by Cheree Alsop
“I’d better get back,” I said, heading toward the door.
Skylar stopped me with a smile. “You don’t need to go. Saro and Kale are preparing a statement for the press this morning about what happened at Crosby High.”
Trepidation filled me.
She read the look. “Don’t worry. As the official Galdoni representative, Kale can stand in for you. He’s become really good at working with the media since he brought down the Arena.” Warmth filled her gaze. “He wanted to shield Saro from the media as well, but when he went to address the press about Saro rescuing the female Galdoni, Saro was determined to be at his side. He said Kale shouldn’t have to handle everything alone. They’ve become quite the team.” The pride in her gaze spoke even more than her words. She was proud of them, of everything they had done and who they were.
She walked to the railing. “What are you doing up here?” she asked amiably.
I hesitated, then told her the truth. “I was listening to the sirens.”
She nodded. “There’re always sirens down there.”
“I wish I could help.” The words filled me with such longing I wanted to jump off the building and chase the sirens down. “I want to be like Superman, to protect the innocent, only sometimes I wonder if there really are any innocent.” Images of the man with the gun and the Galdoni who had joined him filled me with frustration. Our very existence said that there was evil in the world, people who cheered at the death of others and who had created us for that purpose. As much as I had experienced of the world outside the Academy, it was hard to forget where we came from.
When Skylar glanced at me, understanding filled her features. “Sometimes it’s best to give those you meet the benefit of being innocent until they prove otherwise. People might surprise you.”
I shook my head. “Growing up a trained killer hasn’t helped.”
She set a hand on mine. “Reece, you’re not a killer.”
The gentleness of her words filled me with regret. I blinked back the sudden burn of tears. “I killed that Galdoni in front of all those students. The man probably won’t survive, either.” I glared at the golden horizon. “I am a killer.”
“You saved those students,” Skylar replied, her voice firm but warm. “Kale told me what you did. If you hadn’t ended the attack, there would be families mourning the loss of their loved ones.” Her voice caught. “I know what it’s like to lose a family member. You did an amazing thing.”
I didn’t want to believe it, yet honesty shone on her face. It was easy to see why Saro loved her so much. Her short black and red hair swept back from her cheeks and she smiled at me. “You protected the innocent, Reece. Those students didn’t deserve to die, and you kept that from happening. At Crosby High yesterday, you were Superman for them.”
“I don’t know about that,” I replied quietly.
“I do,” she said, her voice firm with conviction. “Because of you, every student at the school was able to go home. If you hadn’t acted, that wouldn’t be the case.”
“You make it sound so noble,” I said. “I was just doing what I was trained to do.”
She shook her head. “You went against your training.” At my surprised look, she smiled. “Reece, your training was for self-preservation. Every Galdoni here is covered in scars from learning how to protect themselves. If you were only concerned with protecting yourself, you would have flown away.” Her blue eyes glowed with the warmth of the sun. “Except you didn’t. You fought two Galdoni and a man with a gun, putting your own life at risk to save others. Tell me where that applied to your training.”
I opened my mouth to respond, then shut it again when I had no answer. For some reason, that filled me with a happiness I couldn’t deny. “Thank you,” I said, my voice just above a whisper. A thought occurred to me. “Where is Kale and Saro meeting with the press?”
“The welcome center on the first floor,” Skylar replied. “Why?”
I smiled. “I just have something to do.”
She returned my smile. “I’m glad.”
I laughed and jumped off the roof. Joy filled me as the cool morning breeze filled my wings. I tipped them to turn around the building, letting the angle of my wings take me quickly to the ground. I swept them back at the last minute and landed on the ground in front of the main doors.
The receptionist was a Galdoni named Bear with dark gray wings. He was built like his namesake. His presence definitely warned any who came to the Center with the intention of causing trouble to rethink their plans. What they didn’t know was that the Galdoni had a tender heart.
The second I set foot in the corridor, Bear grabbed me in a crushing hug. “I can’t believe you did that for those kids,” he said, his voice a deep rumble through the room. “You saved them!”
I patted his arm before he could crush my ribs. “I was happy to help,” I told him.
He stepped back with a look of pride in his eyes. “Who would have thought our young Reece could be so brave?”
Embarrassed, I protested, “I’m sixteen, Bear.”
He grinned. “Not too young to save hundreds of lives.”
I shrugged. “I guess not.”
“Are you looking for the press conference?”
I nodded, but was filled with sudden nervousness. “I think so.”
He pointed toward a conference room on the left. “Good luck.” He slapped my back with enough force to knock the wind from me.
I stumbled toward the room. When I opened the door, every eye turned to me.
Saro smiled. “There’s our boy.”
Reporters held out microphones and began to bombard me with questions.
“What were you thinking?”
“Were you afraid?”
“Did you know the school was going to be attacked?”
“Are you and Ava going back to school?”
Kale lifted an eyebrow. I just shrugged my shoulders. He smiled and stood from his seat on the raised platform in front of the reporters. “Let’s give the kid a chance to collect his thoughts. He’s not used to the meek ways of reporters.”
They laughed and backed up so I could join the other two Galdoni on the platform.
“I thought you’d be sleeping,” Saro said. He tipped his head slightly with a curious look.
I suddenly remembered Ava. I had left her in my bed and took off. I needed to get back. “I, uh, can’t get used to sleeping more than four hours at a time. It makes me feel lazy.”
Several of the reporters chuckled.
“What made you fly into the gymnasium?” a man with black-rimmed glasses asked.
I smiled at the thought of Clark Kent from Superman and Skylar’s words. “I wanted to protect the innocent from getting hurt.”
“Do you feel like you and Ava are also innocent?”
“Ava is,” I replied.
A few more chuckles rose.
“Do you worry there will be more attacks?”
The thought hadn’t occurred to me. Concern filled my chest. I glanced at Kale. He read my look and took over the question. “We are working closely with Officer Donaldson and the Crosby City Police Department to investigate the reason for the attack. Until we know for certain, security at Crosby High and the other schools with Galdoni has been increased in order to keep all of the students safe.”
“And if they come back,” I said before I could stop myself, “They’ll have to answer to me.”
Nods of approval and smiles around the room met my words.
“It’s nice to know our students are safe with you around, Reece,” a female reporter with short red hair said. She smiled. “My daughter goes to Crosby High; what you did deserves so much more than just gratitude. We are in your debt.”
I looked at Kale and then Saro. Both of them watched me, curious as to what I would say. I took a steeling breath. “I think I speak for all Galdoni when I say it is our duty to protect those who are weak. We have been raised with certain skills that enable us to be def
enders of the innocent and guardians of justice. Nobody should have to fear for his or her life. Fear should never rule our actions. I will do anything I can to protect the students at Crosby High and keep them safe.”
A cheer went up from the reporters. I glanced at Kale. He nodded, and there was something on his face I was surprised to see. Respect. The same look showed on Saro’s. He spoke to me under the reporters’ excitement. “Who knew you would be so good with the media?”
I smiled. “Not me. I have your girlfriend to thank for that one.”
“You spoke to Skylar?” Warmth touched his brown eyes at just saying her name.
I nodded. “She restored a bit of my faith in humanity.”
Saro grinned. “She has a tendency to do that.”
Kale stood. “We’ve got to get this boy to school. If you’ll excuse us?”
Reporters thanked us for our time before filing out of the room. Kale waited until the last one was gone before he turned to me. “That was well done. I thought you might like to avoid some of the chaos.”
“I was going to,” I admitted. “But I figured you guys didn’t need to handle it by yourselves.”
Kale and Saro laughed. “We had it covered,” Kale reassured me.
I shrugged. “Just the same, backup can be nice. So how about seeing if I’m still welcome at school?”
Saro nodded. “That might be the harder battle to fight. We should probably get going.”
I thought of Ava up in my room. Warmth rushed to my face. “I’ll go see if Ava wants to fly with us.”
Kale nodded. “I’d recommend it. You’ll both be safer if you stick together.”
I left the room and waved to Bear on my way out the door.
“You must have made an impression,” he called. “I’ve never seen reporters so happy.”
“Call it luck,” I replied, pushing the door open.
His deep chuckle followed me out.
I flew to the ninth floor, but when I opened my door, Ava wasn’t there. I landed on the balcony for the eighth floor. I remembered at the last second that I didn’t have access, but Ava saved me the trouble by opening the door.
“I was wondering where you went,” she said.
The smile she gave me stole whatever I wanted to say. I stood speechless, also wondering why I had left.
“I, uh. . . .”
She took pity on me. “Are Kale and Saro flying with us to school?”
I glanced down to see both Galdoni waiting on the grass below. I nodded. “We’ve got a meeting with Principal Kelley.”
“Are we going to get dismissed?” There was true worry in Ava’s voice.
“I hope not,” I said, and realized that it was true. Somewhere in the time since Ava started at Crosby High, I had begun to enjoy my time there.
She smiled at me and stepped off the balcony. I followed close behind. We both opened our wings at the last second and landed near Kale and Saro.
“Remember the feeling of plummeting to your death only to be saved at the last minute?” Saro asked Kale.
Kale nodded. “Ah, the joys of being young.”
I laughed. “Kale, you’re like, what, three years older than me?”
He nodded, his arms crossed. “And Saro’s two years older than you. Prepare to do a lot of growing up in the next few years.” He cracked a smile and Ava and I laughed.
We flew together toward Crosby. It felt great to fly in a group. It was almost like we were a flock of birds heading to the same destination. I pushed my wings harder and glanced back to see the others follow me into the clouds. The sun broke above us. Warmth flooded the air, lighting the clouds like golden waves. I turned my face toward the sun.
“Superman knew what he was doing,” I said.
Ava smiled. “Yes, he did.”
We tucked our wings and dove toward the buildings. I glanced back to see Kale and Saro do the same. Each had a smile on their face as though they were truly enjoying themselves.
“Reece,” Saro called.
I looked back down; Ava grabbed my hand and pulled me to the left in time to barely avoid a building. She smiled at me. “Better get your head out of the clouds.”
I smiled back. “I like it that way.”
Her smiled deepened. “So do I.”
Chapter Ten
We landed at the edge of the school grounds. I glanced back to see Kale and Saro do the same. I wondered if they felt it as I did, the foreboding that came with entering somewhere it was frowned upon to be a Galdoni. I wondered if everything was going to change again. Principal Kelley had been pretty upfront about how he felt regarding Galdoni in his school. Perhaps he had decided the government funds paled in comparison to his students’ safety.
“Take a seat,” he said as soon as Mrs. Jeffrey showed us inside. She smiled at Ava, but there was something in her gaze when she looked at me before she left. A pang of regret filled my chest when I realized it was fear.
Kale shut the door. “Let me begin by apologizing for the attack. We’re working to—”
Principal Kelley cut him off. “Nobody messes with students in my school,” he said with such heated passion I could only stare.
Nobody used such a tone with Kale if they were smart. It wasn’t that he would make them pay; it was a symbol of respect for all he had done. My hands clenched into fists. Ava reached over from her chair and set her hand on mine.
“Like I said,” Kale repeated calmly. “We’re working to increase protection for the school and—”
“I don’t think we understand each other,” Principal Kelley said. He leaned against his desk toward Kale. Saro took a step toward him, but the principal didn’t seem to notice as he met Kale’s gaze. “Nobody messes with the students in my school and we must get to the bottom of why Ava is under attack. I will do all in my ability to keep both Ava and Reece safe while they are at Crosby High.”
Kale blinked. “So you don’t mean to dismiss them?”
Principal Kelley stood straight. “Why would I do that?”
“The threat,” Saro reminded him. “You’re not afraid their presence puts the rest of your students in danger?”
He frowned. “If the student was human, there would be no grounds to dismiss them. Why should Ava and Reece be treated differently? They’re here to learn and they deserve to do so in a safe environment.”
Kale nodded, the beginnings of a smile on his face. “I think we understand each other just fine, Principal Kelley.”
Principal Kelley held out a hand. “I approve the security changes you have made here, Kale. We will do our best to stick with them and see to the safety of Ava and Reece as long as they are on our property.”
“I’ll have additional Galdoni rotated along the perimeter during the school days until we find out who is behind the attack. Patrol cars will increase under Officer Donaldson’s supervision, and they will contact you periodically to check on the school’s status. Is that acceptable?” Kale asked.
Principal Kelley nodded. “Along with the security guards posted at either end of the school, which I assume will continue indefinitely until the culprit is found?”
Kale nodded.
Principal Kelley stuck out his hand. “Then I think we understand each other exactly. I apologize for my tone earlier, but I take an attack on one of my students as an attack on myself. We need to find out who is behind this as soon as possible. I’m very thankful Reece was able to handle the situation, and I feel that the deadly force he used was entirely necessary. I am also willing to testify to that fact.”
“Thank you,” Kale replied. “We’ve had phone calls from students and parents last night and this morning attesting to the same thing.”
Surprised, I looked at Saro. He nodded, a smile on his face as if he guessed how the news shocked me.
Saro and the principal shook hands. The bell rang. Principal Kelley nodded at me. “I think you both have class starting, don’t you?”
Ava and I nodded and left the office quickly.
I fought back a smile as we ran down the hall. “Did you expect that?” I asked her.
“Not at all,” she said with a laugh over the sound of our footsteps. “You?”
I shook my head. We both grinned as we took our seats in Mr. Bennett’s algebra class. I heard whispers as I crossed to my desk in the back of the room.
“Glad to see you back safe, Reece,” Mr. Bennett said.
I remembered him standing above me in the gymnasium asking for the crowd to give me air. I smiled. “Thank you for the help, sir.”
“Thank you,” he replied.
***
Things had changed. It escalated from the meeting with Principal Kelley. Everywhere I went, students asked about the fight and how I was doing. They showed me videos they had recorded on their cellphones, and first-hand accounts were being shared everywhere I went. The gymnasium was closed from the attack, so Seth and I spent third period lounging in the library with the rest of the class. Coach Andrews told everyone to read about the values of exercise, then left to no doubt enjoy a well-deserved break.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Sam the cheerleader said with awe in her voice.
I had heard the same statement over a hundred times in the last three hours, but I still didn’t know how to respond to it. I went with the safe, “It was nothing.”
Sam shook her head. “They were going to shoot somebody if we didn’t turn Ava over to them, but nobody wanted to do that. The teachers were trying to protect us, but the guy with the gun said he’d kill them if they moved.”
There was terror in her voice. The other students sitting close to us nodded, a reflection of the same fear on their faces. Everyone truly had been scared for their lives; that much was brutally clear.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” I said.
“But you dove through the window,” Sam said. “You took the gunman out, and then you fought those other Galdoni better than any fight from the Arena.” She froze, her eyes wide as if she realized what she had just said.
Seth stared from her to me. My insides clenched at the statement, but I tried not to let it show. “They were bad people.”