Sky Jump

by Anastasia Bolinder

  “Your Skyjump aptitude makes you a target Equila, you must hide your abilities until the times are dire enough that they are the only option.”

  I’m sure his words were to comfort me but in the moment, then and even now, they felt flat and useless as I was pretending to be just human.

  “Wow, do you think we will be doing SkyJump competitions?” Alissa asked at my side.

  I looked up to her, moving from my thoughts and glanced at the wall.

  “I don’t know, maybe...” I said, my voice was conflicted.

  A kind jab caught my arm and I turned to Alissa who nodded to me.

  “Here, they will throw out Jack or Lucy if they try something like he did at the Skyjump competition.” Alissa said with a smile.

  Though I tried to put a smile on my face, I think she caught the slight avoidance I suddenly had to the subject of Skyjumping. Alissa opened her mouth but as she did a stern voice boomed and caught us off guard.

  “Everyone make a line against the walls so we can show you some of what we have planned for the semester.” The teacher said, again in his deep tone adding only seconds later,

  “Now.”

  Suddenly I realized as my eyes moved to the now open room that Mr. Sheplar was a tall muscular man that looked very close to a rhino and a woman younger than him by at least twenty years looked fit and for some reason she too, looked familiar.

  “I will have my class aid Miss Clarence help demonstrate some of the defense you will learn this year.” The tall, bald-headed teacher said as he nodded.

  Alissa leaned over to me as they both started to circle each other with the classes attention rooted on them.

  “She’s the world’s best female Skyjumping competitor.” Alissa said in an awestruck voice.

  I looked to the woman and suddenly as she glared at Mr. Sheplar I realized why she looked familiar, she was indeed Delphine Clarence, the medal winning Skyjump champ.

  A slight smile caught my lips again, but this time it was one that I only gave my father as I looked down and shook my head, he had said I would enjoy my defense class.

  On the rare occasion a glass TV was around I got to watch this woman in SkyJump competitions. When I was young, I wanted to emulate her.

  Some even said she was a blood line Skyjump but as my father said stoically when I had asked him about it he said she was not.

  It had only slightly crushed my idea of her but at the same time I was now about to watch her duel our defense teacher!

  “Fight!” Mr. Sheplar announced.

  In seconds, Delphine raced at the tall teacher and just as he went to kick her in the face she slid under his side and slammed her arm into his stable leg making him topple to the ground as she slid back onto all fours and jumped away from a punch to the face.

  Delphine jumped to her feet but was too slow to notice Mr. Sheplar’s attack as he grabbed her around the neck in a choke hold.

  The room’s eyes were glued and a few students looked to one another as Delphine pushed on his arms when suddenly right before she passed out she elbowed him in the gut and then, gaining the leverage turned slightly and pushed her body weight against him and they rolled to the ground. Both were free of one another as she punched him in the nose and the class grimaced at the sound.

  Jumping back, they were close to the wall and in seconds, Delphine was up and racing to the wall but Mr. Sheplar was close behind.

  It felt like a live action movie play out before our eyes as they started up the Skyjumping wall.

  The speed at which Delphine moved was like a SkyJump in every possible way, yet when I looked to where she was headed with a dead spot above her I knew a SkyJump would never have gone that route, though she was still incredible as the classes mouths hung loose.

  She slowed, coming to the top of the wall. Gaining, Mr. Sheplar grabbed for her leg and both slipped slightly from their respective holds on the wall. I saw both struggle to keep hold and stay on their limited space. The move was almost too graceful as they became balanced again leaning into the wall.

  I wondered if they had practiced it.

  With a swift movement, Delphine kicked at Mr. Sheplar but he held firm, getting a better hold of her ankle than before from her movement.

  My brows knit together and I wondered what I would do; my mind instinctively said swing to the side and jump to make him lose his balance and fall, but what Delphine did was unexpected. She let go of the wall and in one swoop fell lower grabbing at a rod and Mr. Sheplar could not balance and plummeted to the ground.

  We all cringed and yelled but moments before he hit the floor, he froze in the air and slowly slipped to the floor while above, Delphine gained the momentum and climbed into the net above and was crawling through it at a staggering rate.

  My lips held open in wonder, was this really what we would be learning?

  “SWOOSH!”

  I turned my head just in time to catch the sight of a fire arrow fly up as it set the ropes above on fire.

  “Oh no!” A few students called.

  For all of five seconds I considered Mr. Sheplar a threat as I looked to him, but then a pop of rope brought my attention back as Delphine hung from a burning rope with the class in a panicked frenzy. She was still some distance from the wall or the blocks, though a trapeze hung a running jump from her reach.

  My breath caught in my chest. She wouldn’t jump to it, would she?

  The sound of crackling fire caught my attention again as Mr. Sheplar aimed for her with a magic bow of fire and she looked to him, swinging once back and then coming forward she jumped.

  Everyone froze, the movement of shifting shoes and breathing all stopped and we watched her soar through the air. She wasn’t going to make it, she wasn’t going to…She made it!

  We all cheered as she swung back once, she dangled from the trapeze and then jumped to the blocks and somersaluting into a crouch on the top block with grace and ease. With a slow nod she smiled and the students erupted as she stood up.

  “AMAZING!” They called and Mr. Sheplar clapped coldly.

  Delphine gracefully got down each block and came walking back over to us, her hair messier then when she started as she nodded to the crowd.

  I realized as she came back that she did not wear even one pair of the countless Skyjumping gloves she must own, in a way she gained my respect even further in that moment.

  “Yes, another round of applause for my aid.” Mr. Sheplar said kindly and I noticed his nose was bleeding as he motioned to her.

  When the sound died down Mr. Sheplar nodded to Delphine as she said she was sorry for punching him, he nodded undeterred and motioned to the class.

  “In here, you will not be coming away from the year without some scrapes and bruises, but don’t let that deter you. By the time the semester is over, each one of you will face the same challenge to pass this class but it will be unique to your disadvantages.” He said, and the room audibly whispered like hissing cobras had filled the silence.

  Taking a gulp of what felt like nothing left in my mouth I considered what would be my disadvantages, glancing aside I knew the boxes were something I would find hard to climb but Delphine had only to reach them by jumping. Maybe I would pass this class with flying colors!

  The thought of the other classes felt daunting but this might just be something I could excel in.

  “Now, as a startup, I want you all to look around the class and see your class mates. Depending on your skills you may face one of them in the numerous competitions throughout the semester. We will not be killing our opponents but we will be defending or fighting as if in real circumstance. Do not think you will be spared a punch in the face or a kick to the leg every now and then.” Mr. Sheplar said, making me feel suddenly hesitant about my cocky ambitions of the class. He scanned the room and nodded once more, “But I know you each have the potential to succeed so don’t let the pain or fear bother you, that’s why you’re learning. So if you ever had to fight you are ready and not af
raid.” His words were powerful and the whole class fell silent, taken by the statement.

  For some reason, slight pain touched my heart as I realized I was learning these things because my father worried, at the same time I wondered if he was safe at this very moment.

  “Class is dismissed.” He nodded and as if on cue, the speaker chimed that lunch was next.

  Alissa and I both looked around the room as some students left and others crowded around Delphine asking for her autograph or just looking starry eyed as she smiled and talked with students.

  A part of me wanted to go say something about how much she inspired me to compete when I was little yet I felt it would betray every false layer I built to keep people believing I was an ordinary human, Equila Deshion.

  “Hey the cafeteria already has a line!” Came a familiar voice.

  Alissa and I looked over to see Zac as he armed his way into the room and motioned for us.

  We both started into a run and I couldn’t help glancing back. What I had witnessed was incredible, but at the same time, the fact there was enough threat in the world for a class to be devoted to it all made me rethink how calm I was. Maybe I was naïve… but deep down I had always hoped for the best in people.

  I felt a sudden reality of what my ancestors fought for. I would become strong and I would be good enough that I could show my father I could come with him again... that was if I still wanted to leave. That thought suddenly felt distant and yet again a kind smile caught in my mind of a very charming boy named Keten.

  “That was AMAZING!” Alissa said, throwing her hands in the air as if signifying what we had witnessed as we held trays and walked around plucking up food for high piled platers.

  I dreamily looked off thinking of the jump Delphine made to the trapeze and felt my stomach turn, maybe there was a few things I would be afraid of. Yet, I had jumped when I was miles up to reach the next object in the SkyJump competition. How much harder could it be?

  “What was so amazing this time, Lissa?” Zac asked, from behind me as he piled on a helping of potatoes and gravy.

  Alissa turned and looked to him as I took a small helping of stuffing from the trays and then some turkey, which I would say was distant enough in animal lineage to be alright for eating.

  “Zac, did you have Sheplar last year?” Alissa asked with a tilt of her head as her beige eyes watched him.

  He turned and shrugged as he took a bite of a bacon strip he had grabbed.

  “Ya, I had him and he was like a drill sergeant, what’s new?” he asked, with a raise of one brow.

  We all started walking and Alissa shook her head at him as I stood between them, I was unsure how quickly I had become friends with them but at the same time I had no feeling of escaping the ease of their company.

  “This year he has Delphine Clarence as his aid and she’s amazing!” Alissa said.

  Right as Zac was about to speak, a sharp hit caught my side. My tray was seconds from sending my plate to the ground in a shattering spectacle when a firm grip caught my arm trying to stop both me and my food from falling to the glowing floor.

  Turning to look up with my face stern at the fact another student had nearly sent me tumbling, I considered it might even be Jack or Lucy when I stood only a step apart from,

  “Keten.” I said surprised as he steadied me.

  His lips held in a side smile,

  “Told you we would meet again. I was hoping just maybe… less like this.” He said with a soft apology written in his eyes as he stepped back from me.

  Shaking my head with a smile I had completely forgotten about the two next to me when Alissa nodded, though her smile showed deep interest in both Keten and I.

  “Hey, Keten.” She said and Zac nodded to him.

  Keten turned and nodded to them both.

  “Hey, Alissa. Zac, how’s fencing?” Keten asked, easily.

  I glanced at Keten, his jaw line was not pointed but defined and his face felt welcoming as Zac nodded and told about his past winnings. He seemed to be at least acquaintances with Zac and Alissa.

  Keten turned to me after the banter about which team was the best jousting competitor and he opened his mouth to ask something when a voice broke through.

  “Hey Keten, come on!” A girl called.

  Turning I looked to find a girl with impressive brown curls beckoning for him to come down the rise to a booth she stood by.

  My heart fell as quickly as it had soared. Slowly, I turned back to Keten who smiled kindly, unaffected by the beautiful girl calling him.

  “Sorry, I have to go but maybe we could study some time together?” Keten asked as he stepped before me.

  I nodded and sputtered out,

  “Sure.” before he and his dashing smile was gone to the girl at the table who he kindly seemed to nudge out of the way as she threw him a loving grin.

  My appetite was once again crushed and an usual guilt for the anger that welled in my chest at the curly brunette who had Keten made me wonder why I felt so attached to him in the first place, when there was nothing that even said he was in any way mine.

  A soft nudge came at my side and turning I found Alissa looked at me with a sisterly smile and Zac motioned down the steps with a spoon in his mouth.

  “Come on, there’s a table we eat at that is open.” he spoke, around the spoon.

  Nodding, I came out of my stupid thinking and followed them to the table, Alissa and Zac sat across from me as I looked to my food, for the second time wishing I had eaten before I thought, talked to, or seen anyone.

  “Quil, you ok?” Alissa asked, tilting her head as Zac eagerly ate away at his food.

  Glancing up, I nodded, not even realizing I had looked to my bracelet or started fiddling with the beads.

  “Ya, I’m fine...” I said, but the brunette nudging Keten held in my mind like a criminal profile.

  Alissa took a bite of peas and I spooned a bite of potato into my mouth, though it tasted very bland.

  I wondered who the girl was and why Keten would have asked me to study with him if he had a girlfriend. His whole facade of kind and different faded in a burst of worn confetti inside my mind.

  Looking up, I noticed Alissa still looked to me every other bite, suddenly she put down her spoon and tilted her head.

  “Quil, do you know Keten very well?” She asked and Zac simply kept eating though he listened to both our conversation and the fencing match he watched on his glass, hand held screen.

  I looked up and my lips opened and closed but I could not decide what to say. My plan of thinking things through was really not working out in the slightest.

  “I, ah…” I looked down at my plate before shrugging, “I, well, he helped me to find my classes but no, I don’t know him.” I said, as I realized how true a statement that was.

  Alissa laughed softly and I looked up to her surprised as she waved a hand at me,

  “I’m sorry Quil, but I just realized then that you don’t know Trish is his sister.” Alissa said easily, and I tilted my head when she added, “The one who yelled to him.”

  My eyes went wide and I opened my mouth but felt relieved and incredibly foolish all at the same time. Zac glanced up from the match on his screen and tilted his head when he realized what Alissa was correcting.

  “Wait, you thought Trish was his girlfriend?” Zac asked with a childish grin.

  I felt red burn my cheeks and I looked down, finding comfort in rubbing the beads on my wrist again.

  Alissa punched Zac in the arm and scrunching her face at him.

  “What’s wrong with you! Making a girl feel stupid?! You’ll never win a girl’s heart that way.” Alissa said matter-a-factly and Zac smiled and knit his eyebrows in a charming smile.

  “You really think my words will make the difference when I’m this good looking?” He asked though it was nothing but a statement as he smiled ruefully.

  Alissa shook her head and thrust her head into her hands.

  “Oh, Zac.” W
as all she could manage as a tense laugh escaped my lips and in seconds, we all were laughing with students passing glances over at us with annoyed glances only making us laugh harder.

  Chapter 11

  “When the music is shunned”

  After lunch, Alissa started shooting an array of questions about Keten, but before she had even let me put one word in, the bell sounded. We all quickly packed our things and started out to our next classes which, to my misfortune, I found were not with either Alissa or Zac.

  Moving from my English class with a paper placed in my bag on my first day that was due tomorrow seemed to continue my day of highs and lows, though math class proved I would not get another high just yet. It felt as if I was hearing gibberish that quickly entered my mind and left like a pack of flittering butterflies comprised of numbers and equations.

  Finally, I made it out of Math class as the first day of school was ended with two pages of home work due the next morning and no sign of Keten just happening to pass by, which was unfortunate.

  Taking a deep breath, I felt beat and altogether claustrophobic around the crowds that moved against me and with me. Glancing around at the other students laughing and talking, a part of me felt more resigned than ever.

  Breaking free of the large crowds, I followed a group of girls walking to the girls wing, entering the main room, I again felt a slight hesitation as I lowered my head and tried to hurriedly get to my room. I needed to be away from it all.

  I was used to noise and laughter and lots of people, but being around them all the time felt as if I was stuffed in an all too small tank of fish that was overcrowded and left with only a bubble of water to breath.

  Passing other girls down the hall who were still moving in stacks of luggage, I had no idea where they put it all in such a tiny room.

  I came to my door and held my crystal to it and in turn, the smooth cylinder started to glow as the latch clicked, I told the crystal to stop internally and it immediately went out.