Legacy's Ghost

Episode 19: Seeing in the Dark

I follow the Ghost as he strides with purpose down the long wood-planked hallway. Warped light beams filter through the windows in the hall, and he walks on the side of the hall furthest from the windows. We turn and he does the same thing, switching the side of the hall he walks on to walk nearest to the solid wall.

We turn again, and go down a hall with windows on both sides. He walks down the center.

I follow behind him two paces, watching and observing.

We encounter a person in the hallway. As is common when a person sees the Ghost, they look away. There's a rumor that the Ghost is the Ghost because he learned how to read a person's mind through looking into their eyes.

But the same person we see in the hall, after passing the Ghost, looks up and notices me. Her eyes widen and seem to latch onto me as I pass. Then she walks into the wall because she isn't paying attention to where she's going.

From behind my hood, I grin, struggling to keep my shoulders from shaking from laughter. Not only am I noticed for the first time, people are running into walls. And this time it's not because of the color of my skin or hair.

The Ghost stops in front of a thick wooden door etched with our solar system. It has all three moons and seventeen planets carved into the dark wood with extraordinary care and detail. Everyone knows this is Edmond's living quarters.

I stand behind the Ghost wringing my hands. Maybe this was all a ruse to get me here and then to tell Edmund about my fight.

Maybe I'm getting kicked out.

Without turning around, the Ghost's shoulders sag and he says, "Relax, will ya? You're not in trouble." He knocks on the door and then clasps his hands behind his back.

My hands still. How did he know I was freaking out?

The door opens and Edmond, his gray hair moist and freshly combed, opens the door. He's wearing his typical white robe, but when he smiles, the wrinkles around his eyes seem deeper than they were even a week ago.

Edmond holds out a hand, beckoning the Ghost inside. "Tradon, what a surprise. Come in, please!"

The Ghost clears his throat and Edmond raises his brows then looks over the Ghost's shoulder. "Oh." Edmond steps to the side, and with a sweeping motion says, "Please come in. Both of you."

Edmond inclines his head to Tradon as he passes, and furrows his brows at me, as if trying to see through my hooded face when I pass.

I lower my eyes like I always do when people stare for too long, hoping they don't notice my purple eyes.

Edmond gasps. "Atan, is that you?"

I stop and turn to look hat him. "How did you know it was me?"

"Nobody else in the colony has eyes, or eyelids like yours," Edmond says, placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. She smiles down at me, and something akin to pride washes over his face.

Tradon grunts. "We'll have to do something about them."

"We can do surgery," Edmond says. "He'll be out for a few weeks, but I'm sure we can manage it."

Fear shoots through me like a bolt of lightning. I've never been sick or even had a shot. The idea of having surgery sends goosebumps skittering up my spine until I shiver. "No surgery," I say, shaking my head.

"Make-up for the eyelids and contacts for the eyes?" Tradon suggests.

I wrinkle my nose. "How about sunglasses?"

"That wouldn't work at night." Tradon shakes his head.

"Why not? I can see in the dark. I don't think sunglasses will make it any worse."

Tradon snorts. "Have you ever worn sunglasses in the dark? And if so, who did you steal them from?"

Anger burns through me, scorching my cheeks like lava. "I haven't stolen anyone's sunglasses."

"Then why do you think you can see through them in the dark, boy?" Tradon says, his voice becoming sharp.

"Because I can see in the dark." I say again.

Tradon sighs, and his speech slows as if he's talking to a young child. "It's not the same. Glasses make it darker."

I ball my hands into fists. I don't like it when people treat me like I'm stupid. It's one thing when they see the color of my skin and treat me like a freak. I am one. But I am not dumb.

Through clenched teeth I say, "Turn off the lights."

"Why?" Edmond asks.

"Just do it."

"Lights out," Edmond says to the Monastery computer. The lights shut off, throwing us into utter darkness.

"Close your eyes, Ghost," I say to Tradon then step forward and grab Tradon's shoulders and twist, turning him in five circles. When he stops, he's facing another direction.

Leaning closer to his ear, I say, "Open your eyes and immediately tell me what you see."

"I only see shadows. My eyes need to adjust to the dark," Tradon says, in angry clipped tones.

"Exactly." I face Edmond and say, "Please turn on the lights again."

Edmond complies. The Ghost squints then turns to me. "What's your point?"

"Do the same thing to me," I say to him. "You can even take me someplace different if you think I've memorized this room or something."

Edmond's eyes shoot up. He shoots Tradon a look then says, "I have a room you've never been to before. Close your eyes, Atan."

I do as I'm told. One of the men grabs me by the shoulders and guides me forward, then turns left. A door creeks as it opens, and the atmosphere changes temperature, warming until I'm almost hot. The air smells of sage and lavender, and something tinkles behind me, like chards of glass tumbling onto a hard surface.

Behind me, the door creeks and clicks closed, and I feel one of the men to my right, while the other one continues to hold my shoulders from behind me.

From behind me, Tradon says, "Open your eyes and describe the room."

When I open my eyes, I realize the room had no lights, no windows, or candles. No moonlight or sunlight filters through cracks under the door.

I hear movement around me at the same time I see it. Then I smile. "Tradon is standing in front of me, two feet away. His hood is off his head. Behind him, there is a large metal cross hanging on the brick wall with unlit candles on a table, resting in a brass candelabra. There is incense burning on each corner of the table, smoke going into the air."

I shift, turning to the left to see more. "To my left there's a small mat on the floor. Red, I think. By the looks of it, it's been well-used. A small book lays open next to the mat. On my right there's a small table and a chair. Twelve books are stacked on the table, six books are stacked on the floor, and several pieces of paper with writing on them are covering the table. The room is otherwise empty, aside from Edmond who has moved into the corner next to the door."

I wait for them to respond, but they say nothing. I glance at Tradon. He seems stiff as a board.

Edmond is wringing his hands.

Finally, Tradon says in a gruff voice, "We'll get you fitted for goggles."

I smile to myself and say, "Thank you."

Edmond clears his throat and rubs his hand over the top of his head. "Let's go into the other room to discuss things." Then he holds out his hand, flailing for a second, searching for me, until I step into his hand, allowing him to grab my shoulder.

"This way," I say, then I lead the two men out of the pitch-dark room and back into Edmond's office where we can talk.