Mortality

6 ~ Calix

North Ward

-Calix

Friday...

...I made it through the first week...unscathed for the most part.

Director Arun greets my parents at the front of the school, shaking their hands. The bell for lunch rang a few minutes ago, Elafi and Tacitus wishing me well as I won't be able to crash the party they are going to sneak off to in Prime Ward. I'll be there, unwillingly, maybe kicking and screaming if it wasn't for the fact, I am going to see Genesis.

"Always a pleasure," Director Arun separates from my parents as I approach.

Father replies, his stance altering slightly, "For your troubles, we'll be adding funding to the year one Arena team this year."

"Thank you!" Director Arun swoons like a girl, practically kissing father's feet. Now...I wonder where father got that brilliant idea, wouldn't have anything to do with me...now would it?

"Come now, Calix," mother ushers me around Director Arun, the car parked outside the school grounds, "we don't want to keep our hosts waiting."

The drive is a distance and at this rate, we just might make it on time.

Director Arun clears his throat and asks, "Should I email the remainder of Mr. Ravenend's class and homework after school ends, so he won't fall behind over the weekend?"

"That's an excellent idea," father nods, mother and I walking to the car. I hear him add, "We'll be staying the weekend at the Ocklorn's, so he'll have plenty of time to do his school work."

What...

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" I huff out the second I'm sitting in the back seat of the car with mother.

"Calix..." mother warns, her tone shifting as father approaches the car.

I glare at her and retort, "You wait to spring this shit on me? Really? When did you two decide to play kiss ass to the Ocklorns? Why are we even-"

Pain shoots through my right cheek, the bones shattering, my head spinning as I cough up blood. Father gets into the car, sitting across from us while he orders our driver, "Mr. Axel if you would so kindly take us to Prime Ward Citadel."

"Yes, Sir," Mr. Axel replies, my anger rising as I fume.

My bones heal, though my anger remains, looking up at my father to see his gaze locked on me. He releases a short breath of air before he tells me, "The expectations of you are quite simple," he pauses a moment, mother shifting in her seat beside me, "as an Offspring of The Synod, you are expected to act in a certain manner at all times. Whether you choose to express your individuality...understand that it falls back on us."

"You are under constant watch and scrutiny by those around you," mother continues when she sees my hands clenching in fists, drawing blood from the palms of my hands. My nails dig deeper at their words, my anger spiking.

I see Mr. Axel's gaze flicker to observe us all in the rearview mirror, my gaze falling away when I capture his gaze for a moment. Releasing a small sigh, I relax and attempt to reason, "I understand that...I'd just appreciate a little more than a split-second notice." After pausing a few moments, looking from mother and father, I continue with, "Aren't we supposed to be on the same page?"

"No, Calix," father reminds me quickly of my place, "your mother and I always need to be on the same page. As an Offspring, you are to follow the laws more so above everyone else as it reflects on you twice as much as others. If we can't follow the rules, how can we expect others to?"