Solari’s words stuck in Chia’s mind. She reminds her of Nova’s face when she pleaded for help. She tried so hard to focus on looking at the paintings, but she really was bothered. She frustratingly dropped the paint tubs that she just organized and started finding the two. 

She easily found them at the shore sitting and drawing figures with sticks. They were talking and laughing, reminiscing about old memories. They decided to spend time with each other rather than contemplate the future. Chia looked at Lucas, who looked happy just by being with Nova. She knows it’ll fade eventually when he’ll go back. It’ll make both of them miserable. It feels like the fate of happiness for the two is in her hands.  

“Do you still want it? The information.” 

Nova looked behind her and saw Chia. Her expression of hate from earlier turned to annoyance. “You’ll help us? ”

“I’m just doing it because other people have a knack of questioning my morals. I’m simply lifting out the guilt I’ll feel in the future if I see you weeping because you missed your dear husband. I hate irresponsible and dramatic coworkers.”

Nova can’t help but smile in relief. Lucas ran towards Chia and hugged her to express his gratitude. Chia warned him that he should be too much of a martyr and prioritize his happiness. Nova dragged him away from hugging Chia. Lucas just laughed because he knows that he’s prioritizing his happiness. It’s her, Nova.

In order for Nova to go back, it needs to happen on the 28th day, and she needs to recreate how she took her life, but it will only succeed if Lucas will do it with her, just like the two of them arrived at that island together. They could only do it at the place where they woke up, on that island. The cave will reappear on the 28th, only visible to the eyes of angels and early-death souls going there will be the easiest part of it, and the hardest part of it was Clay. Whenever a case like this happened where early-death souls discovered the existence of the well and decided to go back, she witnessed Clay as his ability will be nullified from controlling souls in the 28th day he is still leading them and has the capability of ordering angels to stop the early-death souls from going back. She is sure that he will stop them too, and she knows Clay already heard everything. Nothing could go past him. He’s a real headache. Even if they make a plan, it’s useless.

With all this information, it gave Nova and Lucas a way of hope. It will really be difficult for them because of Clay. Still, Lucas was willing to try, but he wants this to be successful for their future. 

The next few days were just normal days for them, but deep inside they’re anxious. They distract each other by spending time, but it’s inevitable for them to think about what will happen that day. 

Then the day has come, the 28th. The sun was unusually brighter than the first day they arrived here. Souls like them gather on the shore, admiring the sun’s beauty and brightness; others have fought the urge to admire its beauty as they wanted to return. Lucas can’t help but also to admire, his eyes fixed on the sun, slowly walking towards it. He felt a gentle hand touching his cheeks, calling his name. It was Nova. His gaze is now fixed on her solemn eyes. 

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it. We will get out of here, I promise,” she just responded with a smile.

The angels have arrived with Clay leading them. They finally saw Nadine, who was walking with her head low and grabbing to his wrist for assistance, walking along with him. Her tears fell one by one, thinking of Nova and Lucas. She didn’t manage to help them. 

It’s 12 p.m., the sun shines to its fullest brightness, and the ocean has sunken enough, allowing the souls to walk and reach the light. As their feet touched the water, memories flashed back, giving them the last chance to think through and go back. Others had their decision concluded. and some fought back, closed their eyes, and ran towards the shore for the last minute. Finally, the early-death souls have felt mixed emotions after the revelation of the unlocked memories. All of them stopped walking, processing the information. Some of them felt the relief of escaping the world, but most of them had regrets. Realizing their deaths, from their colorful clothes slowly turning into the darkest shade of gray. 

Lucas has noticed the changes in Nova’s clothing. From a white shirt and beige cardigan, it turns gray. It snaps him back to reality and their goal of returning. They looked into each other's eyes; full of determination, they held each other's hand and made a run for it, not looking back. 

All of the angel’s attention was on them, especially Clay. All ears are on alert, waiting for his command. Kai looked at the two confused, then realized everything after seeing the path they’re going to the cave. Curious of who leaked the information, she is somewhat happy that at least Lucas can finally go back, but her ears ring after hearing the words, “They’re going back. Get them.” Clay commands.

The angels ran towards the two, attempting to stop them. Kai didn’t think twice and ran as fast as she could to help them enter the cave, pushing and distracting other angels. Chia couldn’t stand to watch, as she is also responsible for it. She remembered the smiles of the two after uncovering the information about them. It’s a waste if they couldn’t make it. She grabbed Solari and ran together. 

"H-hey, what’s happening?! ”Solari had no choice but to run as Chia was holding his wrist tight. 

“Are you really an angel? Why are you so oblivious? You said we have the power to help them go back, right? ”Solari was shocked when Chia bumped and pushed a fellow angel so hard. “Then let’s help them, those two.”

Despite the help of the three, they are still outnumbered by the number of angels chasing Nova and Lucas. They ran so fast, chasing their lives... to continue living it. 

When Nova’s hand became heavy for him to hold, he looked back, and an angel got her foot. They tried their best to shake him off despite being in the body of a helpless 12-year-old child. Another one was coming their way, It’s Kai. Nova thought it was the end, but Kai dragged the angel away from them and told them to run and go back. They wasted no time and held each other's hand again and ran. 

In the midst of the commotion, Nadine lifts her head to see what’s going on, but Clay blocks her view to also avoid her from looking at the sun. “They found a way, right? They’re going back.” 

As always, he’s amazed by her perception. From the day he saw her, despite knowing her situation, she managed to smile warmly at him, making her unique to the souls he encountered. He wished he'd see her smile when going back home, but it seems like things will be different from now on. She continued weeping, overpowering the noise of the ongoing chaos. 

She kept shaking him, begging to help them. He remained quiet, just observing her. She’d come to realize that begging him is not the way. She harshly wiped her tears and nose, looking up at Clay, glaring at him. “I swear, Clay, when I go back, I’ll come back here again and be an angel like you. I’ll let all the souls go back, whether you like it or not.” 

His expression turned more gruesome after hearing her words, “That is a bad joke, Nadine. Will you just really throw out your life to help them? What about your mom? You said you want to see her.”

“But then another child will lose their mom, Clay. You helped me reunite with my mom. I want to help too.” Her tears flowed again, and she weeped in front of him. “I’m sorry for the thing I said about being an angel. I just really want to help.” 

Two people who went back as children, running away for their lives, and another child crying in front of him. He looked back and saw Nova and Lucas being held by angels together with Kai, Chia, and Solari. It’s not the usual scenario he encounters. It’s complete chaos.

“Do you really want them to go back? ”She nodded as she cried. “But promise me, this time, you’ll just come back here when you get older. Live your life, Nadine, but this time for a long time.” 

Her cry slowly stopped and she raised her pinky finger. “I'm not sure, Clay. I’m sick. I don’t know how long I’ll live, but I’ll try. I promise.”

“I’ll make sure you will. You said last time you want to be an angel, right? I don’t want you to become an Angel of Death like me, Angel of Hope, that suits you much better.”