Chapter 347: The Logic of the One (2/2)
One watched Alice fade away as she spat in disgust. ”This is why the Logic is key; such weakness as a sacrifice is pointless in the end. Nothing will change.” Looking to the night sky, she smiled. ”It's almost time; you can't stop it. The end is near Salvation is calling.”
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”What are you going to do about the girl?” Gale whispered, walking through the snow sighing. ”She was a member of the Garden.”
Zinnia shrugged her shoulders. ”I'm not sure. Adopt her, maybe? She's been through a lot and deserves someone to look after them. Rebeca was that for me and well. Jehovah deserves that too.”
”You're still such a kind person even to do this day. You haven't changed one bit.” Gale smiled, pleased with the outcome.
”You think? I'm glad to hear that, but I would disagree. I've done bad things, things I should answer for.”
”Bah, you worry too much. People do bad things all the time. The right thing is to learn from those mistakes and be better. Don't ever be sorry for what you did; own that and grow.” Tempo talked down. ”We made sure to be like that when we lost the others.”
”Melody and Vivace…. I'll be sure to never forget them even when we allow the Ten Judgement to take over.”
Tempo placed his hand on Harmony's shoulder. ”I've followed your lead since we first met. Nothing will change now; it will be like this till the very end.”
”This is really the end…. It's really only hitting me now that I think about it.” Gale muttered. ”It isn't going to feel quite surreal if we stop, Alton.”
”It doesn't have to be the end. Not really; it can just be a new beginning, right? That's what endings are, a Segway into a new beginning.”
”Yeah, I like that.” Gale smiled; taking another step forward, a portal opened. They all stepped back, expecting Alice to emerge, only for Eve to collapse into the snow a wreck sobbing. ”Is that?”
”Eve Berry….” Zinnia whispered, walking over. ”Where is Alice?”
”Alice…. She, she, that stupid idiot. The Gardener attacked us. My brother stood no chance; she saved me. She…. That stupid idiot. Alice saved me.”
”I'm going back!”
”It's too late…. It's too late.” Eve whispered. ”It's all my fault.”
Zinnia looked away, biting her lip holding back the tears squeezing her fist. She knew she didn't have time to cry, trying to keep her bold, heroic look on for show. ”You were friends with Alice, were you not?”
Turning, Zinnia smiled through the tears as Eve nodded. ”She was my best friend….”
”Any friend of Alice is a friend of mine.” Zinnia exclaimed, holding her hand out. As Eve took it, Zinnia pulled her up, hugging the girl. ”It's alright now. You're safe.”
Eve stared wide-eyed, crying, silently staring ahead dazed. ”Alice was right…. You are too kind for your own good, Zinnia Trost.”
”I can't see that as a bad thing.”
Eve coming to her senses, pushed Zinnia away looked troubled. ”We don't have time I. I…. Damn it. Alton got the last of the Stages; if we don't hurry, he will activate Salvation's Calling!”
”He's got them all?! Shit, is it too late?”
”No,” Eve whispered, shaking her head. ”Each Stage takes a toll on the user. It affected my brother badly. Alton will be too overwhelmed to use them all and take control of Salvation's Calling all at once. That short window of weakness will be our chance. We still have time.”
”Then we have no time to lose. We move now. Alton is waiting for us!” Gale yelled, running ahead.
Everyone ran ahead as Zinnia spoke up. ”Eve. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. We never saw eye to eye Adam and I but…. I could tell among anything he cared about you.”
”Thank you, Zinnia. Alice would say the same. However, we can save the mourning for later. We have to stop Alton now. I can hear its whisper. Salvation's Calling is close at hand. We are almost out of time….”