***
Apollon says, again, "No, it's nothing. You don't want to know." He rakes his fingers through his tousled blonde hair. "War, Eden. It's war."
Neveah and I look at each other, then at him. It's the three of us. Miranda's still not home. Apollon is only here to check on us. All I've been able to get out of him is that the tragedy I saw was a retaliation for something else that happened outside the wall. No one I know was involved. At least, not involved in the dying part.
I close my eyes and sigh, giving up. Miranda might know what happened. She'll tell us. "Fine," I say to Apollon. "Just... be safe out there."
He gives me a one-armed hug as he leaves.
Neveah and I sit in silence and wait for Miranda. I'm more comfortable when we're communicating on the same level. We trade sighs, and understanding looks, and nervous glances as the evening pushes onward. I'm just about to get my jacket and go looking, when Miranda finally comes home.
She steps inside quietly, her eyes vacant, and takes off her jacket. Blinking a few times, she walks slowly to the couch and slumps down next to Neveah. Neveah's arm goes delicately around her shoulders. Miranda leans against her. For an even longer time, we're all silent.
At some point, Miranda sits up straighter, frowning. "I forgot to make dinner," she says. She rises, takes the two steps to the kitchen, places our daily bread on our plates, and serves it up. We finish dinner in about twenty seconds, then turn out the lamps and go to bed. Tonight, it's Miranda that wakes with nightmares. I'm too busy lying awake to bother with them myself. So I comfort her as best I can. Neveah and I wrap our arms over her and try to hold back her terror as she sleeps.