Descent

Chapter 30

Perhaps death wasn't so bad. It was definitely more comfortable than her last few near-death encounters, but why did she wake up feeling so sore? Mai shifted, the subtle sound of sheets shuffling with each movement she made. She held her hand up blocking out a beam of light shining in from a window to her right. This certainly felt real enough. She waited for her eyes to adjust before looking around.

She's met almost immediately with the sight of Malik sleeping by her side, curled up with the same fragile nature of a fawn nestled beside the warmth of their mother. Mai sighed, relieved to see his mouth agape as he breathed steadily, lost in his own dreamscape.

Sitting in a chair beside her was a battle-worn woman dressed in furs and weathered leather. Mother, Mai thought to herself, relieved to be greeted by the sight of her family. The comfort was soon turned to mild panic as Mai sat up. She had seen this scene play out once before - the day her father died. The aching sensation centered around her core would suggest that this place was very much real. That the subtle breath escaping Malik's lips and the way Nayeli's eyes fluttered ever slightly were as real as real could be.

Mai brushed her fingers through Malik's hair, the instant touch sending an electric signal for his eyes to shoot open. His wild mess of hair turned up, allowing her to view his cherubic features as he stared at her with their father's eyes.

"Mom!" He shouted, trying to twist his body so he could come to rest upon his knees.

His sudden burst awoke their mother in fright, looking concerned for that brief moment that crosses every mother's mind when they hear their child shouting. When she saw Mai sitting there wide awake though, that sense of fear evaporated.

"Oh, my sweet girl." Her mother's voice cracked.

"Mom." Mai choked up, "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about." Nayeli replied, "I'm just so happy to have you back. To have you both back." She reached out for her daughter, embracing her with Malik trapped between the two.

"Help! I'm being smooshed." He whined.

"Sorry little guy." Mai laughed, separating herself and pulling him closer to her.

She winced as she did so - looking down, she saw from her upper chest down to her abdomen were covered with bandages. Seemingly newly changed. Her fingers lingered over the area where the helicopter blade had pierced her. She was hesitant to go any further than a simple graze.

"The medical team at the Citadel patched you up." Nayeli interjected, satiating her daughter's curiosity, "Your...or should I say our healing...it doesn't seem to have the same effectiveness as it used to. We were lucky Raven had such an advanced team otherwise..."

"Do you think the Gift of Eden is wearing off then?" Mai asked.

"I'm not sure." Nayeli answered plainly, "Frankly, I will be relieved to be rid of any lasting memory of Joseph...though, I will thank him just this once. Because it saved both my children."

There was still so much unknown about the sacred apple Joseph had gifted to her and her mother. The secrets died alongside Joseph many years ago. Perhaps it was better this way. To finally let the memory of him die just as his name died on her mother's lips.

"What's going to happen to the people at the Citadel?"

Nayeli replied, "No leader, no more Highwaymen. They're free to decide for themselves."

"Of course, they'll have a little guidance here and there." Another voice popped in.

Mai looked to the doorway of the infirmary, catching Dayana and Roger enter, hand in hand. Both had been outfitted with new prosthetics it appeared, and attached hip to hip. Mai smiled to herself, it was about damn time .