Page 203 of Rite of Unity

I laughed loudly, but started tapping again.

We were both tapping now, talking aloud to ourselves, tugging at our clothes.

I touched the final side.

The box clicked.

Gears turned, and the box began to slide.

“No.”Sera banged the sides of the box as it slid toward me.“No!”she screamed.“I’ll kill you.I’ll kill you!”

The box stopped, and I lifted.Now that it wasn’t held down by glass, it came up easily.

Nestled at the bottom was a slender key.

It was shaped like those from the pre-war era.The kind they used to lock doors before everything was controlled by our tablets or biometrics.I reached inside, lifting it and holding it to the camera.

“Maryn.Wait.”

I turned toward the door, my steps unsteady as the fog grew thicker.

“Maryn.”Her second plea seized my heart and squeezed.

I turned to face her.She was barely visible through the green haze, but she pressed her face to the glass, tears streaming down her white eyes.Blind.It had blinded her.It would blind me too.

I let myself look.Really look.Then I turned back to the door.

“Tell my baby nephew I love him.”

My hands were shaking.The key scraped against the lock before it caught.

“I will.”

She slid to the floor, her cheek pressed against the glass, sweaty palms smearing a line as she went.

I pushed the door open, a crack, but looked back once more.She deserved for someone to stay until the end.Her eyes fluttered, foam spilling over her lips.

“Goodbye, Sera.”

In the end, she never had a chance.

I turned, wiping a tear from my cheek, and pushed through the door.

Chapter 51

Maryn

Iinhaledthesweetsmellof fresh air as I stepped into the next room.

Elias rushed forward, covering my face with kisses.He wasn’t supposed to be here.These rooms were reserved for family, our quiet moment to compose ourselves before we stepped out into the flashing lights and waiting friends and neighbors.

“Elias.”I laughed, holding up my hands to shield myself from his barrage of sloppy pecks.“Elias.”

He released me, but leaned in again, wrapping his arms around me and spinning me in a circle.He set me down, and I stumbled forward woozily.

A new set of arms wrapped around me, the familiar scent of jasmine tea rushing my senses.“Mama!”

I buried my face in her shoulder, squeezing until she tapped me lightly, and I released her.