Chapter 50
Fifty
After some incessant begging on Celeste’s part, I leave the confinement of my apartment for what she has declared as a “family day”.
Dressed in a two-piece burgundy set, we leave the building and find Lenny, Aria, Leo, and Merri waiting.
Lenny immediately pulls me into a hug, the comfort bringing me back to life.
I smile and squeeze tighter, glancing at my other friends.
Leo holds a large basket in his hand, and Merri has a blanket folded over her arm.
“What’s all this?”
“I think we, but especially you, are deserving of some happy memories. Don’t you think?” Celeste pats my arm as she breaks into a stroll. “We are having ourselves a picnic.”
“A picnic?”
“Yeah, we never had the opportunity to have one on Auralea. Noctor doesn’t seem like a bright and sunny atmosphere either. What about you? Lots of picnics over on Lunara?” Leo snorts at the mention of Noctor.
I laugh, falling into stride with the group. “Can’t say I’ve partaken in any. I have read about them at the Library, though.”
“Well, that absolutely will not do. We are in the City of Wonder, and we are going to have ourselves a wondrous day.” I feel warmth seeping back into my bones, joy reentering my heart. Only my friends and family could bring me back to life.
We gorge ourselves full of cheeses and fruit—an indulgence, considering how scarce these luxuries are on our home planets.
Sitting beside the river, a gentle breeze brings the aroma of the flowers surrounding the bridge wafting our way.
The galaxies above slowly spiral, as if time itself could freeze right now, in this moment, forever.
Leo holds my legs across his lap while Celeste lies down on the blanket.
Lenny has his shoulder bumped against mine as he shyly reaches to hold Aria’s hand.
Merri sits cross-legged, her face to the sky above.
We aren’t momentary; we are infinite—at least we will be in my memory.
“You know,” Merri starts, “none of us can win. It’s going to be you, Leo, or Miles.
There aren’t enough pieces left for any of us to take the lead.
” That’s right… Leo and I are tied. Stars above, what if it comes down to him or me?
Merri pauses, her eyes drifting shut. “The feeling is sort of freeing, though, don’t you agree? ” She turns her head to Aria and Lenny.
Lenny shrugs, and Aria nods her agreement. Celeste adds, “We’ll stay out of your way in the remaining games.”
Aria chimes in, “Yeah, we want to survive and go home.” Lenny looks at her with such adoration; it warms my heart. I may not know Aria as well as the others, but Lenny has chosen her, and that’s enough for me.
My stomach drops at the thought of us all separating. “Do you guys want to go back?”
The group is quiet until Celeste responds, “Staying here really isn’t an option, is it?”
“How will we ever see each other again?” How can I lose this?
Lenny’s steady presence, gluing us all together.
Merri’s positivity; Leo’s steadfast strength.
And Celeste. Her wisdom and ability to make me laugh.
Aria’s lovely—she makes Lenny happy, and that’s good enough for me.
We’ve gone through something together that no one in our lives will likely ever experience.
How do we return from this, alone? I suppress a whimper, but Leo catches the small noise, rubbing my leg soothingly.
Celeste reaches across for my hand. As I place mine in hers, she says, “Well, we will just have to believe that it is going to happen, won’t we?”
Celeste and her optimism. I nod, wishing I shared her outlook.
We finish lounging and snacking as night creeps into the day.
Each of us is picking up from our picnic when someone clears their throat and asks in a timid voice, “Excuse me? Zellie?” I stand, folding the blanket as I turn.
The Celestial from the bakery from a few weeks ago stands before me. “Can I speak to you for a minute?”
“Hi, yes, of course.” The group looks at each other awkwardly, unsure of where to go. I point towards the river. “We’re going to walk along the riverbank for a few minutes.”
I shuffle in step with the young woman, feeling embarrassed by my outburst toward her. “I’m so sorry about how I acted the last time I saw you…” I trail off, realizing I don’t even know her name.
She laughs lightly. “Sorry, it must be weird that everyone knows your name but you don’t know ours. I’m Brinn.”
“Brinn, hi. I’m really sorry.”
“Please don’t be.” All is quiet except for pebbles crunching underfoot.
“Those of us in the bakery took your words to heart. Zellie,” she places her hand to her chest, “please believe us when I tell you we did not know how you lived.” She lowers her volume as she continues, “We’ve been made to believe that humans live parallel lives.
The Kosmos told us that being selected for the Games is an esteemed position, one that many humans pray to them for. We didn’t know you were suffering—”
I snort. As if I would pray to them for this unrivaled position I hoped and dreamed of.
“We aren’t suffering, per se. But we do not live equally, or as you do.
We have less than, we are treated less than, we are less than.
The worst part is, I would never have known had I not been forced here.
I didn’t want this, I didn’t volunteer for this, and I didn’t even know the Games existed until a night before they involuntarily whisked me off to Astralis. ”
She kicks a pebble, nodding along as she listens.
“I feel so embarrassed as a Celestial to know the truth. To know they’ve pulled the wool over our eyes.
They’re lying to all of us. I’m not the only one who feels this way.
There are others that the Order has undermined and some that feel scorned by the Kosmos’ actions.
We would love to know more about the humans and your experience.
Would you be willing to meet with us? Discreetly, of course. ”
I think of how Pluto threatened me after finding out about my slip-up in the bakery last time.
Of my friends and family, here and back on Lunara, and what I stand to lose.
I think about how we all deserve fucking better than a leadership that lies to us.
Is this how rebellions begin? It’s time to rise.
“I would be honored to.”