Raffe (Independent Study version)
Induction Day.
After
working for this moment for years, its no wonder that I am awake and ready
earlier than everyone else. Standing in
the hang out room next to the lit fireplace, I look around me at everything I
always thought I wanted then down at the gold bracelet and the symbol smack in
the center. The coiled spring sitting
beneath the scales of justice. Why the
coiled spring? Got me. After looking at the symbols the other
students were given, I have to guess the administration assigned random designs
hoping we could read into them something that fit us. Whatever.
But the scales do mean something.
Balanced scales to remind us that the government is supposed to seek
justice for everyone. Yeah, right.
But
despite the lack of meaning to me, the design is nice. Good composition. Whoever created the symbols is skilled. For a moment, I wonder if the symbol was
fabricated by a male or female. Whether
the artist always wanted to etch designs in metal or if they failed to make it
into the University and reluctantly embraced a different life. Lucky them.
“Hey,
Raffe.”
I
turn as Damone strolls into the room and walks over to where I stand next to
the fireplace. I smile. It never hurts to be nice to someone who
thinks he’s your friend. “Ready to
become an official University student?” I ask.
He
shrugs his bony shoulders. The guy has
always been skinny. Kind of like a
snake, which would be a fitting symbol for his bracelet. The only real annoyance is that he’s taller
than me. Looking up at Damone for any
reason seems wrong.
“I’ve been
ready for years. “ Damone leans against
the fireplace and I imagine him setting his pants on fire. That makes my smile real as he continues
talking, “If it weren’t for all these
colony students they wouldn’t have to bother with the whole Induction
process. They’d already know which
students are capable of being successful.
What a waste of time. It’s not
like there was any doubt we’d get in.
Right?”
“Sure.” There’s no point in reminding him that he
would never have made it this far if it weren’t for his father’s influence or
his Induction team’s abilities. Damone
isn’t exactly a mental giant.
Damone
looks over his shoulder to make sure no one is around and when he turns back to
me I see calculation on his face. “We have a problem.”
“Us
as in you and me?”
Damone
shakes his head. “One of our classmates
should never have been accepted to the University. Professor Holt wants assistance from loyal
University students in removing her. She
asked Griffin and I to help and I suggested to Griffin that we bring you in. It never hurts to do a favor for someone like
Professor Holt and I think you’ll be as happy as I am to get rid of the colony
brat.”
“Who?”
“The
one who showed you and your team up a couple days ago. Cia Vale.”
Cia.
I
rub the spot on my arm where I was burned. It’s healed now, but I still bare
the scar. The medical team could make it
fade, but I want to keep it. A reminder
of what happens when you rely on anyone but yourself. My Induction team, which included Damone’s
best friend, Griffin, was so damn cocky.
And when things went to hell it was Cia that stopped to help me. She shouldn’t have. It cost her team time and could have cost them
winning, something she didn’t seem to care about. I don’t understand colony kids. But I certainly plan to.
“You’re
good with the girls.” Damone gives me a
sly smile that make me want to deck him.
“I figure you have a better shot of getting close to her than Griffin and
I do. I think she might even have a
crush on you already. Why else would she
come back to treat your burn?”
Why
else would she?
“I
heard she has a boyfriend.” Actually, I
know she does. I asked around about the
duo from Five Lakes.
“I’m
sure that’s never stopped you before,” Damone grins.
No
one ever accused Damone of having class.
That’s for sure. Still, I’m
intrigued. “Why is Professor Holt so threatened by Cia?”
Damone
shrugs again. “She didn’t say and I
don’t care. Having one less colony
student around, especially one that thinks she’s better than everyone else is
good enough reason for me. And I’m happy
to have Professor Holt owe me when test time rolls around. What do you say? It’s not like she’s hard to look at. Griffin and I will watch where she goes and
who she talks to. Between the three of
us, we can get Professor Holt the information she needs to redirect that Five
Lakes Colony wannabe out of this place. What do you think? Are you in?”
I
hear footsteps in the hall and voices coming from the stairs telling me people
are heading out of their rooms for the ceremony. Induction will begin shortly, which means we
have to get outside and in our designated positions soon. But I can tell from the intensity of Damone’s
stare that he won’t wait until later for an answer.
I
catch a glimpse of long dark hair in the middle of a group of students passing
by and I take a step toward the door so I can watch as Cia walks toward the
dining hall. Probably to grab a snack
with the rest of them before the festivities begin. Yeah – Damone isn’t right about much, but
looking at Cia isn’t a hardship. She’s
pretty and acts like she doesn’t know it with makes her even more
attractive. High cheekbones. Slightly upturned nose and lightly tanned
skin. But as pretty as her face is, it’s her dark eyes that caught my interest
when I told her she didn’t have to come back to help me and she responded “Yes,
I did.” Serious. Kind.
Determined. Sad. And in the middle of all of that,
secrets. Lots and lots of secrets.
Cia. A girl from Five Lakes. A girl who Professor Holt has targeted, which
means Cia’s secrets are important. How
important? Will they give me the answers
I’m searching for?”
“Sure. I’m in,” I say. “I’ll start as soon as the ceremony is over.”
“Great.” Damone slaps me on the shoulder and
grins. “I told Griffin you’d do it. You’re one of us.”
No, I’m
not. But I don’t dispute his belief as
we walk out into the sunshine and lineup for the ceremony that makes our
University student status official. I’m
no longer like Damone and Griffin. Or
maybe I am. Because as I Professor Holt
clips my new silver and gold bracelet on my arm, I understand that the scales
on the symbol aren’t really balanced.
They tilt in the direction of whoever is in power. Those are the people who can demand answers
and action. They are the ones that know
everyone’s secrets. I plan on being one
of them.
