The Apprenticeship

Aila

"What do you mean?" I look at Bell. I don't quite understand who this Aila girl is.

"What I mean is, Aila only shows up in dreams. She has to be part of some type of drug here. Lots of people have seen her though which makes me think it's in the food."

I look at her and push my tray forward. "In the food?"

"Yeah, that's how come I'm careful in what I eat. Anyway, I have to go. There's a lot going on right now. I'm sure you could use some studying too."

I nod my head and we both stand up. I pull her in tight for a hug. We were raised together and it pains me to know that we'll always be separated. Twins are rare here, especially identical.

I grab an apple on my tray and walk toward Owen's lab. I knock on the door then let myself in. The knock was courtesy, I would've just walked in.

"Avery, what a pleasant surprise."

"Have you ever heard of someone named Aila?"

"How did you hear about her?"

"My sister, Bella. She said that the girl I saw the other day was a hallucination."

"Avery," I cut him off.

"No, I need to know. Not some half thought answer. Not something to protect me."

"Isn't this what got you in trouble in the first place?"

"Maybe."

"Avery, stop."

I sit down across from his desk. "No."

"Leave, or stop."

I sit up straight in the chair. I put both my arms on the desk.

"Glad we're in agreement." He leans forward. "Let's proceed with training." He stands up and grabs my arm to pull me to the desk across the room.

"Sit." He says and I listen. He sits in the chair across. "So today, we're going to have a discussion on, learning your place."

"What?"

"See, that's exactly what I mean. You're too careless. Your place is as an apprentice not as a leader. We we're all in your place, I know how you feel."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean, Avery, is, Daniels is never going to take you back until you understand this. I hate to be the one to teach you this but, Daniels may kill you, literally."

"Oh," I look down, "is it okay to fight for what you believe in?"

"If what you believe in isn't against what your leader thinks."

"What part of that is fair?" I put my hands on the table and stand up.

"We all had to go through it Avery. It's conforming to the standard of the world."

"I don't want to conform."

"I know. I understand. Soon you'll be okay with it."

"I'll never be okay with it, Owen."

"Avery, you will." He somehow keeps his cool during this conversation. He doesn't raise his voice or get upset.

I sit back down and wait. I'm not saying anything. Owen, though not raising his voice, is surly upset by now. I await whatever comes next, I'm going to fight it. I'll probably be punished for this story but, that's okay. I'm standing up for what I believe in.