When I open my eyes, I'm back in the room I share with Matthew. The pain in my head is almost gone and I can see clearly after a few seconds of adjusting to the lighting. I turn to my left and I see the three siblings sitting on Matthew's bed. They're all in deep conversation. Matthew's back is to me, Kadiya is facing me and Luna is sitting at the foot of the bed. I try to sit up a little bit but my head feels light as soon as I get off the pillow.
"Hey, Caden!" Kadiya gets off the bed and walks over. Her normal smile is gone and replaced with and expression of concern. "How's your head? Dennis hit it hard, eh?"
"What?" I mutter, my throat dry.
"Luna got one of the adults walking by to help take you to the infirmary. The doctor said that it wasn't a concussion, but to take it a bit easier. How are you feeling?"
"Water," I say and Kadiya passes me a paper cup that was sitting ready on the side table. I don't drop it and drinking it makes me feel a bit better. I manage to sit up and Kadiya sits beside me on my bed.
"I'm confused," says Matthew. "You take out five Endurance soldiers singlehandedly but you get knocked out by one punch from Dennis Altman?"
It wasn't the punch though. It was the vision and the headache which threw me off... I don't say anything though. I try not to think about it either lest another headache erupts.
"What was coach Tanner thinking when she paired you two up for sparring?" Kadiya mutters.
Coach Tanner. That was the instructor's name. I almost laugh to myself; I never bothered to learn it. In fact, the only name I can really place with a face in the class is Dennis' because the other teachers are always yelling his name.
"They're in the same weight category," Luna chimes in. "He was also admitting that he was scared of fighting Caden before the sparring."
"Wait," I interject. "Are we continuing with the sparring today?"
"No," Luna says. "There have been severe lightning warnings in this area and people are cautioned to stay inside. Also, after your little injury, Tanner needed to talk with Dennis about not giving people concussions."
"But I didn't get a concussion," I say and everyone laughs.
"Everyone has the rest of the day off," Kadiya sighs. "What do you want to talk about now that everyone's awake?"
"Mom's coming back tomorrow," Matthew says suddenly and Luna and Kadiya have an instant reaction.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Kadiya asks.
"Because I'm her real son!" Matthew smiles and everyone else except me laughs. If someone was making that joke with me, I wouldn't take it so lightly. It must be an inside joke with these three.
"Wait," I say, cutting into the laughter. "What happened to your parents, Kadiya?"
I must have hit a nerve because it's dead quiet with only the soft patter of rain hitting the window. Kadiya looks away, not meeting my gaze.
"Oh," I say. "I'm sorry."
"No," Kadiya says. "It's okay. They died when I was young. I don't know how though. Mom -- well, Ember-- says that she'll tell me more when I'm older."
"That must be annoying," I try to sympathize with her but she just laughs and waves it off.
"Caden," Luna says, "do you mind me asking about your parents?"
"I-" I start but then frown. "I don't remember my mom ever being in my life. I remember my father though. But..." I trail off.
"But what?" asks Luna, leaning forward.
YOU ARE READING
The Wrong Side
Ciencia Ficción"I'll tell you when you're an adult." These are the few words that have been repeated to Damon Ophia for his whole life. Damon's life is made up of secrets. In some cases, secrets are being kept from him, in others he needs to keep secrets, and in...
