A lot going on in this segment. Akky is true to herself in two ways: she recognizes she loves Nike and also that she’s willing to try anything to leave the Land Inside the Walls.

Following the mysterious conversation she has at the end, here, we start on something of a rollercoaster ride toward the end of her story. To quote Han Solo, “I’ve a very bad feeling about this.”

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She’d stayed on her bedroll in her room until late in the morning.  She’d heard everyone leave for their work.  She could not bear the idea of being around anyone else; she could not bear the idea of living without her brother.

Her stomach growled.

“Shit.”

She sat up and headed into her bathroom.

Downstairs and into Building #2, there were no fruit in the mess.

“Crap.” She said.

“There’s this from yesterday.”

Nike poked her in the middle of her back with something.

As she turned he pushed it towards her mouth.

“Mmmphl!”

A long, narrow baked bread.  The outside was tough, but after tearing that away, the interior was still soft.

It was about two feet long.  Akaiame ate half in seconds.

“Hungry?”

“Mmm!”

“Got time this morning?”

“Tom in fis plash ish dum!” She said around the bread with her dry mouth.

Nike went to a table along the wall and poured water from a pitcher to a glass.  He turned and handed it to Akaiame.

“Fanks!”

She gulped its contents down and resumed work on the bread.

“I’m not needed at work until just after noon.” He spoke looking past her shoulder at the light outside.  “It’s a Trade Fair Day.”

Akaiame had eyes only for the bread.

“That means the Doors will be open.”

“PAAH!”

She spat what bread was in her mouth onto the floor and lunged at the pitcher.  After drinking directly from that…

“Show me!”

Nike had escorted her to the second, northern plaza.  Akaiame had been amazed at how everyone, both human and Broken, had known and acknowledged him.  No matter what her urgency to get to the Doors, he’d taken time to speak with all who spoke with him.

“Difficult, isn’t it?” he said so only she could hear.

“What?”

He moved them right so the morning sun would not get in their eyes.  There were odd… sounds… from the Doors and Wall.

“Being nice to others.”

“Humpf!” she snorted.  “Everyone likes you.”

“Everyone likes this lie I’ve made.  It’s why I’m still here.”

“THEY’RE…!”

Nike pulled her tightly next to him, just under the apricot tree.

“My lies; not their desire,” he whispered, “is why I’m still here.”

“You… your Ascension…?” Akaiame had learned much in her morning with Crush.

“Not happening.”  There was a huge metallic *crack!* followed by a metal-on-metal squeal as the Doors opened.

It wasn’t blinding, but it hurt to look at.  There were about a dozen carts shepherded by three times as many people coming into the plaza.  Akaiame kept her eyes on what was beyond the Doors.  She could not see the ground, but the sky was a breathtaking blue she’d never imagined.

The Doors shut behind them.

“Has anyone ever thought of taking them hostage and demanding to be let out?”

She was pleased on a number of different levels to feel Nike’s body shaking against hers.

“No, not until now!  There are about forty of them and us two… shall we try?”

Akaiame pushed her wings wide to lean her head back and stare up to his eyes.

“So it’s you and me against their world?  Sounds like one on one!”

Kiss me! she begged in her thoughts.

There was a sharp TOK! as a wood staff hit the ground.  An oddly dressed man – ceramic mask, tan hood and robes; why were his wings inside those leather –

“That’s their leader, called the Paraclete, the head of the priests, that you did such a stellar job irritating yesterday,” Nike whispered into her right ear, his lips just touching –

Akaiame’s shuddered response came from deep inside her.

“The town and the Messengers will now trade!” The Paraclete called.  “The unwelcome must leave!”

He lifted his staff and pointed directly at Akaiame.  Every eye in the plaza followed.

“You.  Must leave.”

For just a moment, it was as if she saw the world through a red filter.  I will eat you!  That faded as she stepped forward to speak.

“I am.  I will.” A few townspeople murmured as she raised her extraordinary wings.

“I am!  Leaving!”

Akaiame managed to keep her head and wings up until just past the bridge.

“I hate it here,” she said from her hands and knees.

“So… leave,” a voice whispered from the trees at the right.

Her head came up.  Who was…?

“I will!”

“How?”

“The Doors… or the Sluice…”

“Will kill you.  The Wall will kill you.”

“I can dig – ”

“The priests will see and stop you.”

Akaiame stood up.

“Do you have a way out, coward-voice!” she shouted at the trees.

“Yes.”

No one spoke for some time.

“How?” she whispered.

“Come to the top of Three; tomorrow night.  A storm’s coming.”

“What does that mean?”

Nothing.

“What does – ?” Akaiame could tell there was no one there.

Her eyes swam with tears.  I’m so close… so…