Legacy's Ghost

Episode 7: Hard Knocks

We're in the cavern a several hours before we hear the all-clear signal and return back to the surface.

I spent most of my time in the cavern watching Rigel watching Trina.

He may be strong, but I can read that guy like a book. And I'm not liking what I'm reading.

Trina and Oliver spend most of their time playing tag with the other Trinity kids. Of the twelve of us in the TAG, Trina, me and Oliver are the youngest in the group.

A few more are 15, and then there's Rigel and another girl, Dove who are 18. According to Trina, who spoke to me for a few minutes between games, our group is the youngest group of apprentices they've had in decades.

"What happens to the TAGs that aren't chosen when a new Trinity is chosen?" I ask her.

"If there's one that looks similar, they'll be their body double, or their assistant. They also help with the logistical side of the Trinity. Lots of behind the scenes stuff that nobody ever thinks about but has to be done to run the colony," she says with a shrug. "I don't pay much attention to that part of the lessons. It's pretty boring and I'll worry about it if that what I end up doing."

As the teacher leads us back up through the caves to the surface, I notice Rigel beginning to lag and other members passing him by. Trina and Oliver are playing some game where their fingers are interlocked and they're fighting with their thumbs, not paying attention to what's going on around them.

As Rigel slows further, waiting for Trina and Oliver to catch up to him, I surged forward, pushing my way through the line and eliciting several angry comments from the other apprentices.

I make it to Trina and Oliver about the same time Rigel does. He purses his lips, his muscles flex, and his stance lowers as he prepares to strike. As his eyes begin a flash I step in, grabbing Trina by the arm and pulling. I pretend to ask her a question, then step around her to shield her from Rigel.

Trina's eyes widened at the exact moment Rigel makes impact with my head. Pain is piercing, shooting through my skull and down my neck, forcing me to my knees.

Darkness almost immediately engulfs me.

When I wake up in the infirmary, my head feels like someone dropped a boulder on it about a dozen times. I press my hand to my temple checking for blood, but I find a bandage instead. I open my eyes and quickly close them again.

The overhead lights are too bright and I want to scream at someone to shut them off. The scent of antiseptic burns my nose, and the sheets are scratchy on my skin.

"Are you awake?" A girl's voice says from the side of the bed.

I relax almost immediately. I could recognize that voice in a crowd of people now. Trina.

I turn to the sound and open my eyes, squinting. She's sitting next to the bed, her red curly hair pulled back from her face. Her brows are knit together and her lips down turned.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, squinting because of the stupid lights.

"Making sure nothing else happens to you," she says. Her smile is warm, yet determined.

Her lips purse and she lifts a shoulder. "Some of the other kids seem to think Rigel attacked you because you look... different. I wanted to make sure he didn't come back again for you."

"Because your protecting me?" I ask.

She nods. "Yeah. You're new around here. You don't know what Rigel is like."

I close my eyes and nod, trying not to smile. If that's what she what she wants to believe, let her. She doesn't need to know I've been lurking around the Monastery all my life, watching and observing them. She doesn't need to know I already know I'm hated for being who I am. And I know who to watch out for and who doesn't care.

"Thank you," I finally say. "It's nice to know you have my back."

"I do," she says, her eyes wide and solemn. "I don't care that you look different. We are more alike than not."

I open my eyes to look her. I knew she was one of the safe kids, but I'd never known why.

"That's what my mother used to say. That I don't need to be afraid of other kids who aren't like me. Then she would point out all our similarities, "Trina says. "The color of our skin may be different, but we both have hands and eyes and hearts. We both love and hate and fear and laugh and cry."

Trina shrugs, and one side of her mouth tips upward. "She said appreciating the differences, but acknowledging our similarities will make me a compassionate leader." She leans forward on her chair closer to me. "Isn't that right?"

I slowly nod, watching her face. Hope springs inside me like a plant bursting from a seed. I try not to get excited. This is only the first day. Only time will tell whether not she really believes what she's saying.

Trina smiles and leans back. "Good. I hope we can be friends."

"Me too," I say offering her a tentative smile.

She stands and smooths a stray red curl off her face. "I'd better go. Classes start again in a few minutes. See you there?"

I nod, then watch her leave and then stare up at the stark white ceilings. Warmth slowly spreads inside me, pushing away some of the fears I had about working with the other apprentices.

That is, until the Trinity's Ghost comes into the room and sat in the chair next to my bed.