Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 9

Josh and Al made sure to follow Joey. But after they have traveled a few more yard, Al stood still, rimrod straight. His face had gone very pale...

Kira's face flushed red. "S-Sorry, sorry, sorry!" she repeated. "I p-probably need m-more sleep, s-sorry!"

"No need to be sorry!" Luke replied alarmedly. "You didn't do anything bad!"

Kira nodded weakly, though she didn't quite understand. If she hadn't done anything bad, then why did she feel like she had?

"You look confused," Luke noted quietly.

"I-It's fine, j-just tell me wh-when you're d-d-done with the br-bread, and I-I'll take th-the loaf back to the i-icebox..." Kira stuttered, biting her lip and looking off to the side.

"Alright," Luke replied, unsure. He cut two more slices of bread, going to hand her back the bread.

Kira took the bread back, quickly walking off to the icebox, shaking slightly. She'd probably made Luke upset, and that wasn't good. She didn't want Luke to get upset with her.

"What's the matter, Kira? I know you're upset?" Luke replied, frowning. He was no good at keeping up with people's feelings.

"I-I'm s-sorry..." Kira responded uneasily, seeming to have reverted back to her anti-social shell.

"I just don't think you have anything to be sorry about," Luke replied gently.

"Al, what's wrong?" Joey asked, noticing the boy's face.

"I... Cestie... Cestie was here, but it's weak. And... Eric was here too."

"You mean... Eric took Cestie?" Josh said in a confused tone.

"I-I'm so-" Kira stopped apologizing mid-sentence, falling quiet for a moment. "Okay..."

Joey's fists clenched. "...Who's Eric?"

Nathan kept the speed up he couldn't wait to get away.

---

The Illuminati hadn't managed to fully mobilise yet but Carly, Jacob, Elliot and more importantly Eithne were stood in front of the village with flow buzzing around them.

"Anyone know where Tom be' at?" The Scott asked with a frown.

"Well this is fucking irritating," Tom murmured, the quakes giving him a headache. He walked away from Andrea, leaving her imprisoned. "What the hell is this?"

-----

"Maybe if you tell me why you're sorry I can help you get over it," Luke suggested gently.

"I-It's nothing I need to get over, I just need to remember how to deal w-with it..." Kira smiled weakly at Luke.

"Well can I help?" Luke asked kindly, returning her smile.

Kira paused in though, before shaking her head. She just needed to remember how to properly act again. No arguing, no speaking out of turn, it'd been a long time since she'd had to follow her guidelines, she wasn't used to them, or at least that's what she kept telling herself.

"Anything I can do to help?" Luke repeated, puzzled by her behaviour.

"It's fine, Luke," Kira smiled. "I'm sorry f-for worrying you, but this is just something that I have to work out on my own."

"O-okay," Luke replied. Kira knew best, right? "If you say so, that's alright."

Kira's smile faltered slightly, before her stomach growled and she laughed embarrassedly. "I guess I'm a bit hungry..."

"Here ya go," Luke replied brightly, offering her a newly-toasted piece of toast.