The Last Tour {COMPLETED}

Chapter Twenty: Fifteen Minutes

Chapter Twenty

Fifteen Minutes

"Just let me know when you're done up here. I'll be at the front desk."

"Sure, sure," Rudurhans Kakaya replied, waving his hand dismissively at the hotel worker as the man unlocked, then opened one of the double doors that led onto the roof of the hotel.

"Enjoy it," the hotel employee said, holding the door open for Rudurhans and Jessie to pass through into the dark night beyond. He gave them a faint smile, but more out of formality than emotion.

Rudurhans took Jessie's arm and led her past the man and out onto the roof.

"Windy up here," Jessie commented, quickly wrapping her arms around herself.

"I like it," Rudurhans replied. He turned back towards the doorway they had just come through and watched as the hotel worker shut the door behind them. "Come, it's better at the back. Nicer view of the city." He led the way around the doorway hood, away from the rooftop café, and to the back side of the hotel.

"This is quite high," Jessie sighed, walking up the edge and clasping her hands on the cold metal of the railing that ran protectively around the roof.

"Forty-one floors," Rudurhans said meditatively. He handed Jessie a cigarette. "Tallest hotel in Crement."

"Did you choose it on purpose because of its height?" Jessie asked, frowning.

"To a degree," Rudurhans replied. He pulled out a second cigarette and lit it. Then he handed the lighter to Jessie. "The first time I was here, it was because it's the tallest hotel in Crement and I wanted to have the experience. But after that, it's mostly just because I like the place." He paused. "The view doesn't hurt, either."

"It's a little scary," Jessie muttered.

"It is. But it helps to remind me how big this world is." He took a long breath on his cigarette, then started to walk slowly along the railing.

"You travel all the time, why would you need to be reminded of that?" Jessie asked a little stiffly.

"I didn't mean the size exactly. I meant the people," Rudurhans answered. He paused for a moment, then continued his slow walk. Jessie followed him. "But hotels and heights isn't what I wanted to talk to you about." He stopped again.

Jessie turned her face up to the sky. "You can actually see some stars from up here..."

Rudurhans glanced at the sky, then took another breath of his cigarette. "You really believe Jade is depressed?" he asked, looking the stylist in the eyes.

Jessie turned towards him. "I told you already," she replied.

"I—I almost believe it, now," Rudurhans said unexpectedly. He knocked his cigarette against the railing. "I don't even know why. I don't understand it—and I don't believe that bull-crap about there not needing to be a reason for depression. Depression is like sadness, sadness is like grief, and grief is caused by something."

"He's grieving..." Jessie said in an off-tone voice.

Rudurhans frowned. "Over what though? He has the world. What could he possibly want?"

"Look beyond what you know about him," Jessie sighed. "Look into what you don't know. Because chances are...what he hasn't told you about...is what he's hiding."

"Like what? There's literally nothing I don't know about him," Rudurhans said, shrugging stiffly.

"What do you know about his family, Rudurhans?" Jessie asked. She was looking at the sky again.