Alexa's POV

I jumped out of the window, waiting until the very last minute to snap open my wings and swoop upwards into the clear blue sky.

"Alexandria!!" yelled a voice from the house.

I ignored it, instead focussing on the horizon.

"Alexandria Aster! Get down here right now!" demanded the voice.

Not a chance. I lowered my head to make myself more aerodynamic, and upped my speed. There was no way they were going to catch me.

I feel I should probably explain: I am Alexa Maynard, AKA Alex Astra (made that up – it's so much cooler). I don't have parents, I was adopted by an ex-scientist couple from the hell-hole that was called the School. Oh yeah, and I have wings. Thanks to the sick whitecoats at the School, I'm 98% human, 2% avian. Which is just great if I want a normal life. Mrs. Maynard (notice how I don't call her mom? That's because she's a she-devil who forcibly adopted me from my cosy little den in New York) wanted to have me as, like, an exhibit – that's just the kind of sweet person she is. Mr. Maynard couldn't care less. (Also notice how I'm not a Maynard – I do have some standards, and I don't really want to be associated with them). I would have given anything to get away from them. Which is why I was constantly searching for my saviours - the kids who broke me out of the Institute for Higher Living in New York. They had wings too – same genetic mix as yours featherly. I would love to join them, to get away from my "parents"...if only I knew where to find them.

Oddly enough, this was exactly what I was thinking when I saw the Erasers by the edge of the wood.

"What the..."

Hadn't all the Erasers been "retired"? I angled my body to get a closer look, plummeting to the ground. I could just about hear a voice floating up to me as I landed in the large, conveniently placed pine tree for a better look. Part of me (well, alright, most of me), wanted to fly down and give them a good kicking – but I knew it was probably wiser to wait and see how many there were; and, more importantly, why they were there.

"Talk" growled an unmistakable Eraser voice.

When I looked down, I realised that it didn't actually come from an Eraser – these things were sleeker, they looked more efficient; and deadlier.

"Nope" replied a female in a sing-song voice.

"We can make you" snarled another wolf-boy. "You can't withstand us for much longer."

"Well, you'd think so, wouldn't you? But I very much doubt it."

There was an unpleasant thwack, and a sharp intake of breath.

"You will talk!" barked the first Wolf-Boy.

"I think...not!"

Unfortunately, they were shielding the girl from my view. With a sigh, I realised it was probably my duty to save her. After all, a human against an Eraser? No chance. I took off, and glided down smoothly until I was at head-height. Which is when I kicked Wolfie in the head with both feet. He went down like a tree as I landed next to the other one.

"Hey, dog-breath!" I panted. "Over here!"

He turned just as I raised my fist, positioning himself perfectly to be attacked by me. He got a fist in the face, breaking his nose. Did I mention that I'm really strong? That's one of the positive effects of being a mutant. His eyes widened, and I kicked him in the stomach. Hard. He fell to the floor, clutching his bloody nose. Kneeling down by the tree, I started to untie the astounded girl.

"Who are you?" she asked furiously.

I undid the first rope, and yanked it away from the tree trunk. The girl rolled her neck, showing the red raw scars around her throat.

"Er, hello? I just asked you a question!"

The second rope fell away, letting her breathe properly.

"And I didn't answer!" I replied brightly.

"I don't need your help!" she hissed.

"Really? Oh, fine, I'll just leave you tied to this tree then, no worries."

I pulled away the last two ropes in silence, releasing the moody girl, who stood up and stretched her wings out. Yeah. Her wings. I gaped.

"You..."

"Have wings too" she replied. "Yeah."

With that, she turned and started to run into the woods.

"Hey!! Where are you going?"

"To save my flock" she answered smartly, turning her back on me.

There were more like her? I followed her, trying to avoid being decapitated by the low branches which made this place a death-trap. Well, not so much a death-trap as an injury-trap. Anyway...There was a huge net underneath the trees, full of angry-looking kids. They were being guarded by three huge Erasers, and two others were holding a scared-looking girl with curly brown hair and worried brown eyes.

"Max! Stay back!" commanded a dark-haired boy from the net. "They'll hurt Nudge if you get too close..."

The girl (who, apparently was called Max) practically screeched to a halt, and then glared at the Erasers.

"Ange..."

Max screwed her eyes up and looked like she was trying to think the Erasers away.

"Er..." I began tentatively.

"Shut up" shot back Max.

"Suit yourself, kiddo" I spat.

She glared at me, a glare which I returned easily. Suddenly, a sweet little voice piped up from the net.

"Stand guard, Max."

She tensed, and I did the same automatically. The Erasers dropped the girl who was, oddly, called Nudge, and eerily went over to disarm their colleagues, then lead them off into the forest. Max hurried over and untied the net, which was fastened at the top like a giant bag of oranges. When the four other kids and their dog had been released, and Nudge had been seen to, Max straightened up and faced me.

"What the heck was that all about?" she demanded.