Avi didn't waste any more ti on Daichi and activated the fighter jet's engines, then flew out of the Prison of Aeons. She imdiately contacted Luna, who intercepted her spaceship.
Virka, Luna, Charlotte, and Nicolas were already in the recreational room, waiting for Avi to enter through the doorway. When the steel walls retracted, Avi collapsed, falling on her arms and knees.
“Avi!” - Charlotte shouted and quickly arrived next to her daughter, then helped her to take off her helt. - “By the stars... what have they done to you?” - She uttered after noticing that Avi was pale and had way shorter hair.
Luna was next to them and helped Avi get up and move to the sofa. She scanned her entire body thoroughly and, despite being overwhelmingly worried, remained silent.
“She has to be exhausted. I'll bring her sothing to drink.” - Nicolas suggested.
When Avi was on the couch, with Luna and Charlotte assisting her, Virka sat opposite the girl. Focused, she observed Avi's every small movent, and at this point, the girl was too disoriented to even notice that her boots, then the spacesuit, were taken off. It was after the latter that Charlotte's face lost color. Luna was sure that Avi's mom would soon faint, but despite this, she remained conscious.
“You're drenched in blood.” - Luna stated the obvious.
“Sorry...” - Avi whispered. - “It's... It's my blood. Luna, can you take a look?”
“Your...?” - Charlotte uttered and gazed at Luna, terrified.
“She's covered in scars and her body is severely weakened, but with appropriate dical care, she'll be fine.” - Luna inford.
“What did they do to you, my little child?” - Charlotte uttered, full of consternation.
Avi decided not to explain it. Half due to fatigue, half due to not wanting to worry her parents. When Nicolas returned and saw Avi's state, he put the tray with the lemonade glass down, sat on a chair, and buried his face in his hands, saying nothing. Luna let him take a breather and helped Avi drink.
“We should've never let her go there alone.” - Nicolas uttered quietly.
There was a long mont of silence, which was interrupted by Virka. - “I'm sorry. It was a predictable outco. I should've stopped it.”
“...and I should've never agreed.” - Luna added.
Avi raised her tired eyes. - “It's not your fault. It was my own choice.”
Nicolas didn't have the strength or nerves anymore. He left the room, saying in an exhausted tone. - “If she needs , let know.”
“Prepare a warm bath for her and so clean clothes.” - Luna requested before Nicolas completely disappeared.
When Avi emptied her glass of lemonade, Luna told Virka and Charlotte that she would take care of her. She made extra scans, trying to understand the cause of Avi's wounds, but there were too many contradictions in her data, so she gently lifted her and carried her to the bathroom, deciding that they would talk about it in private.
Nicolas was waiting outside. Despite everything, he was worried about Avi and wanted to see her one more ti. - “Will it take her a long ti to recover?” - He asked Luna.
“She's strong, but it'll take a few days.” - Luna responded.
Nicolas nodded, confirming that he understood, then left. Luna entered the bathroom and closed the door, then helped Avi to fully take off her clothes, which revealed the stab wounds in their full extent. She then put her friend in the bathtub and sat down on the nearby stool, averting her body.
“Avi, these aren't superficial wounds. Not to ntion the dead sun... I know that you didn't want to worry , but you could've told a bit more.” - Luna said, but heard no answer. When she turned to Avi, she noticed that the girl was already sleeping. Without a word, Luna took a sponge and began removing the dried blood from Avi's shoulders.
---
Luna was watching Avi the entire ti until she finally woke up, connected to an IV drip. Despite being in her personal room, Avi could see that there was a new device on the wall, which monitored her health.
“How do you feel?” - Was the first question asked by Luna.
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“Hungry.” - Avi replied.
“Do you want anything specific?” - Luna asked.
“No. I'll eat anything I'm supposed to eat.” - Avi said.
Luna disappeared for a mont and returned with a light, vegetable soup. She fed Avi, but the girl wasn't able to finish the entire al yet, so she put the bowl aside.
“Was I sleeping for long?” - Avi asked.
“Over two days.” - Luna answered.
“My parents must be worried.” - Avi uttered, her fingers clutching the quilt.
Luna sighed. - “I don't deny.”
“I'll go to them. Am I allowed to?” - Avi asked.
“You should rest. On top of that, they're asleep. It's currently night.” - Luna explained. - “I'll let them co in the morning.”
Avi moved her knees closer to her chest, sitting as she leaned against the wall. - “Okay. You must have many questions.” - One could see depression in her eyes.
Luna sighed. - “I had so, but not anymore. I'm just glad you're with .”
Avi wrapped her arms around her legs, burying her head there. - “I made so many mistakes, which I can't undo... I wanted to believe that everything is simple, that people are good. If I had never co there... they all, they all would be still alive. I... Luna, their blood is on my hands, and I will never wash it away.”
Luna sat next to Avi and hugged her. They were sitting like this for a long ti, until the spaceship's light switched to morning mode.
“What's next, Luna?” - Avi asked. - “I... I don't know if I'll be able to continue this.”
“No matter what you decide, I'm with you.” - Luna spoke.
Avi raised her eyes to Luna's face. - “...but what would you want?”
“I don't know.” - Luna answered. - “Maybe to run away from everything, but that's not possible anymore.”
Avi lowered her head in sadness.
“...but you should know that I already have what I want most.” - Luna said, smiling gently. - “Although I wish to restore that light I know so well to your heart, and to the whole world.”
“You're speaking in riddles.” - Avi complained.
At first, Luna didn't reply, but instead fondly kissed Avi's forehead. - “That ans that I believe in a day, in which everything we have to fight against passes. In a day, when we'll fly to the sky together, enjoying our happiness without dwelling on the past.”
“I feel like the hope is running away from us even faster than before, day after day.” - Avi stated.
“We'll catch up.” - Luna assured.
“I hope so...” - Avi said gloomily, then gazed beyond the window. - “...because if the last of the stars fades, all that is left will be to wander and wait. In cold, and in fear, to be forgotten.”
“That's why we need to hurry a bit more.” - Luna said. - “While our goal is still in sight.”
“I would like to...” - Avi uttered with a hint of sadness. - “...but I'm not sure if I'll be able to carry this burden.”
“Let carry it with you.” - Luna replied.
“I...” - Avi turned, as if she wanted to say sothing, but instead she recalled everything she had been through and burst into tears. - “I can't. I'm too weak. They... they had hurt there, it was horrible. I don't know by what miracle I made it back here.”
Luna recalled what happened to her on the Rebirth station. She wanted to say that it'll pass, but it would be a lie. The only thing that was giving Luna strength to press on was Avi, but when she was about to give up, what could she do? She wanted to say that she would protect Avi, but she couldn't guarantee it.
Avi lay on Luna's lap, sobbing as her fingers clutched her dress. Luna felt that her heart couldn't take it anymore, and she wanted to give up, too. Yet, despite this, she believed it's not the ti for this. She believed that if she didn't support Avi right now, it would be harder for Avi to be the sa person she used to be. Still, tears welled up in Luna's eyes, and all she could do was hug Avi and cry with her.
---
Days passed, and Avi was slowly healing. Her parents didn't make her feel guilty, nor did they pressure her, allowing her to process her feelings at her own pace. Evi gradually began to eat more and could force a smile, but it was clear that sothing broke inside her. She wasn't as energetic as before and spent most of her ti in her room, resting, or with Luna, in the garden. Luna also noticed changes in Avi's behavior and was worried. Even after Avi's parents stopped limiting her access to sweets and her favorite activities, she didn't show any interest in those, as if she was consciously punishing herself, or as if it was causing her emotional pain.
The spaceship soon stopped in the thirty-fourth star system. Despite the day hours, Avi was sleeping in her room. Luna knocked at her door and opened it slightly.
“Yes, Luna?” - Avi asked as she turned to sit.
“We've arrived.” - Luna inford.
All life drained from Avi's face. She looked petrified.
“Is everything alright?” - Luna asked.
Avi, however, was silent for a long ti.
“Avi?” - Luna repeated.
“I... I don't feel too well.” - Avi said and lay on her bed again. - “Let's do it later.”
“Okay.” - Luna said, then closed the door and inford everyone else about the situation.
Hearing this, Charlotte didn't feel well either. - “I'm missing her. When will she co back?”
“We need to find her help. She can't stay stuck like this forever.” - Nicolas added.
Virka's tails shifted impatiently. - “I feel she's not going to go outside at all.”
“We should give her so ti.” - Luna requested. - “She has been through a lot.”
“I'll talk to her.” - Virka declared resolutely.
“Do you know what you're doing?” - Nicolas asked.
“In the past, I would say yes, but seeing her like this, I'm no longer sure.” - Virka answered.
“If it may help Avi, we should give it a chance.” - Charlotte requested.
Nicolas sighed deeply, but said nothing and just looked at Luna.
“I trust you, Virka.” - Luna said. - “If she feels even a bit better, or leaves her room, it's already a success.”
“I'm not promising anything.” - Virka stated.
“It's okay.” - Luna said. - “Still, I would like to thank you. For trying.”
Virka nodded, confirming that she understood, then left their eting.
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