Somewhere in Memphis, Tennessee…

It hurt. That's all he knew. Lying on the cold, slick hex-tile floor, he coughed as he felt the pain in his chest become more tense. The burning sensation in his upper torso made his breathing difficult. Squeezing his eyes shut, he coughed as his breaths slowly but surely became less and less. Luckily, the laser bolt had penetrated right through a thick glass panel before it hit him. A thin line of red trickled down towards the left side strap of his yellow colored backpack as he coughed breathlessly. But with each breath he took, he whimpered as his whole body shook. He then turned his head to his right, and lying right next to him was his best friend, a blue colored hedgehog. From the way he took it all in, the little fox could tell that his hedgehog friend had also been hit by a laser. Tails stretched a gloved paw out for his friend. Turning his head slightly, Sonic opened an eye and, in an instant, saw his young friend straighten his head and gag, eyes shut tight.

'No no no no no. I can't lose you.'

A moment later, the hedgehog moaned as the pain in his lower right side started flaring up again, right where she had shot him before she too shot his best friend. The cobalt blue hedgehog only watched as his little friend fought for his life with each passing breath. The kit's bangs shook each time he coughed or gagged. Sonic weakly stretched a paw towards Tails' limp one, barely getting it in the fox's. The kit quickly took hold of Sonic's as he continued his coughing fit. As it subsided, Tails weakly opened his eyes, turned his head, and locked eyes with Sonic; sky blue ones staring into emerald green eyes. The two young friends– no, scratch that; two brothers kept their gaze on each other as their eyes slowly closed, each other's breathing hitched with difficulty. Sonic and Tails looked away from one another, straightened their heads as each coughed. The hedgehog, once done with his coughing fit, looked back towards the fallen little fox. Tails' eyes were fluttering as he tried to remain conscious, his right paw clenched into a fist as his right arm was laid across the spot on his chest where she shot him. The hedgehog then attempted to inch closer to his little friend, but stopped as the familiar pain in his side returned.

"Hang on Tails, I'm coming…" he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Tails, meanwhile, turned his head, cocked it slightly, and weakly stretched a paw out as his eyes fluttered. The fox's breaths became more hitched as he tried to move on the textiled obsidian black colored floor.

"Sonic… I'm not… gonna… make… it…"

The cobalt hedgehog ceased all movement as he heard Tails' hoarse voice reach his ears. That was the last thing he expected to hear from his best friend.

"Tails, just hold on… *cough* *cough* *cough*... a little longer…"

Sonic's heart shattered as he heard the little two-tailed tod whimper and pant for much needed breath. The hedgehog turned his head again and saw that Tails had cocked his head more straight and had closed his eyes, the little kit moaning as he took uneven, short breaths, his little chest heaving up and down as he struggled to get air into his lungs. Sonic took a hold of Tails' paw, the young fox squeezing it in return. Eventually, the kit cocked his head in Sonic's direction and locked eyes with him.

"If… we die… *cough*-" Tails choked.

"We'll… die, t-together…" Sonic finished.

The hedgehog and the fox then barely let go of their paws as they stared up at the glass ceiling. Tails slowly closed his fluttering eyes as the pain in his chest became unbearable. Sonic looked over again and shed a tear as he saw his young friend pass out after taking a shaky breath. Sonic knew full well that unless help came, they would pass from this life and into the next. The last thing he saw was the glowing city lights of Memphis, Tennessee reflecting off the glass ceiling. And the last thing he heard was a group of familiar voices call out he and Tails' names. Then… the cobalt hedgehog passed out.