Connection - 37

Kerra found her way back home, letting her mind wander as she walked. She wondered if she had to wait for Shandi to contact her, or if she could call on her dead sister by herself. It had sounded like Shandi had worked at getting Kerra’s attention for a long time, but now that they were both aware of each other, it should be simpler, right?

The elevator she had found filled in behind her pretty tightly, so she tried to make herself as small and unseen as possible, pressing herself against the glass wall. There would be quite a few stops before her own: she was going from the very topmost section of Abyssia to the very bottommost. One of the best things about the Upper Crust was that Kerra could look down and see all of Abyssia, and above her were only a couple floors and then total blackness. But below her, the lights dazzled her in their blinding daytime colors.

Kerra’s only scheduled part of the day was going to the Council meetings for an hour at most. Sometimes she was surprised to look at the colors of the lights around her and discover that it was day when she thought it was night or vice-versa. She didn’t keep track of the time for the most part, and just went to bed when she was tired, so it almost felt like day and night were just something the city made up to keep people working within a system.

The elevator descended in short bursts of speed, interrupted by people getting on and off, their shoes making a soft patter against the metal floors of the walkways and the glass floor of the elevator. No one bothered her, which was just the way she wanted it.

At last it reached Lower Downings, and Kerra stepped lightly off, the only one getting off at this level. She wiped a sheen of sweat off of her forehead and reminded herself of the other best part of the Upper Crust – it had actually been chilly up there. Cold enough for her trench coat, hat, and long pants to make sense anyway. She watched the elevator pull away from her, repeating the same trip she had just made in reverse. It went up several levels, looking like a shiny, transparent pill, until Kerra couldn’t see it anymore.

She found her way across the grated metal walkways to the Drowned Goliath pub. When the doors slid open at the flash her chip at the scanner, she saw Zak sitting alone at the bar, drawing something again. Kerra idly wondered when he slept, since the bar was open all night.

“Hey Zak,” she said, giving him a small wave.

Zak grunted.

“What are you drawing this time?” she asked, standing on her tip toes to try to catch a glimpse of the page, but Zak snapped the book shut before she could see anything.

“None of your business,” he grumbled.

“True, true,” she said, holding up her hands as a sign for non-offensiveness. “I just really like your art is all. You ever think about making a bigger piece and hanging it up on the wall here?” Kerra eyed the walls around the pub, which were plastered in pictures that Kerra didn’t find too tasteful herself. She wasn’t a big fan of seeing a lot of skin in general though.

Zak looked confused. “Why would I do that?”

“Because your art is really good! You have a talent, and it should be seen.”

Zak gave his small smile again, looking around at the wall of his pub as if seeing them in a new light.

“Also, because it might class up the place a little,” Kerra continued.

Zak met her eye again and laughed. “We can’t have that though. It’s decided then, definitely not.” He nodded seriously.

Kerra laughed with him before leaving him to his drawing. Soon she was up the spiral staircase and alone in her apartment, with nothing to do except for think about Shandi.

So she did. She tried to remember how it felt to focus on Shandi before. Then, she had had that nagging feeling of forgetting something, and she didn’t have that now, but if she could focus in just the right way…

Kerra took a break when she realized that she was trying so hard that she’d forgotten to breathe. She went to her fridge, pulled out a strawberry fizzy and relaxed on the couch. She let her mind wander as she enjoyed the sharp carbonation, aching sweetness, and teeth-chilling cold of the drink.

And it was her relaxation somehow that did it. It was like her mind new the path it needed to take back to Shandi, and all it needed was to be left alone to find it. Kerra’s mind slipped slowly sideways into that blue light that filled what she thought of as the afterlife.

Looking around, she couldn’t find Shandi in the haze of blue, though she knew that her sister had to be close by. She could just feel her presence. Shandi? Kerra called.

Slowly, as if watching a bubble rise from the very bottom of the ocean – Kerra loved watching old documentaries that featured the ocean – Shandi’s shade emerged from the haze. As her features became clearer, Kerra saw that she looked amazed.

You called me, Shandi said. It’s hard for me to call you, but you called me just fine.

Well, it wasn’t super easy, Kerra admitted, but yeah, I guess so.

Shandi clapped her hands, but Kerra didn’t hear any sound from them. Well then let’s talk! This place is dreadfully boring, though at least I get to watch you go around and be your boring self. Thanks for visiting Angelface by the way. It was nice that I got to see her face, though I couldn’t really hear what you guys were saying.

Kerra raised her eyebrows. She didn’t know that Shandi had been watching her. It felt odd to have a spectator for her life, though she figured there wasn’t much she did that she really minded her sister seeing. You didn’t see me with the tablet, did you? Kerra asked, cringing a little.

The one with all the top-secret government records? You bet I did! I could tell from your face that you felt guilty about having them too, which meant you did something illegal to get them. I’m so proud of you, Shandi said. Her face was glowing with pride.

Then you saw me go to No Name too, she said, covering her eyes with her hand.

Yep. Still don’t know why you did that. What were you looking for in that tablet anyway?

Kerra looked back up at Shandi. I’m sure you’ve had to wade through a billion dead spirits where you are or whatever, so-

No, Shandi interrupted. This place is empty. I’ve only met one dude. Weird fellow. Like, really weird. She shrugged. But he taught me how to get your attention, and he’s been my only source of entertainment here besides watching you live your life.

Kerra shook her head. Wait, what? There’s no one else?

Nope.

Then you haven’t run into her.

Who?

Kerra took a breath, even though she didn’t need breath to speak through the connection like this. You haven’t run into Mom.