The last to go

7

They walked slowly, having to adapt to Kyra's weakened body. Every now and then Kyra looked around, secretly hoping to see another being. It was shameful to wish for another person to be trapped like them, but in her state she didn't care anymore. Shey occasionally skipped ahead and peered inside the buildings. Kyra could tell the little girl was growing impatient. On her own she could probably run the whole way to the castle. 

Shey never stopped chatting. Her voice was high and she had a light accent that made every sentence sound like a song. She spoke about her mother and little brother. Her mother's name was Saya and she was tall and pretty with blue flowers in her hair. Her mother wore purple clothes. She would gather all the children in their tribe and sing them lullabies until they fell asleep on the grass. 

Shey liked to play with her brother. Shaya was a young boy but he wanted to become a pilot so that he could travel everywhere and return. Shaya wore blue or green clothes. He slept with the Cloud sheep. Their father was traveling, she said. He sold the pearly wool around the galaxy. He hadn't been home since Shey's second birthday but he send small gifts every now and then. Last year he send them a toll that played music when they spun it. Saya didn't like to speak about him. Kyra just looked at her sadly and smiled.

Shey told Kyra about her favorite foods. She liked the Palé and disliked the Gucha berries. Her favorite dish was her mother's Gem stew, a dish that was so rare outside of the villages of the Mashui that Kyra had only ever heard stories of it. Apparently, the dish looked like an underwater reef and tasted like salty fruit.

Kyra didn't question it. Her lips were dry and her throat like sandpaper. She'd give her arm for a sip of any liquid. The streets were endless and there was no hiding from the heat. Thirst was her greatest enemy now. They were walking alongside the slope, around the remains of the well. It had been the second target of the terrorists. The crystal like water was muddled now. It was retreating into the ground according to the last report from one soldier.

Kyra kept her eyes trained on Shey, which was not hard. Her dress shone like a ball of fire. It fit, with the heat and the brightness of the day. Kyra licked her cracked lips and swallowed, wincing at the sharp pain that flared up. Shey turned a corner, going a street further down the funnel shaped city. The well was still not visible. 

They passed the library and Kyra paused to mourn the broken globes, torn books and flickering holograms. The grand dome with the galaxy painted on it, laid in pieces on the ground. The image of Lunaris caught her eye. A small, insignificant planet that turned slowly and was home to the planet sized serpent. Kyra turned away and walked on, feeling a lump in her throat. They reached a street with little more than ruins. Behind them, there was a trail of blood. It slipped passed Kyra's fingers, soaking the leg of her trousers all the way down to her boots where they coated the sole. 

The houses parted and the grand square became visible again. Large stone vases lined the square, most of them broken now. Excited to see a few blue butterflies appear from between the fallen flowers, Shey started to chase them. Her laugh and cheering drew the attention of Kyra, who was struggling to stay on her feet. She hadn't walked far to find Shey, but it felt like she had been running around the entire city. The castle was light years away. Shey was little more than a red blob running around. 

Shivering, Kyra managed to walk a few steps on the market square before she fell to her knees and found that she could no longer get up. Golden flakes flew around her. The world was spinning and cold sweat gathered at her neck despite the suns. Her face hit the hard ground. The stones vibrated.

The thud of her body hitting the ground echoed in the silence. The butterflies flew away in a flurry of light. Shey looked up and shrieked in shock at the sight of the soldier laying on the ground. She ran back on wobbly legs.

"Kyra!" Her high pitched voice cracked as she reached the older girl. Little red rivers spread out from underneath Kyra's body. Shey jumped away from them and looked back at Kyra with wide eyes. The gravity of the situation seemed to dawn on her and tears came to her eyes. Determined, she stepped over the blood and grabbed Kyra. 

"Kyra get up!"

Shey started pulling at Kyra's shoulder, trying to turn her around. She cried using all of her little weight. The fabric tore and Shey fell back with a yelp. Without pausing, she jumped up and ran around Kyra and started pushing. Her feet slipped on the dust as she pushed. Kyra's limp body was too heavy. Shey landed on top of her. The older girl barely reacted, eyes blinking slowly. 

"Up!" Shey sobbed, helplessly. She sat down, small hands curled into fists on her knees. The puddle continued to expand. Shey beat down on Kyra's shoulder with her fists. Kyra didn't feel them.

Kyra felt bloated but empty at the same time, a balloon of parchment that would crack at the slightest touch. The heat from the suns felt cold on her skin. Blood was everywhere, as was the dust. It filled her wounds, absorbed the blood. It filled her mouth and took away all of the moisture. Her vision filled with colors. It didn't hurt.