Fire and Ice

Chapter 27 † Kayleigh

Breakfast with Ender and Petra was rather uneventful since Ender was too excited to talk and Petra was too excited to shut up. I ignored both of them and read the newspaper... news story? News data? It wasn't on paper...

At 0800 hours a government car arrived to pick us up. We have the whole day to spend with Valentine and Peter as today is a Saturday and they have school off. Like they actually need or pay attention in school...

I disguise my Lunar orbital uniform in the car so as not to gain attention until I need to.

[][]

After an anxious thirty minute car ride through the scenic North Carolina countryside, we arrive at my parents' house.

Petra and I get out of the car and walk towards the door. The door nearly slams open as we walk up the front steps and a blur of dark hair barrels into me, knocking air from my lungs as arms squeeze tightly around my back. In the distance, I hear the sound of the car pulling out of the driveway.

"Val," I breathe into my sister's hair, hugging her back.

"Ender," I hear mumbled from my chest. She detaches and lightly punches me. "No stiffs?"

"Guess not," Petra says. "Our babysitter apparently had something to take care of, but I'm sure she'll be back later to have a chat." Val snickers at 'babysitter' and sidesteps me to see Petra. "Petra Arkanian," she says, offering a sharp salute. She sticks out her hand and says, "Neither babysitter nor stiff." Val shakes it enthusiastically.

"I'm sure you know who I am then," Val says, stepping back and holding the door for us to enter the house. "Nice change from seeing Graff's ugly mug." It's Petra's turn to snicker as we follow Val into a sitting area that looks out into the woods behind the house.

††

I watch Ender and Petra get out of the car, then shut the door behind them. Our driver looks at me curiously, and I hand her an address.

"Are you sure?" She asks. I nod curtly, eyes on Ender as someone slams the front door open and pushes him slightly off balance. Valentine. The car starts up and speeds me away from the happy reunion.

Enjoy your peace, Valentine. I'm sure as hell gonna mess it up later today.

[][]

"Are Mother and Father out?" I inquire as Val roots around in the refrigeration unit for something to feed us.

"Yeah," she calls, emerging triumphantly with some kind of mid-morning snack. "I didn't tell them you were coming." I nod in understanding, but Petra looks at me quizzically.

"They sort of...um.. closed? the book on their emotions for me after I left because they figured they would never see me again." I explain. She nods, but slumps back slightly, pouting. Val walks over and sets a large tray of food in front of us.

"So, little brother, what have you been learning?"

††

The cemetery is only a twenty minute drive from the Wiggin household. We pull into a small, empty parking space, and the driver turns the vehicle off.

I step out of the vehicle.

The sky is blue with faint wisps of clouds, and a slight breeze keeps the mild warmth at bay. The emerald green trees sing with life, small birds and squirrels chittering and running about. A dark, wrought iron gate separates the green lot from the cemetery, also seeming to fence out the happiness and light bathing the rest of North Carolina. My boots crunch lightly across the gravel as I walk to the gate, which swings open on silent hinges.