#asteraceaex

   “Shit... Dammit,” she swore, looking suddenly too pale. Sickly, even. Iris leapt to her feet, unsure what to do. Logic told her she had to rush off to the phone, but her emotions...she didn’t want to leave Dahlia alone. What does one do...?

   “D-Dahlia,” she whined, tears bubbling up in her eyes. Like hundreds of times before, falling to her sibling’s guidance. “Wh-what do I...?”

   “...Don’t go.” It’s all her twin has to say for Iris to drop back down to her knees, pull Dahlia close, and hold on. Their hair creating a sort of...two-part, uneven curtain to their faces. A show that had always been about them, Dahlia commanding the stage and Iris happily being her twin’s shadow.

   Anything to show Dahlia that she was never alone.Just like now.

   “I’m here... I’m here,” Iris soothed, not caring for the thought of if blood might get on her clothes with how Dahlia coughed. She was there and- in a moment that would likely have Missy proud- had already thought ahead.

   She was sure of each step. The way the world would work, who she needed to talk to after this and other such things. Whoever had done this to her sibling... They would pay. Pay in the way of the law and she’d insist on only the best to bring that person in for as long as possible.

   ...One of the only times in Iris’ life she could claim for being so angry towards one human being.

   “This is why...you don’t...trust people, Rissy,” Dahlia hissed, her voice still somehow venomous-sounding despite the effort it took to speak. That poison was...really doing a number on her, huh? Iris’ heart squeezed painfully at a memory... Was this...intentionally based off of that...?

   “Who gave it to you?” Her voice is smooth, but Dahlia seems...to give a shaky laugh at the tone.

   “You gonna kill for me, sis...?”

   “I can’t. Nor will ever...but I will get them for you. They’ll get what they deserve.” Iris pressed a kiss to her sibling’s head and- for a moment- freaked when she stilled.

   “...Still so tender hearted...” Dahlia grumbled, but relented. “I’m not...entirely sure. There was something that...happened on my way here, though... I met someone. They looked...familiar. They bumped into me, nearly knocked me over. Thought I wouldn’t realize they were following me for quite the ways...” She hissed, scowling just out of Iris’ view. “Damn...”

   “I’ll find out who it was. I’ll get them for doing this to you.” Dahlia burst into another coughing fit, Iris wincing at the harsh sound.

   “G-Get ‘em... Bastard shouldn’t...get away with this...” Her words were slurring. Iris held on tighter, tried to pull her sibling’s body closer. Dahlia was slowly losing consciousness, her body going slack. “...You’ll miss me...won’t you, Maggie?”

   “If nobody else, you’ll always have me, Bee,” Iris managed to reply, voice choking up and tears blinding her vision. No, she...! She wanted to still...

   Another coughing fit, a sigh, and it was silent. Her body went limp and was impossibly heavy in Iris’ hold. Shock made the now sole surviving twin sit there for a moment, colors blurring together in a twisted painting that had things speckled red that shouldn’t be...