The Fall of Jericho

Chapter Two

Malikai seemed terrified to be battling me, I stood in front of him watching his muscles tense as he watched me. I released my wings in the moonlight and jumped into the cool night air quickly flying over him. I came down quickly barely missing his flinching form. "First rule, don't show your fear to your opponents." I said softly. He nodded and I saw him begin to try to hide the fear that shook his body. I flew forward with force again, he released his rust colored wings and launched into the air, the setting sun illuminating the patches of black as he shot up grabbing my leg. He dropped me lightly letting me fall through the air, I fanned my wings out landing on the balls of my feet turning to him. "You'll have to do better than that." He nodded and ran at me, I jumped up running down his back,"That's not fair!" he shouted as he fell. "All is fair in love and war, Malikai." I said and straightned up. He smiled and ran at me, I turned to look at him and he grabbed me by my shoulders throwing me down onto the ground. "Ah. That was a dirty move!" I shouted and kicked him off. I stood, looking over to Avery and Derek, I ran over as I saw Avery throwing down Derek. "Avery stop!" I shouted, Malikai started to cry as he saw how the situation would end. "Dry it up boy! Avery! Avery stop!" I shouted again. He stopped looking at me, my stomach turned as I saw the anger that burned in his eyes. He threw Derek down and fell the good ten feet the ground,"Avery. What were-" I was cut off as Jerub slammed the doors open, fury blazing in his deep brown eyes. "Avery, what was that!?" he shouted coming right into his face,"You could've killed him! An innocent man!" Avery looked down not daring meet his eyes, I couldn't help but feel empathy wash away the nauseous feelings I had. "Jerub. Let him alone. Derek's fine." I said, he turned to me quickly looking over at Derek, who nodded,"Really. I'm alright." Jerub stalked over to me his eyes still blazing,"I think he should be thrown off the team. or at least suspended from it for three months." he whispered harshly. "I don't. Yet, you are the director. so, your's is the final word." I said calmly. He smiled and walked over to Avery,"You," he said pointing at him. "Should be thrown off of this team. Never to work for the WPA again. Yet, since you're leader has mercy on you and just saved your feathered-" he cut off and cleared his throat. "Has your back. I have reconsidered. You may stay. But step out of line ONCE boy, and I will not even hesitate to throw you off the team. You got me?" Avery nodded still looking down. "I said, do you got me boy!?" Jerub shouted,"Yes sir!" Avery shouted back. "Good." Jerub smiled forcefully and began walking inside again, his movements sharp and angry. I smirked, looking over to him,"I must say, well done. I have never seen him that ticked off before." I said. Avery nodded and looked off,"Alright. You all go eat." They all nodded, beginning to walk towards the mess hall. "Avery. Meet me out here when your done." I said. He nodded then turned to listen to Malikai as he told them both excitedly how he'd pinned me down. 

      I stood outside, waiting as the sun set and the warm air blew over my shoulders ruffling the feathers that made up my wings. I turned as I heard Avery walking toward the door and sighed, I wasn't, in any way, looking forward to talking with him. "Avery." I said as he walked out, the anger rising into my heart. "What was that?!" I asked, now furious. "I-I don't know." he said softly as he looked down,"You don't know?" I asked as I watched him. "Look at me when I'm talking to you Averette." I snapped. "How do you-" "I read your file." I said cutting him off. I watched him and recalled the information I'd learned. Averette Matthew Markenson, a real poster boy name, born and raised in Southern Detroit. He'd traveled a long way to end up here, in good ol' Alabama. I shook my head and looked off,"Look, I don't know why you did it, but, the small amount of trust you had gained with me is gone." I said. I looked back at him,"You need to be careful. Anger clouds the mind and poisons the heart." I said softly. "I know...I'm sorry." he said with a pain-laced voice,"Avery, I know you're sorry. Prove to me that you won't do it again." I said. He nodded,"Alright. Go to bed, calm down. We have a big day tomorrow." I said, he nodded and walked towards his bunker.

   I began walking towards my bunker thinking about how I would deal with Avery,"Im not a leader." I whispered to myself as I walked up to my door. "I'm only a soldier." I leaned against the door and clenched my eyes shut. I walked around and fell onto my bed, falling asleep. 

    I smiled as I ran with Kramer, my oldest brother, he kept trying to tag me but I was faster. "Come on! You can do better than that!"  I shouted behind me as I ran,"I can. So, I will!" he said. His white wings made a shadow over me as he flew past me and landed allowing me to run into him,"Hey no fair!" I called with a smile. "You'll get your wings soon enough Jericho." he said calmly as he picked me up,"Will I be good at it Kramer?" little me asked. He looked down at me with loving blue eyes framed by swishy black hair,"You will have the most beautiful wings and the best at whatever you become." he said.  

"No." I said softly as I woke up, and looked around. I sighed,"I've let you down Kramer." I said as I got out of bed and changed into a new pair of jeans, an old sweatshirt, and sneakers. "Morning ladies." I said as I walked out of the bunker towards the group of guys,"Morning Jericho." they said collectivley. I nodded at them and walked over to Jerub,"Are you ready?" he asked. "Of course." I said as we began to walk towards the transportation hangar,"Hey birdies!" Julius said as we climbed into the black van,"Morning Julius." I said and smiled. "What orphanage are you heading to today?" he asked,"Age to Age." I said,"Alright you all listen up." Jerub said. "These choices that you make today determine the life of two children." he said,"So, watch for the best of the best." I nodded and sighed as we drove off. "I bet I could beat you at arm wrestling." Derek said to Avery, I rolled my eyes and turned to Malikai,"So, how did you learn so many languages?" I asked. "Well, I taught myself mostly. Learning isn't the hard part." he said,"The hard part is learnig all the different dialects that makes up a language." I must have looked confused because he continued. "Think about it. I mean, up north they speak sharper and with different words for certain things. Up there they call soda 'pop' and down here...you call it 'soda' or 'coke'." he said with a smile. "That makes sense." I said with a nod. "So basically, you learn the essentials of a language and change it to match the different styles of speaking." I said. "That's exactly right." he said with a smile.

    We pulled into the orphanage and I sighed as memories flooded my mind,"Ready everyone?" Jerub asked as we got out. I smiled as the children ran up to meet us, a small girl stood away from the group. Her light green eyes shown with defiance as she stood there, her dark hair covered most of her face and I smiled walking up to her,"Hello there." I said softly, immediatley her gaze switched from defiant to fearful as I neared,"I won't hurt you dear." I said. She stepped away and ran off leaving me there as the kids laughed and played behind me. "You know, I'm sure she wasn't afraid." Derek said coming up behind me,"She wasn't. She was doubtful." I said standing. "Fear isn't a part of kids. It's carved into them." I walked past him and smiled as a small boy tackled Avery's legs. 

    "Welcome everyone! To the Age to Age Orphanage Field Day!" Jerub said loudly as the kids ran up to him. "The first event is a foot race! Please line up!" The kids scrambled to get in line. I turned feeling eyes on me, as I looked I saw the green-eyed girl and another kid, a small green-eyed boy, watching me. I smiled at the two, obviously siblings, as they lined up to race. "On your mark, get set, GO!" Jerub shouted and they all took off. I smiled as the siblings made an easy lead, the little girl leading by a step. "She reminds me of you, you know." Jerub said walking up to me,"Really?" I said as I looked over at him. "Yes. Fast, observant, quiet, untrusting." he said and laughed when I rolled my eyes,"Overall a great canidate." he said softly. "Thank you." I said as I looked to see the kids rounding the corner, Avery stood there watching the siblings intently. I couldn't help but find myself wondering what his opinion of her was.-----------