DUALITY /#Wattys 2021

Chapter 53

Ridley stood before the Mannazian flag at sunset, her baby in her arms. Chi stood on her left, Reb on her right. Arlington Cemetery had long since been filled, but appellate cemeteries for those who died in service to the country had been opened. The Mannazian President had granted a plot for the burial of Ridley's mother.

It was just the three of them, the three of them and Sannah. Ridley's mind felt thickened, jelled with disbelief and sorrow, her chest clotted with pain.

Reb drew a handkerchief and blew his nose. His eyes were red.

Chi put an arm around Ridley and drew her close. As the casket trembled and started into the ground, the sun hit a cloud in the sky and golden rays reached down, as if Alana were sending them a last goodbye.

Ridley lowered her head and wept.

***

Ridley zipped her last suitcase, ready for the trip back to the cabin. She and Sannah had no place to go, so Reb had helped her apply for political asylum in Mannaz. Since their cabin compound was the only home Ridley had known there and it was currently empty, the President had given permission for her to stay there for the time being. Until she figured out where she wanted to live.

Until she figured out what she was going to do now.

Chi was coming to take her to the cabin. That was a huge comfort, one she didn't even have words for. She had only seen him once since the attack, at her mother's funeral. The thought of curling up in bed with him tonight, resting her numb head against his warm chest, crying her heart out in his arms, spread a relief through her that felt like salvation.

A soft knock sounded at the door. She opened it and Chi stood there, flanked by two guards, with Princess Ember in a carrier sling around his neck. He bent and reached his long arms out. His hug felt awkward with the baby sandwiched between them, but Ridley hungered and thirsted for it. She reached up for a kiss and got him on the cheek.

"Are you all right?" asked Chi.

"I'm better now," said Ridley. "Let me get Sannah and we're out of here."

Silence ruled the ride to the airport, because of the guards and staff who accompanied them. Ridley wasn't sure if Chi wanted to talk, but she did, and she didn't need an audience.

The staff led them to a small luxury plane. Ridley stood there on the tarmac as they unloaded her and Sannah's bags. When theirs all stood next to the plane, the aide closed the baggage compartment. She saw no more bags.

When the aide opened the baggage compartment on the plane, Ridley stepped around him to peer inside. It was empty.

She and Sannah would be going back to the cabin alone.

She took a window seat on the flight and stared out, feeling as if it wouldn't matter to her if cracks suddenly appeared in the glass and she were sucked out of the plane. She had so looked forward to their homey cabin, to Chi's cheery little paintings on the walls, to breakfasts in the kitchen. Her mother wouldn't be there, and Ridley'd needed that one place that felt like home.

But it would never feel like home without Chi.

Tears flowed silently from her eyes, and she kept sniffling and brushing them away. Chi had disappeared into the cockpit. Eventually the door opened and he stood there sideways, speaking to someone, the pilot, probably. She looked out of the window, avoiding him. She could feel his surreptitious glances backwards, watching her.

At last he came and sat beside her. "Ridley," he said.

"You didn't bring any luggage," she said.