Operation M.I.A: Missing in Action (IN NEED OF REVISING)

Chapter XXIII (TRIGGER WARNING)

Avery stops in place and slowly turns to face Brielle, her face blushing in embarrassment. "Um... whoops..."

SEAN

"So... school?"

"It sucks."

"Fair enough," I laugh.

"Okay, but, pre-algebra is literally the worst," Mia frowns.

"It's not that hard," Shanna says.

"Well, you're in algebra one, so you can't say anything."

I glance over at Mackenzie, who has been pretty silent. "Hey, Mackenzie, you doing okay? You seem... well, NOT okay."

"I'm fine," she sighs, although she looks the exact opposite of that.

"Yeah, you've been kinda distant. What's got my favorite sister so down in the dumps?" Mia pipes in, already getting ahead of the rest of us. I've noticed Mia always walks in front of groups, rather than standing in or around them.

"Aren't I your only sister?"

"That, Mackenzie, is beyond the point," Mia laughs.

Music: Shower of Stars from Otomedius Excellent

In the distance, I spot a group of figures. I can't tell how many people there are, but it looks like there's about three. "Looks like we have company."

The figures start to move closer and closer to us. They reveal themselves to be three men, somewhere between the ages of 40 and 50. Their faces are half-shaven, and they're all wearing dark-colored sweaters.

"Ey, look what we got here, Tom," the shortest (and chubbiest) of the three smirks, nudging the tallest of the three in the rib.

"Mhm, I see what you're getting at, Stan," the tall man replies, nodding.

"Those are the most generic names I've heard in my entire fucking life," Mia smirks, rolling her eyes.

I'm not sure if that comment is what sets the men off or not. Either way, the currently unnamed one charges at her and has her arms pinned behind her back in no time.

"Hey! Stop being a dick!" Mia yells, trying to get away.

For whatever reason, the man halts for a moment. Tom snickers, although I'm not sure why.

"A little help would be appreciated!" Mia retorts.

So I do what any reasonable person would do in this situation and lunge for the man holding Mia. I manage to knock Mia free of his grasp and tackle him to the ground, throwing several blows at him. To the side, I hear Shanna and Mackenzie also getting into struggles with the other two men.

"You messed with the wrong people," Mackenzie growls at Stan, dodging a punch. Through the commotion, I can just vaguely hear the voices from our other friends, asking what's going on. Sadly, it isn't long before my opponent gains an advantage on me and hoists me up to my feet. Tom and Stan are able to accomplish the same with Shanna and Mackenzie.

Up until now, I'd lost track of Mia. All of a sudden, I hear a clicking noise, and there she is with her gun drawn.

"Alright, fuckers. This was fun, but I'm done playing around. Now, y'all can either go along and leave us be, or you can get a bullet to the brain. Which would you prefer?" She smirks, oozing arrogance.

Tom and Stan choose neither option. Instead, Tom throws me in front of him, and Stan uses Shanna and Mackenzie as shields too. Mia frowns, but soon looks confused. I also notice that the third, unnamed goon has vanished.