When All Was Lost...
Chapter Twenty-Three
23
Days had passed and no one heard from Kalin since that day.
The swelling had gone down.
It wasn't like he hurt her too badly...
She was just more startled than anything.
She didn't even think he really meant to...
But his words still cut deep.
Akarii had been filled with doubt ever since.
"We don't need ANY wannabe's hanging around, no matter who they are!"
That was what he said.
She heaved a heavy sigh and sat up from the rock hard mattress.
She felt the place next to her, reaching for a comfort that seemed to have left early that morning.
It was afternoon now...
Surely he would have been back.
He probably just stayed outside to let her sleep. He always was an early bird when it came to waking up in the morning...
Still...
She had a good idea on where to look for him...
And She was right.
He sat at the edge of the incomplete Daedalas Bridge.
Hanging his legs off the edge... letting them swing...just like she liked to do, looking straight ahead at the city on the other side.
Silently, she went up there and joined him right at his side.
"Hey Akarii..." he said to her,"Wanna hear a story?"
She blinked and tilted her head to him curiously, and he shrugged and gave the girl a light chuckle.
"Brace yourself...You've heard this one before." he laughed," But it's one I know you like...the story of the stranger who gave hope to Satellite."
She sat quietly and let him continue his story.
She did recognize it.
He's told it to me plenty of times over the years...and the kids always loved it.
"A Long time ago...a stranger rode into Satellite, on a pecuiliar lookin' duel runner..." he began,"He would always come to this exact spot at the water's edge...and just...stare. Off into the distance toward the city." He smiled as he pointed through the smog to the sky scrapers,"Every single day, without fail, he'd just come and look." he chuckled.
Listening intently she would curl her knees into her chest, hugging them to herself while she rested her chin upon them.
"But one day...he stopped coming, and instead found a new purpose in life." he grinned,"He started to build a bridge, one to connect Satellite to the city." he patted the wood below where we sat,"This bridge." he grinned,"Daedalus Bridge."he shrugged,"Everyone around him said it couldn't be done. That he was a crazy man of even thinking about it, let alone trying. Still..." he chuckled,"He never gave up."
Akarii would close her eyes as Crow would tell this story.
Every time.
Imagining the man that tried.
"Eventually...the people around him stopped laughing and thought...'Damn...he just might do it.' " he said,"Those residents of Satellite who only recycle the trash that comes in...those with no bright future shining ahead of them...this bridge...it became a symbol of hope." he sighed,"But of course there have to be those to crush hope. Those who didn't like the idea of this new bridge being built..."
Akarii opened her narrowed Amber eyes slowly...
Securities...
She hung on the word as it took her back to the day that Securities took her own hope from her as well.
Kai...
"Construction for the bridge was stopped, and the man who started it was at the top of the most wanted list." Crow sighed,"Everyone soon gave up hope...they said the idea was doomed from the start and figured he would get arrested...and eventually, securities did catch him." he said,"He was left with two options...turn himself in, and send the rest of his days in a cell...or...turn himself into a legend." Crow beamed,"That man chose to become a legend." he grinned,"One not bound by common sense...power...or law...one who was born with wings...and decided to fly."
As Crow's voice softened, the vision she playing in her head soon faded away...and she was back in reality once again.
"No body knows what happened to him after that..." Crow sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder,"But I have a stronge respect for that man and what he tried to do." he smiled,"He was the reason I picked up a deck...someday...I aspire to fly out of here too..." he said softly,"And when I do...I hope you'll come with me."
"...What?"
"Come with me..."
Jack...
She thought to herself.
But for some reason...it felt different from Crow.
She wanted be with him...anywhere...everywhere...all the time.
"Hey...Crow?"
"Yeah?" he blinked, "What's up Akarii?"
"I...I think I-"
But before she could finish what she wanted to say, they were interrupted by a panicked young Annie.
"Crow, Akarii...thank goodness!" she squeaked.
"Huh? Hey calm down..." he said,"What's up?"
"Something awful!" she cried,"Kalin is fighting against Securities...all by himself!"
"He's doing what!?" She could feel my heart rate increase rapidly.
No No...
Not him too...
Don't take Kalin too!
"Where is he, Annie!?" Crow asked, he looked rather panicked himself.
"In that old enemy hide out...where he got captured the first time!"
"that idiot, what is he thinking!?" Crow snapped,"Come on Akarii, we have to get everyone together and go help him, I'll go look for Yusei, you should go find Jack!" he said,"Meet up at the hide out...And Hurry!"
With that he was gone like a bullet.
Great.
Facing Jack alone after his confession was something she was hoping to avoid.
But it didn't matter at this point...
Besides...she knew exactly where to find him.
To Be Continued