6

Diana’s heart pounded. This was it, her final moments. She didn’t know what she expected, an ethereal glow? A sense of reassurance? Her hand slipped from Virgo’s as Kickk rebounded her arms.

What should she say? She had to say something!

“Live a little for me,” She said to Virgo. “I’ll see you on the other side.”

She hadn’t been able to see Virgo’s face in the darkness, but now a light flared and Kickk tried to force Diana out into the hallway. The glow revealed the sunken face of a child who could no more live than she could. Her dark hair was thinning, and she looked twenty years older than she should’ve.

“I-I’ll try.” And then she was gone. Kickk half marched half dragged Diana down the smooth hallway. Again it was empty.

She wondered if her sister was already dead. How would they do it? Would it be quick?

“Will we be executed together?” She asked in a quavering voice. It might be ok to have Bellona’s hand in hers as the silver blade slashed down. She only hoped she would be first.

“No.” Kickk said, and Diana’s heart slowed its beating just enough to keep her alive.

Kickk dragged her roughly along, and Diana didn’t risk speaking again.

Everything in the hallway was so identical it made her head spin. Why had symmetry been so important to its creator? Was it supposed to confuse? And why was it so dark? What was the darkness trying to hide? Her wounded arm had become almost unbearable. The pain will end soon. She told herself. Nothing will hurt in a few minutes. She hoped whatever came after was pleasant.

Diana couldn’t focus on anything except her eminent end. Did that make her a bad person? No. But failing Bellona did. Diana was the only person Bellona had, the only one she would ever have. Being born blind meant that she had a constant disadvantage in a world that wanted to kill her. Diana’s only job was to keep her alive. The failure nearly brought her to her knees. They were going to kill her. Diana wondered what came after death. Did you live in eternal harmony like some suggested? Or were you reborn as a new person, past lives forgotten.

Her father had told her about death, how you paid for your mistakes with pain, and relief came in the form of nothingness.

“The more pain you choose to bear, the less the living will suffer.”

She wasn’t sure if she believed him, how the shoulders of the dead held up the living. She had never felt like any of the dead supported her. She stood on solid ground alone.