The Children Of Light

“They are the workers. They are the soldiers,” Rohbiha said quickly, as if ticking off a list. “Rohbiha may I see you in the hall?” Mr. Rush bumbled. He needed to remove her from the equation. His second nervous glance toward Zeke went unnoticed by anyone else. She ignored him, placing her right hand slowly on her desk. Studying her hand for a moment, she finally uttered, in a low, deep, challenging voice. “They also tend to be the most expendable.” She emphasized the word, bringing her head up deliberately as she spoke it, to meet the instructor’s agitated gaze. “Ms. Huda that is enough!” The little man boomed. She continued, narrowing her eyes defiantly. “… as they are more prolific than other…” The instructor took three long strides and grabbed Rohbiha by the arm. She stopped speaking momentarily, then looked up at him, daring him to stop her. An unrepentant smile curled her lips upward. “They are the sillemlem,” Mr. Rush’s eyes flashed at the mention of this strange word, “that are most often taken advantage of.” The pretty girl looked accusingly around the room. “Used.” She locked eyes with several other students. “Victimized.” The girl was impassioned, forcefully hurling her charges, condemning both the people and the place. The pretty girl tipped her head up to look Mr.Rush full in the face. He was still grasping her arm firmly. She finished menacingly, “… because of their blind loyalty” Rohbiha and Mr. Rush stood toe to toe, each held in the others challenging gaze, as others in the classroom glared at the girl. Her offensive description regarding shifters had obviously hit a nerve. Mr. Rush displayed a wicked grimace. “Yes,” he said softly, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “Finally we discover where your loyalties lie.” Rohbiha smiled up at him slyly…and disappeared. The room was thrown into chaos as Mr. Rush’s arm jerked suddenly, and then he was blindly grasping the air, flailing as if he could somehow find something that was no longer there. She pulled her arm sharply away from his grasp as she altered. “You’ve done it now,” she thought, “get going!” Rohbiha moved toward the window and was through it in an instant. “I’ve got her!” a young woman from the back of the room shouted, vanishing. “No!” yelled the instructor, sounding panicky. “Just let her go!” He whirled, searching for students who were no longer visible. Grasping for control of the class which was now in turmoil. Turning toward Zeke, he pleaded for instruction, direction of some kind. Zeke simply shook his head slightly in disgust. Arianna jumped to her feet and spun around wildly, fear filling her as she realized this was an escape of some kind. Were people forced to stay here? She turned quickly toward Carollyn. Her little sister seemed transfixed, studying the events unfolding before them intently, completely calm. “What’s going on?” whispered Arianna, leaning toward Carollyn. The little red-head looked at her sister, winked, and then…she was gone.