CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Monday, November 7th

LANCE DROVE KANDICE TO THE FUNERAL. Slava stayed behind to finish packing up what little they owned to leave town.

"Are you ready?" he asked, once they parked in front of the funeral home.

"No," she said. "But I have to do this."

There was a small turn out for Blake's funeral. All of his friends had been online, and their only relative was Jackie. Pastor Gerlock was there along with eight adults Kandice didn't recognize, but assumed went to church with Jackie. She struggled to imagine Jackie having friends outside of her congregation.

Lance held Kandice's arm as they walked across the lawn to the fresh hole dug for Blake.

Dr. Gerlock took Kandice's free hand and gave it a slight squeeze, "I'm truly sorry. He's in a better place now. If you want to talk, I'm always here."

"Thank you," she said, and meant it.

She didn't believe in much, but trusted that her family was in a better place.

Everyone else came over one by one to offer their condolences. Lance was her rock. He stood beside her the whole time holding her arm and often keeping her upright. She loved him for it. If he hadn't been with her through her brother's death, she would never have made it.

Kandice lost track of all the movement as everyone got into position, and Pastor Gerlock walked to the head of the casket behind Blake's grave marker.

Pastor Gerlock spoke for several minutes, but lost in her own head she only heard muffled words as her mind replayed Blake dying over and over. Her crying became crippling, and Lance had to hold her up.

Strength radiated out of him keeping her standing. She looked over and he smiled a little—not in a way to show happiness, but as a reassurance he was there for her.

It was comforting to know Lance was there. The thought of him and Slava leaving rushed into her mind with a new wave of tears.

As Blake's casket made the slow descent into the ground, Kandice's legs gave out, she sank to the ground before Lance could catch her. She was crying harder than ever before in her life. She'd watched her mothers lowered and kept a stoic posture as expected. When her father lowered, there wasn't a tear on her face.

Losing Blake was too much. Her body screamed in pain but she suppressed the urge to do it aloud. Her vision was red with rage, her only thought was killing the next Aether Walker that crossed her path. They needed to get out of there, seeing him lowered in was killing her with each inch he descended. When the sound of the wenches stopped, Kandice looked up at Lance trying to pull her back to her feet. She gave in and stood next to him.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and hid her emotions behind a mask of blank expression. Jackie's church companions offered their condolences again. Dr. Gerlock offered to talk with Kandice after the reception, but Kandice said she was fine.

Lance stood next to her, and they stared at Blake's casket at the bottom of a hole that seemed to go on forever.

Jackie walked over to her.

"I'm not sure what happened," she said. "But I know you know more than you're telling."

"Why do you think that?" Kandice asked, trying to force her mind to think straight and come up with new lies while remembering the old ones.

"You know why Blake was killed," Jackie said, "I know you do. He was spending all his time with you."

She looked at Lance, "Is he involved? He looks like trouble. Kandice, what have you gotten yourself into?"

"Fuck you," Kandice said. "Fuck You!"

Jackie slapped her. It was sudden and unexpected. Kandice's cheek stung, and her skin swelled.

Before Kandice could punch back, Lance stepped between her and Jackie, "You'll never do that again. Do you understand?"

"How dare-" Jackie started.

"Never again!" He pointed to the parking lot, "Leave."

Jackie's face was red with anger, but she stormed off, leaving Lance and Kandice alone at the grave.

"I'm sorry," Lance said. "This is all my fault."

"No, it's mine," she said.

She stepped closer to the grave and stood teetering on the edge.

"It should have been me," she said.

Lance pulled her back as she slipped forward, "I'm glad it wasn't."

She didn't think, but pushed up onto her toes and kissed him. He pulled her in tight by the small of her back and kissed her back with a passion she only knew of from the movies. She could feel her teeth cut the front of her lips from the force of his kiss.

"I want to come with you," she said, once they separated.

"You do?" he asked.

"When you leave, I want to come with you and Slava. I can't stay here. Not anymore."

"Yes. I'd love that."

"Me too," she said.

They walked back to the parking lot. They could see cars pulling out on their way to the reception.

"I'm going to skip it," Kandice said.

"Skip what?" he asked.

"The reception," she said. "I can't stand to listen to people who never knew Blake talk about him."

It was time for her to leave. Not just the funeral, but the whole damn city. There was nothing left for her here but negative memories. It was time to start fresh, in a new city with new people.

"Fuck," she stopped walking.

"What is it?" Lance asked.

"I'll have to sell everything and break my lease."

"It'll be fine. Slava and I will help."

She looked up into his eyes and smiled for the first time since Blake's death. She hugged him, and Lance squeezed her back.