Disarm Evil

Chapter 25: Sudihatosema

In order to minimize suspicion, the airship is flown away from Sudihatosema and then turned back around to head towards Rirbuseha, the holiest city in the Shattered Skies. The idea is to make it look like we are coming from Rirbuseha instead of Hosudiha, reducing the likelihood of being stopped and searched. Fortunately, the low-lying clouds work in our favor by blocking the line of sight between us and Sudihatosema below.

I feel overwhelming resentment for my Bitu eyes, which further blur the details I yearn to see again. As we get closer, I squint, hoping for a clearer image. But all too soon, we begin our descent into the gray clouds that drain our surroundings of color and beauty. It feels like we are being cast down from grace once again.

My heart begins to race as an irrational seed of panic begins to germinate within me. We made it out of the darkness. When Ritu refused to exalt us, we exalted ourselves; we built a tower, an act of defiance that surely won't go unpunished. My body anticipates the moment when the tower comes crashing down, when Ritu will confuse our minds and place us where we really deserve to be, captivity...

I can't go back. I can't survive another three salaries of bondage! My breathing begins to shorten.

"Are you okay?" Miya asks.

"No. What are we doing?" I say, "Do we really think we won't get caught? Surely Ritu won't let us get away with this! All roads lead back to slavery Miya! I cannot be a slave again!"

Miya removes me from ver back and sits with me, "I'm not going to let that happen."

"Who are you to make a promise like that? If it's Ritu's will, what hope do we have?"

"Would you rather die?" Miya asks?

"I would." I say.

"Then I will tell you what. If things come to that. I'll kill you before you have to go through that again." Miya says.

The thought of Miya killing me makes me feel ill, "No," I take a deep breath, "That won't be necessary." I say. However, I don't know if I really want to turn down the offer. I start taking some deep breaths.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah, sorry. The last time I saw Rirbuseha like that was right before Lise trafficked me. I am panicking, but I think I just need some time to come out of it."

"Okay, would you like for me to give you some space?" Miya asks.

"Please don't." I say.

Miya nods, "Alright, I won't talk your ear off, but I do want to remind you that you don't have to believe any of that about Ritu anymore."

I think back to the conversation we had as a family back in Hosudiha, looking for comfort in the memory and finding it. I cannot help but wonder how long these old beliefs will haunt me.

"You're right. Thanks." I say.

Miya then wraps me in ver arms and holds me. Ve may have no combat ability to speak of, but I still feel safe. Breathing deeply, I lean into Miya's embrace and watch through the balusters as the airship descends into a courtyard surrounded on every side by a building shaped like the thick outline of a square. I immediately feel uneasy again as several ministry members exit the building to meet us. However, unlike government-affiliated ministry members who wear varying shades of gray, these clergy members all wear teal robes with golden sashes.

"Welcome to Rirma," Jomira announces, "One of the many sanctuaries of Sudihatosema. I understand that you all may feel distrust of the ministry. However, let me assure you, Rirma has been working with us for decades and has proven itself to be a force of redemption in the midst of all the corruption you may have come to expect.