Forgotten Glory

Golden Arcs

The full moon's peak is a week from now. I have a week until I must report to Golden Arcs Academy, or they will come hunt me down and take me by force; I don't have a choice. I must go.

When I was ten, I played with one of the older neighborhood kids, Jason. He had just turned fourteen and had been obsessed with getting into Golden Arcs Academy. That's all he had discussed since he learned about the school a year ago.

"I can't wait to get my letter and find out what league I get accepted into. I'm hoping for Zerachiel's command. They get to go out and give orders. They are strong and keep the peace. That's what I want to do."

I smile at him, "do they get cool swords?"

He laughs, "Of course they do, bunny." He rubs the top of my head, messing up my hair. " They have to look cool," he says.

I blush at his nickname for me. The first day we met, he could barely keep up with me, said I bounced around like a bunny rabbit, and he called me such ever since.

"What league do you want to get into, bunny?" He lays back, staring up at the clouds with a smile.

"Zerachiel," I sigh, lying down next to him. "So we can hang out and still be friends."

He rolls to his side, looking at me. "I'll always be your friend, bunny. You're like the little sister I never had."

My heart dropped. I know that we're four years apart, but I had hoped that that wouldn't matter in ten years or so. He sees me as a little sister.

The next day, Jason got the letter he so dearly wanted, and he got into Zerachiel's command.

He hugged me so tightly the day he left: "I'll keep in touch, okay? Tell you all about the Academy so you'll be ready when you come. I'll meet you there and show you all the ropes. It'll be great, okay?"

I nod, leaning back so my tears don't ruin his shirt. "You won't have too much fun without me, will you?"

He laughs, messing up my hair, "I wouldn't dare bunny."

Then he stepped into the circle, and his parent's wings formed and disappeared.

I stood there for three hours until his parents returned alone.

They smiled at me and assured me he got there safe and sound.

The first week or so after he left, he kept his word and kept in touch. He would call and tell me what they were doing. He told me about all the young wings he met.

He especially liked this one girl, Sara. He told me she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

A couple of days after he told me about her, I called him, and he sounded annoyed.

"What Remi?"

I flinched; Jason never called me by my name. "I just waited to ask how everything is. Are you having fun?"

"Am I having- yea," he sighs, "yea, I'm having fun, Remi. Look, I can't talk. Call you later, ok?" He hangs up before I can respond.

I waited for him to call for a month, but he never did. That was the last I heard from him; his parents moved away a little later. I didn't even see him when he came home to visit them.

I stare down at my crumpled letter, and all I can think about is seeing Jason again. What will he say? What will I say? Would he ignore me like he did four years ago?

I shake my head. Why the hell am I thinking about some stupid boy? I need to think about getting out of here. At least Samuel won't be at the Academy looking at me like I'm some cursed being.