Skye City: The Darkness of Emmilyn

Family Reunion

Two days pass and it seems we have truly bonded as a family with one glaring exception: Arturo is still nowhere to be seen. Now the excitement has settled down, the tone has become a little more mournful, a little more tense, but no-one will dare acknowledge this – our stories stirring weaknesses we feel the need to hide, not out of distrust, but out of fear the floodgates might come open again. Dynah and I did not visit a nightclub because we were too emotional the other night, but I suppose it was a stupid idea anyways. Right now we need to focus on getting this family back together.

I contact Arturo via the holoscreen and he quickly and surprisingly sends a response with his location which I scribble down on a piece of paper. Our mother gives me her address which I also scribble down and Kyan informs me the password is 'Rising tiger' like the sound of my voice would not be enough. I call a taxi ball via the holoscreen, kiss my little brother on the cheek, then travel to Atlanta Hotel alone. I figure that way I stand a better chance of success because Arturo would be less likely to back down if confronted by a group.

Departing the taxi ball, I enter a large rotating door below the Atlanta sign and follow a glass tunnel from the main dome into the hotel lobby, then I follow a holographic sign to the end of a smaller glass tunnel and knock on a regular metal door which soon rises. Vytali welcomes me into the 'room' which is a tiny dome with a large messy bed and a small neat bed.

'Hello,' I say and my brother grunts in his usual charming way, lying sprawled on the large messy bed.

'Hungry?' Vytali whispers and we approach a bedside table, choosing breakfast from a menu which displays holograms of each option. We notify room service of our order by pointing to our choices and saying 'Yes' to confirm. I choose on Arturo's behalf because he remains quiet, still sulking about the fact our dreams are finally coming true. Boys.

I sit on the large bed below the barnacle-covered dome and eyeball my brother until we receive a knock at the door. 'Come in,' I say and a service droid enters the hotel room with two trays containing fried breakfasts and a jug of orange juice. She places them on the bedside table and I say, 'Thank you,' as she leaves the room. We collect our plates and cutlery, then eat ravenously from our laps until finally I break the silence.

'He's called Kyan.' I sip my orange juice.

'Who's he?' Arturo sneers, spilling bean sauce from his plate.

'Our younger brother. He's cute, reminds me of you. Well, not the cuteness,' I say.

'We've been alone since before he was born, Emmi. That boy's a stranger.'

'He doesn't have to be. He's just a kid. It isn't his fault. Our mother–'

'Who?' Arturo rolls his eyes and tilts his head back, spilling his orange juice onto the silky silver quilt. At this rate his entire breakfast is going to be shared with the bed sheets.

'Our mother... I'm surprised how much I remember, given that I was five when she left. We sat up late and the things she told me all came flooding back. A couple of days ago she was a distant memory. Now it's like she's never been away. It's weird.' I pause as my voice breaks, taking a deep breath. 'She said we need to get out of here, away from the Rebellion. They're as crazy as you suspect. She only maintained contact with them because she heard our names mentioned, but... You'll need to speak to her. It's bad, Arturo, really bad. I fear the end of the world is coming and there's nothing we can do. Our only hope is to get far away and hope we're among the survivors. I doubt there'll be many. Our mother says we should head for Larunya.'

'A desert at the edge of the world?' Vytali stoops his head, squinting.

'That's the point. The place is of little interest to anyone. We'll be away from the bombs. We'll have a chance,' I say.