Eastern Sun

Chapter 9 | The Escape

東方之月兮。
彼姝者子、在我闥兮。
在我闥兮、履我發兮。

***

"Come take my hand, I know the way out of here. The Heavens are calling we have to leave soon."

Xiān Chí looked at the extended hand as if it was a viper, a mirage, that would bite her as soon as she would try to take it.

"Xiān Chí?"

His voice wavered as Xiān Chí took one tentative step back, and another one.

"Come, I know it has been way too long, but I didn't know you needed to be found."

Her left hand disappeared into her pocket to ensure the key was on her person. It was the only real thing out of the ordinary here. Chéng Tù would leave if she ignored him for long enough, she only needed to look the other way.

"We don't have any time to lose, please, take my hand."

Chéng Tù almost tried to crawl through the way too small hatch. It would have looked ridiculous if the universe hadn't been playing such a cruel prank on her.

"And then what? There is still this door locked between us."

This was an obstacle that could not be ignored by hoping it would move away.

"Just unlock it, it's not that difficult. You have the key right there."

Xiān Chí did not have the key, that was the whole problem.

"No, it does not fit. I've tried."

Unconsciously she had been moving closer to the hatch and Chéng Tù's outstretched hand, till it was close enough to grab.

"But did you believe it would? Please, try again and know that I am here on the other side for you. Just believe in me this time."

Xiān Chí did not believe him, but the fire of hope that she had thought to be extinguished during her confinement, had come back to life. It whispered promises of a chance in her heart, telling her that maybe, maybe, this time there would be a way out.

Her hand that had kept the key in a tight grip during the entire conversation slackened. She pulled it out of her pocket where it shone under the shimmering light of the moon through the window.

Maybe Chéng Tù was right.

Maybe.

"Here, you try it from the other side."

She pushed the old key into his hands, ignoring the shocked look he sent her way.

"But——"

"I trust you to open this door for me, even if I can do it myself. Please."

The key and hand disappeared through the hatch as Chéng Tù straightened up. Xiān Chí could hear the key being inserted into the lock.

It turned once.

It turned twice.

It got blocked, and with a groan the door opened for Xiān Chí.

Chéng Tù was waiting for her with the biggest grin she had ever seen on his face.

"See, I told you you had the key! Now let's go, it's almost time."

Xiān Chí did not understand why there was little time, and Chéng Tù did not explain as he pulled her from courtyard to courtyard. The endless galleries of the Imperial Palace looking solemnly at their escape in silence.

They rounded a seemingly forgotten and random corner when an arm came out of the darkness capturing Chéng Tù before Xiān Chí could do anything.

"What took you so long?"

Xuán Hú pulled Chéng Tù close enough for a quick kiss before focusing on Xiān Chí who did not know where to look.

Xuán Hú was dead.

She was very sure he was dead.

She had seen his body, had been exiled for killing him.

Surely he must be dead.

A forgotten memory rose to the surface of Xiān Chí's mind, of Chéng Tù telling her about a plan. An escape to better places were Xīwángmǔ could never find them again.

A plan that would entail creating a diversion big enough for the Crown Prince to disappear.

"Where is Jīn Sù?"

***

The answer to that question was not as straightforward as Xiān Chí would have liked to hear. It appeared, that though the Crown Prince and Chéng Tù had managed to escape, Xiān Chí had not performed her own part of the escape as planned. This had resulted in an unconscious Jīn Sù, kept hidden in this very room by the two men.

"We had thought it was a perfect plan, but then you didn't listen and Jīn Sù got hurt."

Chéng Tù didn't sound as accusing as his words would make one think.

"And honestly, this place isn't all that better than the Heavens. It looks better, and mother isn't here, but—"

All his attention was focused on Xuán Hú and making sure everything was ready for their journey.

"We wanted to go home very fast, but we didn't know where you were locked up, so we first had to find you."

The room was empty apart from the bed Jīn Sù was laid upon, no door or open skies to take them back.

"And we did find you it was too late to cross over, so we had to wait another year. But now we can finally go."

It slightly warmed Xiān Chí that they had looked for her, even though she had been able to escape herself the entire time. Hindsight was everything in these kinds of situations, for now it was better not to dwell on it.

"Now, we have the keys, the time is right."

Jīn Sù was secured on Xuán Hú's back and Chéng Tù stood before the blind wall with his hand once more extended towards Xiān Chí.

"You only have to will the way into existence. This time I can't do it for you, we travelled along with you, and only you or Xīwángmǔ can open the galaxy to form a path for us."

The rusted old key, that had been her only companion during those long months all alone, shone softly and called her forward.

This was no time to hesitate.

Xiān Chí breathed in and out and took the key.

She could do this, like she could do anything she set her mind to.

As long as she believed a door would open and a new path would appear before her.

The roof opened as the magpies sang their songs, the window of heaven had heard its master's call.

It was time.

Xiān Chí raised her hands to the skies as the Heavenly River rose from where she had been hidden within the cosmos. Rose as the bridge was formed, locked, connecting the worlds too far apart to cross in any other way.

The stars sang and the crossroad followed the curve of the moon who joined her sisters in a melody.

Xiān Chí stepped forward, feeling the sturdy surface of the bridge. Moved forward in the sure knowledge that the others were right behind her.

She moved forward, as the early sun rose in the east.

***

The moon is in the east,
And that lovely girl, Is inside my door.
She is inside my door; She treads in my footsteps, and hastens away.

《東方之日 - Dong Fang Zhi Ri》 Odes of Qi