The Tides That Bind Us [AfroFuturism]

Life and Death

"Don't look."

Zaharah had glanced away even before Uncle Cam spoke. Her gaze flitted away from the coffin to Pharah, who stood beside her. A mesh veil and sunglasses hid her face, and she held Zaharah's hanky pressed to her lips.

"Come just Pharah." Zaharah steered the DJ away from the coffin just as the mechanism activated to take Devin down his final resting place.

It had been one hell of a sendoff. Police escort to the gravesite, lots of flowers and Roddi had given a spectacular eulogy. It was just them and the priest at the ceremony, private, quiet, somber. Just like Devin would want, according to Pharah. Though she guessed he wouldn't appreciate them crying over him.

Zaharah guided Pharah along the path leading to a stand of palms at the belly of the hill. A few people stood around the stone benches edging the patch of trees, some talking, others crying. She hated funerals. The somber mood hung over the graveyard like a heavy fog, despite the clear sky above them. A light breeze left in the wake of the storm teased the trees and grass.

They sat on one of the stone benches and watched the ebb and flow of people. Hearses drove up and down the incline, and people carrying bundles of flowers walked the paths. One such person walked up to them, the bundles of lilies and roses in her arms hiding her from neck to torso.

Zaharah recognized her as Dr Nisha Sky, the Minister of Health. They'd had a short video call before the storm and agreed to meet when the Minister was back from Jamaica. But they'd scheduled said meeting for tomorrow. She was just as Zaharah remembered, beautiful in a demure way with a timeless face and coily tresses.

"Hello Zaharah." Nisha smiled over the flowers. "It's nice to finally meet you in person. Though I wish it were under more spirited circumstances." She had a gentle way of speaking, and a quiet manner always quick to listen and slow to speak.

"Likewise," Zaharah said with a small smile. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"I came to leave some flowers for my late mother. And I needed to speak to your uncle."

"Ah. I think he's still up on the hill."

"I'll be seeing you then." She nodded to Pharah. "Please have my condolences." And she was gone.

"She seems nice," Pharah said, her voice low and raspy. "Is she going to help with the micro metal?"

Zaharah nodded. Tomorrow, she'd go into a private hospital for testing. Blood, tissue, bone samples. Physical exam, ento chamber, the works, but with less nefarious intentions, she hoped. They still didn't know what the Director's endgame was with her, but knowing that woman, it couldn't be good.

"Did you see where Jade and Roddi went?" she asked. As if on cue, Jade came jogging down the path with Skorpi clinging to her head for dear life.

You guys need to come here, quick, she signed and started back up the path without checking to see if they'd followed.

Pharah took Zaharah's hand and dragged her along the path, weaving past the other cemetery-goers. They followed Jade past the hill where Devin was buried and up a set of step that led to the west side of the cemetery. There they found Roddi, standing at a gravestone twice as tall as he was made of black stone.

Written on its face in gold text was Zander Cyan with and Icarus emblazoned below. Zaharah stepped forward and placed her hand on the cool stone. Flanking it were six other grave markers, three on each side. To the left, her mother and the twins, to the right, Quelle, her and Jade. Someone had left a wreath on each, recently it seemed, since the flowers were still fresh.