"R-ringo? Wh-what are you…"

Before another word could escape my lips, I sensed a presence behind her. The blinding light that enveloped us seemed to emanate from this luminous being. Her skin, pure white and almost grey, was adorned with thin fabrics reminiscent of Grecian gods. Golden runes covered her arms, and along her slender neck, intricately woven patterns writhing against her flawless skin. Despite her ethereal beauty, there was a coldness radiated from her almond-shaped clear silver eyes.

She looked at me, or rather through me, before lowering her gaze towards Ringo. A coral-like speech pierced my heart like a sharp, icy dagger. The words a gentle song of doom befalling my ears.

"Let us go now…" The being spoke

"RINGO! WAIT!" I couldn't help but shout, driven by a surge of panic.

At the sound of my voice, Ringo hesitated. She turned slowly, her small frame trembling slightly. The expression on her face was one I had never seen before; it was a mixture of fear, sadness, and an inexplicable resolve. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, and her lips trembled as she attempted a brave, yet pained, smile.

"Ringo, what's happening? Mother... she's gone," I managed to say, my voice cracking with emotion, struggling to articulate the swirling turmoil inside me. I just wanted to keel over and cry. But I couldn't, not when the world had gone mad. I needed her more than anything, my twin sister. I needed her.

For a fleeting moment, a flash of sorrow crossed her face. But then, to my astonishment, her expression shifted to one of determination. She bit her lip forcefully, her eyes shimmering and unsteady, unable to meet mine directly. And then she spoke, her words leaving me almost breathless and even more empty.

"Sho... Shoba. 

I'm so sorry.

 But I must go... I...I have to do this...G-g-goodbye."

Ringo's words arrived like an arrow slamming into my heart. She then turned and stepped into the portal with a haunting finality. Watching her walk away, disbelief and desperation seized me. Seeing this, I was left almost incredulous. Something snapped inside of me, jolting me out of my daydreams, and I rushed forward. 

I had taken only three steps before a feeling of impending doom overwhelmed me. I remember feeling light as if my footsteps were treading on clouds. I also recall that smile from the godly figure beside her. It wasn't a pleasant smile, nor the kind one might give effortlessly to a passing stranger. It seemed almost tainted, mocking me in the same way a lion might smirk at the sight of a tiny insect prickling against its paw.

She waved an arm towards me, and suddenly, a fountain of carmine sprayed vibrantly through the air. My body turned to lead, feeling the weight of a hundred arms pressing against my back, forcing me down. As my body met the coarse, carpeted ground, my vision blurred upon impact. 

'Ah...Am I...dying?' I could only ask myself

Darkness began to encroach from the corners of my gaze, pulling me into the waters of unconsciousness. My last conscious sight was Ringo, her face distorted with horror, reaching out to me, her cries muffled by the presence of the ethereal figure blocking her path.

The world around me faded into silence soon enough, and I became acutely aware of the slow, labored beats of my heart.

'ba-dum...ba-dum...ba...dum...b...ba...d-dum...'ba...d...du-dum.'

In those final moments of consciousness, thoughts of my mother and Ringo swirled in my mind, a silent apology forming in my heart.

'Mother… Ringo…D-dad... I'm so sorry...for being... weak.'