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“Fandroid? Fandroid, can you hear me? Fandroid!”
My voice is hoarse from screaming, my footsteps echoing through the halls of ADHOC. I can barely think straight, Fandroid being the only thing on my mind. After hearing Beep-O's message, I returned to the panic room to find it empty, just as empty as it had been when I had left for the vents. I knew that on one hand, Fandroid and Frogbot were most likely making their way back to the panic room, but that didn’t stop the awful feeling deep in my gut, the feeling that told me that something was very, very wrong.
And that feeling quickly intensified once I saw Frogbot’s other arm on the floor, sitting in not a puddle, not a pool, but a sea of blood, and I just knew—I knew Frogbot was gone.
And I knew Fandroid was all alone, while 404 was on the prowl.
“Fandroid? Fandroid, where are you?” My thoughts are spiraling, and I can only think of the worst, of all the worst-case scenarios to ever exist in this situation. “Come on, little bro, it’s just good ol’ Mel! If you can hear me, just say something!”
I’ll be honest, I didn’t really like Fandroid at first. I met him when I was sixteen, when I crashed into his room one day. Of course, having never met anyone besides the scientists that wandered around ADHOC (well, used to wander around, at least), Fandroid was ecstatic, bugging me with so many questions that I could barely keep up with them all.
I just saw him as some annoying little kid. Looking back, I know it wasn’t his fault, he was barely twelve at the time, and never really had anyone to talk to—the scientists never really gave him too much attention, and there weren’t any other robots like him around. Really, our friendship started because I felt sorry for him.
But over time, Fandroid grew on me. Sure, I messed with him sometimes, but he was so important to me. People might call us best friends, but to me? Fandroid is the little brother that I never had, the little brother I never knew I needed.
And I need to find him.
I need to find my little brother.
I need to find him before—
“M...Melody...?”
My breath catches in my throat, and I turn on my heels.
Oh.
Oh, no.
Fandroid’s lying in a crumbled heap on the floor, his headphones broken, cane snapped in pieces, both items scattered nearby, as if they’d been haphazardly thrown to the side. He was all beaten up and bruised, blood and tears dripping down his face.
“Fandroid!” I gasp, rushing over to him and scooping him up in my arms. “Oh my God—listen, it’s going to be okay, alright? I’m here now, I got you.”
“Melody,” Fandroid whimpers, his voice barely audible. “It hurts.”
That’s when I notice the blood, seeping through his shirt, staining the fabric bright red.
“Fuck,” I hiss through clenched teeth, before looking back at Fandroid. “Fandroid? Fandroid, look at me. You’re going to be okay, alright? Your big sis isn’t going anywhere.”
“I’m sorry,” he mumbles, slurring his words. “I’m sorry, Mel. I shouldn’t have...I’m so sorry.”
He didn’t have to clarify. I knew what he meant.
“It’s okay, little bro. I’m sorry too,” I whisper softly. “I never should have said that stuff to you.” I gently kiss the top of his forehead, tears falling onto his face. He only blinked slowly, not reacting much to it.
“...Melody?”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“...You’re the greatest big sister ever. I love you.”
“I love you, too, bud. And you’re going to be fine, okay? We just need to get you all patched up, and then—” I trail off, noticing that Fandroid’s eyes had closed, his body still, unnaturally still.
Almost as if he were...
“Fandroid?” I croak out, gently shaking my little brother’s limp, lifeless body. “Fandroid!?”
His head fell limply to the side, his hand falling limply to the ground.
“No,” I whisper, tears pouring down my face as I hold Fandroid close. His body was still warm, but any sign of light and life had ebbed away.
I barely registered the scream that escaped my throat, tears pouring down my face as I cling to my little brother’s body, shoulders shaking as I sob uncontrollably.
404.
404 did this.
He took him.
He took Fandroid away from me.
He took away my sweet, lively little brother, who always tried to keep on a smile for the ones he loved, who loved writing and making songs, who enjoyed cracking jokes and making people laugh.
That lively boy was gone, reduced to nothing but a cold, lifeless corpse in my hands.
And nothing would ever bring him back.
“404,” I choke out between sobs, my trembling hands grasping onto Fandroid’s jacket. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”