Everything's hazy...I can't see anything...My body feels like it's in agony...

"Ugh... agent Skye? Ocean?" I call out for them. I hear no response from either of them, making me concerned...

"Jules? Where are you?" Same again, no reply...

Although, despite my blurred vision, I can make out 2 figures:

One laying beside me, unconscious, and the other walking up to us.

"Kid, hey...wake up..." I reach out my hand, despite the blood and nudge her shoulder.

She's unresponsive. I then feel my arm strain as I'm picked up by brute force.

"Hmph, look at him Tina. Not even worth it to kill him. He's already close to it." A familiar voice boasts, looking at me in my eyes.

"Agent Brutus? TnTina? You're... alive?" I ask, shocked.

"We aren't YOUR agents. Never were. It was clear after you abandoned us you never cared in the first place." Tina spits, whilst Brutus throws me over to a broken window, a shard of glass piercing through my back in the process.

"Now grab the kid and let's get outta here. We can forget the other girl, she ain't worth it no more."

Brutus picks up Sophie's unconscious body and the two begin to make their way to the choppa.

*****************************************

Despite the agonizing pain in his back, Midas finds the strength to get up onto his feet, using the wall for support. He pulls out the revolvers from his vest and shoots 2 bullets at Brutus, pushing him down to his knees and dropping Sophie.

"I will not let you take her away from me." He groans, stumbling over to Brutus and TnTina.

"Save your breath goldie. You lost this war months ago." Tina growls, throwing a grenade in his path as it blows up, knocking him onto his knee once more.

"This war will end... when I say it ends."

Without warning, Midas leaps at Tina, punching her in the face, knocking her out cold.

Then he makes his way to Brutus, stretching out his hand, soiled in blood.

"I think...you will make a grand addition to my collection. All the people who have wronged me, apposed me..."

Before he can react, Midas places his hand on Brutus' head, turning him to solid gold instantly. Seeing this, the shadow henchmen still alive take TnTina's body and retreat.

Midas brings his attention to the child lying in the shallow murky waters.

"Don't worry, you're... you're going to be ok..." He mutters, using the strength he has left to pick her up.

Stumbling as he walks, Midas' breath begins to waiver, losing the strength to fight back against the pain.

"No... I won't die... not now..."

Falling to the ground, he begins to cough up specs of blood as his vision starts to fade.

"I....won't.....die........"

*****************************************

The voice was so deafening, Midas covers his ears as he wakes up. But...where is he? From the looks of things, he's stuck in some kind of black void, far too quiet for his liking.

"Where am I? This place is... strange..." He mutters to himself, sitting up. "Wait, if I'm here...oh god, am I dead?!" His anxiety begins to rise, as does the gold on his wrists.

The voice sighs.

A small golden light appears before the man, catching him by surprise.

"Who are you?"

It chuckles, the light circling him.

"So, are you..."

The star then glows brighter, and is then replaced by a golden skeletal figure, holding a staff and wearing a crown and cape.

"Oro...why am I here? Where am I in the real world?" Midas asks, clearly confused.

Oro forms a mirror, showing him unconscious on a hospital bed, being treated by his many henchmen and Remedy. He catches Jules in the background, crying into Skye's shoulder.

"Jules..."

Oro sighs, the mirror fading away.

"What about her? Is she okay?" Midas panics.

Oro warns him, circling around him, a boney hand on his shoulder.

"Please Oro, I've lived through worse things. She'll be safe under mine and Ghost's protection." Midas tells the god, confident.

The golden king forms yet another mirror, only this time, it shows Sophie also unconscious in a hospital bed.

"Oro, I made a promise to her. That I'd keep her out of harm's way. It's just...she refuses to listen sometimes... thinking my life is worth more than hers.... when it isn't..." Midas admits, drowning in his own self-hatred.

"But believe when I say that she'll be safe with me...no matter what..."

He sighs, a golden light surrounding Midas.

*****************************************

Later...

Light begins to seep through his eyelids, causing them to flutter open.

"Ow, ugh...where am I?"

Midas tries to get up, but is forced back down by the gravity and the pain that has still refused to subside. Turning his head to the right, he notices a window showing darkness creeping over the horizon, that and rain pouring down very harshly.

"Oh right... I'm in the medical room."

At that moment, Remedy and Jules step into the room.

"Jules you're overreacting, he's going to be ok-" She stops upon finding Midas half awake.

"Midas! You're alright!" Jules rushes to his side, tears forming in her eyes. "Oh god, I was so worried about you. You nearly got yourself killed out there."

"It...it was nothing. I'm okay, really." He sighs, wiping her eyes.

"Okay? Jeez Midas, you were about to knock on death's door! You're thankful me and Skye got to you and the kid's side! I don't want to lose you again..."

Tears stream down Jules' face as she buries her head in her brother's shoulder.

"Wait a minute...where is she?" Midas asks, patting his sister's shoulder.