Supposed To Be Me (Shadow x Reader)

Your spirit was watching their interaction with a throbbing heart. You never thought about what Maria and Shadow's lives would be like after you saved her. Actually, you had completely forgotten about her illness. As depressing as it was, you knew for a fact that there was nothing you could have done to cure that illness. Not one thing.

Except...

Ugh. That little voice in the back of your mind continued to nag at you. It kept on squawking that there was ONE way to save Maria from her illness. An incredibly simple solution, really. The chaos emeralds must still be scattered throughout the world, right? And in the same places! You knew where each one was hiding, and you could remember who possessed which ones. There was a green emerald in the city. One in the mountains. Another in the G.U.N. base. Two with Gilbert and Barrett. One in a shipwreck. And lastly, the infamous purple-colored emerald nestled on the Ark somewhere.

If you could just find a way to communicate this information to Shadow, then he would be able to make that one wish to save her from her illness! Finally, a way you can contribute!

In the previous timeline, Maria's spirit communicated to you through dreams... somehow. You tried to replicate what she did, but you weren't entirely sure how the whole 'transfer thoughts, feelings, and memories' thing worked. You tried talking to Shadow. Then yelling. Oh yeah, you don't have lungs. Then you tried to telekinetically force your thoughts on him. No luck. You tried every stupid method you could think of, even headbutting his physical form with your ghostly, ethereal one. Still nothing.

It wasn't until you thought back to the last timeline again that you realized what you were missing. Maria! Maybe she was the only one capable of receiving your thoughts. It must be a weird twin thing. You both shared so much, even the same thoughts, on occasion. But the Earth's bacteria would quickly overtake her system... You would have to be fast and pray Shadow is faster.

–Day 2 On Earth–

Maria's POV

Cold... And hot. And hot and cold.

Against her will, Shadow did take Maria to a hospital. She could hardly blame him for wanting to preserve her life... In reality, when she said she would live out the rest of her life as she saw fit, she knew it was a terrible lie. Her body would crumble in a matter of days outside these white walls. Maria knew that forcing Shadow to let her roam freely would tear him up inside. And so, putting away all selfishness, Maria let Shadow decide what was best.

From in her hospital bed, she could feel her immune system flaring to life and trying to fight back against the surrounding elements. It was failing. The air was so fresh, but she knew that every breath would bring her closer to death. Flu and fever would be first. Then tuberculosis. Dark blotchy skin, diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, tumors... Then her nervous system would give out and would prevent her from being able to move. She'd be like a doll, unable to move on her own. Her mind would be the next to fade as she would inevitably fall into a thoughtless stupor from her amalgamation of illnesses. No thoughts... Only pain. There would be nothing to stop the sickness from invading her extremely weak immune system due to a lack of antibodies. Such is the life of someone with both HIV/AIDS and various neurocutaneous syndromes. A deadly duo, indeed. The name 'Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Disorder' was just Gerald's way of combining the two. For whatever reason, the low gravity on the ARK was one of the main factors that kept her relatively healthy. The Earth's heavy atmosphere made her feel weak and frail. Shadow could see the life draining from her with each and every second that would pass.

Maria knew she had two weeks at best.

Shadow never left her side. He would bring her items from the outside to her like cute little bugs and flowers. Sometimes the bugs would get loose, and he'd have to sit through a scolding from the head nurse. Shadow never seemed to mind too much. On other occasions, he would tell uplifting stories. Ones with happy endings, miracle flowers, and true love. Maria appreciated his efforts, as fruitless as they were. It was only the second day, and Shadow was progressively becoming more and more anxious... No doubt the doctors were telling him she was already doomed.