by Dylan Steel
Penelope didn’t respond. The truth of Sage’s words weighed heavily on her. Walking over to the edge of the roof, she stooped over and picked up a small bit of gravel, rolling it between her fingers. She held out her arm, dropping the piece of grit over the ledge and craning her neck.
“I didn’t hear it hit the ground, did you?”
Sage scowled and shook her head. “No. But were you even listening to me or just paying attention to some stupid rock?”
A serious look fell over Penelope’s face. “Do you think anyone will notice there’s gravel on the ground down there tomorrow?”
“I don’t care about the gravel, Pen,” she said snippily. “If you’d rather not have this conversation, fine. But I’m—” she stopped abruptly when she noticed Penelope’s eyes were brimming with tears. “Sorry,” she mumbled quickly, unsure of what she’d done wrong.
“You don’t care about the gravel?” she repeated Sage’s words as a question. “Why? Because one piece is insignificant? Because it doesn’t make a difference?” She shook her head sadly. “That’s exactly it. What if you risk everything, and it doesn’t make a difference?”
Sage sucked in her breath. “I’ve been asking myself the same question” she said reluctantly, digging her toe into the gravel. “But Eprah’s not going to let us win if we play by their rules. Either way, I’m going to fall.” She paused for a moment, then her eyes brightened a little. “But you’re right, Pen. I probably can’t make a difference on my own.”
She hesitated, adding, “But I wouldn’t be on my own.” She scooped gravel into both her hands and dashed to the edge of the roof, dropping them off its edge in a small pile. She looked at Penelope with satisfaction as they heard the shower of rocks pelt against the ground, a collision that echoed back up toward them.
“I think someone might notice those in the morning,” she said with a grin.
Penelope gave her a half-hearted smile but still looked uncertain.
“Yeah,” she said sullenly, “and then maybe they’ll wonder how all that gravel got there, and we won’t be able to sneak up here so easily anymore.”
Sage grimaced. She hadn’t considered that before dumping a couple fistfuls off the roof. They’d just have to be sure to be the first ones out the door the next day so that they had a chance to scatter it.
“We can get rid of it tomorrow before anyone notices,” she said quickly.
Penelope fell silent, clearly considering everything Sage had said. She was about to say something when the door to the roof swung open with a loud clang.
The two girls whirled around. A tall figure was standing silhouetted against the doorway, looking right at them. It was too late. There was no point in hiding—they knew they’d been spotted.
12. THANKS
“I thought I’d find you here.” The man’s voice was quiet enough to be indistinguishable but still carried clearly across the rooftop.
Sage felt her heart leap into her throat. She was sure she’d used up all the grace the headmaster had with the trouble she’d been in before. Positive she was about to be shunned for the next six years, she felt her legs turning to jelly beneath her.
“You know, you two might consider something a little less predictable if you don’t want to get caught. At least a different day of the year, maybe?”
Sage furrowed her brow in confusion. This didn’t sound like the lecture and subsequent sentencing she’d been expecting.
As the figure stepped forward, the shadows fell off his face. It was Mr. Walsh.
Penelope and Sage breathed a sigh of relief and then exchanged sheepish looks.
“You two really can’t keep coming up here all the time,” he continued. “Instructors do check up here periodically, you know. You’re bound to get in more trouble than you want to be in.” He frowned.
“Penelope, as an ambassador, you have more privileges than your peers. But if you abuse those, I think you’ll find the headmaster has a shorter temper with those whom he’s trusted with greater responsibilities.”
She cast her eyes downward, her cheeks reddening.
He tilted his head, eyeing the two girls. “It’s almost your bedtime, isn’t it? You should be getting back. And perhaps, you should consider this the last time even I give you girls leeway for this type of rogue behavior. We all have people to answer to—even instructors.”
The girls began shuffling toward the door without saying a word.
Mr. Walsh put his hand on Sage’s shoulder, stopping her. “One moment before you go, Sage. I’d like a word.”
She swallowed and nodded. Whether or not she was ready, the time had come for her to make a decision.
“See you in a few minutes, Pen. You don’t have to wait for me.”
Penelope’s mouth parted slightly as if she were going to say something. She must have thought better of it, though, because she turned and started down the staircase.
Almost as soon as the door swung shut behind her, Mr. Walsh turned to Sage. There was an intensity in his eyes that she didn’t often see. It was unsettling. She forced her eyes down, settling them on the roof as she tried to steady her breathing.
“I hope you’ve come to some conclusion regarding my question,” he said.
Sage said nothing at first, continuing to stare at the ground. Only after the instructor’s feet shuffled impatiently, crunching the gravel, did she look up at him.
“I’ve given it a lot of thought,” she breathed. She bit her lip, continuing slowly.
He pursed his lips. “And?”
“It’s not a simple question.”
“I never said it was.”
She paused and looked back down. “Lita gave up her future to save me,” she said softly.
“Yes,” came the simple answer.
“Was it just so that I could live?” She forced her eyes up from her feet, looking Mr. Walsh squarely in the eye. “Or was it for some sort of bigger purpose?”
Silence stretched between them for a few moments before he answered. “I can’t tell you exactly what Lita was thinking. I don’t know if she protected you because she felt indebted to your parents. Or if she just liked you. Or if she thought she’d be shunned for such a small time that it wouldn’t matter. Or maybe she did think there was some sort of bigger purpose for you.”
Sage paused as she took in his words. “Why would she feel indebted to my parents?”
“Because most of us are indebted to your parents.” He tilted his head. “As I told you, their loss was a huge blow to our cause. They always said they were in the business of saving lives. I truly believe they considered it a sacred duty.” Mr. Walsh’s gaze seemed to pierce her soul.
“They did everything they could to ensure Eprah’s dissolution. They fought for everyone’s freedom. They didn’t allow themselves to be ruled by a fear of what might happen if they were caught. They cared only about the grave consequences if they should fail.”
Mr. Walsh’s gaze was no less intense as he fell silent again, waiting for a response from Sage. Her mind was racing. The memories of the past few years all came rushing back. Her parents’ mission. Rosalind’s brokenness. Lita’s sacrifice. And most recently, Edward Grayson’s clear attraction to Inette—and what that would mean for the rest of her now probably short life.
It seemed everyone she cared about was in danger even when they followed Eprah’s rules. Did she really expect her future would be any different?
If her life wasn’t likely to last long past graduation, she had to make the most of her time. If she was going to be forced into helplessness, she wouldn’t allow herself to be just a victim.
She had to fight them any way she could, for as long as she could.
“Ok.”
“Ok?” Mr. Walsh had an uncertain look, as if he were worried he had misunderstood what she’d said.
Sage nodded. “I want to be Lawless. I want to do everything I can to destroy this place.”
He looked relieved. “Alright. I’m glad that
’s the conclusion you came to. But while I can see you have a sense of urgency right now, I have to warn you—this is not a quick fix. We’ve been working for years to take Eprah down, and our plans are for the long term. Don’t get frustrated, thinking we’re moving too slowly. There are things happening all the time—you just can’t see them. In fact, I can’t even tell you right now when or how often I’ll be in contact with something for you to do. Things change all the time.”
She inhaled slowly, pushing back her disappointment, and gave a slight nod.
His lips twitched slightly. “I believe your parents would have been proud of you.” Grinning wryly, he added, “And maybe mad at me.”
It was still painful every time she heard her parents mentioned. She grimaced, raising her chin.
“But you have to promise me. Promise that what I’m doing is actually going to hurt Eprah.” Sage’s eyes blazed with rage behind her tears.
A grin spread across his face. “Absolutely.”
***
Sage blinked as she stared at the bunk above her head. Her mind wouldn’t stop racing. Slipping out from her bunk, she crept over to Inette’s bed. She only had a few minutes before the lights would be turned out for the evening. She couldn’t afford to stay long if she didn’t want to get in trouble.
“Inette?” she whispered.
“Yeah? What are you doing out of bed?” The older girl’s eyes flew open as she looked at her in surprise.
“I just wanted to say thanks.”
“For what?”
“Just… for being nice, I guess.”
Inette cocked her head. A curious smile spread over her lips. “Sure thing,” she said, wrinkling her brows in confusion.
Sage shot back a smile and then tiptoed back to her bed. She settled under the covers, closing her eyes tightly, a content smile playing at her lips.
And thanks for helping me make a decision.
13. K.O.
The Bokja Tournament arrived all too quickly. It wasn’t that Sage hadn’t practiced—she’d been preparing all year. She just had trouble coming to grips with the fact that it was already time to put her skills to the test once more.
With exams just around the corner, she’d been struggling to catch up on assignments. Fortunately, Bokja was one of the classes she’d actually been able to concentrate in, but she’d only just started regaining traction in her other studies after her conversation with Mr. Walsh. Ironically, it seemed that making a decision—even a stressful one that required a willingness to potentially sacrifice her life—helped her to focus better.
She fought boredom as she waited in line for her bracelet to be removed before the fights. She grinned inwardly. A lot had changed since her first tournament. No longer filled with anxiety, she felt almost a comfort in the familiarity of the day. And it certainly helped that she wasn’t nursing any injuries at the moment.
The tournament’s routine was predictable now. It was mostly comprised of standing in line and was occasionally punctuated by fighting for her life.
But she held no illusions. She knew she would be a bundle of nerves when it was her turn to compete. That feeling never seemed to go away.
“Next!”
Sage stepped up to the table and stuck out her wrist. A young woman on the other side of the table poked at her databook before placing prongs along the bracelet. While she was closing the bracelet and putting it into the storage box, she began the standard recitation.
“Your bracelet has been removed exclusively for safety reasons during your matches. Come back here immediately after—”
Her dry disclaimer was suddenly interrupted by a loud clatter nearby.
All eyes turned toward a felled stack of boxes with a boy standing over them, face flushed. Most of the boxes had opened in the accident, spilling bracelets all over the floor. Sage immediately recognized him as the unwelcoming recluse from the tech room at the beginning of the year.
“Careful!” One of the tournament organizers berated him. “Do you have any idea how long this will take to properly inventory again? Unbelievable,” he muttered.
“Sorry,” the boy mumbled. “I—I’ll clean it up.” Stooping down, he began gathering bracelets in his arms. As he stood back up, he lost his balance, and most of the bracelets tumbled back to the ground.
“Stop! Just stop!” The organizer glared at him. “You’re not helping. Just go away and get in line now.”
“S-sorry.” The boy looked down at the few bracelets he was still holding and then hurriedly shoved them into slots in the boxes. He held out the box to the organizer, who didn’t hesitate to snatch it from his hands and glower at him.
She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the boy as he scurried away, his dark, curly hair bouncing with each step.
“…your number.” The young woman in front of Sage concluded her recitation of rules and placed a small disc against the back of her hand. Like every other time, it disappeared, leaving behind a string of numbers.
Sage was shoved to the side by the Level Ten student behind her. Carnabel. She clenched her fists at her side in annoyance but said nothing. Tensions were high enough on the day of the tournament. Besides, she might have to fight her later, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
She exhaled slowly as she made her way to the line for her first match. A momentary rush of nerves fluttered in her stomach, but she fought them back. Worrying wouldn’t do any good.
By her estimation, any old advantages she may have had from extra training two years ago were now gone. Though she continued to train hard, everyone else did too. The stakes of the tournament were well known, and everyone wanted to be at the top.
Sage grinned at Penelope as she took her place beside her in line. The tournament began with a high-pitched tone, and the line in front of her slowly moved forward as students began facing off against one another.
When her turn came, she looked up and realized to her dismay that she was going to be facing off against Penelope in their first match. She swallowed hard and reminded herself that they would both fight the best they could. It wasn’t personal. They didn’t have a choice.
The tone sounded once again, and the two girls stared apologetically at each other for a moment from opposite sides of the ring. Sage finally managed to pick up her feet and move toward Penelope, who immediately began to back away.
They circled the mat slowly. Sage threw a light punch, which Penelope easily blocked. In doing so, she left herself wide open for far too long. Sage winced as she let the easy opportunity pass. It was clear she was a much better fighter than Penelope, but she didn’t want to hurt her too badly and ruin her chances for the rest of the day’s matches.
Time was running low, and they’d done little more than poke at each other and dance along the edge of the mat’s boundaries.
Sage gritted her teeth. She didn’t want to, but she needed to end this. The next time Penelope attempted a jab, she caught her wrist and swung it around, throwing Penelope onto her back with a loud thud.
As Penelope gasped for breath, surprised by the sudden move, Sage backed away slowly, locking eyes with the Coordinator. He nodded and gestured for both of them to get off the mat.
Penelope furrowed her brow in confusion as she gulped in air and managed to sit up. Her eyes fell on the mat’s boundary line. It was running below her calves. Sage had managed to throw her just out of bounds.
Sage sighed. At least neither of them had forfeited. Doing that was always a severe blow to a competitor’s ranking. She knew Penelope was no match for her, but she’d been a little curious to see how well she could do against her. Unfortunately, she doubted Penelope had put her full effort into the fight, but that no longer mattered.
“Thanks,” Penelope whispered just before heading toward her next match. “I know you took it easy on me. Here’s hoping I’m less banged up than my next opponent.” She winked and trotted over to another mat.
As Sage stepped out into the center of the mat for her
next match, she realized just how gentle her last match had been. The boy standing in front of her had dried blood under his nose, and one of his eyes was already beginning to swell shut.
The tone sounded, and the two began circling. He sniffed and wiped his upper lip with his fist as he looked Sage up and down. “What’d you do, win by forfeit?” he jeered.
She ignored him. He was just trying to distract her anyway. As soon as he realized she wasn’t going to start talking back, he lunged toward her, trying to grab her by the shoulders. Before he could lift his knee, her elbow shot up and caught his jaw, sending him staggering backward.
Sage didn’t pause to gloat in her momentary upper hand. She drew her fists back to guard her temples as she bounced forward toward the boy. Just as he managed to regain his balance, she threw both of her fists forward. Moving quickly, she grabbed his wrist and shoulder and rotated it backward while hooking one of her legs behind his.
He looked up from his new position on the ground, stunned. She didn’t give him a chance to think about what had just happened. She anchored his upper torso with her foot and twisted the arm she was still holding onto. He yelped, slapping the mat desperately with his free hand while contorting his body as best he could to escape the pain.
As soon as the Coordinator approved her victory, Sage released the boy’s arm and backed off the mat. He writhed in pain for a couple seconds before gathering his wits and getting to his feet. He glared at her as he was pointed in the direction of tournament losers.
Exhaling in relief, Sage made her way to the next mat, waiting her turn once again. She took in as much as she could of the fights going on around her, attempting to assess potential opponents’ fighting styles. Eventually, though, her attention to the details waned as she felt herself getting sucked into the adrenaline of the fights.