Legacy's Ghost

Episode 3: Done Hiding

There's a growl of indignation in Cook's voice when she says from behind us, "But Edmond, we need to talk about the boy's theft!"

My back stiffens and all the muscles clenched in anticipation of the beating she will give me, especially since Edmond found us.

"Not now," Edmond says over his shoulder. His voice deepens into a responding growl, sending a tremor down my spine. "We will talk after I take care of Atan."

He pushes through the kitchen doors. "Where do they have you sleeping?"

My eyes firmly focused on my feet, I say, "Here and there. It's not so bad during the warm months. I get to watch the meteors burn out in the sky."

Edmond stiffens and his gait slows until he stops and turns, grabbing my shoulders and turning me to face him. He waits until my gaze lifts to his, then he says, "You don't have a bed?"

I look away again, focusing on the fluttering beams of light on the floor behind him. "No, sir."

Not since Cook walked in six months ago and emptied my tiny room of the bed and what few clothes I had. She said she needed someplace to store food for the winter.

Without Edmond around to ask for help, I'm left to wander the compound and fend for myself. There's no point in asking any of the other adults for help. My albinism means, I've been a pariah all my life.

The Trinity compound is for the elite of the elite. The children around here hope to one day run the entire Legacy colony.

I'm just an orphan. Edmond took pity on me when I was dumped on his front steps, and he didn't have the heart to have me killed.

Edmond mumbles something and I glance up at him. "What?"

His face has a pinched look to it. The one I often see in others before they explode at me. I try to pull away to dodge whatever comes my way, but his grip tightens on my shoulders. "It's nothing you need to worry about ever again, child."

My body trembles like the earth during a Swarm attack.

What does he mean? And what will happen to me after he leaves again? Will people be upset and think I manipulated Edmond to get what I want? Will they take it out on me? What will they do without Edmond around to protect me?

He swings me around and power-walks in the opposite direction. We leave this treeouse's massive trunk and walk along a wooden skybridge with panes of glass as walls, allowing us to gaze out over the colony where trees of varying heights and thicknesses ranging from 10 meters to some grazing the top of our biodome a kilometer into the sky.

Each treeouse has buildings, homes, and structures built on, through, and around the trunks of these impressive, and incredibly durable trees, creating an wonderous colony and community that reminds me of ancient photos of Earth tree houses.

Except for the Monastery. We're located in a grove of trees set apart from the rest of the colony.

When we reach the end of the skybridge, Edmond opens the heavy wooden door etched with carvings of Earth's solar system. This tree houses the classrooms.

I wince every time we step on a board that creaks, but he seems not to notice, or that every person we pass stares at me like I'm an alien ready to attack them.

Edmond knocks on a door marked HUMAN HISTORY then pushes the door open. Inside, eight children ranging from ages twelve to eighteen, sit at desks while the teacher stands at the front of the room lecturing.

Each person has a tablet with a three-dimensional hologram of Earth floating at eye level on their desk.

The teacher stops talking when we enter. Edmond leaves me at the door while he whispers in the teacher's ear, Edmond's hands moving animatedly.

The children stare at me. Some of them scowl, others look away, and others tilt their heads as if curious. I may not be one of them, but I know all their names.

Only Trina smiles. She's the closest in age to me.

All my life I've tried to blend in with the wooden treeouse walls, but today there's no place to go. I stand stuck in my place, being treated like a freak show by all the "normal" humans.

Reaching a hand behind my back, I feel for the doorknob. I'm about to twist it and escape down the hallway when Edmond strides back to me and grabs my shoulder again.

"Nuh-uh, little man. You've done enough hiding for one lifetime."