Chapter 20 Last Goodbyes
It had been three days since Celia had been taken down to the dungeon. Sleep had evaded her, joy had taken a vacation. She could barely eat the food that had been given to her. There was now a big pool of accumulated vomit in the far right hand corner of the room, making the cell smell awful.
Celia rested on her cot. Her body was shaking like the ground during an earthquake. Her eyes stung, her breath was quick and sporadic. It felt like the cells in her body were screaming with agony, begging for mercy.
Suddenly, Celia heard a sound that made her heartbeat escalate. The door to her cell was being unlocked. The hybrid sat up, fear grasping her stomach. She was going to be taken away. She just knew it. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the guards to come in.
"Celia!"
Celia opened her eyes. It wasn't the guards, but her parents. She blinked, not entirely sure if she was seeing correctly.
"Mom? Dad?" she asked, her voice hoarse. Ruby came forward and wrapped her arms around her daughter.
"Oh sweet developer," Ruby said. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Singe came forward and placed his hand on Celia's shoulder. There was a very somber look in his eyes.
"Celia," he said. His voice sounded like it was just minutes away from breaking. He put his hand to his mouth and dried the tears that were starting to come out. Ruby let her go.
"How did this happen?" she asked. "We've spent the last who knows how long searching for you, only to find out you're on death row! What happened?"
Celia swallowed a lump and began explaining. It was difficult to do, given her voice was scratchy and her throat hurt. Thankfully, she managed to get through the entire story. Singe and Ruby's eyes were wetter than they had been before. Singe approached, leaning down to the level of Celia's cot.
"You did the right thing," he said. Even as he said it though, Celia was able to see the sadness trying to escape from his eyes. He gazed at his daughter, his scarlet irises shiny and dull at the same time. Celia broke down crying.
"That doesn't help me at all!" she said. She wiped her nose. "The morality behind what I did doesn't matter! By the laws of the Koopa Kingdom, I am still a traitor!"
Ruby looked just minutes away from shattering like a bowl made of China. Nevertheless, she still managed to speak up.
"Even still," she said. "You stood up for what was right. You did what was moral and just even when no one else did." She smiled weakly. "I suppose, in that sense, we are very proud of you."
Celia stared at her mother in awe. She looked at her father. Singe stared at his robotic hand as he held it up, drawing Celia's attention to it. Singe sniffled.
"There is still a way to fix this," he said. "I can give up my other arm if need be."
Ruby gave Singe a horrified look.
"Singe! You can't do that!"
"Sure I can! If it is worth saving our daughter, I would give up my arm and both of my legs! I've lived this long with an artificial limb!"
Ruby's eyes were streaming with tears. Celia shook her head.
"No Dad. It would be pointless. Bowser isn't going to be willing to do that."
"We don't know that!" Singe objected. He leaned down and placed both of his hands on Celia's shoulders. "Celia, if there is even the slightest chance…"
Celia shook her head.
"There isn't. Iggy said Bowser has to honor the laws of the Kingdom. And betraying the Koopa Kingdom is one of the greatest offenses that someone can commit."
Singe looked caught between shock and sadness. Eventually though, the tears returned. He wrapped Celia in a hug and sniffled.
"I love you," he said. There was a weakness to his voice, making it sound hollow and fragile. "I should have told you that before. It's…" he whimpered. "It's too bad that I didn't take the chance to do so."
Celia slowly hugged Singe back. Her heart felt like it was snapping like a twig.
"Better late than never," she said. She buried her face in her father's chest as Ruby made her way over. They held each other in a group hug, each one of them crying like there was no tomorrow. Which, for Celia, might very well be the case. Eventually, Singe and Ruby let her go. Celia looked up at them.
"It's going to be okay," she said. Both of her parents nodded, although they did it slowly and after a bout of hesitance.
"I hope you're right," said Ruby.
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening again fell on Celia's ears. Everyone turned, shocked to see Roy standing in the doorway.
"Hey," he said. He nodded at Singe and Ruby. "It's nice to see you guys again."
Ruby chuckled.
"It certainly is, Roy." She looked down at Celia. "We'll give you two some privacy."
With that, Celia's parents left the room. Celia stared at Roy. He took off his glasses, allowing her to see the emotional pain in his eyes.
"Celia, I'm so sorry."
Celia sighed.
"Don't be sorry, Roy. It's not your fault."
Roy leaned down and placed his hands on Celia's knee.
"If it's not my fault, then why do I feel so...bad?"
"Because this whole thing is horrible," Celia said, choking on her own voice. Roy scoffed.
"It's extremely unfair, is what it is. You shouldn't have to die!"
Celia swallowed a fresh batch of tears.
"Even still…." She couldn't even bring herself to finish the sentence. The tears that had been building up caused her to burst like a dam. Roy cradled her in his arms.
"It's okay. It'll be okay."
"How do you know?"
"I don't. That's where faith comes in."
Celia wrapped her arms tighter around Roy.
"I love you."
Roy seized up, possibly from shock. Then he held on tighter. As he spoke, his voice sounded like it was breaking.
"I love you too."