Chapter 67
Sixty-seven
Two days remain until the last challenge.
Orion has been impossible to avoid; he is my sponsor after all.
Initially, he tried to bring up the kiss—not the murder attempt, thankfully—to which I asked him to concentrate on the upcoming game.
There will be time after figuring everything else out, or so I tell myself.
I’ve noticed his irritation increasing rapidly over the past few days but can’t pinpoint why.
“What is the matter with you?” I finally snap one night as we walk back from the training grounds. I’m on edge myself, perturbed by how Leo hasn’t tried to speak to me once and angry at how unbothered he is by what has happened to us.
He releases a heavy sigh. “I do not know what they’re planning for this last challenge. It’s like they have purposely left us in the dark. I’m petrified of you being unprepared. I don’t want to fail you, Zi.”
I link my fingers through his, holding his arm close to my body.
“You’ve done everything possible to prepare me over the past five months.
You haven’t failed me; you’ve saved me. I lost sight of what’s important after Lenny…
” I trail off, swallowing the grief. “I lost myself. You’ve been so patient.
I can’t thank you enough. I don’t know where I would be if you hadn’t chosen me. ”
Orion remains silent for a moment, lost in contemplation. His voice is quiet when he responds, “You were never lost, Zellie. You were buried beneath the weight of your grief. You climbed your way out of it. If anyone saved you, it was yourself.”
“Thank you,” I repeat the sentiment.
“We’re going to get through this together.” We hold each other tightly, praying that there is truth in those words.
I head into the city to see Brinn one last time before the game begins.
Am I distracting myself? Yes. Am I trying to soak in all this city offers in what could be the last time I step foot in it?
Also yes. I love not only the external beauty of this city, but what is inside it as well—the whimsical, beautiful souls and all they offer.
Astralis may be a City of Wonder, but it is also full of potential.
She has helped me see potential in myself, potential in the citizens, and potential in our collective future.
How do you say goodbye to something that has shaped you so thoroughly?
I push open the door, inhaling the calming lavender a final time. “Hey, Zell. Let me just finish closing up. You want anything?”
“No, thanks.” I take a seat, fidgeting with my nails as I wait, noting the chocolate muffins lining the display case.
“Nervous?” She slides into the seat across from me.
“Very. I keep thinking about what would happen if I were to win. And then, after I exhaust that train of thought, I move on to what happens if I don’t win. And everything that comes after, regardless.”
She swats her hand in the air toward me. “Don’t worry about what comes after. The Children have a plan. You focus on the game, staying alive, and winning. Leave the rest to us.”
“Am I excluded from knowing the details of this plan, or…?”
She laughs, the sound melodic. “The less you know, the better. Trust me, we have your best interests in mind here. Everyone’s best interest, actually.”
“That’s not mysterious sounding at all.”
“You've got this, Zellie. One thing at a time, okay?”
Easier said than done.
We spent the night before the game together as a family.
Atlas, Merri, Aria, Celeste, Miles, and I are crowded in my apartment, but it doesn’t feel crowded.
My heart only feels full. Orion stuck around for the get-together as well.
The only one missing is Leo. The group invited him, but he politely declined.
If he wants to isolate himself, that’s up to him.
Maybe he’s spending the night with Portia instead. The thought makes my skin crawl.
The night is light and full of laughter. In a different world, we would spend the night together freely without the fear of the unknown lingering on the other side of the night. We sit in a circle on the floor in the living area, taking turns addressing the group with a toast.
Atlas starts, “We might not be the next Celestial champions, but we’ve kicked ass these past five months.”
Merri chimes in, “I’m proud of each one of us. We started this journey as strangers, and look at us now. I’m proud to call you my family and compete beside you tomorrow.”
Celeste adds, “No matter what happens, we have each other in the end.”
Miles simply states, “I appreciate all of you.”
Aria smiles sadly. “I’m just glad we’ve made it.”
The sadness never really goes away, does it? I clear my throat. “We will do our best tomorrow. For ourselves, for our friends back home, and for Lenny.”
“For Lenny!”
I will make us all proud.