Zaharah awake in a daze to the sound of wind rustling the trees outside. The dim light piercing the curtains illuminated the room enough to make out shadows and shapes. A mechanical whir reached her ears as Skorpi climbed onto her chest, his eyes like high beams. But apart from that, the house was quiet, too quiet. There were no sounds of music, no crackling of frying bacon or eggs, no tantalising smells.

No Markus.

She squeezed her eyes shut before the tears could come and tried to push herself up, but during the night, Jade had tossed her big ass leg over Zaharah's shins and pinned them down. Meanwhile, Pharah held one of her arms hostage and Skorpi sat on her forehead.

Zaharah slowly wriggled herself free and sat up. The cool air hit her skin, and her braids fell into her face. Beyond the window , the sky was dotted with clouds and the grounds a vibrant green. She swung her legs out of the bed and snuck out into the hall with Skorpi on her head.

The doors to the other room were shut, and no light shined under their doors. She drifted past them at rounded the corner to the living room before making a beeline for the kitchen. The lights blinked on as she crossed the threshold and bounced off the shiny silver appliances.

The room had a new smell to it, like she had walked into a department store instead of a kitchen. She walked over to the stove first and peered into the vents over it; not a speck of dust marred the slats. She trailed a hand over the glossy counter and perused the glass-front cabinets above it. Plates bowls and cups. The fancier china was up top alongside wine glasses.

Past the stove and dishwasher and hidden behind a closet door was the pantry. Stocked with rice, grits, canned goods, cereal and heaps of snacks. On the bottom shelves were cases of soda, Vitamalt and water. She left the pantry to check the fridge ad, found it just as stocked—milk, cold cuts, sausages and more. This place was almost a frat house.

She shut the fridge and leaned against the counter. "Skorpi, what time is it?"

The mechpet jumped from her head onto the counter and projected a glowing 7:35 on the counter. Too early to mope around the house, but late enough to get started on breakfast.

Zaharah cracked her knuckles and bustled around the kitchen. She grabbed grits from the pantry, sausages, mushrooms and eggs from the fridge. In fifteen minutes the old smells she was used to filled the kitchen. She lined bowls on the counter, just like Markus would, took down the cups for juice. He'd want this, for Zaharah to take responsibility, take charge, take care of her sister.

As she turned the stove off under the grits, Jade shuffled in, her pyjama top drooping off one shoulder.

Morning, she signed. Smells like home.

Zaharah gave a nod, heaped a helping into a bowl for her and poured out a cup of orange juice. "Eat your fill."

Jade grabbed a fork and stabbed a sausage and took a bite. What am I gonna do about school?

"We can go down to the ministry after the storm and arrange for you to finish the semester remotely," Zaharah said. "I'll have to check my classes today. Not sure what I'm going to do about the bank though." She took up some food for herself and stabbed at the grits with her fork.

For a while they ate in silence to the tune of their clinking cutlery and the breeze blowing outside. Markus usually kept the conversation going over breakfast. He'd asked them about classes, about work, about chore day. This place felt so empty without him.

The slapping of feet against tile drew Zaharah from her thoughts.

"Morning," Pharah said as she drifted into the kitchen. "Smells nice in here."

"I'll fix you a plate." Zaharah offered Pharah a bowl of breakfast and they continued their silent eating.

"I think Roddi may be a little hung over," Pharah said. "I saw him take a pint of gin into his room last night."

Zaharah exhaled a long breath. "I don't blame—" Her words were cut short when Skorpi made a stilted beeping noise, a sound akin to a phone ringing. "Pick up Skorpi."

"Oh, good, you all are up," Cam's voice came through Skorpi's speakers. "I'll be over there shortly." And he hung up.

Pharah pushed the last bit of egg around the bottom of her bowl. "Do you think they found Devin?"

"I hope so," Zaharah said and took her dishes over to the sink. She switched on the water, grabbed the soap and started on the breakfast aftermath. "Jade can you see if there's any aspirin in the bathroom? I think Roddi will need some help with his hangover."

Jade nodded.

"I'll help with the dishes." Pharah grabbed the drying towel and got to work on the rinsed dishes. Jade walked in with the aspirin a moment later ad crossed to the pantry to rifle through for any other hangover cures. A moment later the scent of chicken broth mixed with the lemon of the dish soap.

They worked in silence until Roddi stumbled in with Shala riding on his head. "Good morning. I feel like shit." Jade handed him some aspirin, water and soda crackers. The Markus hangover special.

"Take it easy, my dude," Zaharah said and set a bowl of chicken broth in front of him.

A knock on the front door got their attention, and Zaharah dried her hands on a kitchen towel before going to answer. Cameron stood on the other side, dressed in a black turtleneck and slacks with a box of donuts balanced in one hand.

"Morning." He drifted past Zaharah into the living room and set the donuts on the coffee table. "Is everyone else awake too?"

As if on cue, the rest of the group came in from the kitchen with Roddi trailing behind.

Pharah shuffled forwards, eyes wide as she looked at Cameron. "Did you find him?"

"They did," Cameron said. "The vessel located him just off the north side at midnight. I wasn't given any details about the condition of his body, but if you want to go see him." He produced a small black square from his pocket. "Zaharah can drive you. He's being held at Westview Mortuary and Crematorium."

"Sure." Zaharah took the key fob. "We can leave whenever you're ready just Pharah."

Cam sat on the sofa. "Roddi and Jade, you two will be running errands with me today. There's a lot we need to do since everything closes half day tomorrow ahead of the storm. Zaharah, Pharah, if you two want anything special, food or otherwise send a list to Jade."

"We don't have any clothes," Roddi said. He leaned against the kitchen door, his skin clammy and eyes unfocused.

"That will also be taken care of today." Cameron cracked open the donuts and took out one marbled with white and dark chocolate. "Help yourselves."

"Why are you helping us?" Pharah asked, her words a crack of thunder that still the room. "This is Denden all over again, just with fewer steps. The Director was nice to all of us too. She took us in, set us up with school and jobs and... I don't like this."

Cameron chewed his donut thoughtfully. "I understand your skepticism, but I also don't think anything I say will change your mid. When Zaharah gets her memories back she'll understand. But for now, I'm just making good on a promise."

And what's that? Jade signed.

"I promised your father I'd look after you all if anything happened to him and Jasmine." And with that, he stood and brushed the crumbs from his sweater. "Jade, Roddi, meet me outside in an hour. Zaharah, Pharah, you're free to leave whenever you like, but the mortuary closes at four." He strode out the house without another word, the door swinging shut in his wake.

Zaharah exhaled. "Just Pharah, I think I may have some clothes that can fit you. If you're ready to go."

"Yeah, let's do it," Pharah said, her voice drained of enthusiasm.

A flurry of activity erupted through the house as they got ready to head out. Zaharah found an outfit that could fit Pharah, but since the DJs fee were a size bigger, she had to settle for her worn chucks. She wasn't sure if they still needed to hide from the cops, so she packed two pairs of shades and borrowed two snapbacks from Jade just in case.

An hour later they all walked out of the house and met Cam on his phone pacing back and forth between two cars. "Yeah, that sounds good. I'll see you in a few hours." He tucked his phone away. "Zaharah, take the Audi." He nodded to the sleek white car that looked like it belonged in space or on the set of Star Wars.

"See you guys." Zaharah hit the key fob and the lights on the Audi flashed. She hopped in the driver's side and the plush seats cushioned her body. It smelled of leather and cherries, and her hands felt secure on the wheel, as though this car was made for her. The console lit up, and a screen popped to life, displaying the GPS along with the rear and side cameras. Even as the car started, the interior remained quiet a testament to a well-built engine.

When Pharah slid in, Zaharah took the car off the ground and glided along the path to the gate. It creaked open, and she got onto the road. "GPS take us to Westview Memorial Mortuary." A blue dot appeared on the map and extended into a line that meandered south. It would take 30 minutes for them to get there.

Zaharah drummed her hands on the wheel as they glided down the tree-lined path. Up ahead the little white building appeared, and she spotted the balloon of the airship through the trees. What had they said the name of the ship was? The Icarus? How fitting.

I want to fly close to the sun. She frowned as the thought crossed her mind, and he eye twitched involuntarily. Her dad always went on and on about the story of Icarus, and Uncle Cam only encouraged his nonsense.

Her hands tightened on the wheel. Uncle Cam. A cold sweat rose gooseflesh all over her skin and for the briefest moment, she went cross-eyed as a memory flashed through her mind.

She remembered him being there in the hospital after she lost her arm. He'd brought her a shiny new one in a box. And then the next year he'd come by their house with an upgrade. She'd always be upset about the upgrades because they came right when she'd gotten used to the previous one.

She remembered him being there for every birthday, every graduation. He'd come to her games at the pocking pitch when he wasn't too busy. He'd eat dinner with them on Sundays ad get a tongue lashing from her mother when he tried to discuss work at the dining table.

She remembered the Christmas he'd brought Skorpi—his own mechpet from childhood and the little robot to her and Jade. Just for them and no one else.

Uncle Cam had always been there. He was still here.

Zaharah slammed the breaks and stopped the car midair. Sweat trickled down her temple and her breath came in soft hitches. During her daze, her hands had slipped from the wheel and the autopilot kicked in.

"What is it?" Pharah asked. "A bird?"

She tried to speak but nothing came out, so she shook her head instead. Her hands trembled as she hit the console to lower the car. In the rear camera, a black sedan winked at the bend in the distance. Uncle Cam's car. He always favoured Volkswagen.

Zaharah jumped out the car and ran into the street. The Volkswagen slowed to a stop twenty feet, and he jumped out, concern written across the furrow in his brow.

"What? What happened?" he asked.

Zaharah said nothing, only ran to him and flung her arms around him. She didn't miss the 'oof' as she crashed into him. "Uncle Cam!" She squeezed him tight and tears stung her eyes. After all she endured the previous day, she would've killed for a friendly, familiar face, and he'd been there. The whole time, he'd been there.

Uncle Cam hugged her back. "There's my niece."