Chapter 26. Remember

No-one told them there was a crematorium on Ceres. They couldn't have guessed it… and they'd never know if their generation was as lucky as the previous ones. But it wasn't, and the first course of their training was marked with the first funeral.

Burning was the only form of burial possible for hybrids. Alex remembered that from his introductory classes. Nobody could tell how they hybrid matter would act in a dead body, and they didn't want to risk it.

Olivia looked so alive now… She was lying in a small coffin decorated with white flowers, covered by a thin ornamented blanket up to her throat. All blood was washed away from her face, her green eyes were closed, and the coffee-colored waves of her hair were framing her peaceful face. She looked just like her sister, and that resemblance was unnerving; Alex felt sorry for Olivia, but picturing Rita in her place was even worse.

From time to time he was looking at the opposite side of the room where Rita was standing – alone, just like she had wanted. She sent away everyone who came to talk to her. She wasn't crying, but her skin was unnaturaly pale and her hands were trembling. There was a lost expression in her eyes, as if she couldn't believe it had actually happened.

"Possessing great power makes it easy to forget how fragile our life is," Lady Laura's voice sounded restrained, as if she was fighting back tears. She had no right to cry in front of her students. "With each year your strength will be growing. At some point it'll become so overwhelming that you'll feel like you're invincible and immortal… Everyone goes through that. Such self-confidence may become a trap for you, many hybrids were destroyed by it. But on the day when you feel like death isn't real, remember little Olivia. She's given everything to teach us that lesson."

Alex was crying, and he wasn't ashamed of it. He rarely permitted himself that, but at the face of death his control was melting. His memory was bringing him back into the moment of that fight – and the helplessness he felt. She was so close and he couldn't save her!

He hated to imagine what Rita must've felt. In that light, her lack of tears was even more disturbing. If she cried, she'd feel better… But she bottled it all up inside.

"Olivia didn't do anything wrong, she fought honestly till the end. Just like Iutah. He was following the rules and lost control over his powers. That happens to those whose talent is truly exceptional. So I'm asking you not to blame him for such outcome, don't hold a grudge against him. It was a tragic accident, and I assure you that Iutah is going through hell over it."

Alex couldn't believe that. He saw Iutah Kerengree right after that fight, and then today, before the funeral. He looked calm and pleased. He didn't come to say goodbye to Olivia… he was bored by such things.

Nobody was going to take vengeance on him anyway. Alex could tell that most hybrids were too scared of him to try that. Even Karajo was no longer comparable to him, because she'd never killed anyone.

He wasn't going to get an official punishment either. Dr. Deshanti examined Olivia's body and concluded that the girl died because of a hybrid matter block. That was considered natural… She received serious wounds that provoked the fit. There was no legal reason to punish him, though many teachers wanted to do that.

Unlike many others, Alex wasn't afraid of Iutah. He actually wanted to meet that bastard in a duel! Lady Laura might say all she wanted about revenge. That sadist had to get some payback.

"I know it's hard to accept that she's gone," the headmistress continued. "Believe me, we, the teachers, are also deeply traumatized by this… We work with you, get to know you, and we care about you. Olivia… she was very special. A person of unique soul, so pure and kind, she had never tried to get in the spotlight, and yet she would always help the one in need…"

Her speech was relaxing in a way, soft and even, it was calming the hybrids down… Up to the moment when it was interrupted by a voice dry with exhaustion and pain.

"What am I going to tell Mom?"

"Rita…" Lady Laura gasped quietly.

She was concentrated on her speech, and she couldn't answer that question fast enough. And Rita's light hazel eyes were watching her with reproach.

"What am I going to tell Mom? And our brothers? Our grandmothers, our uncles, everyone who let us go here! I promised to take care of her… and she was murdered right in front of my eyes!"

"It was an accident…"

"It was a murder! We all saw Iutah do it!"

"Those things happen during exams," Teacher Damien interfered. "Lethal duels are rare, but you knew they are possible."

"Oh yeah? And what about Norman – his condition after fighting Iutah is also an accident?"

"It was all caused by the extraordinary power Iutah holds," Lady Laura explained. "His control over it is not perfect yet. I know you're trying to blame someone or find a reason to make things right. But it's not the case, dear. It wasn't a murder. After this tragedy we checked Iutah's blood and Olivia's blood for any unknown components, but didn't find anything. Iutah was using his basic abilities and he didn't break the rules. Being angry at him won't help you. You must accept this pain and move on. Do it for Olivia."

"I can't…" Rita lowered her head, making her long locks cover her face, hiding her from everyone else in the room. "How… how can I return to Earth alone if we left together?"

"You won't have to be telling your parents about it. We'll do it. Her ashes will be delivered to Earth so your family can bury them. You'll be able to visit her grave when you return."

"I don't want to visit a grave, I want my sister back!"

Alex couldn't take it anymore. He moved past the others cautiously to stand next to Rita.

They hadn't talk ever since their duel. He was staying away from her, because he doubted she'd ever forgive him. But that wasn't important anymore. His desire to help her, to protect her from this was stronger than his fears from the past. He had to be with her on a day like this.

He stepped closer and hugged her by the shoulders. Rita tried to push him away sharply, but she only used her human strength for it, and he ignored her attempt effortlessly.

"You may hate me all you want," he whispered into her ear. "But I want you to know that you're not alone. I'll stay with you no matter what."

She could move away if she really wanted to. If she started to use her full force, he'd have to let go of her. But she didn't… She turned to him and held him tight… It took him a couple of seconds to realize she was crying. Rita was doing it soundlessly and desperately, like she had wanted from the very beginning – she just had no-one to hold. She felt his support, and that was enough to let go of her hidden suffering.

He could feel her tears soaking through his uniform. The compassion for her was slowly replaced by anger at himself. He was there, and Olivia was part of his team! He remembered the moment when their duel went out of hand and Iutah's attacks became too cruel. He should've interfered!

He understood it now, but back then everything was different. More innocent in a way…like a game. They sincerely believed that Norman's case was unique, what were the chances of it happening again? Besides, Norman survived!

Olivia's death brought them back to the merciless reality. Turning into hybrids didn't seem like a mere adventure anymore…

Most of them had probably remembered Octavia's words about choice again. Alex suspected that there'd be some hybrids who'd leave the Second Breed on their own accord after this. But he wasn't going to join them.

He knew his chances for becoming Iutah's next opponent were extremely high. The schedule wasn't ready yet, but he could guess it. They had conflicts before, like the one during the terrorist assignment, and their strength level was roughly the same. The computer would consider this.

Alex wanted to fight him. He had to.

He wasn't stupid and he assumed he could her hurt or killed. He didn't believe that what happened to Norman and Olivia was an accident. Iutah had to know some special technique… But someone had to stop him! Alex believed that it was his duty. Rita had already left the tournament, and apart from them nobody wanted to avenge Olivia so bad. Except for…

That thought made him turn to the side of the room where Arriz was standing. He didn't look so good… His skin had an unhealthy grayish shade to it, and his eyes were bloodshot. Dr. Deshanti insisted on him staying in bed, but he attended the funeral.

Alex still couldn't figure out what happened to his friend. He had no idea Arriz and Olivia were so close! Sure, he knew about the girl's crush on the curator. But Arriz kept ignoring her, he wasn't planning to return her feelings!

But when the fight was over, Arriz was one of the first to run to her. And she was reaching out to him, not her sister, in her final moments. When she died, Arriz just fainted beside her, and there was blood coming out of his nose. Alex suspected it was connected to telepathy, but he didn't know those things well enough to tell the exact reason.

Arriz was carried to the infirmary, and they brought Olivia straight into the crematorium to prepare her for the burial. They couldn't help her, so they concentrated on the curator. Alex stayed by the infirmary's door for hours to get some information.

At first Arriz felt really bad. His pulse was speeding up and then nearly stopping, he was in fever. But soon the situation became more stable, and the telepath woke up in the morning. However, he was too weak to get up, and Alex didn't expect to see him here.

And he came. He was still moving slowly, leaning on the walls from time to time, and staying in bed was the best option for him. He stood here instead, unmoving, his dry eyes locked on Olivia.

Now he would want to avenge her! But he couldn't, and that left only Alex…

"Remember her the way she was," Lady Laura concluded. "I think she'd want that. And now you may approach her to say your farewell to her personally."

Rita was the first in line, nobody dared to come to the coffin before her. Alex remained by her side, just like he had promised, he didn't let go of her hand. Rita whispered something to her sister, but he wasn't listening, because it wasn't meant for him.

When it was over, he led Rita aside and hugged her again.

"That's not fair…" she sobbed. "She had so many plans… She wanted to do so many things… She wanted to change the hybrid world! But none of that counts. And those dreams… they were just in vain!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Karajo suddenly said. She was staying in the back rows all the time, hiding among shadows. She didn't like to draw attention. "I believe Olivia's influence on the hybrid world was much greater than she could've imagined."

For some reason she shifted her gaze to Arriz who was putting a branch of cherry flowers into the coffin at that moment. But Alex didn't understand whether her words were connected to him. How could they be?

The ceremony was over in an hour. A hatch opened under the coffin, taking it down the train to the furnace. A fiery core of the frozen planet… Looking at that made Alex think that he might be the next to go down that hatch.