Mira stopped, glancing over her shoulder to see the girl standing there, with her small frame trembling like a leaf in the wind.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she took a hesitant step forward.
"Please... please, don't leave me alone! I-I'm scared... I shouldn't have told you any of this! I-I just... I felt like I had to say something, but now... now they'll know it was me! They'll have people listening everywhere!"
She hugged her arms around herself, her voice barely able to keep steady as she spoke.
"I'm being watched, I know I am! Everywhere I go, I feel like there are eyes on me... What if they come for me, too? What if they... what if they—"
Mira's heart twisted painfully as she listened to the girl's frantic pleas. She turned around fully, stepping towards the girl, while Alex sighed softly, rubbing his forehead at the trouble that they had suddenly come upon.
"Mira, we can't just—"
"I know, I know."
Mira interrupted softly, crouching down in front of the girl and gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"But we can't leave her like this either, Alex. She's terrified, and she has good reason to be. I... I can't just walk away and pretend she'll be okay!"
Alex could only sigh once again.
'She sees too much of her old self in this girl to leave her like this.'
He knew that there was probably no convincing Mira otherwise, though he did feel a little sorry for the girl himself.
But in a world like this, one had to make cruel decisions that could rip a normal person's emotions to shreds.
The girl sniffled, looking up at Mira with wide, tear filled eyes.
"Please... I don't have anyone else! My parents... they're gone. It's just me now. I- I don't want to die... I don't want to—"
Mira gently pulled the girl into a soft embrace, her heart aching as she remembered a time when she felt the same way, but had no one there to comfort her when she needed it the most.
This girl was just like her, but without the fortune/misfortune of being given the opportunity to make a life for herself as an awakened.
"Mira, I think we should split up."
Mira looked up, her eyes widening slightly.
'Is he breaking up with me!??'
"Listen, you're right. We can't leave her here. So you should get her out of the city. Find somewhere safe. I'll stay behind and keep digging around for Rothwind."
'Oh.'
Unbeknownst to Alex, he had just dodged a shitstorm by continuing his speech faster than Mira could respond...
Mira looked up, her eyes widening slightly, but there was no surprise in her gaze, not anymore at least...
Instead, just a hint of acknowledgement. It was almost as if she was considering the same thing.
Alex continued before she could speak.
"Listen, you're right. We can't leave her here. So you should get her out of the city. Find somewhere safe. I'll stay behind and keep digging around for Rothwind."
"Alex..."
Mira began, her vice hesitant. But he held up a hand, his expression remaining firm.
"It's the only way, Mira. If these people are as powerful as we think, you'd be in more danger staying here than I would. You know that. And if something happens to you..."
He trailed off, his gaze softening.
"Look, I'll be fine. I'm used to this kind of work, and I don't have to worry about protecting someone else if it's just me."
Mira opened her mouth to protest, but he pressed on.
"You know I'm right. If the culprits are as strong as Rothwind... I'm probably the only one who even has a chance of surviving against them. I don't mean to demean your abilities, but it's just the truth."
He forced a small, humourless smile.
"Not that I'd be able to win against someone on his level, but I'd last a bit longer than you would. And without you two in the mix, I'll have more options. I won't have to worry about you."