Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 9

"Of course. If I ever catch that other, I will make sure he pays," Jayden said and then gave a nod to the blind man. "Whenever you are. I do hope the other villagers do not think we attacked her."

Kira stayed still for a bit, before exhaling. "Can you p-promise me something...?" she asked quietly.

---

"I hope..." Heidi mumbled, starting to doubt her own logic. What if something went wrong with the watch, and Ade's soul had escaped?

"I agree, on both accounts. No one hurts my little team-mates," Tom growled, the surrounding blurring as they whizzed back to the village. He let out his huge calming Flow to let Heidi know they'd arrived back.

-----

"Of course, what is it?" Luke asked apprehensively.

Once they were within the range of Ade's watch, her body began to move.

Jayden noticed the body out of the corner of his eye.

Did...she just move...?

"Then...there'd be nothing we could do," Paul said softly, trying not to scare Heidi.

Heidi stood up abruptly, carefully handing the pocket watch back to Paul. "Tom's back," she explained quickly. "Need to see him." With that, she ran towards the source of his Flow.

---

"C-Can you stay with me? For as long as w-we're together?" Kira asked a bit reluctantly.

"I'd love to," Luke replied with a soft smile.

------

Tom nodded.

"Sure felt like it," he said, turning to face Heidi. He figured he'd let her make the first move and he'd reply.

Paul nodded, following after her.

When Tom came into view, Heidi did the natural thing and screamed, backing up a few steps. "She...She, oh god, oh god..." she started muttering to herself, panicking.

---

Kira smiled slightly, "Y-You mean it? Not even if I d-do something really stupid?"

"I love you, Kira," Luke replied simply. "Of course I want to be with you."

------

"She's starting to move!" Tom interjected, trying to calm her down.

Adeline's head turned, her dull eyes fixed on Heidi. "..." She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

Paul frowned. "Well I think she's hurt."

Heidi scrambled around, still in a panic. "Paul, the watch, give her the watch!"

---

Kira smiled contently, though she thought she was a bit stupid for asking. Luke was a good person! "I love you, too," she murmured happily, blushing slightly.

"Then that makes me happy," Luke replied, glad he was hugging her.

Paul nodded, walking over the Adeline and putting the watch in her hand.

Kira pulled Luke a bit closer, pressing her lips to his.

Nothing seemed to happen. Adeline frowned, not fully aware of her condition.

Paul blinked. "Adeline, can you hear me?" the man asked.

"Um...just rest up a bit!" Heidi blurted out, not sure what to do anymore. She was losing confidence in herself.

Adeline slowly nodded.

"Can you speak?" Paul asked, frowning at Heidi's panic attack.

Tom put her down, leaving um carrying only one body.

-----

Luke didn't go red this time, and simply went with it, confer with the world, at least until something happened to snap the two of them out of it.

Adeline frowned "...Barely..." Her voice was raspy and inaudible.
When Tom put her down, she almost fell over. She had to lean on something for support.

Kira pulled away after a bit, smiling up at Luke despite the pink tint on her cheeks. Realization crossed her face, and she slapped her hand across her mouth. "I-I'm sorry, I'm s-sick, I shouldn't h-have done that!" she apologized.

---

Heidi ran over to her teammate to steady her.