Road To Redemption

After School

3rd POV

In the skies of Vale we see Y/N's body soar through the air. The toll of Cinder's attack hits as the bomb collar shatters. He finally starts descending. He lands in a river. After a second he floats back up and is dragged by the current. As he floats a hand grabs him pulling him out. He's then dragged to a small home where he's patched up.

Y/N POV

My eyes shoot open as I gasp. I look around seeing that I'm in what's a bedroom. I sit up feeling pain. Looking down I see a bandage around stomach. I also spot my palms wrapped up.

I walk out of the room. Walking through the living room I see an older woman stirring a pot. She turns around.

Woman: "You're up."

Y/N: "Where the hell am I?"

Woman: "You're at my farm."

Y/N: "How'd I get here?"

Woman: "I found you laying face down n the river about a mile from here. I dragged you here and patched you up."

Y/N: "Thanks I guess."

Woman: "Hungry?"

Y/N: "Partially."

Woman: "Girls! Lunch!"

I hear three sets of running footsteps. Looking back I see three girls raging in age.

Girl1: "Who's this?"

Woman: "The man mom rescued. He's a guest so treat him with respect."

They just eye me up.

Woman: "These are my daughters. They're Heather, Grace and Lily."

Each waves as their name is said.

Lily: "So who're you?"

Y/N: "Y/N."

Woman: "Enough questions. Time we ate."

We all sit down at the table. After praying we dig in.

Y/N: "Sure is a nice spread."

Woman: "Thanks. It's bout all we've got."

Y/N: "Something wrong?"

Woman: "Just been having trouble harvesting. Nothing to worry about."

Heather: "It'd be easier if dad was still here."

Woman: "Hush!"

Y/N: "Something happen to him?"

They all become sad.

Y/N: "Sorry. I didn't mean to say that."

Woman: "No worries. It's been five years. So all's well. Let's just eat."

We finish the meal in silence. Once it's over I help clean the dishes. As I scrub another plate the woman sighs.

Woman: "Sorry for shutting down like that."

Y/N: "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you have your reasons."

She pauses.

Woman: "It's just that we're in a tight spot."

I turn looking at her.

Woman: "About six years ago we had the worst drought imaginable. This killed most of our crops. Meaning that we'd wouldn't have enough cash to pay the bills. So seeing no other way we borrowed money. Only problem was that we got less cash than expected from our crops. This in turn led to a debt that we couldn't pay. And what's worse is that it was with the Quartz mob. An organization known to take debts very seriously. When the time came they came knocking. Not being able to pay them back they..."

She pauses holding her ring. Tears begin brewing in her eyes.

Woman: "Anyway. After that I was in charge of everything. But without my husband running the farm became too hard. I would always keep coming up short of the quota. Each time this happened our debt grew larger and larger. Now I fear that I'll never be able to pay our debt and they'll come after the children."

Her tears now fall. I place my hand on her shoulder. She calms down wiping away her tears.

Woman: "Sorry. I didn't mean to get so emotional."

Y/N: "There isn't anything wrong with that."

She fully calms down. An idea then pops into my head.

Y/N: "Say. While I'm still healing how about I help you with the farm?"

Woman: "You'd do that?"

Y/N: "Course."

Woman: "You're a good man."