Kari’s P.O.V

A Few Hours Later, On the Ship, The Private Room

When I woke up, I felt a blanket over me. I took it off and sat up. The moment I did, I saw Alonso and Claire in their chairs and asleep. They must have come in here after I fell asleep. I rolled my eyes as my anger returned. These two suddenly feel bad after seeing Nylah? Do they understand why I did not want to tell them anything?

I started to leave the room, but stopped as I felt a hand grab mine. I looked at the owner to see Alonso.

“Kari, we-” I shook my head and broke from his grasp.

“No need to apologize,” I said.

“Kari,” Claire said.

Great, now both of them are awake.

I walked into the hall. The two followed me.

“Kari, we should have been more cautious with our actions-” Alonso started, but I interrupted him.

“The events already happened. No need to feel bad about them now..”

“What Alonso means to say is that we should not have pushed you so hard.” I sighed and turned to look at them.

“Look, I get that you two were worried, especially because you are not sure of who I am and where we are going. I get it, but it was you two’s choice to come. “

The two look guilty. I hate that. Do not try to give me sympathy just because you saw a death bracelet.

“I agree but, we hardly know anything about you,” Claire said.

“And I get that, but I am not going to spill everything about me at once. You both should know that. Answer me this, if you two did not know each other, would you treat each other like how you are treating me?”

“Yes, but-”

“My point is proven, so you can understand I feel about you both as well. But at least I gave you two space and time to tell me things. So let me tell you this. I left that place for a reason and I have no intentions of going back. No matter what.” The two nodded.

“Despite what we said earlier, we are never going to bring you back there,” Alonso said. I nodded.

“Good” I made my way towards the cockpit. “I will be driving tonight.”

Alonso’s P.O.V.

“She’s still angry at us,” Claire said in defeat.

She looked at me. From the look on her face, I can see that she doesn't know what to say or do. Knowing Claire, she will take this to heart if nothing is done about it. Maybe I should go talk to Kari.

“I will talk to her,” I said before making my way to the cockpit. Claire took my hand, stopping me.

“No, everything we say makes it worse.”

“And leaving her alone to sit with her thoughts is going to only hurt her worse. I will go talk to her.”

“Okay,” she let go of my hand.

I walked into the cockpit to see Kari with her head in her hands. Her hands ran through her hair before they circled to stop at her cheeks.

"What did I get myself into?"

My best guess is that she did not think any of us would come. The reason being that we never bothered her at night when she flew.

“Listen, I do not know what happened on your planet, but I don’t think you should be alone for now. Especially when you are hurting this much.” She got out of her seat but did not look my way.

“You know nothing about what I went through.” She was about to leave, but I blocked her path.

“Excuse me” I shook my head.

Her cheeks flushed and her furrowed brows. It confirmed me right. She was angry.

“If you are going to give me some type of speech, I do not want to hear it.”

I pulled back my sleeve and showed her a black and red bracelet. On it, a single charm with a blue hibiscus. She looked at it.

“A death bracelet,” she said before her angered eyes became ones of sorrow. I swiped my finger across it, showing a tall, average-shaped, medium-tanned woman with red long shaggy hair, and gold eyes.

“Alonso! I get that I embarrassed you in front of your friends and I am so sorry. It’s just that at times I still see you as that little baby mom and dad brought home. But if you want me to stop babying you, I will. I promise I will. I love you, baby brother.”

“Alonso, you didn’t have to show me that.” I shook my head.

“It was only right after seeing yours today.” I covered up my sleeve.

“But that was still something deeply personal to you.”

“And I showed it to you,” I said before looking at the door. “Maybe we should get a room for tonight. You shouldn’t fly this late and I’m beat. Claire may be as well.” She nodded.