by Cheree Alsop
Even though I had experienced it personally, my heart skipped a beat when the second figure grabbed tight to the first; a coat flew up discarded behind them, then black wings opened and caught the air a second before they hit the ground. They soared low over the crowd and the jumper was set down before the Galdoni crashed a few feet away. He rose gingerly, his eyes wide as though he had just realized what he had done. The crowd swarmed and he disappeared from view.
The screen went black and the music grew quieter. Words appeared, white on the black screen. Jayce’s voice read them solemnly. “The life of a single Galdoni. Not a monster, not an animal, but a hero waiting for his chance to live. We’ve been taught to see them as inhuman, but we can’t deny the humanity Kale has shown.” The black image changed to one of the Arena, the gates gray, cold, and forbidden. “Help us stop the violence that goes on behind these walls. Refuse to watch the fights; don’t gamble on lives that should be spent in the pursuit of happiness, our right and theirs. Don’t let Kale die because you didn’t take a stand.”
The tape paused and Nikko turned to me, “We thought you’d want to see what occurred at the Arena after the video. They tried to cut it off, but Iggy found a way to keep the footage rolling so everyone saw what truly happened.”
I nodded and watched the battle from multiple cameras at the top of the Arena. I heard us talk, make our battle plans, and watched us dive toward the attacking Galdoni. The battle felt longer than it had in real life. I saw Goliath, Varo, and David’s sides of the fight, acts of heroism in saving Galdoni they could have slain.
My throat tightened when David was stabbed, but I couldn’t look away. I heard us speak, and heard his last words again, the words that had echoed in my head through my fever dreams.
“You know what I’ll miss most? Flying.”
I swallowed hard to fight back tears, but shook my head when Nikko asked quietly if he should turn it off.
I watched myself curse the viewers and the Galdoni who stood around me, and saw the Galdoni drop their weapons and take off their masks, all except Blade, who turned his back. I followed my battle with the guards, a losing battle before it even started, but one I refused to give up.
I felt the bite of the spear in my hand and glanced down at the bandages around my left palm. The scratch of stitches tugged at the gauze. I felt the bite of each wound as I watched them occur, but I didn’t regret fighting. I didn’t regret any of my own pain.
The video changed to a view outside the Arena gates. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have recognized the square beyond because it was filled to overflowing with protesters banging on the gates and trying to get in. A few minutes later, someone with a big black SWAT truck rammed them repeatedly until they bent and fell inward. The crowd rushed past the twisted metal and swarmed the Academy walls. Nikko turned off the video.
I forced a slight laugh. “Wow, if I didn’t know that Galdoni better, I’d follow him, too.”
The others laughed and Nikko put a hand on my shoulder. “Well, he’s going to have a lot to do when he gets out of the hospital.”
I met Brie’s eyes. “I can’t wait.”
*** Keep an eye out for the second book in the Galdoni series projected to be released in Spring 2014
About the Author
Cheree Alsop is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her by reading the first drafts and adding depth to the stories. Cheree is currently working as an independent author and mother. She enjoys reading, riding her motorcycle on warm nights, and playing with her twins while planning her next book. She is also a bass player for their rock band, Alien Landslide.
Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great adventures, and never stop dreaming.
Check out Cheree’s other books at www.chereealsop.com