'Snake Eyes said you have to wear them this time.'
Amari stared at Jinx. 'Who is Snake Eyes?'
"Big and covered black, can't miss him." Oh yeah, that's his name. Amari had forgotten. She played with her fingers, uncomfortable at the thought of more hearing aids. The last two each had their own problems, and now it was for the third pair. Amari didn't know where they were coming from, or what happened to them after trying them on, only that they were supposed to belong to her.
'You will share your room soon.' Jinx had tapped Amari's shoulder to get her to look up. Amari didn't question it, stay quiet and obedient. Snake Eyes came back, another slightly different box in his hand. Amari sat still, letting him put the cold object into her ear. He asked Jinx to leave once they were in.
When the door closed Amari threw herself onto the floor with a scream. Why was it so loud? Doors aren't that loud! She didn't remember them sounding like bombs, so loud and deep. The room felt bigger too, like the walls had suddenly spread away from her. Amari lay at the floor, hugging her head.
Four hands grabbed her, two on each elbow, forcing her arms away. They pulled her to sit up, forcing her to stay still. They kept talking, trying to get her to listen and calm down. Amari tried to breath, tried to stop the memories from flowing out. There was also the ringing in her ears, vibrating against her skull. The hearing aids were pulled out.
Training continued, but from then on the hearing aids were only put on in the room, and the door was to remain untouched. They would give simple commands and have her respond to them. Like stand up, raise your hand, and nod your head. This then went on to working on her speech.
Amari didn't realize how slurred her words could be. When speaking aloud, her vowels were duller than theirs, and a bit quieter. She had been trying hard to remember her voice, but as the years had worn on it was getting progressively more difficult. They called the hours spent teacher her how to speak speech therapy.
At the end of each session the hearing aids would be taken out and left on the desk. They would leave and Amari would be left alone for the rest of the day. For a week there was a system. Wake up, and food would be left at her desk by Jinx. After eating it was training. After that it was a quick meal, and then speech therapy. Then sleep. Amari saw the Blind Master one more time, but otherwise it was mostly Jinx.
The cycle was broken when Jinx showed up to training with a stranger. His skin was as dark as his uniform, his eyes widening to a crazy look with his smile. He kept playing with his pocket knife, opening and closing it in his hand. The clicking echoed in the room, but he just kept staring at Amari with that look.
"This is DB." Jinx introduced. Amari held her tongue, wanting to comment on how that sounded like a name you give to a stuffed bear. She wanted to ask several questions, about whom he was and what he did. But questions mean talking, and drawing attention. Amari wanted none of those. The best way to stay alive is to be silent and forgotten.
The crazy man smiled at Amari, "Can I have your number?" He was very freaky. He paused, then signed to me.
'How do you know street language?' Amari's hands lifted to sign the question before she thought twice.
Scary boy smiled, 'I have been there. Jinx and Snake wanted me to learn.'
Amari glanced at Jinx. She had already asked one question, at this point two wouldn't hurt. 'How do you know street language?'
'The language is simple.' Jinx signed, which was true. Street Language was a simple version of ASL, with a limited vocabulary. DB kept smiling, he just never stops.
'He will be with you today. Listen to him.' Jinx signed, and then left the room. Scary eyes would not stop smiling. He gestured to the training grounds, as if to ask 'shall we begin?'. Amari followed him, watching as he kept clicking the blade. Amari pulled out the hearing aids.
He shook his head, having her put them back on. He stopped clicking his blade and handed it over to Amari. Then he motioned for her to open it, which Amari did very slowly. The sound of metal echoed in her ear. The sound of metal grew into a fear. Hearing it slice the air, hearing it be taken out, any metallic sound made it difficult for Amari to breath.
Amari got a new roommate, just like Jinx said she would. He didn't know sign language, and Amari wasn't yet comfortable with hearing people talk. Instead the two of them wrote back and forth on paper. He was an assassin, one that wasn't paid to kill. He explained that his job was purifying the world from those who made it worse, and that he did it willingly. DB started to come over more often, teaching the new roommate, Amari couldn't remember his name, how to kill.
Amari wasn't taught how to kill, she was taught how to hide. How to be silent and invisible. How to disappear from all senses. She was also being forced to listen, being taught selective attention. While DB was swinging a sword around Amari was hiding in a tree close by. More and more students joined this training. The room would get filled with roll out beds at night, the sound of several breaths as they slept. If they slept.
One person took it upon themselves to bully Amari. He would purposefully closing the door with a slam, always swinging around daggers when close to Amari, and giving random shouts. Snake Eyes finally put an end to it, Amari didn't know what the punishment was. Jinx made it very clear to the rest of the group- any bullying is not tolerated.