The Last Saint

4: A Spark

Eve's eyes opened slowly; she looked peaceful as she yawned and stretched across the bed, as if waking from a long nap. Adam sat on a chair at her bed side. The room was bare, with nothing personal at all, just a large bed in the middle flanked by two tables, a dresser and a closet.

Eve blinked, as light from the window shined in her eyes, and she turned her face away from the window in discomfort. Adam smiled, thinking to himself, despite everything that's happened, at the very least he can admit that she was cute. However, there were more important things on his mind.

She sat up, and looked at him, dejected. her face wrought with guilt, a tear escaped her eye.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Adam's expression dropped. He had to ask. "Is my dad dead?"

"I don't know. We were run off the road by the Eighth's constructs. We got separated in the fight."

Adam held his head in his hands for a moment, sighing. "At least you're ok Eve."

She cried more, covering her mouth to stifle her emotional gasps. "Adam, I'm so sorry. I swore to protect you no matter what and I failed, and now your mom is dead and your dad is missing and you were hurt and its all my fault!"

Adam reached out to her, his voice quiet, his eyes also teary. "None of it is your fault. you did your best." 

Her guilt was insatiable however, and no matter how Adam reassured her, she felt responsible. Still, Adam was compelled to comfort her in any way he could; he felt guilty too.

Initially, he had thought she was crazy. She saved his life and then turned around and starting telling him nonsense about the end of the world. But he had changed his mind. She was a good person, he thought. She cared. 

Several times she volunteered to help look for Adam's father, but he refused. He was worried, but at the same time, he had already lost his mother. on the chance that his dad was also dead, he didn't want to risk Eve getting killed as well. Instead, Adam and Ryan, whose home they were occupying, let Eve rest in bed all day.

Ryan's parents, a tall athletic couple, were considerate of Adam's plight, and welcomed him and Eve in their home like he was their own. In any case, Adam was able to sleep on the soft fabric L-couch in Ryan's living room, while Eve slept in the spare room.

When Adam woke up, the first thing he noticed was that there was someone holding his hand as it hung lazily over the side of the couch. He raised his face from the comfortable pillow, and saw that Eve had wrapped herself in a blanket and slept on the hardwood floor, holding Adam's hand close to her chest. He recoiled quickly in shock, waking her up. 

She was quick to apologize, blushing and keeping her eyes averted. Adam smiled, and started laughing as he saw Eve's awkward expression, and she quickly relaxed, bursting into fits of giggles herself. 

Ryan walked in from the hallway entrance, shaking his head at the pair.

"What are you two doing?" He asked, bemused.

"Nothing!" They replied in unison.

"Well, I'm going shopping. Any requests?"

Adam started to get up from the couch. "Wait, I'll go with you. Just let me shower and change."

Ryan sighed. "Alright, but make it fast, I'm not waiting all day." 

Not wishing to keep his friend waiting, Adam rushed to the shower, and went to the spare room after to slip on a pair of jeans and a loose shirt. As he stepped out of the room, he saw Eve standing outside the door.

"Is the store near the school?" She asked. Adam nodded. "Can I come with you guys? I dropped my sword near there and its... it means a lot to me. It was a gift from someone very special."

By the look in her eyes, Adam determined that "yes" was the only possible answer. She smiled, and turned on her heels, walking towards the bathroom. 

Ryan was visibly agitated. Adam had yet to explain the full truth; all he had said so far was that Eve was his his father when his father disappeared. Despite this, Ryan remained calm and friendly. 

Eve came down the stairs in a pair of Adam's track pants and one of his shirts. Before he could ask, she reminded him that she had no clothes except the ones she was wearing when she was found, and that Ryan's mother's wouldn't have fit.

Finally ready, the three of them headed out the door, with Eve borrowing a pair of sneakers from Ryan, which where loose and awkward on her feet. They decided to go to the school first, since Ryan planned on grabbing cold things from the store. The walk took only 15 minutes, and then they were there, at the school. They explored the yard, but could not find the sword.

Eve lead them around the back, where they discovered the scabbard, but the sword was not with it. Adam noticed that near where they found it, the doorway to the gymnasium was open, despite the school being closed that day. On instinct, he walked inside.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind him. He turned and tried to open it, hearing Eve and Ryan on the other side attempting to get in, but it was stuck. He heard the sound of footsteps, and turned around. Sure enough, Pyros stood in the middle of the gym. Karuso jumped down from the rafters, and grinned menacingly.

Pyros waved her hand, and created a dozen strange circles with various designs, inside lines, letters and words inside, and from those circles a dozen constructs formed and came to life. Adam swore under his breath, and raised his fists.