I woke in a place that was unknown to me. As I looked around I saw what looked like a very peaceful place. Mountains and green surrounded me. The air was crisp and clear but colder than New York City. I looked around and saw a large house on the side of a cliff. It was the first house I had ever seen so I was unsure if it was a big house or if all houses were that big. I slowly picked myself off of the grass. How strange. There is a house on the side of a cliff. I must find out what exactly is in that house.
I jumped up with what little energy I could muster. My legs felt like led but I for some reason needed to see what was in that house. But how am I going to get there I thought Maybe I'll try flying like Wheels did through that window. So I stepped back instinctively ran forward and launched myself into the air. Without trying my wings unfurled and pushed me up easily. Because I was unsure of myself I just flew in a straight line to the house. Flying was amazing though and all I wanted to do was fly in circles all day. But I needed to see who was in that house.
I peered through the window. I worried if they were scientist or something even worse. But to my relief they were just children. One was a young girl with blonde hair and large blue eyes and another was a boy that looked like her but a little bit older maybe eight or nine. An older and darker looking girl stood near them with black hair and was chattering happily. With her sat a girl who was about my age with a light blondish and brownish hair, a leather jacket and a smile. Then I realized something that I should have put into sense much earlier.
I woke with a jolt. I looked around stunned for a second. I reminded myself of the events that we had experienced the day before. A group of winged children saved us from the school. Then we stole clothes and money. Now we are in a church for shelter. I remembered only bits of the dream I just woke up from. But I knew that it included the girl that rescued us, and more children. They might have wings too. I had that dream before but only once. I thought I was just tracking in my sleep. But now it was definitely a dream because they were probably still in New York. The subtle light of the beginning of dawn seeped into the window. The sky was such a wonderful thing. I just wanted to be up there.
Everyone was still sleeping. I reached over to wake Prez up but then a thought crossed my mind. Wheels had flown without practice because he was falling. It must be natural instinct. That means if I were to jump out of this window I would start flying. I shook my head. What if I didn't have the instincts of Wheels and fell. Who would be there for Wheels? Why should I waste my freedom by killing myself? What if someone saw me? There were more things wrong with that plan than I could count. But something was pulling at me. Some sort of impossible force pulled me to that window. A voice in my head said not to that I would die. But a voice in my heart said to jump out of that window and to soar.
Before I could stop myself I was on the windowsill. My wings burst through the back of my shirt creating two large holes in the back. 3...2…1… liftoff! For one horrible moment I was falling. I fell like a rock instead of flying like the bird I was. I braced myself to hit the ground but it never happened. I hadn't noticed but I was slowly carrying myself through the air in a long straight line. Then I sped up. Soon I was racing through the skies. I was above the clouds where no one could see me. I circled the block where the church was a few times. Flying was like ruling the world. I was so full of joy that my heart was dancing to the beat of my wings and the air in my ears. Everything was in perfect harmony.
I did a loop-de-loop and perfectly perched myself on the windowsill. I looked around and quietly stepped inside of the church everyone looked still asleep except… "Well good morning Blue. Out for a joy ride aren't you?" Prez said with a quick smile. "Normally I would say that jumping out of a window for no reason is not the best idea. But for you it seems to be exactly that." he teased " And somebody should be getting up right about now." Then I saw Daisy's head pop up from the small ball she was curled up in. Wheels yawned as he stretched and slowly rose to his feet. "Is it morning already? At least today we get to go and buy new clothes. I want to see the stores and the people and buildings and everything." Daisy chattered happily. Everyone just seemed happy not to be in the institute.
But I couldn't help but to think about the dream I had. There was a reason for the dream. There was a reason that I remembered tracking through a dream. But why? I had felt so good. I felt like for once I was at home. I never had thought of that. The Institute was never home. Did I ever have a home? I pushed the thought out of my mind. I tried to run my fingers through my knotted hair. If this was going to work than we needed to look like any other child living in New York City. I looked toward Prez for any sign of approval. I noticed that he was trying to do the same for Daisy. She sat politely as Prez struggled to get the dirt off of her. I knew he felt the same parental connection to the kids as I did. I walked over to Wheels who not surprisingly complained loudly.
We came upon a large building containing many stores. "Let's see where the people are shopping. Then we can go in, blend in, get what we need, and get out." I saw lots of people. So many people. The last time I had seen so many people like this was in the Institute. I felt queasy as I remembered what horrors we faced there. "Blue are you okay?" Prez asked, "You look like you might throw up."
"I'm fine." I lied.
"Tell me if something is wrong, okay?"
"Okay." I said. I can't be this weak. What will it do to Wheels and Daisy?
A young couple with a baby passed us. Their bags read JCPenny. "Maybe we can go to the same store as those people went. It is probably close by." I said
Shopping was strange. The rule was that if you saw a few people buy an item, than that is he one you buy. We had to look as normal as possible. That didn't work exactly as planned. Daisy wanted a large tutu and various pearls. She assured us that everyone was getting them. In the end she got a frilly pink shirt and jeans. I ended up somewhat stalking a girl who looked about sixteen with her mother. I got everything that they got. That included a sky blue shirt that sported the number eleven and the words "I love soccer" on them. I also got a somewhat bland dark gray jacket with a hood along with what very thin looking jeans. But for the first time I was able to see myself in a mirror. It was a very strange experience. I already knew that I had very straight, dark brown hair and fair skin. But I never knew that I also had blue eyes and high cheekbones and light pink lips. I guess that I never really thought of it. Prez got a sport's jersey as the sign read for the Giants, whoever they were. He also got jeans. Wheels had the same out fit except his was for the Nicks.
As we began to rush out of the store to try to get some basic things like a backpack and tooth brushes I bumped into a tall man in an empty ally. Shoot! Maybe he noticed that we just stole all of this stuff. He looked very handsome and muscled. I looked up to him. He looked down and said, "Remember me?"
Hair began to cover his face and he grew. His back hunched over, claws shot out of his fingers, and his face morphed into a muzzle. I fell on my back. It's over. We are found. I didn't need reminding of what an Eraser was. Only I was too scared. I froze. One of his paws rose slowly and he grinned. At least I'll die free. That was what I always wanted anyway. His head suddenly snapped back as blood seared from him. From a black point, a liquid rose dripped to the floor, hot and thick. Prez had saved me. He held the leg of a chair in his hand as blood dripped from the end that had snapped to a deadly point. He dropped to his knees. "I killed someone. I did what the scientists did. I'm a monster like them," he whispered. I got onto my feet. I got half way to him until I once again fell to my knees. "You saved me."