Chapter one
Raven stumbled as she ran faster and faster. They were catching up…slowly, but they were. The sixteen-year-old felt a cold hand on her shoulder and she was shoved to the ground. One by one many boys surrounded her, anywhere from the age of twelve to the age of twenty-five. They grabbed her wing and she heard a snap, then howled out in pain as it hung limply from her back, she tried to flap it, but only hurt herself worse. One began to yank feathers from them and she started to cry, it felt like pulling neck hairs one at a time. They stomped on her, swung mallets at her, and punched her wherever they could. After several long minutes, they left. Her right leg was sprawled awkwardly to the side, the bones felt as if they had been crushed to bits, she knew a rib or two was broken, but that was hardly noticeable with her leg and wing.
"Why do I have to be different…?" She shuddered and tried to push herself up with her arms, but it was useless, she was too weak. A dark cloud soon began to cover over the alleys of New York City, and a drop of rain splashed onto her pale forehead. She folded in her healthy wing to keep it as dry as possible and closed her eyes crying.
"Miss…?" Raven's head popped up and she saw a man standing there looking at her. "Miss, are you alright?"
"They beat me…they beat me…" She coughed and cried harder. The man knelt down beside her and stroked her ink-black locks.
"Are you a human freak?" She normally cowered at the word, but he seemed friendly enough so she acknowledged him.
"I…I am part bird. I fly." She looked up helplessly and he gently turned her body around and picked her up.
"Don't worry, I will help you the best I can. We can talk more once we get to my place." Raven nodded and soon fell asleep, fast asleep.