Chapter 4

Yeah this took forever to update. I'm sooo sorry. I have an excuse but i'll just try to update faster to make up for it. Read, review, and enjoy.


I woke up to find myself completely naked.

Yeah not the best way to wake up when you felt like you just came out of a blender.

But this wasn't anything new and other then the room being cold, nudity didn't bother me much.

I lifted my head from the bed they had me strapped to and saw that i was in one of their white rooms.

I hate these damn rooms. The nauseating smell of chemicals always made my head spin.

I could feel my wings being squished under me and tried to move my weight to one side so they had a little room to move. Laying on my wings didn't exactly hurt, but it wasn't the most comfortable position either. It was like laying on your arms and then your weight makes the blood circulation stop then they go numb for a bit.

I tried to wiggle my arms free from their leather restraints and hissed when my shoulder began to burn.

Flashes from what happened popped into my head. The experiment. The Howlers. The voice...Youichi.

"Youichi!" I screamed as loud as my sore throat would allow.

"Youichi! You assholes! Where is he?! What did you do to him?!" That should get someones attention soon enough...

I kept yelling until a few minutes later i heard the door open.

"Be quiet!" Narumi harshly whispered.

"Where is he?!" I ignored him.

He gave me an exasperated look and shut the door. He walked over to the counter and opened a drawer and took out a thin blanket to cover me with. Like i said nudity didn't bother me but Narumi thought it was improper for a girl not to care about being nude. I rolled my eyes at his wasted effort of trying to teach us manners.

"He's okay. He's resting in a room nearby." He told me while untying my legs and arms. I let out a breathe i hadn't known i was holding and sat up gingerly with Narumi's help. My wings fluttered out behind me ahh that felt much better I ached everywhere and i felt like a bruised apple. I tried to move my legs to the side to slide off the bed but my thigh screamed in protest. I touched my neck, at least they took the shock collar off..

"You've only been out for a few hours"

Narumi watched my face scrunch up in pain as my feet touched the floor and i leaned against the bed.

"He broke his arm, but he's healing fast. He should be fine in a day or so."

"Let me see him." I wrapped the blanket under my armpits and around my thin frame then tied it so it wouldn't slip off. I peeked at my shoulder and i could see the mauled flesh healing in a jagged way. I should be fine in a day or two.

"Not yet." He gave me a small smile when i glared at him. " You fought well, the bastards got what they wanted." He looked down at the floor and his mouth twisted into frown.

"I'm sorry about the experiment. I wouldn't have let it happen if i had known." He said softly.

"I know, just wish you woulda put the damn dog down sooner" I grumbled. He looked up and gave me a wary smile.

"Yeah sorry about that, i was busy trying to get Youichi out" He leaned against the counter while i sat up on the bed.

Seems like this was gonna take a while might as well save my energy for later.

"What did they make him do?" I asked in a low voice.

His face darkened, "They were supposed to just give you guys a type of fluid and take you back, it was a harmless test, i shouldn't have let them separate you two. When i left to get some equipment and came back Youichi was gone and so was my co-worker" He glared at the memory" i asked around for you two but no one would tell me so i went to go check one of the other buildings, farther from where you actually were. Then a friend of mine contacted me" He looked up at me intensely when he said this. He means the voice i heard in my head..at least i know i'm not crazy. I nodded to show i knew what he meant. " and told me where you two were i rushed over as fast as i could but they had Youichi in a different building with these.. these things i hadn't known that we even had" His nose scrunched up in disgust. He shook his head to try to get the image out.

"He only had a broken arm when i got there, i shut down the test and got him patched up then went to get you after i put him in a safe room. You were in a worse situation . I'm relieved i got there before it got worse. I stitched up your thigh and cleaned the shoulder, that's why you're naked." He gestured to my covered up thigh. I lifted my make-shift gown enough to see the red and puffy stitched skin glaring back at me. Great another scar, how many is that now? He walked over to me and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. He looked me in the eyes and i could see tears in the corners of his startling blue eyes.

" I'm so sorry sweetie..." he leaned his forehead against mine and hugged me carefully as to not hurt my injuries. I sighed, i knew he felt bad about the situation Youichi and i were in but this is all we've ever known. I don't love it and neither does Youichi, but in a way we're afraid of leaving the known for the unknown out there. At least here we know what to expect...but anything must be better than this wretched place.

I felt him suddenly grip my good shoulder roughly. I tried to push back from the hug confusedly, but he gripped me harder.

"Shhh I'm not sure if they're listening, they don't trust me with you two anymore, not after how i shut down the tests today. They're going to move me to a different facility far from here." My breathe hitched when he said that. What are we going to do? Without Narumi we'll be treated worse than we already are. We need him here. I'm not even sure if we would still be alive if- " I only have a little bit of time with you two. I am going to get you out. Just wait for my signal. Trust me...and trust your instincts"

He released me and stepped back. "We'll i'm going to get you some proper clothes, its been a while since i got you two new clothes..." he mumbled while walking towards the door. " Stay here i'll be back in a minute" before he closed the door he turned and fixed a hard stare on me, i tilted my head confusedly, he smiled for a second and walked out.

I stared at the shut door.

He can't be that dumb right? He knows i won't listen to him...

I shook my head and slowly hobbled to the door. I quietly opened it and looked both way. Nobody around. Perfect. Probably talking about the tests their going to try next on us after they kick Narumi out. I shuddered and shut the door behind me then limped to the door on my right.

He said Youichi was nearby, right?

I cracked the door open a bit and peeked inside. Empty, damn it.

After the next two tries, and with no luck, i leaned against the wall to take a breather. With every empty room i could feel my anxiety rising. Where is he?

I could fell the stitches pulling at the raw skin of my thigh, and my palms were sweaty from the strain i was putting on my leg.

I leaned my head back and blew the loose hair that had escaped my braid out of my face.

It was to quiet... they usually have a guard or two around me. And Narumi isn't back yet.

I shook my head and leaned off the wall. One more door in this hall, he has to be here.

I opened the door no longer caring about stealth. I wobbled into the room to find -

"Youichi! You're okay!" He looked up at me startled by my appearance. He had a cast around his left arm, but he seemed to be in one piece. I let out sigh of relief and limped over to him to give him a fierce hug,careful not to hurt my shoulder or his broken arm. He wiggled out of my embrace and i pulled back confusion on my face.

He must have read the expression on my face because he shook his head and looked down at his lap. My eyes widened at what i saw. In his good arm he was cradling a dog?

"Um Youichi, why do you have a dog with you..?" I asked slowly still staring at the little creature that was staring back at me. He was kinda cute, his coat was a caramel brown while his head was the color black like he was wearing a little hoodie. He was a small thing barely the size of my forearm.

"Narumi" was all Youichi said.

I sighed out of frustration what the hell was he thinking giving him a dog?! He knows that he'll get attached and we can't take care of ourselves let alone an ani-

"Mikan" I felt him tugging at the piece of cloth i had wrapped around myself. I looked down at him and he pointed at the counter. I looked over to where he meant and staggered over. A pile of clothes that seemed to be in my size was lain there. A grey long sleeve, some fitted jeans and sneakers... Narumi never got us shoes. His co-workers wouldn't allow it, said it would get in the way of tests or something. The most we ever got to wear before Narumi came were hospital gowns...

I turned around and saw that Youichi too was wearing new clothes, a red long sleeve shirt and black jeans along with small shoes on his feet.

My eyes narrowed in suspicion. Where's Narumi, and what is he thinking..?

I got dressed slowly and gently eased the clothing over my wounds. Then sat next to Youichi on the bed. All we could do was wait for Narumi.

"We can't keep him you know?" I told him quietly while staring at the animal.

He kept quiet and just kept petting the puppy in his lap, who was enjoying the attention. Youichi looked up at me with sad grey eyes. I sighed i really wanted Youichi to be happy but-

"Bear" he uttered. I looked at the animal and chuckled it does look like a small bear. The creature in question looked up at the name and tilted its head to the side cutely. I looked at Youichi who was smiling softly at it. I inwardly groaned i was going to regret this.

"Fine we can keep him but we have to hide him wh-" I was cut off by the searing pain in my head, i gasped and grabbed my head with my hands. My stomach heaved and i whimpered. It felt like my head was being split open, it was worse than the first time. I curled into myself and bit my lip between my teeth so i wouldn't scream. I could feel Youichi's hand on my shoulder shaking me but it felt so far away...

Mikan i need you to be ready... It was little more than a whisper but it made the throbbing increase.

I ignored the voice and held my head tighter hoping for the pounding to subside.

Mikan get up. I need you to get up and go to the counter.

Something inside of me was telling me this was important, it was pulling at me, urging me to get up but the pain was pulling me back down.

The what..? i responded weakly, i pain was slightly less allowing me to crack open my eyes a bit. I could see Youichi kneeling in front of me with a look of concern on his face, the puppy pulling at my shoe laces with his teeth. When did we get on the floor?

Mikan the counter. Get up and open the first drawer. Hurry we don't have much time.

I slowly released my head and took a deep breath in. I met Youichi's worried eyes and smiled warily, trying to show that i was okay. I could feel the throbbing in my temples but leaned up anyways. I wobbled a little but Youichi put his good arm around my waist trying his best to help and we walked over to the drawer.

Inside, grab the cellphone and put it in your back pocket. Grab the belt holster with the daggers and tie it around your waist under your shirt. You guys are going to need a type of weapon.

Youichi's eyes widened at what he saw me pull out. I did as the voice told me slipped the device in the pocket of my jeans and tied the holster around my waist but didn't put it under my shirt. What if i needed one right away? Not like i knew how to use them but i could cause some serious damage with these things if i was close enough.

Now what?

He should be here soon. Don't ask questions when he does arrive. I'll answer your questions later just follow him if you want to get out.

The throbbing in my head along with the voice disappeared all together. I looked down at Youichi who was carrying the new addition to our small family and staring at me with confusion in his eyes. I couldn't answer his questions right now because i didn't know the answer to them either... but regardless i knew he trusted me and would follow me anywhere.

I just hope i wasn't leading us to our death by trusting a voice in my head...

Then the door opened and in walked the last person i expected to see...


Little cliff hanger there. Hope you like and review, share any ideas you have. I know Bear was a little random but i wanted to include him in the story somehow.