Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 10

"Well, we were." Joey said. "And with a specific destination in mind, as well."

"We lived in slums back in the city," Luke replied.

"Well, now we've got something better!" Kira exclaimed, smiling widely. "My mom grew up in a house. She said that if you sat on the back deck, you couldn't see any other houses or people or streets, or anything! I used to think that it houses were magical..."

"Yeah, the city suffered from severe overpopulation, so this is an awesome improvement," Luke nodded.

Kira's smile faded slightly as she glanced over at the picture of her and her friends. "I wonder how many people got out..."

"Yeah, me too," Luke replied, glumly knowing that everyone near him was incinerated.

"I thought a-about going back a lot, after th-the t-t-tournament... Like maybe I'd be able to go back before..." Kira sighed.

"I think... I dunno. It's hard for me to say anything other than that it's all beginning to work out now," Luke replied quietly.

Kira's smile returned, and she reached over, grabbing Luke's hand. "Let's go back to the village and pick up something for dinner, find the date, and talk to Tom about the house."

"Let's," Luke replied simply with a smile, taking her hand in his free one.

Kira squeezed Luke's hand as a vine took them back down to the ground and she started walking back towards the village.

"The factory, I presume? That's the only other thing that's around here." Elder replied.

"He is going there to get his wife." Ty explained.

"Really? Brave man." Elder complimented.

"Thank you..." Joey said, but he didn't really care for complements right now.

What he wanted was info. "So...mind explaining what we have in store for us?"

The Elder turned to Josh and Al. "Didn't these little brats tell you anything?"

The twins scowled. "We did!"

Joey nodded. "They did, and I trust what they've told me...but I'd like to collect as much information as possible."

"I'm just along for the shits and giggles." Jamie said with a shrug.

The Elder sighed. "Tiresias, please leave us."

Ty turned to the cloaked figure. "But-"

"It's fine." Elder soothed. The girl seemed to hesitate before marchign out of the room.

"It's been a couple of years since I've been to that hell-hole called the factory." The Elder began. "I was one of the first that wandered along in. He- no, he's more of an it- treated me and my comrades with food, water, and shelter. However, after a couple of days, one of us just disappeared, one by one- until I was the only one left."

The figure hacked a bit, spitting into an urn beside his chair. "When I came to his chamber I saw... I saw it holding my best friend in it's clutches, it's mouth attached to her neck, getting bigger, fatter-stronger with each slurp; while my friend turned into a husk."

Joey listened silently, his face revealing no emotion.

Luke limped along after her with his stick.

Kira made sure to stay close to Luke, taking his hand as they left the forest. "What should we do first?"

"Check the date, I s'pose," Luke replied. He wanted to have time to keep an eye out for Kira's present if it turned out the date was later than expected.

"Alright...who do y'think would know that? Maybe Adeline? Or Paul?" Kira frowned in thought.

"Yeah, either of those two. We should ask Neo if he's at the gate like last time," Luke nodded, thinking back to people he knew.

Kira smiled slightly, nodding. "See? This isn't so bad. The village, that is."

"I tried to escape but..." A gnarled hand pulled back the cloak to reveal a pale and emaciated face. "It was quick after feeding. The only reason I'm alive today is because he didn't take away all of my Power."