Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 9

"Right." They said at once, keeping focus.

Joey nodded, and a minute later, they took flight, heading after those who took Erika.

"Head South East!" Al and Josh ordered.

We're coming...

---

When Erika woke up once more it was to a white room, she moved to stand but found herself once more bound. "Dammit..."

The door opened, and in came a man in a labcoat of sorts, who sat down on the chair that somehow appeared in fron tof her. "Ah, seems you've woken up."

"Who the hell are you and where am I?" The woman snarled, moving again to get up.

"Now now. Don't strain yourself. You are pregnant after all." The man sat down. "That's been your latest illusion, hasn't it?"

What does he mean by 'illusion'. Erika moved more. "It's not an illusion, I would know-"

"Because of your Flow, yes?" The man replied.

"Yes, now I warn you that if you don't let me out my husband-"

"Your husband Joey, right? Or is it Nathan this time that rescues you?" The man sighed. "Oh Celeste..."

The woman's eyes widened at her first name being used, she looked down at her bindings... too find that it was a straight jacket.

"How can they save you if they never even existed?"

OOC: Ready for Timeskip when everyone else is.

Joey nodded, before he got Ven to change directions.

Hold on Erika...We'll be there soon.

"Hey...Heidi," Neo said, walking towards her.

OOC: If there's gonna be a timeskip, Neo never bothered to show up. /bored right now.

OOC: I'll put one up when I get home from school tomorrow, on my iTouch now.

---

Heidi blinked at Neo's sudden appearance, scowling. "I don't want to talk to anyone right now..." she hissed, blinking back tears. This was all her fault.

OOC: Alright then. I'll just continue on.

(~)

"Hey, hey...calm down..." Neo said, ignoring the hiss. "Let's just, talk."

"What did I just say?" Heidi scowled. "I don't want to talk!"

Suddenly, the air was fild with a calming noise. "Then just take a couple of deep breaths. What happened was not your fault. Nothing is."

"I...I still don't want to talk about it..." Heidi muttered. Sure, she was feeling calmer, but it was still her fault. If she'd been stronger...

"Come on, let it all out," Neo said, folding arms behind his neck.

Heidi turned on her heels, walking away from Neo.

"Hey wait!" neo called out.

Heidi kept walking, shoving her hands in her pockets.

Neo ran and caught up with her. "Well then, guess we'll walk and I'll talk?"

"Go away," Heidi grumbled.

"No need to be sorry, it was a nice gesture," Luke replied, reasoning that Kira had been trying to lift his self-esteem. It was nice, and he appreciated it, it was just poorly done in his opinion. Not that ge would ever say anything like that to her face.

-----

Tom listened in from his rooftop, not really sure what to say and figuring Neo would probably do a better job than him. Heidi was too stubborn for his un-eloquent style of councilling.

"In this whole world, gotta say you're one of my favourite people." Neo ignored what she said. "You don';t take shit from anyone, and just do your own thing. I respect ya a whole lot for that, and I look up to ya, Heidi."

"Just wanted to let ya know that. And that I still owe ya for saving my ass."

"I-I was serious..." Kira replied weakly, looking over at Luke unsurely and biting her lip.

---

"Well, you sh'ld find someone else t' look up to. I'm not exactly the best role model, and anyone could'a saved y'. It just happened t' be me 'nd Ade," Heidi countered.

"Couldn've been anyone," Neo agreed, and then shrugged. "You're only human, and you're doing your best in this here life. No matter how fucked up shit gets, just go with it. Sun can always shine another day and all that jazz."

"And don't forget, yer not alone to fight whatever it is you need to fight."

"Not yet, anyway," Heidi laughed morbidly. "Ade's decomposing, and Erika's off missing."

Luke gestured sardonically to his scarred as charred face. In his opinion, there wasn't enough face left to be handsome. Less than half of his face had been charred, with only the part that had been face-down when Nathan had beaten him having been burnt black. Still, that was still more-or-less a straight line from the inner side of right eye to the right side of his mouth.

"We'll figure out a solution for Ade. And as for Erika...that would be more my fault than anyone else's...I should have made sure to keep an eye on her after hearing that arguement." Neo said. "Humans sure are flawed, Heidi...aren't we?"

"That j-just means you're a-a bit d-different than everyone else..." Kira mumbled, feeling rather stupid.

---

Heidi sighed, crossing her arms. She didn't want to talk about this anymore.

Neo stepped out inf ront of her, putting both arms on her shoulders. "So, cheer up, alright? I'm here to help however I can. And I think Tom up there is as well. So, until you cheer up, I'mma be sticking to you like glue."