Death In A Mile

Chapter 3: Secrets Cloud the Mind

Today was a new day, a time to stop thinking about the piercing eye and focus on what was really important: my classes.

First was survival, more important than self defense I'd say. Class was held next to a pond about 100 feet into the forest. It was where it was always held. Our instructor, Jones Mandel, believed it was best to be next to the pond for demonstration purposes, and I liked it because it was peaceful. He was tall, had a beard and long hair he always gelled back into a pony tail. Camoflauge pants nearly everyday and a plain white T-shirt.

Only 8 other people took the class this hour. Along with the peace the pond brings and a quiet 8 people it was a great time to think about things, exactly what I didn't want to do.

I really only had one good friend in this class. His name was Michael "Spark" Roberts. Spark is a friend I made 6 years ago and our friendship is still going strong today. He gained his somewhat menacing nickname while blacksmithing. For some reason he decided not to wear protection over his face while he struck his hot sword with a hammer, and a piece of the sword flew off and into his eye, causing bleeding and a permanent scar. The name Spark was soon adopted after.

The rain had started up again, and I knew I didn't want to see rain again for a long time. Our teacher finally arrived. He was in a good mood today and cracked a joke which only half the class understood.

Spark sat next to me as he always did. "Did you hear that storm last night?" He said calmly.

"Yeah of course I did, I was up all night," I responded.

"You were? Why were you up?"

At this moment I knew I had to construct a lie, so in a quick moment I responded, "I just couldn't sleep, so I got up and did my dishes." I knew this was the truth, but it wasn't the full truth; therefore it was a lie.

"Night was a time to be sleeping," he responded with an unbelieving tone. "And I know you aren't the type to do things you wouldn't normally do at those hours." He sounded more sophisticated than he normally did, he was catching on; but the funny part is that this was the truthful part of the story. I wouldn't be surprised if he believed me about the eye if I were to tell him.

"I was," in a frustrating matter. "I couldn't sleep and I had nothing better to do, thats all."

"Okay," he said through skepticism, but I could tell he knew I was telling the truth.

Class had finally started, and the rain has picked up. I wasn't worried about getting wet, I was worried that the rain would remind me too much of the eye. I was so hesitant to tell people simply because they would think I was insane or making up fantasies in relation to my parents death, but it wasn't that at all.

I hardly paid attention for the entire class duration. I only heard bits of sentences before I dozed off and daydreamed once more. Thoughts and crazy conspiracies came to mind, but all were illogical or just plain stupid.

Class had finally ended and I was quickly walking away. I didn't realize but I walked away without even walking with Spark on the way out. I did this everyday and from this moment he and I knew that I was withdrawn from reality.

Sometime had passed and I had ultimately decided to skip self defense. I didn't value self defense as much as survival because fights were non existent among villagers, everybody always proposed this weak excuse that said, "just in case." There was no case.

I stayed home while I could hear the self defense class from a ways away. They were always loud and I am glad I didn't live right next to them. Rarely anyone ever noticed I ditched because there was too many people that take the class this hour. About one fourth of Minitan, including adults took this "essential class."