The Academy: Detective Stories - Part I

Chapter 1. A Sparkle

Jackie sat in a large chair, drumming her fingertips on the wooden handle. Waiting had never been one of her favorite things. To pass the time, she looked up at the perfectly white ceiling, scanning it for cracks. Finding none, she let out a sigh.

In the heavy silence, every small sound was amplified – the wind whispered through the tree leaves just outside the wide-open window; the paper sheets rustled in the hands of the man seated across from her.

It was Don, the head teacher of The Guardian Academy, who conducted interviews with new students. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with a streak of gray hair in his short beard. His long face was lined with a few wrinkles. Now, he was on the verge of making one of the most important decisions of her life. Jackie clasped her hands together, hoping for the best.

The time crystal on her wrist glowed a disturbing red – still noon. Damn time, as it always seemed to fly by when she was enjoying herself, yet drag on in moments like this.

Finally, Don placed the papers in front of him. "So, Miss Robinson, everything looks good."

Jackie let out a deep sigh of anticipatory relief.

"But you need to answer one question," he added.

Her heart raced. "A question?"

"Yes." Don's brown eyes fixed on her with curiosity. "Why do you want to become a guardian?"

Jackie ran her fingers through her short auburn hair, pondering the question. Why did I sign up for this? It was a good question that she struggled to answer. Her thoughts swirled in her head as he was coming with an honest reply. To escape the confines of a small, suffocating town where everything felt unbearable, why else?! Jackie gave him a sad look and remained silent, sensing that her true motivations were not what he was looking for.

"Listen, Jackie," Don began. "I can call you Jackie, right?"

"Sure."

"Being a guardian isn't an easy job. Studying here, in a group full of young and ambitious men, won't be a piece of cake. But you can handle anything if you have a strong reason to do so," he said, leaning back in his chair. "So, what's your 'Why,' Jackie?"

She lowered her eyes, her thin hands resting on her lap clad in black pants. Jackie had chosen to wear something resembling a guardian uniform, even before being accepted, as a sign of her readiness. He must think I'm a complete dummy, she thought to herself. Which means I have nothing to lose by being honest. Jackie raised her hand and unrolled her sleeve, revealing the healing black marks. "That's why," she blurted out.

Don gazed at her, waiting for a more detailed explanation.

"Because I've been through hell," Jackie continued, tears welling in her eyes. "If you allow me to study here, I promise – I'll do everything in my power to prevent such violence and assist women like myself. And I won't give a damn about any mean guys in the group." She paused, trying to compose herself. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude –"

"It's alright," Don reassured her, nodding as he picked up a feather pen and signed at the bottom of her application. "From now on, you'll need to be firm. Sometimes, that's the only way to communicate with the mean cadets."

He finished signing and handed the papers back to her.

With a shaking hand, Jackie took the paper and read the single word written in ink: Accepted. Her heart fluttered in her chest, brimming with joy. From that moment on, she would be the first woman to ever study at The Guardian Academy! Lost in the moment, she didn't notice Don waving his hand, ushering in the next candidate.