by K M Frost
Instead, she stayed by my side as I hesitated just inside the yard. I glanced around apprehensively, but I couldn’t see Ethan.
Maybe he wasn’t here today . . .
Before I could get too excited, though, I spotted the notorious trio coming around the back side of the school.
I tensed, my mind blank with fear.
Ellie said nothing, but wordlessly grabbed my hand.
At first I thought she was going to haul me to the slaughter, but she moved instead toward the schoolhouse door, pulling me along with her.
My senses returned once Ethan was out of my sight, and I hurried to take the lead, pulling Ellie instead.
I held my breath until we stepped inside the school, and then I heaved a huge sigh and dropped back against the closed door, safe and alive for now.
“Thanks, Ellie.” My breath was surprisingly short. I felt like I’d run a marathon, not crossed a simple yard.
She nodded and released my hand. “It’s not too late to tell an instructor, Jonas.”
I shook my head. “I’ll be fine here. Ethan wouldn’t dare kill me with adults around.”
Ellie frowned and opened her mouth to argue, but I interrupted her.
“I’ll be fine, Ellie.”
My tone obviously offended her, because she suddenly turned on her heel and stalked away.
“Whatever, Jonas.”
Her long brown braids flapped behind her as she disappeared through the main door once again.
I took a moment to catch my breath (though my heartbeat never quite calmed down) and then I walked to the third door and entered my first class. I was the first student in the room, though I wasn’t surprised.
Instructor Price sat behind the long desk at the front of the room, and he glanced up when I came in. “Good morning, Jonas.”
I nodded to him.
I was glad he returned to his reading and spared me from having to explain why I wasn’t outside with the other kids.
I made my way to the back of the room and claimed my customary seat. I spent the next five minutes trying not to think about Ethan and his friends and what they had planned for me. I thought instead about the Reality Dreams. It was equal parts awesome and terrifying. I hoped I survived until tonight so I could learn more.
I hardly noticed when the room began to fill around me and when I finally did, I shook the thoughts away and pulled out my writing tablet and book from the bag at my feet.
When the second chime signaled the beginning of class, Instructor Price stood up and called for order and quiet. Aside from a couple of girls tittering in the corner, everyone obeyed. Instructor Price ignored the whispers from the back of the room and told us which page we would begin on today.
I flipped the well-worn pages of my secondhand book as my teacher began to lecture on the first Great War.
To distract myself from the gloom of my fate, I listened to Instructor Price’s every word, taking careful notes in my writing tablet.
I’d never been very interested in History of the World, and today was no exception. But that didn’t stop me from listening attentively to what my teacher said about ancient history. And though I was painfully bored, I didn’t think about Ethan once during the lecture.
Instructor Price’s lecture went long (a usual occurrence), and I had to rush to get to my next class. I was the last to arrive in Concepts and Theories, but I made it to my seat before the class began.
I listened to Instructor Reams just as closely as I had in my last class, but this time I actually enjoyed it.
I could never decide which Theme was my favorite to study, but Concepts and Theories had always been near the top of my list. I just thought the ancient ideas and inventions were fascinating. When I sat in class and listened to stories about people like Thomas Moche and Sera Oralis—some of the most brilliant people the world had ever known, who had started out as misunderstood kids and had evolved into incredible geniuses—I felt like maybe there was still a chance for me to do something amazing with my life.
Instructor Reams turned her gaze on me halfway through her lecture. “Jonas. What was it the Conceptor Anton Verali discovered in his early twenties?”
I felt my face flush as every eye in the room turned toward me. I knew the answer, but there was something so unnerving about having everyone watching.
My mind went blank. “I . . .”
The class began to react to my stupor. I could hear whispers and low sniggers rising all around.
“I’m looking for the discovery that involved petals of the marintine.” Instructor Reams’s face was stern. She knew I knew the answer, and she wasn’t going to let me off the hook.
Trying to ignore the kids around me, I focused on my teacher’s face and took a breath. “Verali discovered that soaking the petals of the marintine blossom in sugar water could produce a fever-reducing tonic.” My voice was weak, but Instructor Reams nodded with a smile.
“Exactly. And do you remember what that specific discovery was later titled?”
I hesitated. “The Verali-febris Discovery?”
Instructor Reams nodded again, her smile growing. “Wonderful, Jonas.”
I barely registered the praise—I was just relieved she had returned to her lecture.
The other kids turned away from me immediately and I felt the weight of their gaze lift. In its absence I felt so light I thought I might float to the ceiling.
When I returned my focus to the lecture, Instructor Reams was asking a girl across the room what it was that Horis Brocka had invented to improve cloth production.
When class ended, I put my things in my bag and headed toward my next class. As I was passing Instructor Reams, she stopped me.
“Jonas, I’d like a quick word.” She waited until the room had emptied before continuing. “I’ve noticed that you’re very attentive in my class.”
I gripped my bag more tightly, the weight of the books dragging my shoulder down. I nodded, not sure what she was going to say.
She settled her folded arms on her hefty belly. “Have you given any thought to what you want to do when you Complete your studies here?”
“No, ma’am.” Completion was still so far away, I hadn’t given much thought to what I would study. “I figured I didn’t need to decide for a while.”
“That’s true. And most students don’t think about it until they’re closer—but I think you might want to look into taking the exams early and Completing before your classmates.”
I blinked in surprise and couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
Instructor Reams chuckled at my reaction. “I know, early Completion can be an intimidating thing. But I’m sure if you dedicate yourself, you can do it, Jonas. Who knows? Maybe before next year you could be through with Primary School and move on to Secondary School.”
My head was spinning. “But Instructor. I don’t know if . . . I don’t think I’m . . . and I’m not smart enough—”
Instructor Reams cut through my disjointed protests with a wave of her hand. “Nonsense. Jonas, you are one of the brightest students I’ve ever taught. If anyone can Complete Primary School early, it’s you.”
It was too good to be true. I felt like my mind had been sat on by the idea of early Completion, and couldn’t move under the weight of it.
But before I could babble anymore and make a worse fool of myself, Instructor Reams dropped her arms and glanced at the open door.
“I’m sorry, Jonas.” She quickly walked me to the door. “You need to hurry, or you’ll be late for your next class. Just think about what I said. Talk to your parents. You don’t need to decide right away. But please, give it some consideration.”
I nodded distractedly as she guided me out of the room and into the stream of kids transferring to their next class.
I nearly ran up the stairs to the second floor where my next class was. I stepped through the doorway just as the chime sounded. I was able to drop into my regular chair before Instructor Vorez stood and
began his lecture.
I hardly heard a word my teacher said in Calculations and Statistics. My head was still swimming with Instructor Reams’s words. As intimidating as the idea of early Completion was, it was nothing compared to the excitement of getting a head start at Secondary School.
Before I knew it, the chime was announcing the end of the first half of the school day—and the arrival of the midday break: also known as the end of my existence.
Though I tried to convince Instructor Vorez that I needed to stay inside during break, he wouldn’t listen. He insisted I needed fresh air and youthful interactions.
I considered telling him about my bully problems, but I just couldn’t do it.
So without another word, he turned me out of the schoolhouse with nothing to protect me but a worn book bag and its simple, non-lethal contents. A lot of good it would do me.
The schoolyard was alive with laughter and games. Kids were running all over the place, playing games and eating lunch, carefree and ignorant.
I watched them as I made my way cautiously across the yard. I found it ironic that they were so blissfully oblivious to the terrible deed that was about to take place in their midst, while I had to stare it in the face.
Because I’d just seen Ethan and his entourage, and they had definitely seen me.
Chapter 6
Shocked and terrified, I stood completely still as Ethan and his cronies trooped toward me. I had nowhere to run, but did that stop me from trying? No way.
I turned on the spot and sprinted toward my closest safe haven: the forest.
I barely made it to the edge of the schoolyard when something heavy slammed into me from behind, knocking me to the rough ground.
The wind jerked out of my lungs when I fell, and my vision swam and blurred.
I heard laughter above me, but it sounded distant, overpowered by the rushing in my ears as my lungs struggled to expand with the huge weight on top of me.
Desperate for air, I bucked underneath the weight pinning me down and heard an annoyed shout when my elbow connected with my assailant. I didn’t have time to think about it as the weight suddenly lifted off me and I gasped for breath.
Choking painfully, I rolled onto my back.
The blurred figures towering over me came into focus, though I didn’t have to see to know who it was. Ethan, Brock, and—holding his bleeding nose—Austin. I tried not to smirk at the pain on his face. At least I’d caused him some discomfort before leaving this mortal realm.
“That was really dumb, Hartley,” Ethan growled.
“No, that was low.”
We all turned toward the speaker and I gaped when I saw Leah walking toward us.
I don’t know who was more surprised—Ethan or me —but Ethan was definitely the first to recover.
His shock twisted into a smirk, and he took a threatening step toward Leah. “I think you took a wrong turn, honey.”
Her green eyes flashed. “I think I know my way around, actually.”
Ethan either didn’t notice the warning in her eyes and tone, or he chose to ignore it. “Well, someone sure is high-minded.”
Brock and Austin laughed, though Austin was still holding his bleeding nose.
I’d known Ethan long enough to know what was coming. No one ever crossed these bullies and got away with it.
Ignoring my light-headedness, I got to my feet and faced Ethan. “Leave her alone.” My words slurred a little as the world spun slowly.
Their laughter ended abruptly and all eyes turned toward me.
“Come on.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “You came here to beat me up, remember? I never realized a girl could stop Ethan Coombs.”
I knew I would strike a chord with that jab, and sure enough, Ethan took a step toward me.
“You’re dead, Hartley.” He raised his fist and swung it at me.
I tried to move out of the way, but I hadn’t quite regained my balance and I misjudged the blow.
I gasped when Ethan’s knuckles slammed into my shoulder, knocking me completely off balance and sending me to the ground again. I landed hard and felt my breath whoosh out of my body for a second time.
I lay on the grass for a few seconds, pulling air back into my lungs. I dimly registered the sounds of a scuffle nearby.
When my eyes brought the world back into focus, I was surprised to see Austin sprawled out on the ground a couple feet away, and Leah still on her feet. Not only was she still standing, she was facing off with Brock and Ethan.
I thought for a second my eyes must be playing tricks on me, but no. This was really happening.
Brock took a swing at Leah, but she easily ducked and swung her leg around to kick him in the stomach. He grunted and doubled over.
I watched the brawl from the ground, feeling dazed (and not just because I’d had the wind knocked out of me).
While Brock was bent over, holding his stomach, Leah turned her attention to Ethan, who was starting to look worried. I could see from my spot on the ground, though, that Brock wasn’t as incapacitated as he’d seemed at first—and he was going to surprise Leah while her back was turned.
Somehow I was able to get my feet under me, and then I was hurtling toward Brock. He didn’t see me until it was too late.
I rammed my shoulder into his stomach and dragged us both to the ground. Luckily, I landed on top.
My left shoulder—the one Ethan had punched—hit the hard ground, and a shock ran all the way down to my fingertips. Wincing, I rolled off of a moaning Brock and glanced toward Leah and Ethan.
They were both still on their feet, but that changed quickly.
Ethan feigned a punch and then moved to kick her.
Leah guessed his move, and when he brought his leg around she easily dodged it and wasted no time in kicking his back when the force of his kick spun him around.
Ethan cried out in surprise as he toppled and landed in a heap on the grass.
I stared at the collapsed, moaning bullies all around me and felt a new wave of dizziness. I couldn’t believe it. No one stood up to Ethan and got away with it. And they definitely never showed him who was boss.
Leah smiled down at Ethan. “Comprende?”
He nodded fearfully. I think he might’ve whimpered.
Leah was breathing hard and had a scrape on her cheek, but considering she’d just beaten up three guys almost twice her size at once, she was in pretty good shape.
After a moment, she seemed to remember I was there, and she walked toward me, her cocky smile still in place. “Need a hand?”
I took the hand she offered, and she pulled me to my feet.
“Thanks.” I glanced at the fallen bullies again. “How did you . . .? Where did you . . .?”
She grinned. “My dad taught me.” She took in her handiwork with a satisfied nod. “It can be a useful skill.”
“I’ll say.” I shook my head in amazement, but then stopped when I felt my body start to sway.
Leah nodded back toward the schoolhouse. “Come on. You should probably sit down. My combat skills seem to have a knack for taking people’s breath away.” She smirked.
I frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“Well that’s nice.” She turned toward the school. “I did just save your life, you know.”
I moved to her side and peered over at her while we walked. Her lips were set into a tight line, and her green eyes were hard.
“I meant, what are you doing at school? I thought your dad hadn’t had time to get you enrolled.”
“Well, he made some time.” Her tone was short and clearly annoyed. “What, am I not allowed to come to your school?”
I knew this was leading to a minefield and I didn’t want to get blasted to pieces. “Whatever. Thanks for helping me get out of that mess back there.”
She huffed. “Helping you get out of that mess?” Her grin resurfaced. “‘Helping’ means that both parties contribute something. All you did was fall over and bleed.”
&nbs
p; I chuckled. “Yeah, I guess so.” I wondered if she’d even seen me tackle Brock. I knew better than to mention it, though.
We walked the rest of the way in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. I didn’t know it was possible to walk any length of space with Leah and not be attacked. There was something nice about it. Almost like . . . I had a friend.
“I’ve gotta find an Instructor Hynes,” Leah said as we neared the schoolhouse. “Apparently he’s got my class schedule.”
That made sense: he was the Second-Head, after all. The Head of the school was always too busy to deal with things like class schedules.
I shifted a little anxiously. “Do you want me to take you to his office?”
I didn’t want to be left alone in the schoolyard again. I’d spent so much time alone, and it was nice to talk with Leah—I didn’t want her to just disappear.
But she shook her head. “I’m sure I can find it. Besides, you’d better hurry if you want to finish your lunch.”
“Hey.” I quickly caught her arm before she could walk away. I lowered my voice, glancing around us. “Are we still on for tonight?”
Leah snorted and pulled her arm away. “We’re on for every night.” Then she disappeared inside the schoolhouse.
I stood there for a moment, debating about whether I should follow her anyway or just eat my lunch. My growling stomach made the decision for me.
Retracing my steps from my frantic run, I found my worn book bag lying in the grass. Surprisingly, my lunch was still intact.
I sat close to the door of the schoolhouse (I wanted to be ready in case Ethan turned up with a vendetta), and ate my lunch in peace.
Ethan never showed up.
In fact, I didn’t see Ethan or Brock or Austin for the rest of the break. I wondered if they’d run home to nurse their wounds and pride. The thought made me smile.
After break, I went with everyone else back into the schoolhouse and on to my next class. Artistic Literature was in a room on the second floor, and when I walked inside the instructor wasn’t there yet. I was kind of relieved she was running late. I didn’t want a lecture on yesterday’s tardiness.
