Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 12

"We're leaving?" Simon said.

Erika's mouth tightened, not liking the idea. But for Elena and the baby...

"Alright. Do you think the village would be able to have a few of the younger children from the factory? Some of them know how to fight and will probably stay, but I don't one other children getting hurt. I'm not leaving without Al and Josh either."

Nothing seemed to be working on Victoria.

Nathan created a knife out of ice and stabbed it straight into Victoria's heart. He quickly removed the knife and ripped a massive gash in his hand.

Blood began to spurt out and rip into her body in the recently made wound he'd created.

If this didn't work nothing would. He could only watch as he poured as much blood as possible into her body.

"Well, you're leaving, I'll be coming back, if the battle's still going on. It takes about three weeks to get from there to here, I think, and with a large group, maybe longer. We don't have a lot of time..." Heidi trailed off, sighing, before hearing Erika. "Anyone who can't fight is welcome to come along."

Benji glanced over at her. "I know how to get there, you don't have to come with. Besides, you'd get lost trying to come back on your own. Your sense of direction sucks."

"Nathan..." Jayden sighed once he saw him cut himself. Inside, he was hoping this would work out, but he didn't get his hopes up.

"I'm staying." Simon said once they finished talking.

Heidi scowled at Simon. "You are not staying. If they find out what your Flow is, what happens then? You'll become a weapon against us, and then you'll die. You're going."

"I can fight! I've been practicing, and Paul could show me how to use the gun. You were my age when you were in the Acer Tournament." Simon replied, standing up with his hand resting on the handle of the blade.

Heidi sighed, glancing over at Benji, before walking to another room and gesturing for Simon to follow.

Simon frowned, but followed Heidi.

Heidi shut the door between the rooms, stress creasing her face. "Simon...do you remember how you felt when you stabbed Benji?"

"C'mon, c'mon," Tom muttered urgently. To those that knew him, this was probably the most emotional he'd been.

-----

Luke heard the message, sighing. He was getting the urge to burn things again, probably sparked by seeing Nathan again and destruction. That always made him want to torch people, which worried him deeply, because he knew it wasn't healthy. Not that he'd tell anyone. He idly wondered if Nathan knew, being a mind-reader. He needed to wait for that girl to be healed. Luke was owed a healing.

Once Paul was done organizing the group of mercs, he headed out the spot Nathan had said, grabbing his AK-47 on the way there.

Simon's face paled at the memory. "...Awful."

"Exactly... Do you really think fighting's a good idea? Do you want to feel that awful feeling all the time?" Heidi asked gently. She didn't want to tell him it would fade over time. She didn't want Simon to think of killing as some easy task.

The wound that Nathan had made started to close up, from his healing blood stuff...but she didn't seem to breath still.

"But that was because it was Benji. He's your brother, even if it was in self-defense..." Simon shook his head. "If I fight it's because I'm protecting my home. They'll need everyone they can. I can't..."

The blackhaired boy hit his fist against a nearby wall. "I can't just fly to safety when there's the chance of you all dying!"

Heidi bit her lip, placing a hand on Simon's shoulder. "Calm down..." she sighed, before continuing. "Think of it this way, like checkers. Once you move ahead far enough, you get kinged, right? Well, you haven't moved ahead far enough to get kinged, and probably everyone on the other side has. The odds would be against you." She had almost made an analogy to video games, before remembering Simon's lack of childhood.

"Plus, you're my little brother, too, I don't wanna see you get hurt. Besides, someone has to make sure Benji's ego doesn't get to him," Heidi laughed weakly.

"He hates me." Simon replied truthfully. "He thinks I took his place. But I didn't... right?" That's what the black haired boy feared the most. That he'd had been Benji's replacement...

Heidi sighed, as if Simon had asked a difficult question. "Before the tournament, well I...I abandoned Benji when I really shouldn't have. When I met you, I thought that if I could protect you, then Benji would be okay, too..."

Simon looked up at Heidi, staring at her for a few moments... before hugging her tightly.

"That's highly illogical..." Simon mumbled, but his voice rasped, as if he was holding back tears.

Heidi sighed, hugging Simon tightly. "I know... But you're not a replacement. I never once got you confused with Benji. Not once. You were my way of trying to get rid of my guilt, as stupid and horrible as it was."

Simon continued to hug Heidi, not moving for a little while longer. "Okay... I believe you."

Heidi smiled softly at Simon. "So please go? I don't want to see you get hurt."

"...Okay." Simon replied. "I'll go. Until I get kinged."