The Academy

Chapter 1 - Lyra

"What's going on?"  I asked, pausing on the threshold of my dorm room and staring out into the suddenly crowded hallway.  Behind me, Jessa stood up and walked to my side, glancing over my shoulder.  I could feel her breath against my neck.  Nevon looked up from her bed where she was idly sewing the latest patch she'd earned onto her quilt.  A mob was forcing its way down the hall toward the doors that led out to the main campus.  Loud footsteps reverberated on the polished wood floors and echoed in the arched ceiling above. 

"There's going to be a whipping!"  Someone said excitedly.

"A whipping?"  I whispered, incredulous.  Jessa gasped in my ear.

"Yeah," a boy said as he passed us.  "You'd better hurry up!"  He called, staring back at those of us who still lingered in our doorways.

"Come on!"  Nevon said, jumping off the bed and rushing to the door.  Abruptly I was thrust into the wave of people heading outside.

"Jessa!"  I cried, trying in vain to stop and look for my friend, but the force of the crowd was so strong I was pushed forward against my will.  Twice, I stumbled over my own feet and almost fell.

"Isn't this great?"  A girl with brown hair asked, rubbing up against my arm.  I turned pale and glanced at her.  "Isn't this great?"  She repeated, a strange fire in her eyes.  

"I've never seen a whipping before," I answered softly."

"Oh, neither have I," she said quickly.  "I've always wanted to, though."

I nodded but had difficulty swallowing.  Why wasn't I as excited as everyone else, I wondered.  Why did the idea of someone being whipped make my stomach churn?

"Because you have compassion for what happens to other."

I blinked and turned my head.  Someone had just answered the questions that had been burning in my mind.  Startled, I looked around.  Had I spoken them aloud?

"No," the voice said again, and I saw it was the boy walking on my other side who was answering my questions.  I stared at him, into his strange, almost clear eyes, and realized he was one of the New Ones.

"I don't know how you are able to read our minds, but I'd appreciate it if you would not read mine!"  I snapped loudly over the other voices that engulfed us.  There was cheering, and some students had begun to sing the Academy's fight song.  I was beginning to get a headache.

The New One smiled slowly, and I realized he was mocking me.  I turned my head away just as I was thrust out the double doors onto the lawn.  A cold gust of air blew my hair away from my face and stung my cheeks.  School had been in session about a month, but the autumn had been bitter, promising an early winter.  I began to rub my exposed arms, wishing I'd grabbed a sweater.  As the crowd at my back continued to file out the door, I braced myself, helplessly pushed forward by the mob.  But a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me away.

I stumbled again and fell backward.  I feared I would be trampled to death, but strong arms supported me.  Once I regained my feet, I turned to glare up into the eyes of the same boy who had spoken to me before.  The New One.  

"Get your hands off me," I said angrily, pulling out of his grasp.  He simply smiled down at me.  "I said . . . "  I began, but he cut me off.

"You should be thanking me."

"Why?"  I asked indignantly.

"Look around you," he answered, and I did.   I realized we were no longer surrounded.  Somehow, the boy had pulled me out of the mob; we were now standing against the red brick building that housed the dormitory.