by Cheree Alsop
The doctor came into the room and shut the door behind him. He took a step toward the bed.
“Don't touch me,” I growled.
He paused, a dark blur in the dim room. He spoke in a professional, reserved tone. “I need to look at your knee; it's bleeding again and you might have done some more damage to it walking around.”
I shook my head. “I'll take care of myself. Thank you for your assistance, but I no longer require your care.”
The doctor stood still for a minute. I thought he would leave, then he sighed and took a step closer. I raised my hands, ready to defend myself, but he shook his head and grabbed the back of the chair Brie had used. The legs screeched against the floor as he pulled it back to sit near the wall. He settled onto it and crossed one leg over his knee.
We sat in silence. I glared his way despite my blinding headache.
He finally sighed. “I think we got off on the wrong foot.”
I refused to comment.
He put his leg back down and spread his hands. “You have to understand my point of view. These kids are my responsibility. If they were harmed in any way, I could never forgive myself.” He dropped his hands to his knees. “Regardless of if you are personally a danger to them, your presence here puts us all on the line.”
The honesty of his words ate at my distrust. I nodded. “I need to leave.”
He snorted. “Not like that. Despite the way I might feel, I'm still a doctor.” He gave a low chuckle. “I'd be a great example throwing you out on the streets in your condition.”
“You'd be preserving your safety,” I pointed out.
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t be a doctor if I didn’t have empathy. You need to stay.” He sighed and leaned forward. “Tell you what, I'll take care of your wounds and you teach us about the Academy. I have the feeling there's a lot that went on there we don't know.”
I felt his gaze on the scars that stood out across my bare chest. I crossed my arms, self-conscious for the first time in my life.
“What do you think?” he asked after a minute of silence.
I didn't have much of a choice and I think he knew it. I finally nodded against my better judgment. “I'll stay, but the second the danger to anyone here increases, I'm gone.”
“I can respect that,” he said. He rose and held out his hand. I hesitated, then took it. His grip was firm. “Now, let's see to that knee.”
Chapter Three
I slept through the next day and awoke to the smell of food and the sound of laughter from the next room. I sat up slowly. The ache in my ribs had lessened somewhat. I moved my knee so I could lean with a pillow against the wall. The new splint Dr. Ray had put on helped lessen the pain, but it throbbed whenever I used my leg muscles. I pushed the constant ache of my wings to the back of my mind.
I longed for a book, though my eyesight was still blurred to the point that reading was impossible. I smoothed the pillow, and noted how soft the pillowcase was. Nothing was soft at the Academy. I bent gingerly toward the small table beside the bed and picked up the clean pair of clothes Brie had set there for me. The fabric was also soft and supple, quite different from the coarse pants at the Academy.
Footsteps came to the door and I tensed.
“Kale?” The door opened to reveal Nikko’s brown hair and slender build. He came in when he saw I was awake. “You hungry?”
My stomach growled at the strong scent of food that wafted in after him and he laughed. “Good enough. Why don't you come out and eat with us? Brie and Jayce’s dad had to work late again, so they’re here.”
The thought was surprisingly inviting, but I shook my head. “Dr. Ray-”
“He's not here,” Nikko replied firmly. “Dad teaches during the day, and when he’s not teaching, he’s at the emergency room. The odds of him catching us are slim.”
Before I could protest, he swung my arm over his shoulder and helped me to my feet. “You've gotta be ready to get out of this room anyhow, and we've run out of Galdoni rumors to chew up. It'd be nice to have a little fact to even out the fiction.” He helped me slip the shirt over my head. Brie had cut two slits up the back that fit around my wings; the fabric settled comfortably against my skin.
We made our way out the door and into the small living room. The couches had been pushed aside and a card table and folding chairs made up the dining table. Brie pulled out a chair so I could take a seat. Nikko helped me ease down onto the chair, then left to the kitchen.
“You should be starving,” Brie pointed out. She handed me a roll before following Nikko.
I held the bread in my hands. I wanted to tear into it, to shove it into my mouth and devour it completely. But in the house setting, that felt wrong. It took more self-control than I wanted to admit to take a small bite.
The fresh taste of bread filled my mouth with more flavor than I thought possible. I closed my eyes and savored the sweet tang of cooked flour and sugar. I rolled the bread around my mouth for a moment before swallowing it. The lightest hint of honey lingered on my tongue.
I opened my eyes and took another bite just as the Nikko and Brie entered the room with bowls of mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad along with a pitcher of juice. Jayce followed closely behind carrying a roast in a pan. My stomach growled again at the smell and Nikko laughed.
“Hurry and feed this boy before he starves to death!” He proceeded to plunk a generous helping of potatoes drowned in gravy onto my plate. The others served me and then themselves, ignoring my protests that I had plenty of food. I finally gave in and sat back to watch them dish food onto their own plates in far less amounts than mine. After dishing up, they looked at each other.
A slight discomfort seemed to pass between them. “What?” I asked.
Nikko cleared his throat. “We generally bless the food before we eat.”
I nodded.
Jayce glanced at me before he bowed his head and said a prayer.
I watched the three lowered heads and fought back a strange wave of longing. It felt surreal, sitting at a normal table with a home-cooked meal in a comfortable home. It was something I had read about in books and longed for when I was younger; I had accepted my lot long ago only to find myself in the same situation.
“Amen,” Jayce said. He looked across the table at me and though I couldn't see his expression, I heard the caution in his voice. “I didn't take you guys for the praying type.”
I shrugged and pretended to be more interested in my potatoes. “We don't as a whole, but I've read about it. I always found the idea of God to be an interesting one.”
“Not one you believe in?” Brie asked.
I glanced at her and shook my head. “It was never hidden from us that we were created by humans, definitely not God; though it fits the description of playing God.” I’d had more time than I wanted in the last three days to think over what Brie had told me about the televised Arena broadcasts. The knowledge took the honor that we as Galdoni had been taught our entire lives and thrown it down the drain. I fought to keep the anger from my voice. “I'm a little skeptical at the thought of an all-knowing Being who sees what we go through in our lives but lets injustice carry on anyway.”
Silence followed my words.
Jayce chuckled, breaking the stillness. “Why don't you tell us how you really feel?”
I rubbed the bandage on my forehead. “Sorry. I'm not usually this blunt. My head must have been hit harder than I thought.”
This time Nikko was the one to laugh. “Hey, at least you're honest. Most people don't have a clue what they believe or don't believe. It's kind-of refreshing.”
“In a knife through your heart sort of way,” Jayce concluded. He held up his cup of juice. “Here's to brutal honesty.”
I laughed and held up my own. When the glasses chinked together, I realized it had been years since I had truly laughed; I had also smiled more in the last few days than the rest of my life combined. A voice in the back of my mind told me not to get used to it. I t
ried to shrug it off, but the pain that laced through my wings when I moved reminded me of what had brought me there. I took another swallow of juice to chase down the bitterness that rose in my throat.
***
“How does that feel?”
“Better,” I replied and tried not to wince as the doctor tightened the bandages around my wings. He bound them to my back, immobilizing the joints to allow the bones to heal.
“You have a high tolerance for pain,” he noted.
“One of the benefits of the Academy,” I replied quietly.
Dr. Ray gave me a careful look as he tore the end of the bandage and smoothed it down. “Well, I can’t guarantee anything, but it should hold for now.” A rare hint of humor touched his voice, “Must say, I never thought I’d be bandaging up a Galdoni.”
“That makes two of us,” I said with a wry smile. At his pause, I clarified, “I never thought I’d have to be bandaged by a human.”
A chuckle escaped his lips as he turned away to tuck the rest of his equipment into his bag. The shadows were lighter and colors sharper; faces were still mostly a blur though. I rubbed my eyes. My head ached, but less than it had when I first awoke.
He must have been watching me. “Your eyesight should come back. You’ve already made good progress.” He paused, then continued as though testing the water, “You haven't asked about your wings.”
I looked at him, but didn't reply.
He finally shrugged. “Well, it's probably for the best. I won't know until those bandages come off, and until then, it's a guessing game for both of us.” His tone became ironic. “You know, there's one reason I became a doctor instead of a vet.”
“Why's that?”
“Because it's easier when the patients can tell you what's wrong with them. But,” and I could hear the smile in his voice, “You never say.”
“Habit, I guess.”
Brie opened the door and we both turned. “Hello gentlemen; don't mind me. I just brought the invalid some water.”
I snorted at the term invalid, but accepted the cup she held out.
“I'll see you tomorrow.” Dr. Ray picked up his bag and made his way to the door. “Have a good night, Brie.” He paused before turning back with a slight frown in his voice. “You too, Kale.”
The doctor left before I could get over my surprise enough to wish him the same.
Brie laughed and sat on the corner of the bed. “I think you’re breaking him down. You’re definitely not the ‘maddened beast of mass destruction’ they tout on TV to get you guys back to the Academy.”
“You don’t think so? I’m pretty terrifying.”
“Yeah, to a mouse maybe, or a gerbil. I’d say a guinea pig, but I hear those things can fight for themselves.”
I chuckled. The movement shot pain through my ribs; I leaned back against the wall. “How was school?”
“Splendidly boring, as usual.” She let out a sigh. “You’re lucky you don’t have to go.”
“I’ll trade you, Academy for high school.”
“Done. I can learn to fight and have wings, and you can sit in a hard chair learning about things you’ll never use in life.”
“At least the goal is for you to have a life when you’re done. Imagine finding out that they taught you everything just to have you use it to die for the enjoyment and monetary interest of impassive viewers.”
She let out a breath. “Okay, you win.”
I smiled. “Hey, if it wasn’t for you, I’d probably still be there, or dead.”
“Probably dead,” she replied flippantly; I could see the slight outline of her grin. “Now you have to put up with all my whining about school. You’d probably rather I left you there.”
I tipped my head as though considering it and she slapped my good knee. I smiled. “No, I’m really more grateful for you than I could ever express. I just can’t wait until I get out of here. Something has to be done.”
“Like what?”
I shrugged because that was as far as I always got. Something had to be done, but where to start? I scratched at the bandages on my forehead. The deep gash Dr. Ray had stitched there itched. “Something; I don’t know what, but I’ll figure it out.”
“You'll know what to do.” Doubt colored her voice.
“You don't think I should go back.” The revelation surprised me.
“To what?” She sat up straight and her tone became passionate. “You have a chance to start a new life. I think you should take it and never look back.”
“And leave the other Galdoni to whatever fate the Academy has for them?” I shook my head. “I can't let them continue to spread lies about us and let people believe that we don't feel or care. I need to stop them from killing the Galdoni I grew up with.”
They weren't friends. Galdoni were forbidden to have friends. If such a relationship was discovered, the two offenders were beaten and then separated for the rest of their time at the Academy. But I had grown up beside them, trained against them, and at the barest of it all, survived with them. I couldn't let them suffer for things that should have been stopped long ago, and the fact that Galdoni were being returned to the Academy by every defense unit available meant there was a plan to put them to use again.
“You're right,” Brie replied quietly.
My wings ached and I longed to stretch them. I shifted against the pillow, but couldn't find a comfortable position. I finally gave up.
Brie guessed my thoughts. “You want to fly?”
“More than words can describe.” I glanced at her. “You know, I've never flown outside the Arena. None of us had until they shut it down, and then I was scared.”
We stared at each other, both surprised at my admission. I grimaced. “Now I'll be lucky if I even can. Last time I look before I leap.”
“I'll bet you'll be able to fly,” Brie said reassuringly. “And if not, there's more out there.”
“Like what?” I asked skeptically.
She was close enough that I could see her mischievous grin. “Nikko thinks you should go to school with us.”
“High school?” The thought made me laugh. “They'd arrest me on sight.”
“He thinks we can hide your wings, and Nikko is a whiz at computers. He can make you a transfer transcript that'll get you in.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “You've got to be kidding. It wouldn't work, and it'd be dangerous for everyone if I’m caught.”
“Well, it's just a thought,” she said casually.
I shook my head. “I won't be here that long. There's too much to do.”
She nodded. “And research to be done. You can't rush into this, Kale. You've got to know your enemy.”
I didn't answer. It was too absurd to even consider. Nevertheless, sleep was a long time coming after she left.
Chapter Four
When I made my way to the table the next night with the use of a crutch Nikko found, I was surprised to see Dr. Ray waiting patiently on an extra chair pulled up to one of the corners. He nodded at me and resumed his conversation with Jayce.
Brie's brother glanced at me with a slight shrug and a concerned expression. He brushed away the blond hair that was always in his eyes and turned back to the doctor. I took the seat next to him as nonchalantly as possible. Brie and Nikko followed from the kitchen a few minutes later. They both looked stressed at the doctor's presence.
Brie said a brief prayer and I caught the doctor's glance after she finished. “Nikko mentioned your views on religion,” he said, dishing a generous heap of stuffing onto his plate.
I glanced at Nikko but he kept his eyes down.
“The only religion taught at the Academy is the art of combat,” I replied carefully.
Dr. Ray nodded. “Interesting. You know, the ancient Samurai's battle training was closely entwined in their religious views.”
“So I've read.”
The doctor motioned with his fork for me to continue. I toyed with the corn on my plate. “From the moment of crea
tion, Galdoni are put through rigorous training regimes which are eventually honed toward each Galdoni's skill. We were required to fight a personal and group battle at least once a day, unless we were recovering.”
“Recovering?” Brie cut in, “From what?”
I glanced at her. “After we master weapons training, all combat is fought with real swords, knives, or whatever the battling Galdoni chose.”
“Real weapons?” Jayce leaned closer, “You mean sharpened and everything?”
I nodded and held out my left arm. A jagged scar ran from the base of my elbow to my wrist. “It took me almost a month to recover from this one, but they had me fighting again the next week.”
“That's barbaric,” Brie exclaimed with a shake of her head.
“It's survival,” I replied. It surprised me how impersonally I could talk about the Academy. It had been my entire life. Now, it seemed more like a nightmare I could remember instead of one I had lived every day.
Even Dr. Ray looked appalled, though I know he had seen the scars all over my body. I flexed my hands, glad to see that the bruises on my knuckles had faded along with my blurred eyesight. I looked up and met the doctor’s gaze across the table.
His expression was thoughtful but troubled. “Nikko's mentioned that he found a way to get you into the high school if you're interested.”
My stomach clenched, but I kept my face carefully expressionless. “Really.”
Nikko, Brie, and Jayce looked from one of us to the other.
“I think it might be a good idea.”
Shock flowed through me at the doctor's approval. “You do? I . . . I don't know if it's very smart.”
“Why not?” Nikko piped in. “This is your chance to live a real life. You can leave all the Academy stuff behind and decide what you really want to do.”
I shook my head. “I already told Brie why I have to go back. There's no choice in the matter.”
Jayce raised a forkful of food and pointed it at me. “You always have a choice. Besides, it's not like you can go back like that. If you're planning for a fight, you'll have to get into shape again. That could take a while and you might as well put your free time to good use.”
