Page 105 of Ruthless Legacy

I’m using the gate spindles to pull myself onto the top of the wall that runs alongside it. With a final wave, I drop down on the other side of the wall. I dust off my hands and ass, then jog barefoot down the street, hoping to make up for lost time.

I slip my shoes back on while I wait for someone to answer the door. It creaks open. A hood gets shoved into my hand. I slip it on, having no choice but to trust the person leading me through the house. A breeze passes over my skin and then I’m walking up steps and onto what I’m sure is a bus.

As I’m pushed into a seat, I mutter under my breath, “Here we go.”

Chapter45

Thea

I’ve been up for what feels like three days, but it’s probably only been thirty hours. I’ve taken two multiple-choice exams and written essay prompts. One about what duty, honor, and loyalty mean to me. The other prompted me to detail who I met and what I heard when I was with my tutor this week.

The proctor told us to put our heads down when we finished the essay. I wrote my name on the top of the paper and got a funny look when I turned in a blank page. The essay prompt was a joke. How do you have us write an essay about duty, honor and loyalty, then ask us to snitch in the second one? I wasn’t about to fall for that.

I sat through a boring ass luncheon, where I was ignored, and minutes ago they dropped me on a corner and told me I have three hours to volunteer somewhere. At the end of three hours, I’m to report back to the drop off location to be transported to our next destination. No money, no phone.

The other selectees in my group are familiar with the location. They head off together and I wander around with no idea where I’m going. I pass a school zone sign and continue down the road until I reach the high school. The buildings are on par with the size of the administration building on campus.

My choice for volunteer locations would be Red Cliffs, but I don’t have any way to get there. I ring the bell for the front office, waiting to be buzzed in.

The office employee at the front desk says, “Hello, how can I help you?”

“Good Afternoon. My name’s Thea and I’m a student at Canyon Falls University. I’m looking for volunteer opportunities in town, hoping to add some hours to my resume, and wondering if you have anything I can assist with today.”

“We don’t accept people off the street at our school. You’ll need to fill out a volunteer form, interview with the principal, and we check your references.”

“Of course, I understand. I’d love to fill out a form while I’m here.”

She hands me a clipboard and the volunteer application. I take a seat by the front door, just as it opens. A young girl approaches the desk.

“Amaya? You’re back again? What is it this time?”

The girl holds up a three by five card. “Dress code infraction.”

The clerk tells her to have a seat, then gets called to the back of the office. The girl takes a seat to my right, leaving an empty chair between us. Her eyes are red. It’s obvious she’d been crying. She flinches when the office door opens, and another girl steps in. Her eyes zero in on Amaya and she takes a step towards her.

“Do you have your pass, Natalie?” The girl looks over at the desk, surprise registering on her face. She thought the office was empty, because the other clerk was stooping down by the copier.

“Oh, I just came to check the time.”

She glares at Amaya, then hurries back out the door. Before it closes, the girl’s voice mixes with the group snickering and laughing in the hallway.

Amaya’s eyes are closed. Her head tilted towards the ceiling. “You doing okay?” I ask.

“Fine. Thank you.”

The first clerk comes back. “Amaya, let me see this infraction.”

She climbs to her feet and hands her the card.

“Amaya, you know our policy about clothing on casual Friday, and yet you continue to break the rules.”

“I didn’t!”

“This t-shirt has a gash, exposing the side of your breast.”

“It didn’t this morning. I swear it.”

“And what happened between this morning and now?”

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