Sky Jump

by Anastasia Bolinder

  I slyly shook my head as I held his strong hand.

  “I always worry, maybe like someone else I know.” I said, looking around as if thinking.

  He smiled but did not laugh as he kissed the top of my head like I was a child again and hugged me one last time.

  “Until the next moon rises.” he said softly as he pulled back and placed a hand on the door.

  I smiled and nodded to the term he had taught me when I was young that meant a Skyjump’s goodbye.

  “Until then.” I said, tears catching on my eyelids as he opened the door and walked out into the warm air.

  I held the door open to watch him leave.

  He smiled and walked backwards so he could still see my face,

  “You’ll do great, Quil!” He said with a smile.

  I laughed a breath and nodded as he went to the side of the truck.

  “I will. Just wait until you get back and see what I have done!” I said happily though my voice felt dry.

  He nodded as he started to get into the truck.

  “Love you!” I yelled over a small gust of wind.

  He smiled and leaned back out of the door.

  “Love you, too.” he said and with one movement he was in the truck and before my heart could contemplate it, he was down the road.

  It seemed even longer for my mind to truly understand how alone I suddenly felt.

  “Bye, for now.” I said softly to the floor.

  Stepping back into the hall, the door clicked before me as the world inside and out suddenly felt as heavy as my heart. I tried to comprehend how fast this moment had come and gone.

  Chapter 7

  “Making Room”

  Walking back down the hall I felt the luminescent floor was the most welcoming thing around me. I glanced at the walls and down the hall with a sudden slow reality-check to my situation. I was really going to be here for an entire year surrounded by cement walls.

  Glancing back to the doors that were ever becoming farther away, I hoped my father would come get me for holidays and we could spend time together again, but that felt like an eternity from this moment.

  “Try and have fun.” My father had said, “Open canvas.”

  Taking a deep breath as I reached the crossroads in the hall I looked around and felt suddenly like I had to act older. If he was leaving me, then I would show him I was old enough to go with him next year and go back to the way things were by being so good that I could handle anything that happened.

  Nodding, I turned and started for the office, trying to self-talk my way out of giving up hope before school had even started.

  Jean looked up with a smile from her desk as she put away a stack of paper.

  “One moment and we can go get your books and I’ll give you a little tour on the way, Equila.” Jean said walking to a filing cabinet with a soft smile.

  Shifting my stance, I put a hand to my arm as I glanced around the room. It only had one painting of the countryside on the right wall to lighten the room that still had an air of confinement that made an itch grab at the souls of my feet.

  “Alright, let’s be off.” Jean said, wiping her palms in the air with a nod as she walked over to me with grace and motioned for me to go out the door first.

  Walking into the hall I waited as she came out of the room and started off by turning right as we walked down the dark hall, though all the walls felt slightly enclosing in their grey skin.

  “So, are you excited to start school?” She asked, glancing over at me as I looked up to her and again I wished I had time to think out what to say.

  My expression must have given me away as we turned right again and she smiled softly as she nodded.

  “It’s a bit frightening to come to a school that looks like this, isn’t it?” she motioned to the walls around us.

  A soft smile caressed my lips as I looked around following her down another non-descript cement hall.

  “I have never been in a place quite like this.” I said with a slight grimace as we passed an open door to a room that looked like a torture chamber, though I realized desks were the shadowy objects within.

  Jean walked at a slow pace, making sure I was not running and giving me time to look around.

  “I really think you will like it. Right now it’s just the skeleton of what it becomes when the halls are filled and the noise level rises.” she said with a soft laugh.

  I tried to imagine living and moving through what she spoke of and though I could handle SkyJump competitions within a crowd I needed the solace of space away from it all. Good gracious what would I do if I could not have time away from so many people?!

  “Big crowds aren’t really my thing, I won’t get run under by them right?” I asked looking to her with hesitation.

  Shaking her head to comfort me as her laugh bounced airily off the walls while we passed another cleaning man like Harold, though he was bald and did not have bushy eyebrows.

  “It’s quite alright to not care for crowds, there are lounges through out the school and the library and cafeteria room are open almost anytime and the atrium is open soon enough into the year.” Jean said, it made my heart move quicker as I thought of the nice secluded places I could find.

  “Is the atrium large enough to run in?” I asked not even thinking what my words might sound like.

  Jean nodded and motioned down the hall.

  “It is large enough we have had students get lost in it when the moisture level is high, which it often is.” She said as we turned.

  I was about to ask more about it when a bubble became the wall to our left thats glass was mist-covered, though the faint shapes of green things peaked within as shadows.

  Stopping, I squinted as if to get a better look at the shadows of a forest as Jean continued walking and was about to speak when she noticed I had stopped. I walked to the bubble of a wall that went down the length of the hall until it looked to diverge into different paths.

  “That is the atrium, it’s the largest in the world. It was built by the founder of the school, Figoures La’ket because he felt there should be a haven within that was a taste of the world outside.” She said, with a passion to her voice that reminded me of a SkyJump announcer.

  Reaching a hand to the glass I put my fingertips to the cool surface to find it slightly rippled like water as my jaw held open in wonder.

  “I see you enjoy the magic of the atrium more than its history.” Jean said kindly as she folded her arms with a smile as if enjoying my wonder at the sight.

  I turned to her though my hand still wavered on the smooth glass like surface.

  “How is it…”

  “Possible?” She finished with cock of her eyebrow, “The magic that has kept this place safe also was used to create a shield for the atrium, but this one is physical where as the one on the walls is invisible. It seems like glass when stagnate but to enter all you have to do is put your key, the crystal, into the wall and step through. Though at times it will simply open when you get close enough.” She said, and turned as we started walking again, my eyes lingered with wonder before I caught up.

  “Can we go in?” I asked coming beside her.

  Shaking her head no, my dreams of what was hidden within faded abruptly as if Eden was within reach and I, the outcast, could not offer enough to enter.

  “It’s being de-bugged and the mist would get even me lost before long, I promise you will have time to explore it soon enough.” She said with a nod, as we turned off from the atrium lining hall as my head watched the misty wall behind me fade.

  “This however, you are welcome to explore before anyone arrives.” She said bringing my head back to the room we had walked into.

  My jaw hung ajar at the sight before me as Jean looked over at me as if she was impressed with my reaction.

  The room was one level but it felt like multiple with carts on each little rise you could walk up to with bubble-like glass surrounding everything from books to food. The carts spanned the w
hole room, with some being placed on a small riser that made the room feel almost like a town market and small house-like structures boasting different supplies only added to the feel of a market.

  “What is this?” I asked, looking all around as we started into the room passing carts with every item imaginable, from ink to pens and everything you could offer.

  Jean nodded as we came to the middle of the room to a sign that hung below a glowing light that rotated in the air and glowed a soft fire-lit color as if to pretend to be the sun above us.

  “This is the market room and quite true to its name you can find everything you want here. Though the shops will be closed at night the carts are always open if you want to buy something.” Jean said, motioning to a paper stand with fashionable stationary and letters on its tiered levels.

  “How do I pay?” I asked, looking at the cart that looked to be behind a glass sphere.

  Jean nodded like a patient parent with a toddler trying to walk for the first time.

  “Like the atrium and most things within the school, you use your crystal and it will keep track of how much you have to spend and what you buy and a record will be sent to each student’s parents.” she said nodding as she turned and started for a little white-roofed building.

  Glancing aside at the letters, envelopes and wax seals, I noticed a Skyjump crested wax seal that I vowed I would come back and buy when I had time. I rushed inside the cozy little shop that had a desk in the back that Jean stepped passed, its small swaying door swishing as I was left standing outside.

  “One moment, I will grab your books.” she said as I glanced around at the mastery of even this little house that held the books for classes that lined the walls.

  I was starting to realize my first assumptions of this grand place may have been darkened by its exterior as I felt a buzz within me ask if this was possible, what else might hide within the walls of this new home I was to live in?

  “Ah here we are Miss Deshion.” Jean said, coming around the desk’s swaying door and holding out a stack of five good sized books that looked larger than any dictionary.

  “These are your school books for each class from mage magic to math.” She said, nodding.

  After thanking her, we walked out as a man dressed like Harold walked up to meet us.

  “There is a call waiting at the front desk, Jean.”

  “Oh, thank you, Walt.” Jean said, and nodded to me as we picked up our pace.

  We walked back together passed the atrium and to the crossroads as my mind reeled, glancing at every door we passed and into every room with wonder of what I was to find out next, a room with a dragon or trap doors was very possible, I considered with a smile.

  “Is it alright if I leave you for now?” Jean asked, making me come out of my daydreaming.

  I nodded and she smiled.

  “Tonight, you can join me and the rest of the staff for a little dinner considering you’re early and won’t want to eat alone. If you feel up to it, that is.” She asked, with a soft smile.

  My mind begged me to say no but I knew my father would have shook his head at me If I did not accept, so with some amount of work, I nodded.

  “Perfect, just come back here around six and we will all go together.” Jean said, as she waved goodbye and we split ways.

  With my arms straining at the weight of the enormous books I started back to my white little room feeling a flurry of excitement I did not know I would have for this magical place and a worry of what I could say to give myself away before I had even started here.

  After nearly getting lost taking a left when I should have taken a right and a maid’s directions later I came to my door with a better knowledge of which way not to go to get back to my room.

  Holding out my crystal, the books swayed in one arm as my chin rested on them trying to keep them level, it was a feat in and of itself.

  A soft glow from it and I was back into my little white shoe box closing the door behind me if only to drown out the noise of a floor sweeper as it was coming down the hallway.

  Glancing around me as I lowered the books to the floor, a sigh escaped my lips.

  “Open canvas, remember, Quil?” I reminded myself putting a hand to the back of my head.

  Looking at the desk and the bed with my things crammed in before me it all felt smaller by the second. Starting forward I moved my things to the bed just to feel like the room was larger as the way into the room became a walkway again, not a shuffling zone.

  Moving my camera and box of pictures to my desk I placed them with care and started back over to move the last of my items. Placing my guitar case to lean against the beds iron end, my fingers lingered on the case, a part of me wished desperately to strum anything on the lovely taut strings but I feared playing would bring out my tears as much as they wished to escape now.

  “I need to be positive.” I said as I stepped back from the guitar, knowing I would play it when I would not break down.

  Putting a hand to my chin I tilted my head as I looked at the bed piled high with my things and then glanced to the walls and the bare feel of it all, as if it was never loved or someone despised it, leaving it void of everything.

  That needed to change.

  Walking to the side of the bed I picked up my bulletin board and put it on a nail already in the wall slightly tilting it to make it stay in the right position to seem level.

  My eyes softened as I imagined all the pictures I would take and how I could decorate with the pictures I already had as I glanced over at the desk and dresser. A spark caught in my chest and a soft smile stole my lips, looking the room over again I realized this was my canvas and besides a restriction of only nails in the wall this room was all mine to add the colors to make it a garden within a fortress that could hold my soul for the time being.

  I started to work, placing my clothing in the drawers and realizing the rug I brought was lovely but to large with the bed in the way. I slid it under the bed for the time being along with my box of shoes and a suitcase emptied of its toiletry’s which I organized in the quaint little bathroom with a drift wood vanity and a crystal basin to wash up with near the tiled shower and toilet.

  Moving to my desk I unloaded all my papers and notebooks, placing my trusty everything-can-fit sack of a bag by my swiveling desk chair. I nodded slightly as if enjoying what was starting to happen. Putting my moon lamp on the desk with an old blue bottle I had found with a SkyJump seal atop my desk, it was all starting to feel kinder as I imagined the flowers I would find to put in the blue vase and how nice the desk really was.

  The light out the small window had faded by the time I was fluffing my pillows and realizing my comforter could fit over the small bed three times as it hung to the floor. Turning, I left two boxes for finishing my unpacking when a knock echoed off the door, my fingers were atop the box of photos and I had yet to remove the last few things from my box of treasures.

  “Quil?” The voice made a smile light my lips.

  Walking to the door I opened it to find Harold with a soft grin as he waited outside.

  “I’ve come to escort you to the dinner.” He said kindly with an arm outstretched to me.

  I smiled and nodded, putting on my shoes while glancing back to the progress my room had taken before I shut the door and started out, though part of me wished for my camera to come with I knew I would have time to take pictures as I put my arm through his.

  “Why, thank you, Harold.” I said with a smile, my father always said Skyjump’s had a keen sense of people and that we could tell if a person was nice or not and I knew Harold was nice.

  “Well, you remember my name still, I have to say that’s a head-up in the game.” he said with a slight chuckle as a maid joined alongside us.

  “Your granddaughter, Harold?” The woman asked from my side, she had rosy cheeks and a wide face that grinned under her graying blond hair.

  He laughed as we reached the door and exited.

  “Oh no, this yo
ung woman, Equila, is just an early student. I was asked to escort her to dinner.” He said with a sly wink at the maid as we both giggled at the shake of her head.

  Coming back from our kind banter the woman looked at me with a warm grin.

  “Do you like your room? Was it in order for your early arrival, dear?” She asked seeming to wear a different color of uniform from the other maids.

  I nodded and thought of how much kinder the abyss of cream now looked with a pop of color and the touch of my things added to its appeal greatly in my mind.

  “Yes, it was very clean.” I said, though in my mind I said almost too clean as she looked ahead.

  We turned again passing the hall lined by the atrium.

  “I should hope it was, if you ever need your room swept or have any problem come and inform me at once. I’m Livina the head mum of the whole girl’s wing.” She said with a warm, much kinder smile than I had seen in a long time as if she really did care about me like Jean had seemed.

  I nodded, still holding Harold’s arm as he shambled and I slowed for his pace.

  “Thank you, I’m really glad you’re all so welcoming.” I said softly looking to the luminescent floor.

  Harold and Livina shared a glance before she looked to me with a tilt of her head.

  “My dear, were you worried we wouldn’t be kind?” she asked with a twinge of pain to her voice.

  I looked over to her as we stopped before two large doors that were open and the one before us blocked my view of the inside.

  “I...well… I don’t mean anything about all of you, but the building seemed to say something much different from what is within.” I said suddenly realizing how much I sounded like my father.