Time is up

The girl felt weak in her knees when she saw her brother, who was just fourteen years old at the time, Mai lowered her head, knowing that her brother was in danger because of her and she clenched her right fist and gritted her teeth as her friends turned towards her. 

Her brother called out to her and she looked at the car he came with, she scoffed, realizing who was the actual mastermind behind what was happening and the person with the shadow, lowered their head. 

"I see the plan now, you don't care if you kill him in the process, I have to say, I expected better, but even you were manipulated," She said as one of the men rushed towards her brother. 

"No... Don't hurt him!" She shouted as she dashed off and jumped in front of her brother, causing the knife to pierce her from behind and her eyes widened and the person in the shadows gasped. 

"Mai..." Sally asked as her eyes trembled and blood streamed down the girl's lips as her brother stared at her with his eyes widened and he held onto her as she was about to fall. 

"Mai...." He mumbled as she glanced at him and then exhaled deeply. 

"You are okay... My little brother... " She mumbled and someone grabbed onto the guy that stabbed her and pulled him away from her then punched him to the ground. 

"Mai!"He called out as she fell on her knees and he grabbed onto her as the others approached them. 

The one that held her, was none other than the person she was talking to, hiding in the shadows. 

"Sis, what's wrong?" Her brother asked as he was about to peek at her back and she covered his eyes with her hand and he began trembling. 

"I never wanted any of it... Just so you know, it seems as though, you have been manipulated... Cousin, I love you like my own brother as well... This was not... Expected..." She said as she began coughing and her brother fell on his knees before her as he saw the blood on the ground. 

"What happened?" Her brother asked as he removed her hand from his face and she looked at him then smiled. 

"I will be fine, don't worry," She responded. 

"The ambulance will be here soon," Her friend said as she glanced at her cousin, who held onto her tightly and she lowered her gaze as tears came to her eyes. 

'How did things end up like this? I am starting to lose consciousness. Will everything be alright?' She wondered then remembered how strong her sister was as well. 

"Sister, I am so sorry, this happened because of me, none of it wouldn't have happened if not for me," He said as he cried and a slight smile appeared on her face as her cousin tried to stop the bleeding and she scoffed. 

"W- What happened here?" A woman asked as she approached them with a shocked look on her face as she stared at them. 

"Mai..." She mumbled as she went to the girl, the woman was none other than the one who her brother came with, as well as the mother of her cousin and she glanced at the woman and then smiled. 

'I was right, these bastards...My little brother... Please I don't want them to get away with this... To protect my family, they have to go,' She thought then looked at her cousin, who glanced away from her with tears in his eyes. 

"Protect my brother, I don't want him to end up like me... Please, it's the least you can do..." She mumbled then her brother hugged her as he was crying, worrying that his sister might not make it. 

"Sister, please wait..."

The girl hugged him tightly and whispered something in his ear and he exhaled deeply as she fell unconscious and he gasped. 

"Sister!" 

"Hey, you have to stay awake, don't sleep," Her cousin said as her brother tapped her face and they exchanged glances as the woman looked at her, with her eyes narrowed. 

'Is there a way to get rid of that person? To keep him from meeting the same fate?' She wondered as she was drifting away and saw nothing but darkness around her. 

[Do you want a little bit more time? That's not possible, make use of the little you have left, to protect your family.]

'Am I hearing things now?' She wondered as the ambulance came as well as the police and she was taken away, while the others were arrested.

Her friends along with her family members that were present there, went to the hospital and the others were informed later to come, when they saw her in the ICU, they were devasted, worried if she would make it and hoped she would. 

As they were waiting outside of her room, her brother was crying, praying for his sister to live, since to him, nothing else mattered more, that was just how close they were as siblings, they were always there for each other, always supported each other, no matter what life there at them and he couldn't bear to lose her. 

"Sis... I am sorry, I couldn't protect you like you protected me, I am sorry... Please live..." Her brother mumbled and his mother patted him on his shoulder and his father sighed as he looked around them. 

'Please... Don't be so cruel, let the kid live...' Her father thought, even though he looked like someone who was quite cold, he cared dearly for his children. 

A little while later, after the girl heard the unknown voice saying that she should let go of her current life and had fallen unconscious, she saw herself floating in a dark abyss and she knew that he wouldn't survive and only prayed for one thing and that was to keep her family safe. 

[Your time has come, you have little left.]

Tears ran down the girl's cheeks as she regained consciousness and saw her family by her side as well as friends, crying for they knew as well that she would not make it and her brother held onto her hand tightly and she smiled at him. 

"I am sorry... Looks like I won't be here for your birthday my sweet little brother, I am sorry, also... Father you were right, protect my family, there are snakes among them.... Goodbye, love...." She mumbled before the machine began beeping as she took her last breath.