Anima

by Jae Choguk

tossing me on his shoulder, making me wince. My side was aching, but I still felt like it should’ve hurt worse than this.

  It’s not like I get shot every day and knows what it’s supposed to feel like, but I figure lots of people die from getting shot in movies and CSI (granted they were movies). I’m still not so naïve as to think that I have superhuman powers.

  This time Jeremy didn’t put me down when he opened the door (probably because he kicked it open instead). The teacher I saw before I blacked out was sitting behind a grand desk sipping tea like he was at a tea party.

  “Did you really feel it was necessary to break, yet another door grasshopper?” the teacher, Mr. Zander sighed as he set down his teacup. I couldn’t hold back a laugh at that one, my mistake. Jeremy dropped me and I landed with a thud on my hands and knees.

  “Ouch, watch it grasshopper!” I yelled on instinct, as I sat up rubbing my knees.

  “I told you not to call me that Sensei.” He groaned and gave me a pointed look, like he was telling me the same thing too. A smirk I didn’t even know I had slipped when I looked at his ice-cold glare. I didn’t know eyes that blue could be filled with such hatred. They were an insanely light blue; it felt as if he could freeze me just by glaring. I shivered involuntarily and he seemed satisfied with that response before he whipped around walked over the door that he kicked down. I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding and turned my attention back to the teacher who was muttering something like “That kid needs to control his anger…and strength especially in front of…” I didn’t catch the end, but I figured it had to do with girls, more specifically me.

  “Now…” He said with a louder voice and turned his attention back to me, like he almost forgot I was there. “You, what did you say your name was?”

  “I didn’t say my name…”

  “Oh right, well will you tell me your name?” he asked

  “Why?”

  “Are you always this stubborn?”

  “Just in my nature I guess, now can I leave?”

  “I’m not sure yet, first tell me your name?”

  I sighed and fiddled with my braid “Lydia Raion”

  “It’s not possible, she can’t be who I think she is,” He said, more to himself than to me, which made me curious.

  “Who did you think I was?” I asked skeptically, as far as I was concerned I looked a lot like my mother with the hair and eyes, but our personalities weren’t at all alike. She was always calm and caring, patient and kind…me? Well I guess that means I’m the opposite.

  “Oh” He said as if he just noticed I was there…again. “No one…sorry, anyways what were you doing in that alleyway?”

  “I could ask you the same thing, couldn’t I?” I retorted

  “Do you always answer questions with more questions?” He sighed, showing not irritation but more of a wary look, so I let up on him.

  “No, and I was walking back from gymnastics practice then some guy jumped me. That’s about all that happened, other than me getting shot in the end, I guess.” I said tossing my braid over my back.

  “I see, something that bothers me is how did you land on your feet that time?” He asked getting up from his desk, and started pacing in front of it.

  “I’m not sure,” I said wistfully, losing myself in the memory that was still imprinted in my mind, landing on my feet after falling didn’t seem possible. “I guess it just felt like the natural thing to do.” This comment seemed to make him even more perplexed.

  “Do you know who it was that attacked you?” He finally said to me.

  “No, plus it was too dark to see anything besides his eyes when the moon reflected on him.” I shivered at the sight his bloodthirsty eyes, which the teacher took for being cold.

  “Oh, here you must be cold wearing only that bandage and pants.” He handed me my jacket from who knows where and put it over my shoulders seeing as I didn’t make a move to take it from him. I was always quick to be suspicious and overly cautious, so now that I think of it, I have more in common with my mother than I thought.

  “So what’s your name?” I asked even though I already knew, I just wanted to change the subject.

  “Oh right, where are my manners? I’m Mr. Zander; you can call me Zan or Mr. Z or even Zan-Zan if you like!” He said cheering up like the past conversation didn’t even happen.

  “Uh, well I won’t be here for much longer so I see no need to refer to you as my teacher or Zan-Zan like a pet. I want to go home now if that won’t be a problem.”

  “Fine” He pouted. Should a teacher really do that? “First I need to have a look at your wound to make sure you’re well enough to leave.” I decided I would just go with it, so I could leave sooner. Sighing I started to unwrap my bandages, and pulled my jacket over my chest. I wasn’t the only one that gasped when I saw what the wound looked like, or what it didn’t look like. I expected a big bloody mess, but it was already closing, which even with new technology didn’t seem possible.

  “Why, I don’t get it…” I sounded less confident now and that bothered me, but I needed to know I wasn’t a freak.

  “I have a theory…” Mr. Zander said and my hopes rose “But,” and then they plummeted. Seeing my face he made a wry smile and continued, “I need you to do something to prove my theory.”

  Three

  “How exactly is me jumping off this balcony going to prove this theory of yours?” I ask skeptically, looking down at the ground, which was a long way down. This building was massive, so it had to be at least the third story.

  “Don’t’ worry,” Mr. Zander assured me “My hunches are hardly ever wrong!”

  “Well that leaves no room for doubt,” I muttered then straightened my back and said more loudly “No need to tell me twice I guess, if I can survive a bullet, this should be nothing.” I sounded a hell of a lot more confident that I felt. Before I lost my nerve I vaulted over the stone balcony railing and soared to the ground below. I know I should’ve landed like a sack of potatoes, but it didn’t happen that way. I felt myself twist itself into a position comfortable to land with. I landed hard, making a shudder run up my legs, but overall it was almost…graceful.

  “How was that?” I said flashing a victory sign at Mr. Zander who was smiling, but the smile was almost sad looking.

  “Needs work, now climb back up.” He called down and I looked doubtfully up the wall. Now that I look more closely though, it didn’t seem as hard as I thought. I found a ledge of a low-lying window and easily lifted myself up. I found another brick, and used that like a rock climbing wall. I found myself actually enjoying the use of my muscles and the agility that I didn’t know I had. Sure I was in gymnastics, but that didn’t even compare to this. I reached the top, and swung my legs over the railing once again, smiling triumphantly.

  “Was that good enough?” I gloated, but my buzz suddenly faded when I saw the look in his eyes. Fear, anticipation, and sadness all seemed to swim in his deep blue eyes.

  “It could use some work.” He said with a wry smile, but before I could say anything more he ushered me down a hallway lined with portraits of older looking people. I looked around at the vaulted ceilings and fancy light fixtures. This school looked insanely fancy and mystical. The blood red everywhere was unsettling though.

  “Here we are.” he said pushing open to massive mahogany doors that were at the end of hallway lined with portraits.

  “Where is here exactly?” I ask hoping for some answers.

  “You’ll know soon enough.” he said ushering me through the double-doors and came into a massive office. The whole back wall was glass, looking down on the school grounds. The man sitting behind a medieval looking desk, with a big red chair fit for a king looked up at us. His intelligent green eyes were bright behind his wire-rimmed glasses as he looked at us.

  “I was wondering when I would get to meet her.” The man said wistfully.

  I gave him a confused look and asked “Me? How do you know who I am?”
<
br />   “You’re Lydia Raion, correct?”

  “Yes…” I said slowly.

  “I imagine your mother will be here soon.” He continued in his all-knowing voice.

  “Headmaster, that’s not possible” Mr. Zander stuttered.

  “Is it?” The Headmaster said thoughtfully. The cryptic tone of his voice made me feel like he knew your secrets, before you yourself knew them.

  “How do you know my mom?” I asked with a protective edge. The old man merely smiled at me.

  “Everyone here knows your mom, she was famous.”

  “Back up old man, my mom went here?” I said with a flourish of my arms.

  “Yes, and although I’m sure you want to hear about it, I have a feeling this story is best said from your mother.” And on that note, a very angry mother came bursting through the doors.

  “Of all the insane things…” was one of the many aggressive words she used. “I didn’t ever planning on coming back here, and I sure as hell didn’t escape from here just to let my daughter come back!”

  “Irene?” Mr. Zander whispered hands clenched at his side, face drained of color.

  “Hi Greg, it’s been a while.” My mom said, sounding exhausted and looking older than her age.

  “That’s all you have to say?” He asked with astounded fury. “You are supposed to be dead!”

  “What the hell is going on?” I burst out. Although the tension in the air was thick, the old man with a small white beard was the very picture of calm and collected. It seems a though nothing ever