The following moments passed in a blur before me. We talked about my name and my old planet. And I found, to my surprise and admiration, that was before a celebrity among us: Lives in the Stars, Rides the Beast. If they knew about it, they knew what we could do. Did that mean ... No, it was not possible.
- You lived in the second crystal city, I guess. – she said
- Yes. I heard the story so many times...
- Did you like being a Bear, Sunny? Were you happy there?
Oh, no!
Tears rolled down my face as I looked at Kyle and I finally understood what he wanted.
- I'm sorry - she apologized, confirming my suspicions.
He touched my arm and apologized too, in its own way:
- Don't be afraid. You won't be hurt. I promised.
The pain hit me fully, as a strong push that can get you down to the ground a meters away from where you are. As being hit by a car.
No one will hurt me, right?
- But I like it here. I want to stay.
- I know, Sunny. I know.
My pathetic attempt to convince them only made my friend feel even more sorry for me and that Kyle brought my face close to his chest, to comfort me. I think I would need more than that.
The man with the gun, Jeb, proposed that we might see a guy named Doc. I was glad to have the time to organize my ideas, but when they drove the boy away, as if something were to happen that he couldn't see, I held on to Kyle even more, as if I could literally hold me in this world.
- Kyle?
- Yes?
- I don't want to go back to the Bears.
- You don't have to. You can go somewhere else.
- But I can't stay here?
- No. I'm sorry, Sunny.
The darkness of the aisle that we crossed was nothing compared to the darkness that has befallen me.