Sky found them at the home dojo.

For a heartbeat she stopped in the doorway in front of that sight, trying to catch her breath. Why was she this damn dizzy? Kyler had only punched her a couple of times, it shouldn't have been enough to make her this weak, this nauseous. She could barely stay on her feet, it was stupid to think she could be of any use—

But Sam was on the floor, her breathing was fast and unsteady, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at Tory, who stood over her like an angel of death, glorious in her rage and hate.

In her hands, Tory was swinging a nunchaku. A cold, disgusting fear settled itself in Sky's gut.

"What's wrong with you? Leave her alone!" She forced the words out of her mouth before she could have second thoughts.

Tory turned around, and as she noticed Sky, an evil smirk grew on her lips. Standing there in the middle of the dojo in her bright red top and a skeleton hoodie she looked exactly like a villain of a superhero movie. And to beat the villain, you needed a hero. But with breathtaking clarity, Sky realized she wasn't the hero who could win this fight. She had never been able to beat Tory, not even when she had been fit and trained. The games she had played with Kat a million years ago were nothing but that - children's play. She was no Phoenix, and she didn't have what it would take to win this fight.

Sam was the hero they needed. And Sky could only hope that she could distract Tory long enough for Sam to realize that too.

"Again?" Tory laughed, swinging the nunchaku in the air, showing off her skills. "You just don't learn, do you? Didn't you get enough last time?"

"It doesn't have to be like this, Tory." Sky leaned heavily on the doorway to stay on her feet. "I know you're angry, but this doesn't solve anything—"

"You're wrong! I'm ending this, tonight!"

"Tory, come on. Just— Please, let Sam go."

Tory scoffed. "Please. Begging for mercy like the pussy and the traitor you are."

Sky's nose kept bleeding and she wiped it again. The blood stained the sleeve of her Christmas sweater, the one Kat had given her, the one that said "Naughty AF". Sky remembered that Christmas like it was yesterday, even if it was two years ago. Funny how she remembered that now, at a moment like this - but suddenly that memory was more clear than anything in front of her as if she was peeking through the veil into the past. She could hear Kat's laughter, the sound of the Christmas Carols, could smell the scent of her gingerbread latte and the turkey that Dad was cooking in the kitchen, could see the glittering Christmas tree, the play of the blinking lights on Kat's high cheekbones, the sharp angles of her beautiful face. Kat had given her this sweater, and she had given Kat one too, one that had the text "I'm here for the Ho's". It had made Kat laugh so hard she had almost peed her pants.

Kat.

Her absence was again a raw wound in Sky's heart. More than anything, Sky wished she could turn back the time, erase death, to have Kat here now, by her side. Kat would kick Tory's ass so hard that Tory would never even look in their direction again. But Kat was gone, truly gone now, she had crossed the dark river and Sky would never see her again, not before she died, and—

And her mind was slipping, her head felt heavy and slow, it ached so that she was seeing stars. The taste of blood was thick in her mouth and her breathing felt strained, forced.

Tory let out a snort as she looked at her miserable state. It was clear she didn't see Sky as a threat - Hell, they both knew she was in no shape to fight. With a sneer, Tory turned back to Sam and swiftly swung her weapon in the air, then brought it down and it hit Sam in the face. Sam whimpered and backed off in panic, unable to do anything to defend herself.

"I said, leave her alone!" Sky yelled again, her voice breaking, but this time Tory didn't even turn to look. She raised the nunchaku again, ready to strike—

Sky didn't even stop to think. Maybe she couldn't fight, but fuck it, she wasn't going to just stand and watch how her friend got murdered! Not again. Never again.

She grabbed the large, potted plant that was next to the door, and with a fierce cry brought it down on Tory's head. The ceramic pot cracked, dirt and leaves flew in the air, covering Tory's blond hair, her clothes, the floor.

"You bitch!" Tory swirled around, bringing a hand to the back of her head. Her fingers came back bloody and dirty. "Oh, you'll regret this—!"

But Sky turned her eyes to Sam. "Sam, get up! Now! You can do it! I know you can–!"

Sam's eyes were wide, her lips trembled. Sky didn't know if she could even hear her. She wanted to go to Sam, to help, but Tory stood between them looking at Sky with burning eyes, blood dripping down her blond locks to her skeleton hoodie. A sudden wave of hopelessness hit Sky, taking all her strength. There was blood on Tory's hands, in her hair - but Sky knew that wound wasn't serious. With her stupid weak arm, she hadn't even managed to put enough force behind the blow to knock her out, and now all was lost.

To give Sam one more chance to have time to get up, Sky tried to back away towards the door, but her right leg was dragging a lot worse than in a long time and she stumbled.

There were no last words. Tory's face twisted with rage when she raised her weapon. The nunchaku cut through the air in a swift arc, hitting Sky in the head, right in the spot where her skull had fractured four months ago.

The darkness claimed her before she even hit the floor.