Cairo

Chapter 15: Shadows in the Clouds

Cairo took one glance at the mirror that hung over the dresser in his room. The long cloth draped over him was a dull green color that looked more like a dishrag than something someone would wear. Aerie stepped next to him. Cairo chuckled at the clear color difference between his dull green and Aerie's pink. He shook his head.

"I still think they're dishrags, but they're not bad for being handmade," he mumbled, making last minute adjustments.

Aerie nodded her head. His eyes glanced over her brightly colored cloth and he sighed silently to himself. Working for the Government had it's benefits, but it wasn't without it's drawbacks. If discriminating people was only as easy as deciding the brightness of their clothes, Cairo thought. But it wasn't that easy. Nothing ever was. Out of the corner of his eye, Cairo caught Cane's silhouette in the darkness of the doorway. Without another sigh, audible this time, Cairo nodded for him to come in.

Cane said nothing as he walked into the room. He wandered around, gathering their clothes into a bag he threw on the bed. After finishing, he took them downstairs and led them into the city. He stopped when they reached the main shopping district, a thin stretch of land in the middle of Berrgport where all the merchants gathered to sell whatever it was they were selling that day. Cane extended out his hand, like he was a magician showing off his equipment to his audience. Before he turned around to leave, Cairo grabbed his shoulder. He cleared his throat when Cane lifted an eyebrow at his strength.

"This isn't about earlier," Cairo said slowly as if telling a secret, "but last night did anything... strange happen-or at any other time you've been here?"

"Strange?" Cane's face scrunched tightly together. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Cairo's face hardened for a moment before he shook his head. "Nothing really."

"You ask me a question and now you say it's 'nothing.' You're clearly lying."

"Looks like you both know when each other lie," Aerie said.

She was leaning against a building with her arms crossed, not bothering to look at either of the two males, looking calm and composed despite the deep humidity settling in the air. When neither replied, she glanced over to find them staring at her and shrugged as if to say, "It's true."

For a moment, Cairo thought he saw guilt flash in Cane's eyes, but when he looked again, he saw no sign of remorse. He scowled at Cane when he remembered their conversation at breakfast, which he received back just as bitterly. Taking in a deep breath, Cairo's body tensed as he looked for the right words to say.

"Just to let you know, I'm only telling you this so you know what I'm talking about." He paused, and when he spoke again, his tone was softer. "To be honest, I'm not sure what I even mean. Me and Aerie were arguing and there was this... light thing. When I went over to check it out there was a mango on the ground and when I picked it up some voice popped up in my head."

"A voice?" Cane almost laughed, but it came out as more of a snort. "Sure you're not crazy?"

"This is serious." Cairo gestured to Aerie. "You can ask her about the light. She was with me. If the light was real, why wouldn't the voice be? Actually, Aerie, go make sure that Houri left." He grabbed her by the arm, pulling his lips to her ear. "If she not gone, tell me; if she's gone, make sure to keep an eye on Cane like I told you to."

Aerie gave a quick nod before she walked off through the mass of people rushing about in the street. When she was gone, Cane looked to Cairo.

"As far as I know," Cane said, "Berrgport is as normal as it comes. Normal people with normal jobs to provide for normal families during their normal lives. It's always been normal, just like any other city out there. If you ask my personal opinion, I think it's a little too normal, but I don't think anything of it."