Chapter 4

Aeron was last to the locker room. She was drenched in sweat and felt better than she had all summer. She showered quickly, threw her clothes back on, and headed off to Creating the Cover Story. It was supposed to be one of the most useful classes of the year—two semesters dedicated to creating their aliases. Aeron took the seat next to Shannon. They were seated around a conference table, just the seven of them. The group quieted as the professor walked in. Each year the professor was the same person, but her name and history never were. She had been a doctor with redentials from multiple institutes, an ex-Marine, a farmer from Georgia, a botanist at a non-profit organization—all of which she had legitimate documents to back her. They had spent the past few years trying to poke holes in her stories, find the inconsistencies. She would always have some, to teach them how cover their tracks. This year they would create their own aliases and be responsible for making sure at least one was air tight.

“Good morning class. Welcome back to a new year—the most important year—actually creating your own cover story. For starters I am only giving you this information: My name is Marcey Heartwell.” There was a flurry of movement as the class took out their notebooks and began writing. “Figure me out,” Marcey said. “You have until the end of the school year. Now on to the fun stuff! I want you to think of a name, what is important about that name? The meaning? The sound?”

“The rememberality,” Alicia said. The group laughed.

“Yes, Alicia,” Marcey said. “The quality of how memorable the name is. Do you need the prospect to remember your name? Do you want to be forgotten before you’re gone? These are all very important questions. Now your assignment for tonight: come up with a list of factors to consider while choosing a name.” The remainder of class was spent taking notes. Aeron was beginning to daze off when Shannon elbowed her.

“Ouch,” Aeron mumbled.

“It’s almost lunch time,” Shannon said. “You can make it.”

Aeron nodded and returned her focus to Marcey.

“Well that’s all for today. Have that list done and go enjoy lunch.”

“Did I miss much?” Aeron asked, while they packed up.

“Not really. I’ll catch you up later.” They headed to the cafeteria. “So what was up with this morning?”

Aeron looked around. Luke and Decius were lagging behind. “I’m only taking equestrian.” Shannon didn’t answer. Aeron and Shannon grabbed trays of food from the cafeteria and slipped away to the courtyard—it was quite and private, for the most part. People could pass through, but there was nowhere for an eavesdropper to hide. They sat at a small table and Shannon motioned her hand at Aeron to continue. “I didn’t want Luke to see my schedule,” Aeron explained, and dived into her plate of food.

“You could have just said you hadn’t decided on which electives to take. You didn’t need to tackle him.”

“I could of, but I didn’t even think of it,” Aeron admitted, feeling like a fool.

“Nice job on Terrance,” Shannon said, and took a bite of her sandwich. “I thought you would go for longer.”

“Well, I was, but I didn’t want to take up the entire class time. I’ll take care of him later.”

“I think you straightened him out. I heard him apologize to Wendy when we were walking through the cafe.”

Aeron laughed. “That poor girl. All alone having to deal with meathead and what’s-his-name… Jeremy.”

“What are you going to do about electives?” Shannon asked, jumping back to the original subject.

“Nothing. I guess it’s good I have the weekends off. Mason asked me to join the seniors in their free-for-all; maybe you can join me too.”

“Ha, I don’t think they need me there. I’d be fresh meat—an easy target.”

“But what if they beat me up and I need medical assistance?” Aeron asked innocently.

Shannon laughed. “If I was going with you, it would be to give medical attention to them.”

“Very true,” Aeron agreed.

“Hey Ron?”

Aeron jumped. How long had he been standing there? She looked over her should at Luke, leaning still as a statue against the wall.

“Well, I better go check on Alicia and Lesley,” Shannon said, and Aeron caught just a glimpse of red hair as she dashed out a side door. Aeron looked back at Luke who was still leaning against the wall.

“Are you just going to stand there or are you gunna have a seat?” Aeron asked, rather harshly.

Her eyes followed him as he pushed off the wall and walked around the table, dropping into Shannon’s abandoned seat. He took the uneaten half of Shannon’s sandwich and sniffed. “Yuck, tuna,” he said, and dropped it back down. He looked up at Aeron. “What was up with that paper this morning?”

“What paper,” Aeron said.

“Don’t play dumb, Ron.”

“That paper was possible gifts for your birthday present—I didn’t want to ruin it.”

Luke’s eyes lit up. “So Decius knows what you’re getting me? I can beat it out of him.”

“Yeah. Sure,” she said, with a sinking feeling in her gut. She’d have to give Decius the heads up.

“Speaking of birthday presents,” Luke said, looking serious. “I haven’t gotten the chance to give you yours.”

“I told you not to worry about it. I don’t even like my birthday.”

“Liar,” he said, and she smiled. She loved her birthday and celebrating it with her friends—the presents weren’t bad either.

“Are we doing the big bash this weekend?” Aeron asked, returning her attention to her food. Every year there was a party thrown for Decius and Aeron the first weekend after classes.

“Well, we were thinking…” Aeron raised her eyebrows at him. “We thought maybe we could go clubbing.”

“That would be fun,” she said, not sure where Luke was going with this. Luke attempted to smirk, but it was just a beautiful smile. “Well, we were thinking if we put it off a little, we could go to Atlantic City, maybe do a little gambling. Decius already said it would be good—”

“Well then,” Aeron said, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms. “If Decius said it would be a good idea…”

“We could always—”

“It’s fine Luke.” She stood up and grabbed her tray of food. “I didn’t want to do anything this weekend anyways.” And she turned on her heel and stormed away. She dropped her food tray in the nearest trash bin and headed to the fifth floor, taking the steps two at a time. She looked forward to her big birthday bash. Besides leaving the manor for school, it was what got Aeron through the summer. She reached the door to the fifth floor—the medical floor—and went through. With everyone at lunch, the floor was almost deserted. Aeron walked the hallway of her least favorite class. The Institute played house to a section of private nurses and doctors who were trained to attend to the special needs of the assassins. It was on this floor only where the two types of students mixed.

She stopped and gazed into the emergency room—not just a mock room, but one which was used, and had seen many students lose their lives. Aeron thought of the first time she had seen this room—she was ten. It had been their first real medical class and a seven year old girl had been pushed off one of the Parkour towers. There was blood everywhere, and the girl’s screams rocked Aeron’s core. She died six hours later. It was the first, but certainly not the last, person she had seen die on that table.

“Can I help you?”

Aeron jumped—startled by the voice. She turned to see a stout woman, around thirty with short black hair and brown eyes, standing by the information desk in a doctor’s jacket. “I’m sorry,” Aeron said gathering herself. “I have class here in half an hour and finished lunch early.”

“Not a problem. I’m Doctor Figg, the new head doctor,” the woman said.

Aeron gave her a look over. She hadn’t known they were getting a new head doctor.

“What happen to Laura—Doctor Sherman?” she asked, caught off guard.

“I am not in the habit of discussing staff issues with students. It would be best if you left until your allotted class time Miss…”

“Seward. Aeron Seward,” Aeron supplied. She knew her name carried weight around their community, but didn’t like to drop it. It did have its uses though, and Aeron felt a strange satisfaction as Doctor Figg’s eyes widened and her nostrils flared.

“Well, Miss Seward, I’m going to ask you again to leave this floor until your allotted class time.” She walked over to the door and held it open for Aeron.

Aeron stood her ground. “I have every right to be here between class periods.”

“Perhaps under Dr. Sherman’s instructions, but not under mine. Goodbye Miss Seward.”

Aeron glared, but Doctor Figg stared back, unfazed. “Fine,” Aeron spat, and strode out past the woman. “Unbelievable!” she said to herself, as she raced back down the stairs. “Who does she think she is? Honestly.” She slammed the courtyard door open and ran right into the group of eight-year-olds. She hesitated, and then plastered a smile on her face. The group looked up and Aeron’s eye went straight to the sandyhaired girl with brown eyes.

“Aeron!” the girl screeched, and Aeron caught Molly mid-jump.

“Hey Molly,” Aeron said, hugging the girl and letting a genuine smile light her face.

“How have you been?” She placed the girl back on the ground and sunk down to be on her level.

“I’m great!” Molly said, in her high-pitched voice. “I heard you trained my new friend, Sophie.”

Aeron looked behind Molly to see Sophie standing with her head down and hands behind her back. “I did. Hi, Sophie. Are you enjoying the Institute?” Sophie nodded, and Molly continued to beam at Aeron.

“Molly!” It was the eight-year-old guardian, Amy. “Molly. Sophie. We really must get to math class. Come along!”

Aeron smiled at the two girls again. “You go learn some math,” she said. “Basic academics are invaluable to your training. We’ll catch up later.” She tapped Molly on the nose and stood up as the girls ran after their group.

“Ugh,” Alicia said, as she, Lesley and Shannon waded their way through the children. “I hate children!”

“They’re not bad,” Lesley argued. “They’re kinda cute.”

“And annoying, and noisy, and smelly,” Alicia added on.

“I guess if I had a bunch of younger siblings, I may not feel the same either,” Shannon agreed.

“She’s really something else,” Aeron chimed in, still staring off after Molly.

“She’s just like you,” Lesley said. “Who was the new girl?”

“Sophie,” Aeron said, not wanting to let them know she was Luke’s cousin. “Did you

guys know there’s a new head doctor?”

“No,” Shannon said, startled. “That’s impossible. I would have heard—”

“Well, she just booted me out of the fifth floor.” Lesley and Alicia looked stunned.

“She didn’t!”

“But we’re allowed—”

“Did you tell her who you were?” Shannon asked, as they headed back up the steps where Aeron had just come from. Aeron glanced at her. Shannon was shaken—with every right to be. She was an excel student, top of the medical classes, and in training with the nurses to graduate early from their program.

“I did, and she nearly attacked me.” They reached the fifth floor and Shannon entered first, with Aeron pulling up the rear—it was the last place she wanted to be right now. They filed in with the boys and other medical students, and had just sat down when Doctor Figg walked in.

“Who’s that?” Justin asked in an undertone, but no one got a chance to answer him.

“Good afternoon class,” Dr.Figg said. No one said anything in return. “I said good afternoon class.” Aeron saw her nostril flare as they did before—she hadn’t been surprised, but angry. Still no one said anything. “I’m not sure how this department was run before me,” Doctor Figg continued, “but there will be some respect and discipline instilled in you children.” There was a general sound of offense at the term children. “You will speak when, and only when, spoken to. You will raise your hands. You will call me Doctor Figg. I am not you friend, and therefore we are not on first name basis. Any questions?”

“What happened to Laura?” Alicia asked.

“I do believe I told you to raise your hand, Miss—”

“Alicia Foster.”

“Well, Miss Foster, the whereabouts of Doctor Sherman is not of your concern.”

“But it is of mine,” Shannon said, not raising her hand. “I had talked to her just mere weeks ago about this year’s lesson plans and—”

“Miss Gale, as I have told you, it is not your concern. I have taken control of this department, and not a moment too soon, it appears.”

“Laura did a great job—”

“Miss Seward! Enough! I would like a ten page paper on why it is rude to interrupt a teacher—for next class.”

“You can’t do that!” Decius argued back. Even the medical students were complaining.

“I’m not sure where you’re from, Doctor Figg, but that isn’t how the Institute works.”

“What really happened to Laura?”

“Where are your credentials anyways?”

Doctor Figg yelled for quiet over the babbling group—which slowly fell silent. “You all will join Miss Seward in the assignment for tonight, and I will not hear another word. Please open you books to page seventy.” No one moved. They didn’t have books. Jason—a quiet boy in the back of the class— raised a trembling hand. “Excuse me, Miss Doctor Figg. We don’t have any books.”

Doctor Figg looked around the room in mild shock. “How do you study if you do not have a book?”

“Practical application,” Jason said simply. Aeron smiled.

Doctor Figg seemed more rattled, and Aeron sent a look of appreciation to Jason, which he returned. She looked toward Luke, who was avoiding her gaze. “Another assignment for this week—get the required reading, it is listed in your syllabus, which I am passing around now.” The class remained silent for the duration of the period, and when they were finally dismissed, Aeron nearly sprinted for the door. “Miss Seward!” Doctor Figg called after her, but she didn’t stop, or turn around.