MLTP Part 8- "In Harm's Way"

"In Harm's Way" is the eighth Part of "Miracula Luxia: The Prequel". It was released on 12.01.2020.
== Plot ==
The heroes continue their journey towards Paris, still traumatized by what they experienced not long ago. The encounter with the bandits which almost cost their lives.
In this Part, we will read about how Aleks, Seiko, Kayla and John are holding off after the traumatizing event that happened in the last Part. As well as the confessions of a worried father who wants to keep his whole family alive... at a great cost.
== Story ==
Four hours passed as our heroes left the ruined Inn, but the memories of what happened there were still burning in their minds. What they experienced there was not going to be easily forgotten by the four of them. Those horrible memories were going to remind them who they really are and what they are fighting for.
But that was another matter to worry about in the future. For now, they had to focus their energy towards one task- getting to Paris safe and sound. There was only one week worth of traveling on foot left- a great relief for our heroes.
Unfortunately, as they tried to set up a small camp in the middle of the nearby woods, Seiko started screaming in pain, attracting the attention of several wolves who tried to kill her. With the help of Aleks and James (who came to her rescue) she managed to slay them.
"Honey! Are you okay?"- Aleks asked her, worried about her well-being.
She didn't respond. She just stood there, breathing heavily and holding her tummy.
James gently lifted her shirt and inspected what could have caused her all the pain. Then he saw it.
A huge cut on her belly. Fortunately, it didn't go deep, so her unborn son was probably not hurt.
Aleks looked at it. He was horrified.
He held his girlfriend's hands.
"Seiko! You... you didn't tell me that they... "
"It hurts. It hurts."- Seiko said quietly- "Please, make it stop... "
James looked for something to bandage the wound in his backpack. He found a few bandages.
"Aleks."- He said.
"Yes?"
"I might be able to bandage her up, but I'll need your help to restrain her, so she cannot interfere with the process. Undestood?"
Aleks nodded and gently took Seiko's hands in his as John began bandaging her up.
She tried to flee, but the pain was too much for her.
"Aleks. Our baby... our baby is... "- Seiko tried to say something to Aleks, but fell unconscious before she could finish the sentence.
Aleks held her in his arms, unable to move.
"No."- He mumbled.
"No, no, no... "
James finished bandaging her up and looked at Aleks.
"Oh man. Looks like the little one didn't make it."
Aleks shed a tear.
"It cannot be possible. She... didn't tell me about... that... "
He looked at her listened to her heartbeat.
Her heart was beating, but much faster than usual.
"She's alive, but traumatized. Our child is dead. I... I don't know what we're going to tell to Marinette after we get home. That her little brother died on the journey. Poor kid."
James listened to her tummy and heard a kick. He smiled.
"I don't think your son is dead. Listen closely."
Aleks did so, with some hesitation and realized that his unborn son was not dead. He was still in there, alive and well. Just a little scared.
"Don't worry, son."- He said to him and kissed Seiko's belly- "As long as I am here, you will be safe. I won't let anything happen to you. Or your mommy. I promise."
He heard a kick from inside and noted it as a sign of approval. He smiled and placed Seiko on the grass to rest.
Soon she started snoring gently.
"She's sleeping. That's... that's great news."- He mumbled.
"Indeed. After what we had to suffer on the way here, she definitely deserves it. No woman that is pregnant with a child deserves to die to such vagabonds. And no one else that is good, in fact."
"You got that right."- Aleks said and looked at Kayla.
James did the same. They saw that Kayla was sleeping as well.
James came close to her and noticed how close she was to a tree. He pulled her to the soft grass and placed her there.
Then he kissed her on the cheek, like a worried boyfriend. Fortunately, this didn't wake her up.
Aleks looked at him suspiciously.
"Why did you do that?"- He wondered- "Don't you have a wife and son?"
James sighed.
"Can't a man do things like that? Look, I love my wife. I really do. But this girl... she made me realize how to truly care for someone you love. How to cherish their memory and move on, looking for the other loved ones."
"She also made me realize what the word "love" truly means."
"What do you mean about that?"- Aleks stared at him, confused.
James smiled.
"Well, you see, until I met you guys and Kayla, I loved my wife. But it wasn't true love. Just a "Hello", "Goodbye" and nothing more than that. It's like we are complete strangers. It's like she... doesn't truly care about me."
"Yes, she does care about our little son, but what does it matter? A relationship is built with love and trust, not temporary feelings for each other which slowly fade away as time passes. That... is what my father taught me when I was a kid- to always love and respect your significant other, even if he or she doesn't do the same. That's what I do with my wife. That's what I do with my son. As for the respect, it's for everyone I know. Bad or not, I respect the fact that they are living people and that their lives have a meaning just like mine. So I don't wish to kill them, unless I have to protect one of my loved ones from them. It's in my DNA, Aleks. It just doesn't allow me to."
Aleks sighed.
"I understand that. Thank you for sharing this with me. Now, I wish to tell you a story about how me and Seiko came to search for Paris in the first place. Want to hear it?"
James nodded.
"Of course, my friend. Go ahead."
Aleks looked ahead and started reminiscing the events before he met John and Kayla.
"Two years ago, me and Seiko fell in love. We became boyfriend and girlfriend and soon she became pregnant with our daughter. While I was recovering from a severe case of PTSD, my sister suggested that we should go to Paris, because at that time it was actually safer there. Big city, good economy, good medicine and stuff like that. I didn't want to go, because I didn't want to leave my family behind, but my sister took me there anyway along with Seiko. That's where she gave birth to our daughter. That's also the moment when I realized that I am a man with a huge responsibility- to keep my family safe from harm at all costs. So I decided to flee with Seiko and our newborn daughter. We fled from Paris and just in time. There was a major riot in town- a riot which disrupted the delicate peace we had while in the city. There was none of it left. Just screaming people with yellow vests, yelling "We want our money! Give it to us!". I know, it wasn't exactly the best choice for my family, but we managed to survive the travel back to our hometown and take care of our daughter for a while, with the help of my father and my sister."
"After that, Seiko became pregnant again a few years later, this time with a boy. We waited for the time when she would give birth to him peacefully in our hometown, surrounded by family. Until we were forced to flee because of a Giant attack which almost destroyed the whole town and left it abandoned. We moved to my sister's village where she kept my family safe while I went to look for the ones who were responsible for what happened to our hometown. I found them, thanks to the help of Kayla who I found looking for them as well. We teamed up and defeated their camps, razing them to the ground, one by one. After the good deed was done, I spoke to her and decided to help her find her sister and accompany her to the city of Paris, just the two of us. Until Seiko arrived and told me that I'm not going anywhere without her. That's when I realized that I was putting Seiko into danger again, by forcing her to make a reckless decison. And we're talking about a pregnant woman here!"
"But I took her with me nonetheless. I thought that I could protect her. But all I did was put her in harm's way along with myself and Kayla. I didn't think straight. I wanted to apologize, but... I think that it's no use anymore. It just won't work."
"What I want to say that my family might die, James. If I don't man up and become their selfless protector who will do anything to save them. Seiko said that she doesn't want to see me die, but I think that sacrificing my life for them is better than being a coward and letting them die. No, I won't be that kind of guy."
James placed his hand on Aleks's shoulder.
"It's okay, Aleks. I know that you've suffered a lot of pain to be here with your family. And that's why me and Kayla are here- to help you find the city of Paris so we can all settle there and live peacefully together."
"We will make it. I promise you that. Now go to sleep. You need much more than any of us do. After all, you are the one who got us through this mess of a journey alive and well. We owe you that."
James looked at Aleks. He was asleep.
"Oh, I guess you already went to sleep. Okay then. See you tomorrow."
Having said that, he looked around, making sure that nobody would attack them like last time.
In the morning, Aleks woke up and felt refreshed by the long sleep- for the first time in at least a month (or maybe two).
He hugged Seiko who had woken up from her slumber as well.
"Is everything alright, honey?"- He asked, smiling at her.
Seiko nodded.
"Yeah. James told me that our son is still alive! Can you believe it?"
"Of course I do. That's what I was trying to tell you before you fell unconscious."- Aleks said to her and kissed her on the forehead, making her blush.
"Sorry 'bout that, babe. I was really worried about our child. Not a very smart move of me, don't you think?"
Aleks sighed.
"It happens to the best of us! It's nothing to worry about, though."
"Well then. Are you ready to go?"
Seiko nodded.
"You got it."
"Okay then. But... where are James and Kayla?"
"Said that they're going to wait for us a bit further."
"Let's not keep them waiting then."
Having said that, Aleks took Seiko with him and started walking towards his friends who were seemingly lost in thought.
"Hey friends."- Aleks greeted them- "What's going on?"
James pointed at a nearby wall.
"This. This is what's going on."- He said- "It's an abandoned pass where they want to make us pay a toll. However, there's no one here, so we try to find another way to go through."
"Or break through."- Kayla added.
Aleks looked at the wall. It was an impressive one. Its walls were tall and imposing and the gate near them was locked with gates made of solid iron.
There was no way either of them could break the gate and open it. The walls were another story.
Aleks, Seiko, James and Kayla looked around the wall, thinking of a way to pass it and proceed towards the city of Paris.
== Trivia ==
* This Part's name is inspired by an episode in "The Walking Dead: Video Game" of the same name.