A Revolution In Shadow And Blood

Sunlight tries to Kill Me

The next morning absolutely sucked. I'm not usually a morning person, but this morning was extra horrible because I stayed up too late and could only get about five hours of sleep. And to top it all off, I woke up to those horrible alarm clocks at seven am, only to throw on the first set of clean clothes that I saw and struggle across campus to the main building that holds the cafeteria. I ate with Guanyin, Luke, Jessica, and Conner, who has quickly joined our friend group. Then I walked to my first class, which I slept straight through, along with my second class. Third hour, I went to the empty room that we used yesterday and taught everyone a new punch and practiced the first one. After the bell rang, Guanyin, Luke, Jessica and Conner linger behind in the room, watching as I straighten out any mats that moved while we were working.

"Is this really doing anything?" Conner blurts out from behind me. I stop my fidgeting with the mats to turn and look at them. For a second, I expect one of the others to defend me. But I quickly realize that they're all thinking the same things, and Conner is just the one that voiced it.

"Why would I teach you something that isn't helpful?" I respond, "Look, you don't have to believe anything I'm saying. Use your ability and focus on creating a constant stream instead of throwing out everything you've got."

Conner doesn't look sure, but Jessica immediately steps up to face the wall, "Cover your ears." We all press our palms against our ears. Once we do, Jessica nods, then turns back to the wall, opens her mouth, and screams. An ear splitting noise erupts from her mouth, and I grunt and press my hands tighter against my head to keep as much of the noise out. The wall she's facing starts to shake, then small fissures snake through the concrete. Small pebbles and dust fall from the wall and ceiling. Jessica closes her mouth, and all at once the shaking and noise stop. My ears ring as the suction from my hands pops.

"Woah," Jessica gasps. I barely hear the noise over the ringing in my head.

"You can say that again!" Luke shouts, grinning at the cracks next to his scorch mark.

Jessica smiles. "That was amazing!" She spins around, laughing. "I held it for so long! And I've got so much left in reserve! The possibilities are endless. How long could I hold it for? How little can I let out at a time? Can I direct it in a smaller tunnel?"

I laugh as I watch her pace back and forth as she mumbles under her breath. "Here's your proof," I say. I look over at Conner, who is suddenly narrowing his eyes at something. Just as I look in that direction, a blue mat starts floating up into the air. A second one follows quickly. Then another one. They stay there for several minutes, then drop back to the ground with three loud thuds.

Conner's eyes go wide and he looks at me with awe shining in his eyes. "I'm never doubting you again."

I sit down at lunch with the others, eating a salad as I talk about homework with Guanyin. An intercom clicks on above our heads and static blasts through for a second before a distorted female voice says, "Will Freya Young please come down to the front office. Freya Young to the front office."

Then it clicks off. I wince when I hear my false name. I was very lucky that they didn't question me much because I arrived with Karly. If they had, it would've all gone down hill and I'd probably be grounded for the rest of my life. But I couldn't outright tell them that I'm a Blaz. That name is too well known.

"Wonder what they want," Luke says, before shoving several fries in his mouth.

I shrug. "I dunno. Maybe it's about me asking everyone to ditch history class every day for the past week." Sarcasm drips from the words. With nothing else to do, I stand up, and start walking to the office, my friends wishing me luck as I do. Once there, I lean my elbows on the front counter. "You called?"

The man behind the desk looks up at me, visibly disinterested. "Freya Young?" I nod. "The Vice Principal would like to speak with you." He points down a hallway to a closed door, with the words 'Vice Principal Diaz' printed on the door's window. I open the door. The room inside has a large oak desk dominating most of the space. Behind the desk sits a well built black man, with black hair and brown eyes. His hands are folded on the desk, and I'm not going to lie, he looks a little intimidating. Another man is in the chair across from him, and as I enter, I catch a piece of their conversation.

"-looking for a leader," the Vice Principal says.

"Maybe, but they won't turn to-" The other man responds, but stops when he notices me.

"Sorry. I was told you asked for me? " I say, nervously tucking my hands into my leather jacket. The man stands and says a hurried, "We'll talk later." Then disappears before I realize what's happening.

"Sit," Vice Principal Diaz says, nodding toward the two chairs on my side of the desk. I sit down in the chair on the left and as soon as I do, he continues. He wants to get rid of me as quickly as he can. "Mrs. Dodge tells me that you've encouraged your fellow students to walk out of her class. Is this true?"

Mrs. Dodge. The history teacher. "Yeah, but it's for good reason. That stuff that she's trying to teach us is all-" I start, but he interrupts me before I can explain myself.

"That does not excuse your actions. I expect you to report for detention for the next week, and you will also attend your history class. I also encourage you to apologize to Mrs. Dodge, and learn the required material," Diaz says sternly, leaving me no room to respond.

My anger grows the more he talks, and all nervousness of being in the principal's office for the first time vanishes. I stop him before he has a chance to dismiss me. Standing quickly, I slam my hands on his desk. I can feel my eyes turning black due to my furious anger. "I won't be doing any of those things." I lean down, so my face is even with his. "I don't react well to demands. If you want to talk like equals, I'll be happy to come back."

I turn around, and walk out of the room. My anger doesn't ebb as I walk down the hallway, and the students clear out of my way as they see my purely black smoky eyes. My anger rules over the urge to hide my eyes, so I have to find a compromise. Throwing open the front doors, I storm out onto the grass. I don't stop walking when I reach the edge of campus. I walk for a while throughout the community around Enterprise. Watching how different this place is from where I grew up, I quickly calm down. Kids run down the streets, playing games together and blatantly showing their abilities. One little girl runs past me, going faster than I've seen anyone go on foot, followed quickly by a group of kids the same age. One of the boys in the group seems to be standing on a floating blue surf board. Their parents walk behind them, chatting and laughing together. Occasionally, one will yell out to the kids to stay out of the street or to slow down.

I walk past numerous shops advertising all kinds of things. The regular chain stores remind me that this place isn't so different from a human community. Adults pass by, running errands or rushing to meetings, or trying to catch up to their kids. For my part, I find myself enjoying the fresh air and the wonderful community. Until I feel my feet stumble. I was so lost in calming down and people-watching, that I didn't realize the toll hours in the sun was taking on my body. My breath comes in short bursts, and one of my hands shoots out to brace myself on the nearest building. My legs wobble. I curse myself for forgetting to ask my Uncle Pheonix for more of his 'anti-sunlight pills'. He has Dark Energy, but works construction, so he needed something to help him through the day. He gave me a bottle when I started school, but I stopped taking them when fall hit. I lean my body fully against the building and slowly make my way into an alley. I collapse in the shade and I lean my head back against the building. The logical voice says to rest until the sun sets, and for once I have no argument.

I open my eyes and realize that I dozed off. The sky is darkening, and I can already see the brightest stars emerging. I quietly make my way back to Enterprise, and when I get there I immediately go to my dorm room.

Jessica is there when I step into the room and she stands quickly from her bed, "Hey, where were you? We all were getting worried."

I offer her a small smile, "The Vice Principal pissed me off, so I went for a walk to cool down." Jessica giggles at me, and I join in. It's all ridiculous.