GRAVESKIES

Chapter 16

On the streets of Axis, Fern bled for the first time. Walking barefoot in a big city did not make for a pleasant first experience on Earth. Ryujin took the time to finally introduce herself as she laughed and basked in the sight of Fern feebly holding back her tears.

Axis was divided into two parts: the Nucleus, the central part next to the sea where the wealthy lived and entertainment resided, and the Outliers, an overpopulated jungle of brothels, piazzas and stacked, shabby houses. Ourai River circled the Nucleus and delted into the Sea An'fe, driving a clear separation between the two; Ryu and Fern crossed the bridge over it. Ryujin had grown up in the Outliers, dreaming of the Nucleus, of its illustrious Repertoire and Temple of Right. The Nucleus was clean, full of skyscrapers and holographic advertisements; it was where the city planning budget went.

"This is where we have to watch out," Ryu said in the Outliers. "The authorities don't care what goes in this part of the city. If the citizens recognize me, I don't know what might happen." The Outliers had the highest crime rate out of all Akan, despite being part of Axis.

Ryu scrutinized every garden, narrowed her eyes at the windows and tried to read through the shadows. They easily found an empty house, although the way there took longer than it ideally would have, because Fern stopped to smile at every dog she saw.

"Thought you didn't wanna be here," Ryu grunted.

"I didn't intend to be on Earth, no. Doesn't stop cute things from being cute."

"They're not things, idiot."

"Right, you're right!" Fern laughed.

Upon finding an appropriate temporary hideout, Ryu jumped the fence and Fern scrambled over it too. She reached out for Ryu's hand for support; Ryu pretended not to notice and snorted when the mighty goddess fell on her face.

"Ow!" she yelped, pushing herself up on her arms. "Ow, okay. I... did reach out, just, if you could keep that in mind the next time we have to jump..."

"I'm so sorry, I totally didn't notice! So stupid of me."

"Oh, don't apologize, come on. Everyone makes mistakes."

Barely masking her humored smirk, Ryu headed for the window's latch, took out one of the several hairpins, nails and tiny utensils stashed in the pockets of her black uniform and fiddled away. Noticing Fern's silence, she swiftly peeked back over her shoulder.

Fern had stilled amidst the garden, silent and wonderstruck, colors burgeoning around her like ink dropping in a crystal vase. The trees, the path, the grass. The moss, the clouds, the squirming bugs. The world through the lens of a microscope. She gazed vividly at it all, curly black hair framing the mean angle of her jaw, a distant molten nostalgia quivering on the edge of her watery eyelids, across her gleaming cupid's bow.

Ryu's hands stumbled. Her brow creased. "Anything wrong?" she uttered from the corner of her unwilling mouth.

"I'll be right up!" Fern smiled before kneeling breathlessly and dipping hungry, twitching fingers into the ground.

Ryu simply kept working on the window latch, listening closely for clicks and snaps. Fern's question rung up from behind.

"How do you know this place is unoccupied? It looks rather well-kept."

"Don't see anyone here, do you?" Ryu raised a shoulder. "It's work hours. Most people shouldn't be at home now."

"Wait, you're breaking into someone's home?" Fern rushed to her side.

"Where else would I find you shoes?"

"How about, a store?!" What kind of logic was that?

"You got money to pay for it, Fern? Thought not." The window creaked open. Ryu swung a leg over the windowsill. Fern drew a hand across her face, looked through her fingers, shook her head. In that order.