The family remained frozen, the air heavy with the bitterness left behind. Safari and Angeleva stood side by side both shattered — not just physically, but emotionally.
Even as the figures of Gregory and Patricia disappeared, their words lingered like an open wound.
The family carried Safari and Angeleva to the spaceship, their bodies still trembling from their injuries.
Olive quickly took the pilot's seat, her eyes sharp and focused as she navigated the ship through the dark, empty sky. The atmosphere was heavy, filled with silent concern.
Zack, despite his exhaustion, immediately knelt beside them. His small hands glowed faintly as he poured his healing energy into Safari and Angeleva. The warm light flickered, soothing their wounds. Within a minute, their physical injuries were gone, but the damage to their hearts was untouched.
Zack smiled weakly, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Zack:
"There! Big bro, Big sis... you're all better now!"
But neither of them responded. Safari's gaze remained fixed on the floor, empty and distant.
Angeleva sat with her arms wrapped around her knees, her wings drooping lifelessly.
The family exchanged worried glances. Even though Zack healed them, the trauma from their encounter with Gregory and Patricia still haunted them. The weight of those painful revelations lingered.
Later, Jen decided to lift their spirits the best way she knew how. She spent hours in the ship's kitchen, preparing a spread of comforting dishes. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the spaceship — a familiar scent meant to bring warmth.
She carefully arranged the plates on the table, each dish a symbol of her care.
Jen:
"Dinner's ready, everyone! I made all your favorites!"
With reluctant steps, Safari and Angeleva joined the others at the table. The family watched with hopeful eyes as they slowly picked at their food. But even as the flavors danced across their tongues, neither of them could truly taste it.
Safari gave Jen a forced smile, though it didn't reach his eyes.
Safari:
"Thanks, Jen. It's... good."
Angeleva nodded with a weak expression.
Angeleva:
"Really... you did well."
But it was clear. They weren't enjoying it. They were only eating to avoid disappointing Jen.
The warmth she tried to spread couldn't pierce through the shadows in their hearts.
After the meal, Ian tried his approach. He eagerly presented a digital album of battle photos, swiping through images of Safari and Angeleva fighting side by side.
Ian:
"Look! You two were amazing back there! Just look at that Devil Hammer Smash — and Angeleva, your Fairy Justice Beam was like a shooting star!"
He grinned, waiting for a reaction.
But there was nothing. No pride. No joy.
Safari barely glanced at the screen, while Angeleva turned her gaze away.
Ian's smile faded.
Ian:
"It's... it's okay. Maybe another time."
Hours passed. Then a day. Then two.
Despite the family's best efforts, the darkness lingered.
Safari locked himself away in his room, sitting in silence. His weapon rested against the wall, untouched.
Memories of Gregory's twisted grin, the brutal blow he delivered, and the bitter words that followed replayed in his mind. The horrifying truth of his sister's murder twisted his soul.
Angeleva was no different. In another room, she sat by the small window, gazing into the emptiness of space. Patricia's laughter haunted her, along with the devastating revelation of her mother's death. The childhood memories she once held dear were now stained with blood. Tears often fell, and she no longer bothered to wipe them away.
The family grew restless. Zack knocked on Safari's door every morning, calling for his big bro with his usual cheer, but the door never opened. Jen left small snacks outside their rooms, hoping they'd take even a bite. Olive and Ian often whispered to each other, struggling to find a solution.
But nothing changed.
Safari and Angeleva didn't even have the strength to quarrel. There were no sharp words or scathing remarks — only silence. And somehow, that silence was even worse.
The family sat together in the main chamber, the hum of the spaceship's engine filling the air. Zack fidgeted anxiously.
Zack:
"Big bro... Big sis... I just want them to smile again."
Jen sighed, resting her chin on her hands.
Jen:
"I tried everything. They just... won't let us in."
Ian crossed his arms, frustration evident.
Ian: "They can't keep going like this. And we can't continue our journey with them like that. What are we supposed to do?"
Olive leaned against the wall, her expression grim.
Olive:
"We're a family. But right now, we're falling apart."
That night, the ship drifted through the vastness of space, silent except for the occasional hum of the engines.
Zack, Olive, Ian, and Jen sat together in the common area, exhausted.
They had tried everything.
Talking, food, old memories—nothing had worked.
Safari and Angeleva were still locked in their rooms, lost in their own pain.
This couldn't go on.
If they kept going like this, they wouldn't last.
Not against Raven.
Not against Gregory and Patricia.
Not against the stronger enemies waiting for them.
Olive clenched her fists.
She had been watching this unfold for two days, but now?
Enough was enough.
She slammed her hands on the table. "This isn't how we do things!"
The others turned to her in surprise.
Olive stood up. "They're part of this family. We're not just gonna sit around while they drown in their own pain."
Zack: "But what can we do? We've already tried everything."
Olive: "Not everything."
She glanced at Ian.
"You still have those old photos of big bro and big sis?"
Ian blinked. "Huh? Yeah, of course." He tapped his camera. "But what does that—"
"We're reminding them of who they are," Olive interrupted. "Whether they like it or not."
The family split up.
Zack and Olive went to Safari's room.
Jen and Ian went to Angeleva's.
They weren't going to knock.
They weren't going to wait for permission.
They were breaking in.
Safari's Room
The room was dark.
Safari sat on his giant bed, staring blankly at the floor.
He didn't react when Olive and Zack stormed in.
Olive crossed her arms. "Alright, enough of this crap."
Safari barely glanced at her. "Go away."
Zack: "Nope."
Zack pulled a chair over and sat down.
Ian's camera was in his hands.
Safari frowned. "What's that for?"
Zack ignored him.
He clicked the screen and swiped through the pictures.
Images of Safari.
Of his battles.
Of the times he protected them.
Of him standing strong, leading, laughing.
Safari scowled. "What's the point of showing me this?"
Olive: "Because this is who you are."
She stepped closer.
"This is you, Safari. The big brother. The fighter. The one who always makes sure we don't get hurt."
Safari tensed.
Zack: "And now you're just... shutting down? Letting them win? After everything?"
Safari clenched his jaw.
The pain of losing his sister.
The anger at Gregory.
The guilt.
It was eating him alive.
He tightened his fists.
Zack could see it.
He was fighting himself.
So Zack placed the camera beside him and simply said:
"Don't let them take who you are."
And then, he and Olive left.
Angeleva's Room
Angeleva sat on the floor, arms wrapped around herself.
Her shoulders shook.
She had been crying.
Jen and Ian walked in.
Angeleva didn't even look up.
Jen knelt beside her.
"Angeleva," she said softly. "You're not alone."
Angeleva let out a shaky breath. "Then why... does it feel like I am?"
Ian sat beside her.
He didn't say anything at first.
Instead, he pulled up the camera.
Angeleva sniffled, finally looking at it.
She frowned. "Why are you showing me this?"
Ian didn't answer.
He swiped through the pictures.
Angeleva fighting.
Angeleva smiling.
Angeleva standing tall, protecting them.
Angeleva, strong and determined.
Angeleva... happy.
She stared.
A tear slid down her cheek.
Jen: "You're still her, big sis. You didn't lose yourself. You're just hurt."
Angeleva closed her eyes.
She felt the ache in her heart.
Her mother.
Patricia.
The past she thought she buried rising up like a nightmare.
Angeleva whispered, "I don't know how to move forward."
Jen squeezed her hand. "You don't have to figure it out alone."
Angeleva's breath hitched.
For the first time in two days...
she reached out.
She held onto Jen's hand.
And Ian smiled. "That's a start."