Disclaimer: Okay, most of the characters in this story I own. But, if I happen to stick a few members of the flock in here or something. . .or if I talk about the School or the Institute. . .they are not my ideas, they are James Patterson's. Okay, enjoy!


Chapter 1: The Eyes in the Shadows

Foxx was flying at least a good few thousand feet above the heart of New York City. There was no need to fly any higher, since it was about a quarter after midnight and mostly everyone was in their homes or apartments sleeping. Except for the few people who wandered the entertwining streets in their cars or scuffled along the sidewalks.

Foxx was thinking about joining the sleeping half of the city, but as of that moment, she was part of the populations overtaken by insomnia. She had to find a place to sleep. But where in a big city could an escaped human-avian hybrid sleep for the night, without causing trouble or glancing at the face of danger for about the two millionth, seven hundred forty-seventh time in her fifteen year old life? Hmm. . . Foxx thought. How about an old abandoned building. . .with its window sealed up.

Down below, Foxx had spotted a seemingly empty building with her raptor-like vision. She had agreed to herself that this place wouldn't be able to house one single living thing, except, perhaps, herself and a few rats and cockroaches. But she could deal with a few rats and roaches. It was just the look of the building and the locations she probably wouldn't be able to handle very long.

"It'll have to do," Foxx whispered to herself, circling the ramshackle building. Then, she quietly made her descent.

Foxx landed delicately upon the flat roof of the building and glanced around before finally folding her tawny wings against her back. She had not been followed by anyone, so far, which seemed a bit suspicious. Foxx would've thought Erasers had been chasing her by now since she had already traveled quite a ways from the University in Pennsylvania.

Foxx shrugged and headed towards the covered door which she believed lead to a decending staircase. Once she had reached the bottom of the stairs, she approached a steel door. Foxx roughly yanked it open and walked out into an open, dusty room.

"Well, it beats paying for a hotel room," Foxx whispered as she set down her small green backpack. Then she yawned and curled up on the filthy wooden floor, using her bag as a pillow. She was out within seconds after her eyes had finally fluttered closed.

As Foxx slept, a pair of scarlet glowing eyes watched her from a dark corner of the room. When she first entered the room, these gleaming eyes were not there. They had appeared right when Foxx fell asleep, and with them a pearly grin was revealed, with pointed fangs that glinted in the moonlight.

"I've got you just where I want you," Night softly growled from his corner. "Sweet dreams, my little avian friend. Too bad I have to drown them out with nightmares." Night smiled as he silently strode over to the sleeping Foxx. He then crouched down beside her and kissed her temple, watching her wince as he did so. Then Night leaned back and stroked Foxx's light auburn hair. "I'm sorry I have to do this, my little Foxx, but it's my job. And I must obey my orders." He smiled down at Foxx and stood up, his tall, lean form casting a shadow over her and across the dull floorboards.

Night walked over to the nearest open window, crouched on its sill, and dove off, unfurling his black eighteen foot bat wings at the last minute. he veered left and headed down the alley, moonlight chasing across his bach as he honed (word? sp?) closer to his destination: The Institute.