A/N:

Okay, okay, I'm so sorry I haven't updated in like, a bajillion years! Pwease except my apology? I deleted my other fanfic because it didn't have a strong enough plot, and I was feeling like it was a bit boring. Sorry! Here's a cookie for compensation!(::) Well, here's the next chappy! Yay!

-CHA

Lee and I pass the time by playing I Spy.

But, I Spy is a bit difficult when you're flying through the air at 80.3 miles per hour. Just sayin'.

The events of last night finally sink in, as I bite my lip in an attempt to control my sudden hysterics. I suppose I should have gotten used to this running thing by now. I mean, I've moved more than fifteen times, not counting the times when we didn't even have a house. Just on the run.

The air feels crisp and clean, unlike the heavily polluted air of the cities I've been to. Unable to stop myself, a small grin spreads across my face. Freedom feels so good. Then I remember that dudes with guns are still after us and my happy mood dies. I really hate being a mutant.

We've been flying quietly, without incident. It's been a while since we've left, well, three hours and eighteen minutes to be exact, and I can feel my wings tiring.

Suddenly, I see a flash of grey in front of my eyes.

At first, I think it's just a random bird, you know, the grey-ish looking kinds of birds. Then I realize the grey isn't moving.

Oh, shit. I thought I had gotten over this mutation!

Like a bad television show flickering to life, the grey flickered into a scene, one that I was familiar with.

And I began to fall.

"Mama, please, don't make me leave." I cried.

"This isn't a choice, Phoenix." My mom said stiffly. "We all have to make sacrifices today."

The room that once was the scene of a birthday party was now in ruins. It was my seventh birthday and three suited men had burst in. Luckily, our aunts had managed to hide me, and the men didn't find me that day. Streamers were hung neatly across the ceiling, and balloons floated around the room cheerily. But there was a grim tone to this party, as the table was smashed, and my once beautiful cake had fallen onto the floor, the frosting smeared across the ground. The guests had all left in terror, and only Lee was left.

"Dad, tell Mama. Tell her we have to at least say goodbye." I said, eerily quiet.

My dad was silent as he gently picked me up.

"Max, get the emergency backpacks."

Suddenly, Uncle Iggy shouted.

"Head for cover!"

The scene fades into another as I run, our house exploding behind us.

This time, the scene is of the night Mama died.

The room was dark and the windows were shut. My fifteen-year old self stumbled out of bed, a bad feeling sitting in the pit of my stomach. I knew, at the moment, something was going to happen. Something that would change my life. I heard footsteps, then a quiet, anguished, cry. I was on my feet running, already knowing that it was too late. I skidded to a stop before my mother, who lay on the ground, having stumbled out of bed. I was unable to do anything but fall, frozen, as I saw the life fading out of her eyes. My mother's mouth opened, and four words, all but a whisper floated out.

"Be brave, like fire."

She placed a silver chain into my hand and rather simply, she died.

My father collapsed beside my mother, shaking in grief and pain.

"Who did this? Who did this?" I repeated over and over.

I'd never felt such deep pain before. I was numb, a dull haze settling into my mind. Before my memory ended, a single tear fell from my eye.

Faintly, I could hear shouting and clamoring.

"Dammit, Phoenix, wake up!"

"What happened?" I mumbled, my words slurring.

I felt numb, as if my memory had really happened again.

A sudden phantom pain shot through me and I hunched over. I could feel grief overwhelming me. I clutched myself, waiting for the uncontrollable shaking. Lee's arms wrapped around my shoulders, holding me close.

After a minute, I took a breath, the shaking slowing, and I opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was Lee's very ticked off face. The second thing I realized was that we were on the roof of a random building. I checked my internal time clock. Ah, I had "passed out" for twenty minutes and fifteen seconds. Just fabulous. This little incident was going to get us twenty minutes behind schedule.

"What the hell, Phoenix?! You were flying perfectly fine and then you goddamn just FELL! Did I mention you were flying 200 feet above the ground at the time?" Lee ranted angrily.

"182 feet and seven inches." I muttered.

"What?"

"I82 feet and seven inches. Not 200. You were close."

Lee groaned and he grinned shakily.

"Don't scare me like that again, Nix." He said. "Was it another one of your hallucination memory things?"

"Not right now, Lee. We can talk later." I looked away, feeling a wave of grief dousing me again. "I'm sorry for scaring you."

"S'okay." Lee replied. "Come on, do you think you can keep flying?"

I took to the air, faking a smile.

"Of course, let's go."

Thankfully, Lee didn't notice that during the entire rest of the flight to Nevada, I was crying.

A/N:

I know, it's not the best. Too gloomy for my taste. But next chapter, it'll be better! Some fluffiness too! (Maybe...)

Thanks for reading! Review!