Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 1

"Stay here, if you'll have me. Spent enough time away for at least a good while," Tom grinned, setting Simon down.

"Stay, please!" Simon said exictedly.

"I'm sure you'll be welcome here." Erika nodded.

"Thanks," Tom replied warmly. "If you ever need any help or anything, I'll see what I can do. Hopefully Joey doesn't make me redundant."

"Don't worry... I'm sure we'll find something for you to do..." Erika replied, staring at the broken gate that Nathan oh so lovingly destoryed earlier.

"What are 'y, stupid? Of course you're welcome here," Heidi laughed, before turning to Erika. "Do we have any open places, or will Jojo 'nd his 'maginary friend 'hafta make one with his Flow?"

"I can make something myself, if that'd be easier," Tom replied, unable to see where Erika was looking.

"If your too tired from traveling, I'm sure Joey will be able to get soemthing up for you once I find him... and I find Elena..." Erika sweatdropped. "The house was a mess when I went back and she was gone."

Simon, not saying anything, seemed to shrink a little at that statement.

"If 'y wanna," Heidi shrugged. "C'n't see why that'd be a problem."

---

"L-L-Luke...?" Kira mumbled, managing to speak up, turning her gaze downward.

"Where should I be putting this house?" Tom asked, stretching slightly after his long journey.

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"Hm?" Luke replied, stopping.

"There should be a clearing that we've been saving near the upper right of the compound." Erika replied, before turning to Heidi. "Can you lead him there?"

"Sure, c'mon, Tombo. You wanna tag along, too, Simon?" Heidi asked, looking over at the younger boy.

---

"Th-There's a forest...r-r-right o-outside th-the v-village w-with a-a-all th-the s-s-survivors... I-If y-you don't h-h-hate m-me, c-could y-you v-visit s-s-somet-t-time...? Pl-Please...?" Kira asked shakily, clutching her jacket tightly.

"Kira, I don't hate you. Never have, never will. I'll see if I can't drop in at some stage," Luke replied, turning his head to flash her a grin, before starting to limp away.

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"Sounds good, thanks," Tom replied.

"Th-Thank y-you..." Kira mumbled, a little happy now that Luke had promised to try and visit. Her stomach gurgled a little as her face turned a little green. The effects of all the speeding around seemed to have caught up with her.

Simon nodded, before turning to Erika. "I think she might have mentioned walking around town or goign to the Church."

Erika smiled, patting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Thanks, Simon. See you guys later." The woman headed to the Church looking for Elena.

Once Erika was gone, Heidi whistled. "So, the house was a mess, eh? Wonder who could'a done that..." she snorted, laughing at Simon as she started walking towards the lot.

Tom waved a lazy goodbye at Erika.

"So you comin' along, Simon?" Tom asked the kid, following Heidi along.

Simon frowned at Heidi, before nodding to Tom. "Yeah. We can catch up more."

"Yeah, though I'm not sure I got a lot to say," Tom shrugged.

"So do you remember seeing Eithne while you were over there? You know if he's okay?" Heidi asked, her hands behind her neck as she walked.

"Yeah, he seemed fine. They all seemed fine..." Tom trailed off, before shaking his head. He didn't know why Eithne never came back. "Picked up a few scrapes and bumps, but so does everyone."

Nathan growled before super speeding in front of Luke. "I want the sword back." He said, it might have seemed an odd question but he had a girl who could locate anyone just by touching one of their possessions.

"I want my Flow back," Luke shrugged, before clarifying rather condescendingly. "That means no, by the way."

Heidi sighed, shaking her head. "Maybe he'll come to his senses and ditch Nathan... And the scrapes and bumps ain't a problem, we all get 'em."

---

Kira sat down on the ground, her plants forming almost a protective bubble around her as she tried to stop herself from throwing up. Hopefully Luke and Nathan wouldn't kill each other...

"I've said I can get it back for you!" Nathan said. "The sword, or I'll have to take it..."

"Go ahead, Nathan," Luke laughed, standing with his arms wide open. "Make my day."

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Tom nodded.

"Hopefully. He's still a good guy, from what I can remember."