Orchid

I Name a Cadet a Soldier(A Great Honor, Actually)

Leaving Alex on the ground just bleeding and open feels wrong. It makes me think of the Hunger Games, when Rue died. Katniss didn't just leave her on the grass looking empty as the hovercraft collected her--she decorated her with flowers. It's winter now, so there's no flowers, and it's lucky that it's not snowing now, or else she would be encased in ice and buried under the snow. That seems cold. Ha ha, no pun intended.

 Then I know what to do. If I have the strength. But I gather all of my anger at Xander, the death he's leaving behind, and my muscles flare with power. I call on Air to soften the breeze around her. Air responds, and it not only warms the air around her, but fills it with a fragrant scent of flowers. Fire responds to my call and fresh flowers the color of sunrise bloom by her: pink, orange, and red, and it appears as an illusion like a blazing, peaceful fireplace. Water dances and forms a flower-like arc around her, carefully avoiding the fire. Earth replaces the concrete of the ground with fresh, sweet grass and new sprouts. Finally, Spirit forms around her and heals her ugly wound, the wound that killed her, and makes her appear as if she lay down to sleep in the meadow at sunrise.

 The cadet that she wounded on the leg looks at me, astonished, not even bothering to press the trigger of the gun aimed at my hand. "You honor her memory," he murmurs. He nods, as if moved. "And you were right. I will deal with Marcus. I am Cadet Anthony Lu, Captain Marcus's subordinate." His slanted brow, blue eyes, and dark hair suggest he's a mix between Asian and Anglo.

 I dip my head respectfully to him, sagging at the loss of energy, but I still lower myself and place my hand on his forehead. "You don't need Marcus's approval to be a soldier. As long as you stay true and faithful to no one but yourself, you are not a lesser being than others who remain obedient and and a puppet to do other's bad deeds. A cadet becomes a soldier when he's a hero for goodness. If you know better, hold off Marcus and find a life for yourself. I name you Soldier."

 The newly named Soldier flinches when I touch him, but soon straightens himself and bows his head. "I am proud," he says humbly. Then he gets up and jams his gun in Marcus's neck as he disarms him and slings the extra gun over his shoulder. He stands alert, ready to fire when Marcus stirs.

 Marcus's head lolls around and his tongue flicks out. "Kill Cadet Bryant....."

"No, she's already dead." Anthony shoves him back with the butt of his rifle, placing his barrel at Marcus's temple and threatening to click.

 "Treason," Marcus rumbles, eyes glazing over in anger, fear, and some awe, but over all it, undeniable respect. "I will have you tried then hanged like a rabbit gutted and being cooked over a fire." His own hands creep toward his belt, where he finds his weapon gone.

 "Come on!" Zetah bounds out of the bush, dragging Hero with her. "Use a chance when you can."

 I nod feebly and hurry past her. We break through the tape easily as if it were nothing. So much for using the elements to destroy it.

 Outside, Soldier Lu loses hold of Marcus's weapon and it slips to the ground. Marcus takes advantage of it and kicks him between the fork of his legs. I don't hang around to see it, though. The last thing I see before I enter Crestwood is Marcus starting a wrestling match.

Once we get in, I'm shocked. The thing I assumed was a reed case was probably bullets--to reload and reload again. He shot a lot of rounds. The walls have holes in them perfectly one inch apart. The bodies of the people who died have been removed and the floor's been kinda cleaned up of the blood, but there's no denying what happened here. 

 I call on Air. "Air, bring the Yang side of the orb to my hand." 

 Nothing happens, though. I'm confused. The power has never failed me in these days. So why is Air so idle now? It worked outside.

 "Maybe I'm too exhausted," I say to my company, who look equally flustered. "Maybe you try, Hero."

 Hero closes her eyes, inhales a deep breath, then opens her eyes. "Nope. Air is not working here."

 "Maybe I can flood the place to bring it," Zetah suggests. 

 "No. I think that the orb is the only thing you can't transport. Or else, Lycaeon would've sacrificed the life of one of her followers to get it," Hero concludes. 

 "Shira said it's in the main office," I say. "I'll just race down there and get it."

 "Be fast. That bloody git might be down there," Zetah says, winking at me. "Maybe I should go. I want to kick that trigger-happy trot in his ass and cry for his puppet master."

 A faint smile touches my lips. "No. You and Hero stay put and search the school in case it blew away or Shira's wrong."

 I head down the hallway, finally coming to a stop to the charred doorway of the main office. It's barely recognizable. The wood is burnt and hole-riddled. The handle falls when I touch it. I push open the door.

 Well, Zetah was right. And why is the bloody git always here at bad times?

 "You," I say. It's only one word, but I add all my hatred, anger, and hunger for revenge in it.

 "Me," he says, patting his rifle and stroking it. "Oh well. Guess you win some, lose some. I convinced that little brat Marcus that I was the grandson of his military captain. Got special treatment immediately. It was sweet, though. I loathed having to kill Cadet Bryant. She was cute, actually. But a cute traitor is an unfaithful one. I would rather have an ugly one that's a faithful follower. A little pet dog. Wouldn't that be lovely?" He sighs. "When I ask Lycaeon to find me a girl, I'll tell her to find me a stubbornness-free one." He raises his not-so-little rifle up, aiming it at my chest. "It would be so easy to just kill you."

 I keep my eyes motionless. "Don't. Let me go."

 Xander laughs. "You know, I didn't choose this life." When I jerk to try escaping, he mouths, "Immobilize" and my limbs are clenched and frozen in place. 

 "I don't know why so-called Warriors are more powerful than the standard Faerie, Mystic, and so on," Xander continues, striding over to me and touching my cheek with his cold hand. "But no, I'm not here to kill you. According to the prophecy, the Orchid could help us to our victory as well as destroy us. Lycaeon isn't risking it. It's 50/50 chance. Like a toss of a coin." He snaps his fingers. "Just like that. Tell me where your precious Zetah and Hero are--yes, I know all about it. I have a beautiful spy that informs me of everything. So I'm not ignorant, y'know." He grabs my chin and forces me to stare into his chilling and brilliant icy-blue eyes. "So tell me, where is that Hero and Zetah? I am responsible for catching you all alive, so the other two can be executed and you can be held in captivity."

 "Who's your dear spy?" My face is free of the freeze, so I twist my jaw and sink my teeth into his hand, and spit the metallic burst of blood and spit out. He may be no ordinary person, but he's still mortal and he can bleed.

 Xander places a finger to his lips. "Some things should be kept secret. But after you pledge your binding oath and allegiance to my mistress, you may know all the things you want to know."

 "Where's the Yang orb? I can't touch you anyway," I add.

 "Ah, yes. I found it blown on the principal's desk." Xander's lips tug upward in amusement and he reaches in his pocket, bringing out a glossy white, luminous half of an orb.

 The orb radiates with warmness and kindness--it feels like home. I stretch in the warmth, while Xander can barely hold it. It rolls between his fingers and he clutches his stomach, looking sick as he pockets it again. But I saw the change in his eyes when he held it. I saw the effect it had on him.

 All the coldness and cruelty had been purged from the glacier of his eyes when the light washed over him. 

 For once I actually saw his mouth in a genuine, happy smile.

 I believe Xander can come back from the bleak land of Darkness and reunite with the bright meadow of Light with this new discovery.