The Nightwing

Chapter 1

5 years ago this day, I killed my brother. No one ever found out who did it, and I never came forward to admit it. It still weighs on my heart, in fact it weighs on my whole being. A year ago I was accepted into the state school for soldiers and guards. I had always wanted to be accepted into this school, and it was an honor to be taken in. But now, sitting alone in my cell made me almost paranoid about the incident with my brother; this was probably the best place to get caught. I hear footsteps approach my door, and General Alverett enters my room. My back is toward him, and I'm staring at the wall, but I would know the heaviness of his footfalls anywhere.

"Corrinna," he says in an expectant way. I know he wants me to face him, and I know that I am acting like a two year old by not doing so. "Corrinna," he tries again, this time his voice more firm.

"Yes?" I respond calmly, still not facing him.

"Come on! You're better than this!" he says, frustrated. I know his frustration is all in honor of me. "You know you deserved this, you know you should not have done that, are you asking to get killed?!" I stand up, and turn around to face him.

"Oh! So now you want me not to do the wrong thing when all you're trying to teach me at this wretched school is how to do the right thing? Well then you're all hypocrites!" I say looking him in the eye.

"Cor," he says, his tone softening, "You know that I would have helped her too if I could, but that's just not how this works. She went against the rules, and she had to pay the price for that. There was nothing we could do."

"All she wanted to do was save her brother! I would have done the same-" suddenly I couldn't hold back my tears anymore, and I begin to sob. "Get out," I say to Alverett, angry that I was letting myself cry. He sat there for a minute, then let out a long sigh, and left without looking back.