Suns and Shadows

The Sacrifices They Make

All I can see is blood. 

Blood as the Sun man drops to his knees. Blood as it pours down from his chest. Blood staining Mother's hands as she rips off her sleeve, trying to stop the bleeding. Blood as Karpov comes with one of his solutions and pours it down the Sun man's throat.

I'm not helping him. Not because I hate him, but because I don't want Saiya to see a dead body. Regardless of what Mother can patch and, Karpov can make, Saiya's Dark hit him in the chest. 

My mind still goes through the images as I pull her away from the scene. Saiya trips on her shoes. She gets scared. The bolt of pure shadow, pure power comes out of her. It hits him in the chest. I can't help but think that it's all my fault.

I drag her to Karpov's stall across from the one with the injured Sun man. It's now empty because Karpov is trying to save him. Saiya shakes as we sit in the wooden chair. I tie her shoes this time if I only I had done that before. 

If only, if only, if only.

She's not crying, I can see that she's trying not to. I'm trying not to cry in front of her. I'm in charge right now, I have to be strong. I cup her cheek with my hand. "Hey, it's going to be okay," I promise, trying to look straight into her blue eyes that are even shinier. 

Because they're full of tears.

"They're going to arrest me." She says. Her voice wobbles on every line. "T-They'll find out about everything. What if they arrest you and Mama too?" Then a tear slips free and I wipe it away with my finger. I want to let go, I want to cry, I need to cry, even if I have no one to cry to.

That's when a thought hits me. "You didn't do anything wrong." My voice is strong now, like steel. "You tripped and I went to catch you. When I thought you got hurt, I was the one who struck the Sun man." Which also means that I will be the one going to prison.

Saiya looks more startled than I've ever seen her before. Her lip trembles. And I know that the pain of losing her would be greater than the pain of death. I wouldn't live if she was gone. I just wouldn't be able to. "Ebony...?"

That's when I hug her, so tight that at first, it's painful. I don't mind. This is goodbye. Forever, probably. And I can't bear it. It would be worse if I was hugging her as she went with the Suns. "Keep looking for a cure with Karpov. There will be one Saiya. I promise I promise."

I take her hand and lead her back to where she injured the Sun. Mother stands next to Karpov away from the body. I know it's a body now because of the white sheet laid over him. It's not the body that scares me. It's the Lawkeepers.

I made sure I never had to meet a Lawkeeper before this. I obeyed all the Sun laws, they had no excuse to talk to me before. 

The Lawkeepers are meant to be intimidating. They wear solid white armor with whist helmets that cover their faces. Everyone is meant to be identical and even their voices are changed so you can't tell who you're talking to. And they're all Suns.

Mother breaks away from the Lawkeeper she's talking to. "Are you two alright?" She asks, scanning our faces. We look at each other. It doesn't matter if we're alright now. I'll be gone in a few minutes. I'll be dead in a few days.

The Lawkeeper comes up behind us. She goes to Saiya. "You're under arrest for-"

That's when I break down. Tears flow down my cheeks. They're fake. I'm crying for something I never did. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit him. I got scared." I sob. Mother looks at me and at Saiya. She doesn't say anything. 

This is the only way.

The Lawkeepers move in. "Identification."

"Ebony Cinders, Rook, Shadow." I sob. I rub my arm across my face to get rid of the tears. It makes a streak of dirt. Make me look helpless, I beg. Don't let them suspect. 

That's when a sharp poke is put into my arm. It's a pretty blue vial and my mind becomes tired, sleepy. I'm fading away.

Saiya's face is the last thing I see before I fall asleep.