The Challenge

Aubrie walked into the room where the woman sat on the bed. "Oh, your already up? That was fast!" Aubrie laughed.

The woman said nothing. She ignored Aubrie and continued to look out the window. "It's night…beautiful lights in the sky" the woman whispered.

"I have a question!" Aubrie said as she raised her hand. The woman turned her head and stared at Aubrie. "Why do you raise your hand at me?" The woman asked.

"Oh…it's just a habit from school. I'm sorry if you felt threatened by it" Aubrie said.

"School?"

"You've never heard of it? Where are you from?"

"I…don't know"

"You don't know? How old are you?"

"My memory is a little foggy at the moment. I do know I'm eighteen years old…and I have to look for the code"

"Code? What do you mean-"

"Don't tell me you guys don't have the code here. If you don't…I-I don't know"

"Who or what's the code?"

"You should know"

Aubrie stared at the woman with curiosity. "What your name, miss?"

"Crystal. I'd like to learn more about this so-called "school", if you don't mind" Crystal said.

Aubrie paused for a moment. "I'll have to ask the lady at the desk first. I'll be right back!" Aubrie said as she shut the door and locked it.

Aubrie went downstairs and spoke to the woman at the desk. "Hello. The woman is awake now and she wants me to show her around…is that cool?"

The woman behind the desk stared at Aubrie for a while. "I guess since she's not a threat or killed anyone…you can let her out. Just make sure to keep an eye on her at all times, Aubrie" The woman warned. "I know"

Aubrie went back up stairs as the woman kept looking at her. Aubrie opened the door to the room and looked as Crystal was already waiting.

"Here's some clothes" Aubrie said as she lay the clothes on the bed. Crystal put on the blue overcoat with 3 yellow buttons and cuff links, grey tight shorts, yellow socks, and a pair of blue shoes.

"Looking good!" Aubrie laughed.

"Thank you" Crystal said.

Aubrie walked Crystal downstairs. She noticed the woman behind the desk missing. "That's odd. She's usually here"

"Who?" Crystal asked.

"Nothing. But your free to leave the building. Just stay here and wait for our leader to retuned. Shall we go to the school now?"

"Yes"

Aubrie took Crystal to the school and walked around with her. Crystal stared into the classroom and listened closely to what the teacher said.

"I see. So school is a system…a system of so-called education, where children must leave their parents and listen to another's or…leader's philosophy"

"What?" Aubrie asked with a surprised tone.

"You were assigned her to, correct? Here…it taught you how to survive on the island and the island's history. But…how do you know if this is true or not? You don't question it because you all are so young, thus, it makes a cycle of mind puppets" Crystal said as she began to walk down the halls of the school.

Can't really disagree with her on that one. All this school does…is teach us how to survive and fight. Not how to make peace, have our own jobs, or…anything really, Aubrie thought as she followed Crystal down the hall.

"If the teachers were smart…they'd try to teach you children about who and what you are and how beautiful it can be" Crystal sighed.

"Wait…you know-"

"Your telling me you really don't know our own race? This island…who rules over it?" Crystal asked.

"A group of people called the higher-ups. Then there fighters that are the monarchs."

"I see." Crystal and Aubrie walked out of the building and wandered around as Crystal stared at everything. It seemed as though Crystal was the child and Aubrie was the adult.

"Aubrie…was it? I have an important question…and I would like for you to answer honestly" Crystal said.

"Lay it on me"

"Have you…ever seen what's beyond the island? I know you assume I'm not from here…but I don't know, and I would like to learn everything possible about this island and the history"

"There's two man-like species on this island. The first is us, the Akie race. Second, the human race. The humans were sent here from their land to this island. Humans here all did terrible crimes. Our race is here because the humans fear us…there's a field surrounding the island a little in the sea. This field won't allow anything to leave the island." Aubrie explained.

"I see. Very interesting, Aubrie" Crystal said in a soft tone.

The gates to the clan opened. A shiver went through Crystal's spine as she quickly turned her head. A man with long black hair, black eyes with a sinister look, pale skin, with a purple outfit, and a purple cape walked in the clan.

Crystal stared at him…she noticed the purple-like aura surrounding the clan and pouring from the man…as if it was water.

I'm starting to tingle. What…what is that? This feeling? I….I really want to kill him!, Crystal thought to herself.

Aubrie sprinted towards the man. "Brother!!", Aubrie screamed as she jumped in Jerome's arms.

"You've been gone all day today! It's nighttime and you were supposed to be home early" Aubrie complained.

Meanwhile, Jerome ignored Aubrie and stared at Crystal. "Aubrie…who's that" he asked in a a new deepened voice.

"Oh, me and Colt found her in the water…then she shoot out like, boom, and passed out after" Aubrie explained.

Jerome slowly lowered Aubrie and moved her to the side. "What's your name, miss?" Jerome asked.

"Crystal And yours?"

"I'm Jerome Soul. Nice too meet you, Crystal"

Jerome reached behind his back and slowly pulled out a purple sword with purple aura surrounding it. "You seem tuff. Down for a little spar?" Jerome asked.

A twisted smile appeared across Crystal's face. "Gladly" She moaned with joy. Time passed and Jerome led Crystal to a field not too far from the clan.

"Brother, why did you-"

"I sense something. This…isn't right" Jerome whispered.

Crystal stood on the opposite side of the field and Jerome stood on the other. Aubrie stayed and watched on the outside in the middle.

Jerome stretched and took his fighting stance. Crystal lowered her body and dropped to all fours.

I'm so grateful. I wonder if Aubrie's clan has more fighters like this one! I…I…I really need to kill you, Crystal laughed in her thoughts.

The moonlight lit up the field as nothing but soft wind blew.

Jerome has finally appeared and has suspicion! Crystal is delighted to fight and is willing to kill!