Chapter 2
Echo
Cold sweat drenched my skin. My feet pounded out the rhythm that my heart followed. My breath came in short gasps. The trees loomed above me. Ahead of me I saw three figures. One I recognized as Shane. The two others were Catmen.
I ran faster but the forest grew longer. I couldn't reach him. One of the Catmen raised a gun. I shouted to Shane. I willed my feet to go faster. I spread my wings but
the left one dragged behind on the forest floor. The Catman fired. The bullets
punctured flesh with bone-shattering force. Shane fell to the ground. I screamed.
I woke with a short gasp. I lay on my stomach in the small bed. Ceera and Mirage lay beside me. Sweat soaked my forehead. My stomach clenched. When I got my breathing
under control, I went to the window and peeked out of the shabby, moth-eaten curtain.
The sun was inching its way over the tree line, bathing the tops of the trees
in a honey-sweet glow. Mountains peaks rouse behind the misty green expanse. The sight calmed me. I smiled at the mountains and imagined flying above them, tendrils of fog licking my face and a cold breeze lifting my wings.
I glanced at my watch it was almost 7. My family needed their sleep, but we couldn't be late for school. Not that I care that much, but I've never been to school and I was kind of looking forward to learning
something.
I got dressed in the fresh clothes that I had bought yesterday. They were nothing special like Ceera's outfits. Running shoes I had found at a used-shoe sale; skinny
jeans, a tank top, and a leather jacket--my new prized possession--I had found at Marshals. I'm glad that I can change clothes every night. And I'm glad that
Shane and Wolf can too. Living with two adolescent boys for a year without
a constant supply of running water was not healthy lifestyle.
I went into the front room with my clothes from last night and put them in the washing machine. Then I started making breakfast. Not instant meals, but Pop Tarts. When I was
done with that. I woke everyone up. I woke Ceera and Mirage up by poking them,
but I got a kick out of banging pots in Shane's room. Wolf was out of bed in a
second. Brain rolled out of bed and onto the floor. Shane started yelling at
me, but at that point I was out of the room. Mirage and Ceera were laughing
their butts off in the kitchen as they ate their Pop Tarts. I grinned at them
and put the pots back.
"Echo, can I take a look at your bullet holes?" Ceera asked.
"Sure," I said. I went to the couch and took off my jacket and tank top. I have a bra underneath. Mirage made me buy her one. Ceera had pouted, but she doesn't need one. Ceera sat
on the back of the couch and peeled away the bandages. I let my wings unfurl a
bit to give her a clearer look at the wounds.
"They look good," Ceera murmured to herself. She put a cold finger next to the one in my spinal cord. I gritted my teeth as a cold wave washed down my back. Ceera's power
tingled my nerves. She did the same for the other two. Shane walked in at that
minute. Great.
"What did you do that for? We were going to get up," Shane said as he went to get his Pop Tart.
"It is almost 7:30," I said, doing my best mommy voice, "You're going to be late for your first day of school." Shane glared at me, but stopped. I was standing and
folding my wings in close. Wolf came in. I didn't hear him until he spoke.
"Whoa," was all he said. I glared at him and Shane as I pulled my shirt and jacket on. The slits in the back of each let me spread my wings, but it still felt cramped with all
that fabric over them. After I was dressed, I got a Pop Tart and perched on the
edge of the counter. The rest of my family was starting on their third or forth
at this point. Shane came to stand next to me.
"How are they?" he inquired about the bullet holes. I didn't like the rest of the Flock asking about my health, but I let Shane.
"Getting better," I said, remembered the cold brush of his fingers as he checked the one over my spine. He had thought I was asleep. I'm a good actor. I knew he would stop
if he had thought I was awake. "They're healing nicely, but Ceera says I still
can't fly." Shane gave me sympathetic look. He knew what flying meant to me.
Ironically the Institute had turned us into mutants, but if it hadn't been for them
I would never be able to do the thing I love most in the world.
"Eat," he ordered, handing me two more Pop Tarts. I ate.
After breakfast we grabbed our new backpacks and headed to school. I felt so normal, walking to school with my family. The only thing that reminded me that I wasn't normal
was the ache in my shoulder where the strap of my bag rubbed against my wound
and Ceera who was bounding into the air like a deer on steroids.
"Ceera," I called. Ceera looked behind her mid leap.
"What?" she asked as she landed and prepared to jump again.
"You can't do that," I explained, "None of us can," I added, looking at my family. "You can't do anything that will suggest we're not normal." Ceera pouted, but her dark
face lit up when she saw a blue jay roosting on a branch above our heads.
"Hello!" she called. The blue jay cocked its head and took flight.
We finally reached the school yard. The school looked like two Ls shoved together. The elementary school was on the left and the high school was on the right. In the middle were
the main offices.
"We need to go see the vice principal to get our schedules," Mirage explained. Thankfully she looked like herself. Perfect ringlets, big brown eyes—made bigger by the makeup
she made me buy for her and Ceera—soft pink lips, angelic face. Mirage is a
devil. All evidence to the contrary.
"Alright," Shane said, as I hesitated. I don't usually hesitate, but faced with a school filled with unfamiliar people got me a little jittery. Cut me some slack I grew up in a dog crate. "Lets go." Shane led the way
into the building. I trailed at the back of the group. Ceera fell back to walk
beside me. She was in the outfit she had worn to dinner last night. Her hair
was held back with barrettes. I can't believe I wasted precious money on
barrettes and makeup.
"It's going to be fine," Ceera whispered, taking my hand, "I'll look after Brain—Albert." I smiled at her. Brain walked ahead with Wolf. He was explaining dark matter to Wolf. Wolf looked like he was trying hard to understand.
Shane led us into the main office. The receptionist looked up and frowned in surprise when she saw us. Brown haired, brown eyed Shane. Blond haired, brown eyed Wolf and
Mirage. Dark haired, dark Asian
eyed Ceera. Black haired, blue eyed Brain. And me. The only tanned one in the
group—beside from Ceera, but she doesn't really count as tan. With my white blond hair and green eyes I look
like a kid whose parents tried to genetically engineer me to be the perfect
supermodel. Probably because I am a genetically engineered kid. Just not a
supermodel. I missed out on the height gene.
Shane stepped forward and took charge. "We're the Montgomery children. Our mother was here yesterday to enroll us."
"Yes," the secretary said, "Um…where is your mother?"
"She couldn't be here today," Shane said. The secretary nodded.
"The vice principal is in a meeting. I have your schedules here. Your mother didn't give any names." We gave our names. Our normal names. The secretary wrote them down
and handed us our schedules. "Have a nice day," she said and we left the
office. I looked down at my schedule. My first class was English in 22A. Wherever that was.
"Alright," I said addressing the group. They all looked up from their schedules. "Stick together, don't get into fights, and learn something," I said, "Br—Albert, Cassidy,
Marissa, and Kevin, you're in the elementary school building. Shane and I are
in the high school. We'll meet for lunch in the Cafeteria." A sign on the wall
pointed up a flight of stairs to the caf. I gave them each a hug. Except Shane
who I would be with all day. Wolf stood stiffly as I wrapped my arms around
him. Ceera jumped into my arms. Brain looked ready to get to class and Mirage
hugged me tight, but tried to keep a serious face as she did so. They walked
off in a group towards the elementary side. Ceera waved over her shoulder as
they left.
"You're going to see them at lunch," Shane said, putting a hand on my shoulder. I nodded.
"Lets get to class. We have so much to learn," I said with fake excitement. Shane snorted and we walked off together to the high school.
I have never been in a school so I had no idea what to expect. Lockers lined the walls with doors every twenty feet or so. Kids filled the hallway. I stopped before I
went more than two feet. You see, I have a confession. I'm claustrophobic.
Deathly claustrophobic. I hate buildings and I hate buildings filled with
people. It's so…confining. I want the
outdoors. The sky.
Shane knew this and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. He steered me through the crowd, looking for room 22A I think. I was trying to remember how to breath. When
we're outside, in the sky, on the run, I'm in my element. Here in school, with
people surrounding me and no escape in sight, I got scared. Really scared. Shane
understood. He had been in those crates too. When it felt like there was no hope
in the world. Just you and the bars. And the men and women in white coats with
needles, treating us like the animals 2% of our DNA made us into.
Kids turned to stare at us. They had been in school together for close to a month now—it's mid October—and they knew a new face when they saw one. Shane guided me through the
crowd as the kids broke into whispers. Finally, after what felt like years, we
reached 22A. Shane opened the door and I followed him in. The room was
blessedly empty. Except for a large woman with curly brown hair. She looked up
when we enter. Shane took his arm away from my shoulders.
"You must be the new kids," the woman said, hurrying over to us, "I'm Mrs. Murphy." She held out a hand to Shane, which he shook, saying "Shane" as he did so. I took the hand
as she offered it and muttered my normal name under my breath. Mrs. Murphy directed us
to our chairs as she explained the course.
"We're reading the Catcher and the Rye. Have you heard of it?" she asked as she handed out the small book. I looked at the cover. There was a
carousel on it. I looked at Shane.
"No," Shane said.
"You haven't…" Mrs. Murphy stuttered. We had barely spent a year in the outside world. For the first fourteen years of my life I was either in a cage or a slab of metal with
needles being poked into me. They had taught us how to read, but nothing
edifying. Not that Mrs. Murphy knew any of that.
"Well." Mrs. Murphy collected herself, "We're on Chapter 3. You'll need to catch up." She turned her back on us and walked to the front of the room. I stared from the
book to Mrs. Murphy to Shane and back to the book. Shane looked equally
confused. Apparently we weren't worth her time if we hadn't heard of the
Catcher and the Rye.
The bell rang and the door to the classroom opened. Kids poured in. They gave us curious looks as they sat in their assigned seats. When the class was settled, Mrs. Murphy
addressed us.
"We have new students today," she said, "Shane and Emma Montgomery." Heads swiveled and their owners took us in with a range of emotion. I don't like people I don't
know. That's why I like to avoid public places. I love my family, but they were
about it.
I looked at the girls first. They looked at me. Or Shane. According to Mirage Shane is hot. That had never occurred to me before, but these girls seemed to be thinking of him that
way. I could see it on their faces. I could also see that they didn't like me
for whatever reason. I don't get the whole teenage girl thing. I heard people
talking about it in the mall or wherever the Flock touched down for a day. Is the average teenage girl really hostile,
backstabbing, devious, and manipulative? I wouldn't
know since I'm not the average teenage girl.
The boys seemed less hostile towards me than the girls. Is it vain to think you're pretty? Mirage and Ceera think I'm pretty. Maybe I am. I don't spend a lot of time in
front of mirrors.
As I stared from face to face I decided that I really did not like people. They immediately put you into one of two categories: prey or predator. I have a lot of experience with
this. I'm usually in the prey category until it comes down to a fight in which
case I'm the predator. At that moment I was getting some serious "prey" vibes
directed towards me.
Mrs. Murphy ignored us for the rest of the class. As she spoke, I gazed out the window. The sky was an overcast gray. But I'd rather be there than here. Shane caught my
eye and smiled knowingly. I smiled sadly back and turned back to the window.
The bell finally rang. I nearly jumped out of my seat it startled me so badly. The girl next to me was also out of her seat in an instance. She was small with brown hair,
brown eyes, and lighter brown skin. She smiled as I made eye contact with her,
but she slipped around me and went to talk to Shane.
"Hi. I'm Megan. Do you need someone to show you to your next class?" the girl asked.
"That would be great. Emma and I have math now. Where's that?" Shane asked. I slid my new book into my bag, and went to stand behind Shane.
"You have math?" Megan giggled, "So do I. I'll take you there." Megan and Shane walked together out of the room. Megan was doing most of the talking. She sounded like the
Energizer Bunny on a sugar high. I followed Shane, ignoring the chattering
around me.
"Hey," said a voice behind me. I looked around, surprised that anyone had noticed me. I was doing my best to become invisible. For once I wish the Institute had given me a
power. Invisibility would be more than welcomed at the moment."I'm Nick," said
the boy. He was cute with close-cropped blond hair and blue
eyes. He was taller than me by a few inches. Almost as tall as Shane.
"Oh, I'm Emma," I said
"Emma," he said, like he was testing the name, "I was in English with you and I heard your brother talking with Megan. I have math, too."
"Really," I said, "Um, what do you do in math?"
"We're studying geometry," Nick explained as we went through the halls. I looked around and spotted Shane ahead of us, still talking with Megan.
"Cool." What the hell is geometry? Don't judge me.
"Cool?" he asked.
"Yeah, cool."
"So, where are you from?" Nick asked. I think he was a little shocked that I would find geometry "cool". I think it sounds pointless. Would it save your neck if a Catman had a
gun pointed at you? Didn't think so.
"Louisiana." Which was true, I am from Louisiana. Born and bred.
"Really, why are you in Utah?" Good question. Why am I in Utah? Oh that's right, because I'm the run from evil scientists who want their lab rats back. Dead or alive.
"My mother is studying birds." Sure why not? There are birds in Utah. And part-birds-part-human. We reached the math class room. Nick held the door for
me. I entered the class room and took an empty seat that Nick pointed me to. He
sat in front of me. Shane sat on my left and Megan sat on my right. I was about
to talk to Shane when Megan caught my attention by leaning towards me.
"Where did you go to school before Southwood?" she asked.
"I was home schooled actually," I said.
"Oh, really? How many brothers and sisters to you have?" she asked.
"Two sisters. Three brothers."
"Wow. Did your parents plan to have that many or did it just happen?" Megan hadn't picked up on the fact that Shane and I looked nothing alike nor had she seen the rest of
my family.
"Actually, we're adopted. And my mother isn't married." Megan stared at me.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. You didn't no differently."
"So you and Shane…aren't really brother and sister?" I stared at her. No, we weren't brother and sister, but when the boy in the cage next to you is the only living
creature that isn't trying to stick needles into you, thoughts of not being
related don't cross your mind.
"Well, I've always thought of him as my brother," I said. Megan smiled as the teacher called the class to order.
In forty five minutes I learned all I needed to know about geometry: it is completely unnecessary in the real world. Maybe in a classroom it was convenient to know the area of a triangle, but in the real world? Not at all. Take my word for it.