blood stained on the tip up against my neck.
"One more move and Jade gets it," Lily threatened. Lily's grip was so strong it was making it hard to breathe. I reached for the wall behind me as if I was trying to reach for something that wasn't there. My life was flashing before my eyes, images of my mom comforting me and my friends laughing together were going through my mind. The very first time Zoro and I ever met came into view. He was tied up to a cross and looked dirty, covered with mud and dried blood. Another image of Zoro and I cuddling for the first time came and I started to cry.
"Zoro!" I called through my faint sobs as Lily's grip got tighter. I turned to Marissa, who watched me helplessly.
"He's dead Jade, he can't hear you," Lily teased. Tears were pouring out of my eyes because I didn't want to accept the fact that he was gone, I just couldn't.
"Zoro, help me!" I shouted through my gasps for air. Lily's grip was the tightest she's ever gotten to, it was over, and I was going to die. My eyes closed and waited for what was to come.
"He can't hear you, you dumbass!" Lily shouted back.
"I can hear her loud and clear!" the sound of Zoro's voice forced me to open my eyes and I saw the love of my life standing behind my sister with a pissed off look. I tried to give him a welcoming smile. Lily allowed me to fall and I landed with a thud as I started to cough out of control.
"How is that possible? I should've killed you. This can't be happening," Lily gasped in horror.
"Your sister means everything to me; I would never leave her like this. Now back off before I cut off your hand," Zoro's deep voice was music to my ears. He walked over to me along with Marissa as Lily forced herself to back off to give me some air. Zoro placed his hand on my shoulder, he was real, and it wasn't my imagination. I could feel his hands, his warm, protecting hands.
"Are you alright?" Zoro asked with compassion. He was no longer breathing heavily; I could see him panting but just barely.
"I am now," I said with my eyes filled with love. All I wanted to do was hug him and never let go.
"How about you? I thought you were dead," I asked while placing a hand on his wound.
"I'm fine, hurts like hell but I've been through a lot worse," Zoro patted my head and turned to Lily with this devilish look like he was about to kill her for what she did.
"Zoro, where's Luffy? Is he alright?" Marissa asked with worry. Right on cue, Luffy came running down the halls. Marissa ran into his arms and I watched as the two embraced each other as if they haven't seen each other in decades. Their foreheads touched instantly and they stared into each other's eyes passionately.
"This isn't right; I should've killed both of you! That's not fair!" Lily shouted in denial. Zoro lifted me with my good arm and helped me balance on my feet.
"Luffy, take Jade and Marissa out of here, I'm the one this bitch wants," Zoro ordered. My heart stopped realizing that Zoro doesn't want anyone to help him.
"I'm staying," I demanded back.
"Your girlfriend is a stubborn one isn't she Zoro?" Lily teased. Annoyed, Zoro asked me to stay with Luffy and Marissa and never leave their side and that was the least I could do. I then handed Luffy back his hat. Zoro readied his three swords and waited for Lily to respond.
"Fight me; I know you want to damn it!" Zoro shouted with the sword in his mouth. Lily grabbed her swords and the two charged at each other. On and on they fought but no one was winning. My good hand curved into a fist of fury towards Lily who I no longer considered to be my sister. The battle seemed to go on for hours; no one seemed to know when it would end. Finally, Zoro had the strength to kick Lily down and sent her swords flying.
"Why, Lily?" Zoro asked as he aimed the sword in her face. Lily had this devious grin spread across her face. Was all she could was smile?
"Why damn it?" Zoro shouted again.
"Why, what?" Lily asked with a teasing tone.
"Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends?" Zoro asked with an expression I never saw on his face before. I couldn't tell if it was anger, sadness or agony. Lily began to laugh as she tried to rest on her hands. I wanted to go over there and punch her until she was unconscious but Luffy stopped me.
"Did you honestly think we were friends? I just pretended to be friends because I felt sorry for you, you pathetic idiot and if you want a better reason, well it's because of the bounty that's on your guy's heads. If I kill all four of you, I will be rich. The richest marines captain in the world!" Lily explained with joy. I turned to Zoro to see that he was crushed from what he just heard and I couldn't believe it myself.
"How could you pretend to be his friend? Zoro is the greatest friend in the world and you're doing all of this for money?" I shouted at her.
"So what if I am? After I kill the four of you, I'm going to kill all of your friends, including mom and Luna and please don't make me laugh. I wouldn't think twice on becoming friends with someone like Zoro. " Lily shouted back. Then it hit me like a thousand bricks.
"How can you be so cruel? To us, to our mom, your little sisters, what happened to you while I was gone?" I asked through my tears. I was fed up from all the crying but I couldn't take in what I heard, it was unbearable. Lily just laughed continuously. I turned to Zoro and noticed that he was about to raise his sword.
"This is goodbye Lily," Zoro said coldly as his sword pierced Lily's stomach, well enough that it could instantly kill her. I flinched as I watched her body fall to the floor. Zoro fell to his knees after he pulled the sword out of Lily and began to cry uncontrollably, he reached his hand up to his face to hide his embarrassment. I walked over to him and embraced him with my good arm.
"I don't want you to me like this," Zoro begged. I ignored his request and continued to embrace him. I could feel Marissa and Luffy doing the same. I bet that we all agreed on one thing; that this nightmare was finally over.