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Early on, Melissa was the biggest problem. Everyone outside of the household assumed she was dead, and it was very important that it was kept that way. Hiding a small child, especially under the rules and surveillance they were stuck with, wasn’t exactly easy. But they managed, like they always managed anything unexpected.
And then they got into the resistance, started organising a small group and going out on missions, and things got even more dangerous. If they were ever caught, they were dead. And then what would happen to the kids? But taking down Doofenshmirtz was important, so they risked it.
It wasn’t even them who figured out the real danger first. It was someone else in the resistance, who had overheard something from someone, who overheard it from someone else, who decided to pass it on. “I think you’re in danger, sir, ma’am.” He had begun, when there was no one else in the room, just them and Sara. “All of you, I mean. I heard something, they’re not keen on your condition.”
“On Murphy’s Law?” Mr Murphy had asked, eyebrows furrowed.
“Yeah. I don’t really know anything, I’m just passing on what I heard, but watch yourselves.” The man had said. “And watch the kid, because if it’s Murphy’s Law they have a problem with…”
Then it was Martin and Milo in the most danger.
They didn’t really know what to do with that information. They discussed running, going underground, but it never went anywhere, not when they had so else much going on. And not long after that hurried, confused warning, it happens.
They get a message ahead of time, but not long ahead of time. So they run to shake the children awake. “Guys, time to get up. Get dressed, quickly. Sara can you get Diogee? Good girl.”
Milo and Melissa are so young, but despite that they soon leave their bleary states when they realise how serious the situation is. They get up and get dressed, take only the essentials, are easily ushered out the back door and out of the garden. They hurry away, heading for a safe hideout that they know of.
The Normbots arrive. They all have to prepare for a fight.
———
“Milo!”
Milo turns and runs over to her, face flushed with adrenaline. They grab onto each other’s hands, squeezing tightly in their panic. “You’re ok!” Melissa exclaims. They got separated in the fight. She was with Sara, before, but now she can’t find her either.
“So are you!” Milo’s face shines with relief, which must be reflected on her own face. “Are they- are mom and dad and Sara-“
“Sara’s ok.” Melissa says immediately. “I haven’t seen your parents. But I’m sure they’re fine. We need to run.”
Milo nods, so they start running. Hand in hand they sprint through the streets, hearts beating far too fast in their throats. Their feet pound off of the ground, one after the other, focusing on nothing other than getting away. Their legs begin to cry out to stop, they ignore them. Their lungs feel like bursting, they ignore them.
Milo hears the sound behind them and yanks Melissa down just before a laser flies right through the air where they had been standing. They jump up and start running again, but their way forward is cut off.
They try to run back the way they came, but now they have to dodge lasers flying their way, and they keep stumbling, and the Normbots move easily to completely enclose them. They’re trapped.
They have to fight, they have no choice. And of course they have been trained, they know how to fight Normbots. But they have been practicing on each other and their friends, which is a far cry from fighting real Normbots. They do the best they can, dodging lasers and hitting back, and it’s going ok. They’ll get away, they’ll get away. This will be fine.
“Melissa!”
She spins around to see Milo has been grabbed by a Normbot. He is struggling fiercely, but the robot is still holding him. She rushes forward, reaches out to grab his hand. “Milo!”
The Normbot moves, Milo’s hand is yanked from her grasp. She cries out his name, lunges to grab him again, but she can’t. The Normbot is out of reach. She starts to sprint, yelling desperately, but she can’t catch up.
Milo is also yelling. She has never seen Milo really, truly panicking before, but he is panicking now. Crying out. Yelling for help. She yells back. “I’m coming! It’s alright! It’ll be ok!”
She runs and runs, yells and yells, but she is slowing and the Normbot is getting farther and farther away. Her legs give away and she falls to the floor, on her knees. “No, come back! Milo!” She cries out in a voice hoarse with screaming.
“Meliss-“
And now she can’t hear him anymore.
———
A hand touches her shoulder. “Melissa? Melissa, you’re alright!” Sara’s voice, thick with grief but also relieved. She also hears a bark, feels something nudge her, and knows Diogee is here too. “Where’s Milo?”
Melissa can’t say anything. Her voice is gone, her will to move or speak or think was taken away with Milo.
“Melissa? Melissa, where’s Milo?” Sara asks again, panic leeching into her voice now. “Melissa? Answer me! Melissa!”
“Gone…” Melissa mutters, numbly realising that she is crying. “They got him. He’s gone.”
Sara makes a funny, choked noise. She half sits, half collapses next to Melissa. “No, he can’t…”
“He is.” Melissa murmurs, wiping her face. More tears immediately replace the ones she wiped away. “I was… I was right there, I should’ve stopped them! I should’ve saved him! I should’ve… I should’ve…” He lowers her head onto the rough ground, a sob easily sneaking out of her. She hugs her arms tightly, digging her fingers into her arms.
Diogee whines loudly, padding around.
“They got mom and dad too.” Sara mutters, her voice so thick with tears that it is hard to understand. She absently pets Diogee. “They’re dead. I saw them…” She trails. “We’re alone.”
All Melissa can answer with is another strangled, heartbroken sob. And then another, and another, and now the sobs are coming so fast that she can barely breathe through them. They’re alone. He’s gone. They’re alone. He’s gone.