by Katrina Cope
“If it’s really true, then I wanna go,” Jessica said. “I’m sick of livin’ like this, too.” She looked down at her clothes, and there was sadness in her eyes when she looked back at Avando. “There’s gotta be a betta way of life, and seein’ it’s offered, I wanna take it.”
Taylor, Ben, and Declan looked at each other questioningly. They were still getting over their defeat by an old, half-crippled man.
Declan piped up while shaking his head, “I’ve gotta be dreamin’. Can someone pinch me?”
“What? And the flogging you just got isn’t enough?” Jayden reminded him.
“Yeah, you’re right. So, old man—” Ben started saying.
Raising an eyebrow, Avando interrupted, “Avando, young man. My name is Avando. What is yours?”
“Ben.”
Avando looked at Taylor with a questioning look on his face.
“Taylor.”
He then looked at Declan and said, “So you must be Declan and,” he pointed to Jessica, “Jessica.” The group nodded in agreement. “Now that we’re properly introduced—what was your question, Ben?”
“Oh, yeah. So if we do come with ya, will ya also school us to move like that in a fight?”
“Yes, I will—” Avando began to say.
“Yes!” Ben interrupted, overcome with excitement.
Avando gave Ben a cautionary look before adding, “Provided that you don’t use it for fighting innocent people or robbing them.”
“Nah. I’ll just use it to kick bad asses.” He emphasized the last part. With that the teens gave a little laugh.
“Well, then. If you’ve all decided to come along and join me, perhaps we should start helping each other up and getting back to the car so we can get you all comfortable,” Avando suggested.
“Sounds good to me,” Jayden agreed. “Can we eat soon?”
“Oh, yes, please,” the other four said in unison.
“Of course. Of course.” Avando retrieved his cell phone and called Charlie. “Hi, Charlie. Can you come and get us, please? Yes—Jayden’s here, too. Thank you.”
In little over a minute, headlights were coming down the street toward them. As the limousine slowed to a stop, Ben let out a whistle.
“That’s a nice ride,” he said.
Charlie climbed out of the car and opened the back door, giving them all a welcoming smile.
“Don’t just stand there—get in. It’s our ride,” Avando said.
“Imagine the gawks when people see five street kids, dirty and in rags, gettin’ out of this baby,” said Declan. A small snort escaped him. He was clearly tickled by the image of peoples’ stunned.
With surprise all over their faces, the group climbed into the limousine, followed by Jayden and Avando. Avando proceeded to offer the group the same drinks that he’d offered Jayden earlier. This time though, it was Jayden who had fun watching their reactions.
“Charlie, let’s find the first burger joint we can and get this hungry group fed,” Avando said, giving the casual instruction over the intercom.
They couldn’t hear Charlie’s response, because the majority of the occupants of the car yelled, “Hurray!”
- Chapter Three -
The Sanctum
“Burrrup,” Ben bellowed. “Ahh. That’s better I can’t remember the last time I felt so full.”
Taylor responded with a big fart that had everyone ducking for cover and opening the windows of the limousine.
“Seriously, guys.” Jayden had tears welling in his eyes from the smell. “I know we come from the street and all, but you could show some kind of manners in front of the person who just fed us, and is considering taking us into his school.”
Their faces suddenly turned serious as they looked at Avando, anticipating that he was going to be upset. Instead, they were met with the exact opposite—he was laughing so hard he was crying.
Avando briefly studied their faces through his tear-filled eyes and began to laugh again. “Seriously? Do you really expect that I’d be upset with charm like that?”
They relaxed.
After regaining some normalcy, Avando continued in a more serious manner. “I will be upset, though, if it affects your schoolwork,” he said.
Smiling contentedly, they all sat back in their seats and looked out into the darkness beyond the lights of the street. After a little while, the housing started to become more spread out, and the streetlights were becoming fewer and far between.
Jessica broke the silence. “Where exactly are we goin’? I would of thought that a school would be in the middle of the city.”
“Normally it would be,” replied Avando. “But since all the students live at the school, it doesn’t need to be close to any houses.”
“How many students are there?” Declan asked. “And where are they from? Do they come from the street, like us?”
A look of pride passed over Avando’s face. “There are approximately one hundred students at the college—and yes, they are all from the streets, with nowhere else to go. So you’ll be no different from the other students in terms of money.” He paused for a moment and almost looked to be dreaming. “As for where we’re going, the school is in the middle of the mountains, like a sanctuary. It’s peaceful and beautiful and very well protected.”
“It sounds nice,” said Jessica.
“It is, my dear. It is,” replied Avando with satisfaction showing in his eyes. “However, it’s a long drive and it’s now almost midnight. So I suggest you try to get some sleep before we get there. It’ll be a big day for you tomorrow.”
With thoughts and images of what sounded like heaven swirling around in their heads, together with their full stomachs and the secure warmth that enveloped them, they relaxed further back into the chairs and nodded off to sleep.
After what seemed like only a short time, Jayden started to wake. He felt the limousine slowing down. Opening his eyes, he discovered that they were no longer outside in the dark, but inside a large warehouse. Inside this warehouse was a school bus, a small plane, a helicopter, and some strange-looking vehicles. Jayden couldn’t tell what they were, as he’d never seen anything like them before. He looked around at the other passengers in the limousine and saw them all starting to stir.
Avando moved to the edge of his seat while looking out the window. “Looks like we’re here. Welcome to the Sanctum.” he said.
Realizing that they had finally arrived, the group buzzed with excitement.
“What is this place?” asked Declan.
“I guess you could call this our garage,” replied Avando. “This is where we park all our transport vehicles.”
“What’re those things over there?” asked Taylor, pointing at the odd-looking machines that Jayden had seen earlier.
“They’re a few of the inventions of the students and professors from the school,” Avando replied.
“You mean that we’ll learn to make those?” asked Taylor in awe.
“You sure will—or at least, something similar,” Avando said. He smiled while he studied each of their faces.
“Seriously?” Declan’s voice rose.
Avando nodded.
“Ya gotta be kiddin’ me,” Taylor said.
“No. If you put in the effort and learn as much as you can, you, too, will learn to make and work these machines—and others.”
The five preteens gasped at once.
“Can we have a closer gawk now?” Declan asked. “Pleeease?”
Charlie opened the door for them, and they all piled out of the car.
“No, not now. You all need to be shown to your rooms and have a shower first,,” Avando said with a little smile on his face. “Not that I’m trying to be rude, but you all really do smell.
Taylor, Ben, and Declan shrugged, not looking too worried.
Avando continued, “Then, you need to get as much sleep as possible before your big day tomorrow, when you’ll tour the school. Tonight, you boys will sleep in one room, and Jessica in anot
her. You’ll sleep tonight in a temporary room so that you don’t wake the rest of the students, but tomorrow after we show you around, you’ll be given different rooms.
“You four,” he said, pointing to Jessica, Declan, Taylor, and Ben, “will be starting detox to get all those horrible, nasty drugs out of your systems. You’re lucky they didn’t kill you. On the other hand, Jayden will be shown to his new room and introduced to his roommates.” He turned to leave. “But for now, follow me, everyone.”
Charlie closed the door of the limousine and went with them. They walked to the nearest double doors, and Charlie opened one for them all to go through. Beyond the double doors was a breathtakingly beautiful undercover courtyard that was easily the size of half a football field. Pale marble tiles covered the floor. In different areas of the open space, there were raised garden beds with matching, pale benches that framed the healthiest plants they’d ever seen.
Leading away from this beautiful courtyard were four identical stairwells in each corner of the room that went up to the next level of the building. The railings guarding these stairs and balconies were made of the same color marble as the floor. Behind the railings and along the balconies were a combination of corridors and rooms.
The silence among the new occupants as they were trying to take it all in was complete, but the looks on their faces said it all.
“Wow!” exclaimed Taylor. “Are ya sure we pulled up at the right place, or did we crash on the way here and somehow end up in heaven?”
Charlie chuckled. It was clear that he loved seeing the reactions of the new students.
Avando’s face lit up with pride as he replied, “This is the common room—and yes, this is the right place. We’re certainly still alive, or else I wouldn’t be bothering with this cane anymore.”
Ben scoffed. “Ya don’t need that cane anyway with the way ya can look after y’self when it comes to fighting.”
“Secon’ that.” agreed Taylor, giving his bruises a rub.
Avando smiled at their comments and motioned with his hand toward the right. “The guest rooms are this way.”
They walked across the expansive common room to the corridors on the right side of the lower level and followed them for quite a while, past many doors. Finally, they came to a quiet area, which was small in comparison to the size of the rest of the place they’d seen, but still the size of an ample living room. Inside the room were generous, dark-brown leather lounges facing a huge television screen. On the floor was an emerald-green, shag carpet. There was a glass wall the color of the night sky on one side. Because it was night, the other side of the glass could not be seen. On the opposite side of the room, there was a marble table with a computer screen embedded into the wall above it and a small slot underneath, with speakers at the side. Next to this, again, was a cabinet in the wall that was about the size of a large computer screen.
“That’s a strange place to have a computer’,” stated Declan. “Do people work in here? It looks more like a place for relaxin’.”
“It’s a place for relaxing,” replied Avando. “This computer is linked to the main computer and is used for any questions from the guests who aren’t familiar with the school.”
They looked at him with puzzled expressions. “Here, let me show you.” He walked over to the computer and said, “Scarlet—menu, please.”
The screen turned on and displayed a list of items that were available.
“Could I have five hot chocolates please?” Avando then turned to the group and said, “You won’t get main meals from here—only snacks and drinks. For your main meals, you’re expected to go to the dining room.”
“That seems fair,” Jayden said. “Don’t you have to use a keyboard for the computer?”
“No,” replied Avando. “But there is one available, in case you ever have to override it.”
“From what I’ve heard ’bout computers, that’s a lot of the time,” added Jessica.
“Actually, my dear, our computer very rarely acts up. It’s one of the best in existence. I think you’ll find that the computer, whom we call Scarlet, also has a sense of humor and loves to use it from time to time—especially if she thinks you’re trying to trick her.” Avando grinned at their puzzled faces.
“A computer with a sense of humor?” Jessica asked, sounding doubtful.
Avando nodded.
“So where’s the keyboard in case we need it?” Jayden asked.
“It’s in that little slot underneath the computer screen,” Avando said, pressing the slot. The keyboard slid out toward them. “This, however, is mainly for the computer’s programmer.”
A ting sounded from the wall.
“Ahh. That’ll be the hot chocolates.” Charlie approached the cabinet door and opened it. There, sitting neatly on a tray, were five hot chocolates topped with marshmallows. He handed them out one by one to the group. “They must be exhausted, Avando. Let’s show them to their rooms so that they can get some sleep.”
“Good idea. Then we might get a little sleep as well,” Avando agreed.
“Right, little Miss,” Charlie said, looking at Jessica. “Your room for tonight is this one on the left.” He pointed toward a closed door. “Since it’s a guest room, you have your own bathroom. You do remember how to use a shower, don’t you?” He peered at her with his blue eyes dancing playfully.
“Yes, of course I do. There’re some things ya don’t ever forget. I’d dream about usin’ one every night,” she said, her tone slightly horrified.
“That’s good.” His weathered face broke into a grin. “Now, you boys are over to your right.” He showed them by pointing at another closed door. “You also have your own bathroom, but you’ll all have to share it. Being boys, that shouldn’t be a problem. Now do you boys remember how to use a shower?”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Taylor replied.
“Good. There will be a set of fresh clothes and pajamas in the dresser in your room. They aren’t exciting, but they’re clean and new. If you have any major problems, Scarlet the computer can help—or, if you really need Avando or myself, then Scarlet can contact us. Just call her name at the screen, and she’ll answer.”
“Now then,” Avando said. “Finish your hot chocolates quickly and get yourselves cleaned up for a good night’s sleep. We’re both leaving now, but we’ll see you again in the daylight hours. Good night!”
“Good night, Avando!” they said in unison. “Good night, Charlie!”
“Thanks for bringing us here,” added Jayden.
“You’re most welcome,” replied Avando. “If you put in the effort, you’ll be here for many years to come. Now get some sleep.” He turned to leave, followed by Charlie.
When they had left, Taylor asked the others, “Can you believe that this is true?”
“Are ya kiddin’?” replied Declan. “Me left arm is covered in bruises. I’ve been pinchin’ it all night to remind me this ain’t a dream.” He held out his arm to reveal all the red marks.
“Wow. Ya really have been busy,” Taylor said. “Are ya convinced? Or maybe this will help ya.” Taylor gave him a playful slap on the back of Declan’s head, to which Declan responded by attacking Taylor with a playful scuffle on the floor.
“Come on, guys. The last thing we need on our first night is to break something,” Jessica reprimanded them.
“Ya such a party pooper, Jess,” Declan whined.
Jessica gave them the “look” that many males receive from females.
“All right,” Taylor sighed as they both started getting up with smirks on their faces.
Jessica stretched and yawned. “Well, I’m gonna get clean for a change and try out this new room. Good night, boys.”
“Yeah, I think I’m going try out ours, too, and be the first one to use the shower in our bathroom,” Jayden said, setting set his empty cup on the table and walking into the room that had been allocated to the boys for the night.
The room was quite cozy, but at the
same time large enough to move around without bumping into each other. On one side, there were two sets of bunk beds, equipped with fluffy bedspreads and two pillows for each bed. The color of the bedding was a strong, masculine blue against a contrasting chocolate-brown carpet. The walls were sandstone white, with one wall consisting of dark glass as it had in the guest lounge, but this time the glass went right up and also formed part of the ceiling. The light was on, so all Jayden could see in the glass was his own reflection. The glass was so shiny and clean that he could see the dirt caked in his tousled hair and streaked on his face. He was ready for that shower.
On the other side of the room was a wardrobe that had, as promised, clothes for each of them. He found some pajamas that looked to be his size. To the right of this was the entrance to their bathroom. Jayden followed the light into the bathroom and was once more astonished by the quality of the fittings. The bathroom had marble floor tiles, a deep bathtub that was fitted with a large showerhead, and two sinks. There were four huge, blue, fluffy towels hanging on the towel rack.
“I can’t believe that they’ve gone to this expense for a bunch of homeless kids,” he remarked to himself.
He had a nice, warm shower. It felt weird, but strangely comforting to have his skin and hair clean once again. After getting dried and dressed in warm pajamas, he stopped and studied his reflection in the mirror. His hair felt lighter from being clean and hung messily just below the top of his ears. His pale face looked polished, and his body was thinner than he remembered. He looked as though he could do with a few good meals. Around his hazel eyes were dark rings—undoubtedly from the months spent without a single good night’s sleep. He thought his face was okay—not handsome, but not ugly. Despite this, he looked much better than the reflection he’d seen not long before in the large glass window.
Satisfied that he was now clean, he began searching through the drawers for a comb. Not only did he find one, but he also found toothbrushes, along with toothpaste—and for the first time in over six months, he brushed his teeth.