TAINTED ROSE

Chapter 7 - Lessons

The lessons in the Academy were simple. There were the fundamentals; English, Literature, Math, Sciences, History, Geography, Chemical and Mechanical weapons, combat fighting, Poisons and Others.

Most students liked “Others” best because you got to pick any other subject. Students could learn anything they wanted, provided that it was relevant. Once approved, instructors would come into the school to teach them, no matter how small the class size. For Combat fighting, the students had to run fifty rounds in the hot sun, were trained in combat, using guns (yes, not those fake cheapskate guns but the real ones) and bullets (yes, also not those fake bullets).

They had to challenge each other during tests and the winner would have the luxury of eating posh food. Sometimes, if they were lucky, they were allowed to practice their swordsmanship. Ms Lois believed in being an all-rounder when it came to defence, even though swords were out of date.

Adolpha was no amateur in combat fighting. She had the skill and strength that surprised everyone. “She definitely had some training before she was enrolled.” Sherry thought to herself. No one new was as good as her.

Crystal overheard Sherry and raised her eyebrows. “Adolpha is good…we’ll see on The Day how really good she is...”she mused to herself.

 “Helen? Do you think Adolpha will survive The Day?” Sherry asked Helen, who was sitting next to her. “Huh? I don’t know.” Sherry, unsatisfied with her answer, turned to ask Rose who gave a really stupid answer that made everyone laugh.

Helen giggled to herself. That was one of the reasons Rose was her best friend and she envied her. She was so naïve and innocent it was endearing and funny.

Helen recalled the time when she was young…

“Mum? Dad?” Little Helen burst into the thatched cottage they called home. The roof was leaking, the windows were broken and the door hung loosely, as if it was about to give way soon. “Helen?” She heard a little voice. It was her younger brother, Christian. “I’m scared. I tried to wake Mum and Dad up but they wouldn’t. Why are they not waking up, Helen?”  He bit his lip.

“Mum and Dad haven’t been well for the past few days. Maybe they’re just sleeping in.” Helen tried to reassure him. “Helen, it’s 2.00 in the afternoon. How could they not wake up?” Christian reasoned.

“Okay, I’ll go check.”  Her parents’ door was left slightly ajar. She opened it. Her mother’s limp hand hung over the bed. Bloodstains were all over the bed sheet. Her parents looked like they were sleeping, however, when Helen checked their pulse, there was none.

Her parents had died of tuberculosis.

She spun on her heel and walked out of the door. “Get up. Mum and Dad are dead.” She heard a harsh voice saying. Yet, when she turned around, there was no one there.

 “But…” Christian protested, tugging at the trim of Helen’s dirty, linen dress. “Pack your stuff. We’re going to leave this country. I hate this place.” Those words, said with cold, quiet dominance, made Christian shiver. Where had his funny, sweet, elder sister gone?

Helen reached into the emergency drawer and pulled out a wad of bank notes. Four hundred dollars .Enough for two airplane tickets to The Citadel.

“Helen? You’re walking too fast!” Christian squealed as he struggled to keep up with her.

When they were roaming around The Citadel aimlessly, scavenging for bits of pieces of food to keep their stomachs full, they were caught by the government organization. Helen was to be send to The Academy, because of the fighting spirit she had displayed when captured (she kicked a guard so hard he lost two teeth, while Christian was to send to the orphanage (He cried when captured). Helen did not want to be separated from Christian. She begged the authorities to let her go to the orphanage with Christian but they refused.

“Promise me you would be okay.” Helen told Christian on the day she was leaving to The Academy.

“Promise” Christian gave Helen a reassuring smile.

But one week later, Helen received a letter from the orphanage Christian was sent to.

Christian died. He had been beaten to death.

She gazed in the direction of the horrid principal’s office, her thoughts forming into the words…

“For my brother, I will live!”

Helen’s train of thoughts were interrupted by Natasha’s words, “Are you alright?” It had rained the night before and there were a lot of puddles around. She looked down at one and saw a tear-stained face looking back at her.

Adolpha noticed Helen’s state.

Something at the distance moved.

She blinked and looked again.

Something was not right.

When she looked again, there was no one there.

“Adolpha! Hurry up! Stop daydreaming! Combat fighting class ended!” Pearlyn yelled across the field, waving her over. They ran to the Chemistry labs.

“Late again, Adolpha?” Ms Kristy scowled at her. “You’ll have to sit with Princess and Fione.” Princess scrunched up her face. “But Miss Kristy…”she whined. “Oh, just build a bridge and get over it.” Adolpha muttered as she took her place between them.

Lynn gave out the worksheets. “Thank you.” Adolpha whispered.

“Class, take out the hydrochloric acid and send one member up to take the sample of the enzyme.”

“Fione, you go.” Princess said lazily. “No! Why not you?” Fione grumbled. “Because.”

“Because what?”

“Just because.”

“I’ll go! Just stop arguing! Geez!” Frustrated, Adolpha stomped up to the desk where Miss Kristy was waiting.