I smell smoke.
The fire is almost here.
Veah draws back slightly. From between her fingers, a match twirls. I told you, earlier, that if anyone down there hurt you, I would burn this place to the ground. So tell me, Kaya. Do I light this match ?
I think of everything she has endured.
Her blood was once spilled in that golden bowl.
In this very temple, I can imagine her on her knees.
Pleading with Okami to save her parents’ liveswhen, all along, Okami had been the one who had taken them.
I can imagine her anguish. Her pain becomes my pain, and I have never felt anything like this before.
But I am also thinking of Veah’s injury, of the fact that we might not have enough to get her to safetyto get her help
You need medical help, I say. Ren will be able to do something once we’re
The fire won’t touch this place, Veah says. Sacred ground. Okami made this temple almost indestructible. The only place it can be brought down is from the inside. From right here.
The heart of the church.
Ironic, isn’t it ?
So tell me, Kaya.
Do I light this match ?
After everything Okami has taken from herfrom usI realize there is only one answer.
Light it up, I tell her.
Burn down the church.
Within seconds, the fire sparks against the wood.
And the flame is devouring. Destructive.
At that moment, Veah’s phone begins to ring. She hands it to me as the fire grows around us.
Hello ?
Cassie is crying.
Are you okay ? I demand. What’s wrong ? What happened ?
Veah motions for me to follow her through the back. Smoke begins to cloud the air. The warmth becomes almost unbearable.
I broke up with him, Cassie sobs.
What ? Who ?
Tommy, she wails. I broke up with Tommy. It’s just not going to work, you know ? Once we go back home, I still have to finish school in Florida. Tommy lives in New Orleans. How is that even going to work ? It was the right thing to do. But it hurts so, so much. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to love again.
Tommy ? is all I can manage.
I just wish I didn’t have to leave, but my education is way more important than a boy. I can’t be worrying about a boyfriend while I’m in med school, you know ? I want to be a doctor. I want to get my PhD. Do you really think he’s going to stick around for that ? It’s just better this way. I know it was the right thing to do. I can’t be distracted. But I really think I’ll miss him. She chokes back a sob. He was really hurt. You should have seen him.
Tommy ? I repeat, while Veah leads me into the fresh outside air. Behind us, the temple begins to collapse.
And the only ice cream they have here is pistachio ice cream, which is really fucking disgusting, but everybody is obsessed with it. I don’t even know what to do with it except eat a whole tub. I think I might watch Legally Blonde. Or Ten Things I Hate About You. Cassie sobs harder. Or maybe I should watch White Chicks. But I haven’t seen Friends in forever. Actually, fuck that. Ross is a sexist asshole. How am I supposed to just get over this ? I think I’m going to run out of tears. That’s it. I’m watching The Notebook. Is it possible to die of crying too much ? Wait, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.
I am still choking on, Tommy ? Really ?
Veah gets into the driver’s seat of the getaway car. Maiko and Ren are already in the back. As she slams her foot down on the pedal, I see the church burning in the rearview mirror.
So how about you ? Cassie sniffles. Is there anything exciting going on ? You’re still alive and well ?
Definitely alive, I say. To Veah, I hiss, Didn’t I just say you have a bullet wound in your leg ?
She accelerates the gas pedal. There is something untamed, something thrilling about the way she grins slightly at me.
Cassie says, Have you faked your death yet ? Oh ! Did you make your new identity ? What’s your new name ?
Anita Hanjaab, I grit out.
What ? I thought you were a lesbian.
You, I growl at Veah. Get out of the car. You were shot. I’m driving. Into the phone, I say to Cassie, No, that’s my name. Anita Hanjaab.
She is laughing. What are you, a sixteen year old boy in my health class ? Jenna Talia ? Mike Coxlong ? Dixie Normus ?
From the corner of my eye, Veah chuckles.
In the backseat, I catch sight of Ren and Maiko kissing, rolling over on the leather.
That’s it, I bite out. Veah is still smirkinguntil I reach over my seatbelt. And slap her. Your leg is injured. You shouldn’t be driving. Do you understand me when I say you need medical help ? Stop the car.
Once the car is parked on the side of the road and there are horns blaring behind us, drivers shouting in furious Japanese as they pass by with rolled-down windows, I narrow my eyes.
You, I say to Veah. Your leg was just shot. The least you could do is pretend to even feel it. I refuse to let you bleed out.
Ren hoots, Veah, you just got scolded !
Until I focus on him.
You, I say. Are you a doctor or not ? You’re not going to let her die, or I’m going to kill you myself.
Maiko laughs.
I narrow my eyes at her. And you. You are going to just confess to him that you like him and you want to marry him and you want to have babies with him.
Ren’s eyes widen on Maiko. I knew it ! You were bluffing when you said you would cut off my dick.
Maiko snarls at him. I don’t mind adopting.
And both of you are going to stop arguing ! I snap. We just broke into Okami’s temple and burned down her damn church. I have a sample of the most wanted drug in Japan, andwhere is our hostage ?
I’m right here, comes a groan from the trunk.
He’s awake ? I shout.
On it, Ren says, and I hear a thud as he slams a rifle into Bastian’s skull.
Good, I say, satisfied. Now, where was I ?