“Oh, Victor, don’t leave it like this.” Ixanna whispered as the door slammed.
Sky made his way up the creaking stairs to the narrow hallway. He felt terrible. All he could imagine was the look his dad must have had on his face when he had said that…you’re already pushing us away. He had never thought of it like that.
“Skyden.” Ixanna’s voice called softly behind him from the bottom of the stairs.
He didn’t stop; there was nothing she could say that would make him feel like less of a jerk. He shuffled into his room and threw himself down on the bed. Rolling to his back he reached up his hand to block out the light he was now wishing he would never have switched on.
He was nothing but a disappointment.
“Skyden.” Ixanna knocked lightly on his door before stepping in uninvited.
“I’m sleeping.” He rolled over to his side, putting his back to her. He knew he was being rude, but really, he didn’t even know what to say to her. It was strange that she had followed him at all. Although she was technically an Iko of Compassion, she was generally the last one to ever offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. At least, not to him.
“You know he’s not mad at you. When he talks like that, it’s because he’s worried.” She crossed the room silently and knelt beside the bed. “He worries so much about you.”
“I know that.” He snapped. He could feel her hand hovering just above his shoulder as she hesitated to let it land there.
“I just don’t like to see you two fighting when things were just going so well.” She let her hand come to rest on the bed beside him.
“What is your definition of ‘going well’?” He turned back over, and could have laughed at how quickly she retreated from him.
“He loves you very much.” She clasped her hands together, as if pleading to him.
“He shouldn’t. I beat up two guys today and I would have got a third one too if Al hadn’t stopped me.”
“Are you proud of that?”
“No.” He just wanted her out of his room.
“Then why do you keep doing this? You’re a smart boy, Skyden.” She leaned forward just slightly, “All he wants, all any of us want is for you to be happy, but you keep doing these…selfish things.”
He sat up, angry now. Even if she was right, she had no business telling him that. “You can go now.” He pointed towards the door, purposely putting his arm inches from her face.
“Just stop thinking of yourself all the time.” She stood in a huff and went as far as stomping her foot to make her point.
“I’m a teenager, it’s what I do.” He dropped back down to the comfort of his sheets.
“Fine. Wallow in your own self pity. You keep this up and you really will end up like…like him.” She choked on the last word and spun around in a wave of white then proceeded to march out the door. With a slam and a muffled sob she was gone.
He stared at the door, hating it. Why did she even bother? Always so perfectly fake and overdramatic. She never had the time of day for him before. And really, it wasn’t his feelings that she was concerned about, was it? It was her dear Captain’s. That fact made him feel better for some reason. It would have been too weird to have her worried about him. If one more thing went out of place in his life his head would most likely explode.
With a groan he rolled out of bed and dragged his heavy body over to the light switch. Never was a task so tedious, but when the darkness came, it was well worth it. He lay back down and let all day’s events; the good, the bad and the downright horrible, flood his mind until they washed his consciousness away, into the blissful depth of sleep.
Chapter Six
Morning came to Marel at the same time as it did for the rest of the cities on Archaios, but it never seemed quite as bright. The bit of light that found its way through the smog only illuminated the run-down buildings and dusty, empty lots that lined the littered and filthy streets. Just past the horizon, the distant glow of the city of Cour faded into the haze of dusk.
Sara Rekkert, a tall girl with dark olive skin, bleach white hair and golden eyes stood in the entrance of her apartment complex. Her hair was done up in two sloppy buns and her Academy uniform was purposely untidy as she let a small smile play on her pierced lips. She looked rough, but that was the point. She pulled at the scratchy material and adjusted the silver pin of Axis beneath the seal of REALM.
Sure, she was nervous, but that was well outmatched by the surge of excitement that coursed through her. No one from the Pit had ever been accepted into the Arche Academy, let alone be accepted into a special program that got them inside REALM as well. Now here she was, about to take the first step out of the rotting hole she called home and into the clean comfort of the esteemed school.
Sara made her way down the broken sidewalk towards the edge of town, where the one and only transport stop sat, neglected, for over ten seasons.
“Oi,” She yelled at the lump of a person strewn across the graffiti covered transport bench, as she approached. “Outta here, scrounger.”
The bum’s face, dark with soot and grime, turned with a scowl, “This is my place girl, find yer own.” but his scowl turned up slightly as he smiled a perfectly rotted mouth in her direction. “Oh now, fancy clothes for a Pitty. You must be headin’ somewhere.”
Sara bent down as far as she dared before the stench of the man filled her senses. She forced herself to lean forward so that the dim light of the sun could catch her glaring eyes. “I am. And you can’t stop me Officer, I have papers.”
The man laughed lightly and sat up. His appearance changed once he was upright and the smell dissipated. He was now a clean, middle aged man, and in a street beat uniform of the Governmental Law Enforcement. “Can’t fool a True Blood, can I.”
She stood up to her full height and gave him her most menacing grin, “We see with eyes unclouded by crappy illusions.” She looked him up and down as he stood, “So the Government has gone so far as to spy on us then?”
The Officer shrugged, his manner loose and casual. “We’re only monitoring the comings and goings.”
She guessed his lax attitude was what landed him one of the worst assignments ever.
“You’re actually the first local I’ve encountered.”
She could hear the transport rumbling in the distance, “You’re lucky then.” She swung the pack off her shoulder and let it drop to the ground as she sat down on the bench. “You don’t have to have eyes like mine to see you were a fake, just a nose. Nothin’s updated in this city, it’s like living in a time loop,” She knew he didn’t deserve the explanation, “so that means the old bath houses still run and are free to the public just like they always have been. Even our scroungers are clean.”
It was an awkward few minutes as she waited. The Officer gave her some space, but wasn’t about to abandon his post. She shot him a glance to find him staring at her. She was used to it though. Her people were native to the planet and at one time held the respect of the off-worlders that settled there. It wasn’t until the Iko’s left that civilization turned on them. They were different, and that created fear. The clans of her people were embattled and ostracized. Many fled their homeland to find tolerance, but had to settle for sparsely populated areas where no one knew who or what they were. Those that got out were the lucky ones.
Finally the transport came into view, speeding towards them with a trail of exhaust before grinding to a reluctant halt in front of the stop. The doors flew open and a rush of stale air hit her like a slap in the face.
Sara grabbed her pack and stood, throwing one last glance back at the Officer with a smirk. So she was the first local he had seen, well, she would probably be the only one. Those looking to get out of town generally weren’t using public transportation.
“See you tonight then.” She shot him a half-ass salute and boarded the transport. The driver gave her a nervous nod as she passed, his small, spectacled eyes darted to and fro as they waited for an ambush. She sn
eered, but kept it to herself; she didn’t blame anyone for being uncomfortable in such a place. In fact, she didn’t trust anyone who wasn‘t.
The transport was almost half full, but she had her choice of worn out, lumpy seats near the back. After she successfully avoided every last pair of eyes she slumped down into her seat and kept her head low. She grabbed the tablet from her pack and began to glance over her schedule again, letting a long sigh relieve the twist in her stomach.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Said an irritated, high-pitched voice.
Sara hadn’t meant to hear it, but the sound of the voice brought her eyes up on instinct.
“Who let you out of the cage?” The voice was attached to Kat Takka; a small girl with a pinched expression that bled arrogance.
Sara felt her face morph into her stone cold expression, a look she reserved for those she truly hated. “Hey, Kat. Nice to see you too.”
Marel had no schools of its own so Sara’s parents had spent almost every bit of money they made on sending her to the private learning centers in the neighboring town of Sawyer. Sawyer was only a couple notches above Meral on the poverty scale, but that didn’t stop the residence from condemning anyone below them.
“Ugh. I thought they didn’t let that kind of trash travel.” Kat had turned to the mousy girl sitting next to her, “How can she afford the ride? I bet she can’t.” Kat’s voice grew louder, “You’re not going to rob me are you?”
Sara snarled back, but said nothing as Kat’s words drew unwelcome stares and frowns. She chose to ignore her old classmate and concentrated instead on her tablet and the list of classes.
The rest of the ride was thankfully uneventful. She wasn’t surprised when Kat and her friend Renna got off at the Delphos stop. Sara waited until they were off the transport to gather her things and exit. Kat, despite all her annoyances, was quite smart and had always talked about applying to the REALM Academy.
Sara walked slowly and kept her distance from the two girls who hadn’t noticed her behind them. It wasn’t that she was afraid of them. In fact, she knew she could beat the tar out of them at the same time without even trying, but she also knew she had to control her temper and avoid trouble if she wanted to keep her scholarship. That’s always how it was. Even back at school, she had taken the abuse and kept her mouth shut.
It wasn’t a long walk into the heart of Delphos. She had been there once before, long ago, before she had even heard of REALM. It was an impressive city. Smaller than Capital City, but bigger than anywhere else she had been. It was modern and clean with streets full of happy people and buildings that touched the sky.
She did her best to keep a blank and uncaring façade although inside she was swelling with excitement. Up ahead she could see the gates to the Academy. It was surrounded by the city, but at the same time seemed completely isolated.
Sara found herself holding her breath outside the entrance. Her legs no longer responded to her command and she stood there like the first-year she was, overwhelmed by what lay a few steps ahead of her.
She scolded herself with every obscenity that flew through her mind and forced herself though the iron gateway with her steps strong and her back straight.
The campus sprawled out before her as she mooned over the expansive grounds. The breath she had been holding escaped in an awe filled sigh. Her eyes stopped at the tallest building in the Academy, the Administration building. It was the oldest and largest of all the buildings. It was uniquely beautiful, organic in shape, unlike anything she had ever seen.
A crowd of students walked by buzzing with excited conversation. She tailed them closely, but didn’t join them as they headed towards the Administration building.
Once inside, the group scattered into the enormous commons area that was plainly decorated with a large information kiosk in the center of the room. She had to admit, although the décor was simple and rather sterile, it was surprisingly calming.
“Hi.” A chipper voice called from behind her.
Sara didn’t turn and assumed the greeting was for someone else and continued heading toward the center kiosk. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a blond haired boy match her pace.
“My name’s Allen.” He extended his hand towards her.
Sara looked down at him, unsure what to make of this wide-eyed boy that barely looked old enough to be there. “I’m Sara.” She mumbled and quickened her pace.
Allen retracted his hand and somehow still managed to keep up. “Well, Sara, it’s nice to meet you. Is this your first day here? It’s my first day. I was pretty nervous this morning, but now that I’m here, I’m just excited.”
They reached the kiosk and she pulled out her ID card. She glanced over at Allen who was looking at her as if waiting for her to say something. “What?” She snapped.
He continued to smile and shrugged. “Nothing, I’m just excited.”
“Yeah, you said that already.” She slid her ID into the slot to register. “Look,” She pulled the card back out, “did you need something? If not, I would appreciate you leaving me alone.”
Allen absently looked over his shoulder and shrugged. She followed his gaze over to a dark haired boy standing just out of the flow of traffic. He was leaning lazily on the wall, trying to look bored. She stared a moment longer than she should have. From such a distance it was hard to get a real good look at him, but she could tell from where she was that he was no good – just another punk with an un-tucked shirt and messy hair that would cause her nothing but trouble if she bothered to give him the time of day.
“That’s my friend Sky, he’s trying to act cool, but really he just can’t handle all the people.”
“I know the feeling,” She grumbled.
“I’ll see you later.” Allen chirped as she walked away.
He thankfully wasn’t following her, as she maneuvered through the commons and stopped behind a small group gathered outside a large metal door. As soon as the first bell sounded its tinny ring the metal door whooshed open to let the herd of students file into the assembly hall.
She looked around quickly at the other nervous faces around her. It was her bad luck to have her eyes drawn once again to that dark haired boy next to the still-obviously-excited Al, but some bit of fortune must have smiled upon her since he didn’t notice as she stared.
She hated him instantly. It really wasn’t like her to loath someone so easily, but there was just something in the way he walked and smiled and looked around with such an amazed innocence that made her want to put her fist right in the center of his face.
She shrank back into the crowd as Al scanned the room and claimed the first seat she saw in order to get below eye level. He thankfully passed right over her and they continued on down the sloping aisle.
Within moments she regretted her hasty decision as Kat and her mousy friend, Renna, strutted by. In another stroke of blind luck they passed by without a glance.
For the first time in her life, amongst the masses of dumbstruck and anxious students that swarmed the lecture hall, she felt delightfully invisible.
She watched Renna follow Kat, like the obedient disciple she was, as they made their way straight down, front and center. Sara almost laughed as Kat sat her skinny butt down directly in front of Al. Her massive amount of black, frizzy curls were well above the poor little guys head. Al was instantly wiggling in his seat to get a better view of the podium, swaying this way and that until finally his dark haired friend pulled him up and switched seats with him.
In the brief exchange, Al accidentally bumped the back of Renna’s chair. She whipped her helmet of plastered platinum locks around only to have her face of rabid vengefulness melt into a mess of batting eyes and flirtatious smiling once she saw her attackers.
Kat turned slightly to see what her bimbo friend was ogling at and Sara’s streak of luck was over. Kat’s loathsome gaze was pulled right up to Sara. Kat gave a steady glare and held it, refusing to look away even when things began to quiet dow
n around the room.
“Apparently REALM will just let anyone in, even trash from the Pit.” Kat announced loud enough to be heard against the din.
Sara looked coolly away, pretending not to hear the spiteful words and make sure to look as bored and possible.
Renna stole a glance behind her. “Ewww. How did she get in here?”
Both Al and his friend turned briefly, probably out of curiosity. Al found her eyes but only gave a slight, respectful nod before turning back towards the front of the room. His friend, on the other hand, was not as tactful - the boy with hair as black as the night and eyes as blue as the sky just went ahead and stared directly at her. It was a moment she wanted to be over, but she would be damned before she looked away first. In the end it was Al punching the kid in the shoulder that thankfully drew his attention away from her.
“Quiet down everyone, eyes up here.” The Professor, a short man in his mid-forties with a dramatically receding hairline entered the room and called for everyone’s attention. “Welcome to the REALM first-years orientation!” He said with vigor as he took his place in front of the hover board. “I am Professor Tennant and I congratulate you, the future leaders and revolutionaries of our age! Nowhere else in the galaxy will you find our level of sophistication in both minds and technology. Only the best and the brightest are let through these doors. So congratulations, to you that have been chosen. Now, let’s briefly go over our processes and what will be expected of you.”
As Professor Tennant droned on, Sara huffed out a breath of boredom and laid her head down on her desk, adjusting her arms until she had created a comfortable cradle.
“…those of you that excel in the trivium will be sent to the west campus and those more proficient in the natural and formal science will be on east campus….”
She readjusted her head and let her eyes lazily scan the room to fight the urge to sleep. A young man with fierce red hair listening intently caught her attention. There was nothing of particular interest about him, except maybe the way he sat with military-like precision. She wondered briefly if he could possibly be the other first-year member of Axis. He looked strong and confident, exactly what you would expect from the Arche Academy.
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