Pendulum || TAENNIE FF

⚔Chapter 76: A broken clock

A U T H O R

"It's two hours before midnight. Why aren't they back yet?" Heather worriedly asked. They've been waiting at the river's entrance for hours. 

Flake and Firo left to Parailla's mainland to find safe shortcuts to Magus's Town. They can't take the train because the black witches will certainly check each cabin. They plan to reach the town without taking the obvious and common pathways.

"They'll be here any minute," Berta assured. 

As if on cue, Flake and Firo emerged from the water and climbed to the ground. "We found a safe path, but it would take long to get to the town," Flake said.

"But it's leading to Magus's Town, right?" Flake nodded. "Then it's gonna work. We just have to stick to the plan." Heather looked at Firo, who didn't seem like himself with his head down. "What's wrong with him?" Heather asked Flake. 

Flake turned to Firo and sighed. "You have to tell her,"  He said and patted his shoulder. "We'll wait for you in the cottage." Flake and the rest of them left to give Firo and Heather some privacy. 

"What's going on?" Heather asked. Firo lifted his head, and she found his eyes filled with tears. "Firo?" She grabbed his arm and furrowed her brows. "Did something happen? What was Flake saying? Tell me 'what'?"

Firo took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "They killed them," He shakily said. "The witches dumped their body in the forest. They killed everyone they took. No one was alive when Flake and I arrived." He tried forcing himself to stop crying, hanging his head low.

"What are you trying to say?" Heather anxiously asked. She understood what he said, but she's hoping she understood it wrong. "Firo."

"Chase and Maya," Firo managed to say before he completely broke down and cried. "They killed them." He said and clutched on the sides of his uniform. 

Heather slowly shook her head. "You're lying." She took a step back and started catching her breath. "They're not. Maybe you saw someone else. It's not them. That can't happen." Firo sighed and looked at her. "Tell me you're lying. They're alive! They wouldn't die just like that!" He quickly came to her and kept her in his arms. Heather burst out in tears and whimpered on his shoulder. "Maya!"

"Heather--"

"I caused this. They wouldn't lose their lives if it weren't for me!!" Firo hugged her tighter, wanting to calm her down. "Maya..." She cried and panted. "She was only trying to save me." She was trembling. Heather couldn't help but put the blame on herself. One day, they were just laughing and having fun, and then the next thing she knew is they're dead and gone. "I should've been in their position. It wasn't supposed to be them!"

"They did that to protect you--so you could go home. You're our friend. You know, you would do the same if you were them." Heather closed her eyes and rested her head on him. "We're not letting their sacrifices go to waste. The witches catching you is the last thing they want. We won't let that happen. I'll make sure of that."

When Heather calmed down, they returned to Master Woora's cottage to get ready. "The area surrounding the river is the most dangerous path we're gonna take. Firo will be the one accompanying Heather since he's the most powerful creature we have," Flake said, pointing at the location on their map.  

"Once we're outside the dangerous grounds, Flake will be the one to accompany Heather to the town. He's quick enough to get her there before the witches could catch up," Firo said. "I'll hold them off for as long as I could."

"Levi will head straight to Hawk's Cottage. And when I arrive with Heather, he will take her to the portal inside," Flake said and nodded. "That's the plan."