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Chapter 6

"Can we go through the clouds to see what we're flying over?" Bear looked at me, waiting for an answer while flying backwards. I looked at Vis, and he shrugged as if to say hey, you're in charge now, not me. I nodded at Bear. "Yeah, just stay close by."

I watched as the two of them streaked off into the clouds and heard them taunting and teasing one another from here.

"Why so quiet?" Vis asked.

I looked at him, but part of him was cut off because my hair was in my face again. "Am I not allowed to be?"

"You're allowed, but it's boring when no one talks." He sounded sad. I looked at him again, after I flicked my hair back. I hated it this long. I would have to get it cut soon, or find a pair of scissors.

"What's on your mind? Something's bothering you, I know it." He was silent. He turned his head away. "If you're not going to talk then," I paused, getting his attention, "I guess I'm going to have to read your mind. 'Cause I know how much you love it when I do that." I grinned at him, and he smiled back. I loved his smile. It always made him seem so happy and normal, unlike the moody teenager that he was starting to become. I don't think he quite heard me though, 'cause he wouldn't have smiled. "So, I guess since you're not saying anything, I can read your-"

His smile vanished. "No! No invasion of privacy! My thoughts, my brain, no room for you to move in and read them."

"I thought I was already in there when you weren't thinking about where we were going or what was going to happen to us." I played the sweet, innocent girl quite well, if I'm allowed to say so.

His face fell. "You didn't."

"You never said anything." Total lie. He always told me.

"My thoughts, my brain. No room for you! How many times do we have to go over this?"

I sighed. "You, you, you. It's always about you." I said with mock sincerity. I was teasing him, 'cause he always put himself last, even putting me first. And that goes for all of us. We, my flock and I, helped each other, no matter who, when, where, how, or why. It went without saying.

"You know that's not true. It never was, never will be. Promise." He held out his right fist, and I hit it with mine. We had started doing this when we were seven, as a rule to anyone who makes promises. It meant that, this is the worse possible situation: if you have to die to keep it, you died. We smiled.

"Ocean!" I heard D-man call from below.

"What?" I yelled back, still hovering with my hand and Vis' together.

"You gotta see this! Come quick!" I flew down through the clouds. But you should know, clouds are wet. And you can't see in them, it's just one big white mass. That's why I wasn't surprised when I dropped down right onto Bear.

"Watch where you're flyin' man. I almost tripped." Bear looked at me, half laughing, half serious.

"Uh, Sis?"

"What?" She spun around to glare at her brother.

"How can we trip when we're flying?"

"That's the point D. We can't."

"Then why'd you say it?"

"'Cause it was funny."

"That wasn't funny! That made no sense!"

"Yeah it did, but not to you stupid."

"I'm not stupid! Don't call me that!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

At this point I had to interrupt. My patience was wearing thin. These two were already on thin ice themselves; being siblings and all, so one word or look could set them off. "Guys. Wasn't there something you wanted to show us?" I said, getting their attention, and pointing at Vis and myself. "Something, urgent?"

Carebear rolled her eyes, but D-man's face brightened. "Oh yeah. There's this huge lake down below, to the west, and it looks pretty deep. Can we go there? Please?" He was begging me, taunting me, teasing me. He knew I hated water. I avoided it when at all costs, except showers, then suffered the fear when it was absolutely necessary. Which was very rare. I didn't want to go down there, but the rest of my flock did. Even Vis seemed eager, though his face showed nothing.

"Fine, but not for too long." The twins cheered as they raced down to the earth. "You owe me large! And looks can be deceiving!" I yelled after them. Vis just looked at me. "What?"

"You'll have to face that fear sooner or later. You know that." He was speaking quietly, aware that sound traveled, and he knew I didn't want the others to hear this.

"I know," my voice equally as quiet. "But I'm hoping to make it later rather than sooner." I flew down to where the twins were waiting. It turned out that D was right. The lake was deep. And really big. There were mountains all around, and it looked like this had been here forever, completely untouched by modern civilization. I stayed as far away from the waters edge as I could, without seeming too childish. "You guys go on in. I might join you. Probably not, but I might." They took off running, straight at the water, and plunged in. It looked like they were having a great time, until D splashed Bear. Bear didn't react, oddly enough, just yelled at her brother not to do it again. End of discussion. I relaxed and let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. With these two, you had to be on your toes. Something had snapped a while ago at the lab, and they haven't been right since. None of us have. I'm more prone to emotional breakdowns, normally hysterics with crying and occasional screams. Vis is way quieter than he used to be. He speaks when needed, and that's it. Or, when he's talking to me. Before you just couldn't shut him up. The twins, well, I just told you. It all happened about 4 years ago. Something really ticked off the Whitecoats, but they never told us what. So of course they took their anger out on us, putting us through test after test, examinations, which involved a lot of bright lights and sharp implements to say the least.

Vis stayed with me on shore. I was far enough away from the water that it wouldn't seem as if I was scared out of my mind, but just not interested in swimming. We watched as they dove under, and then popped up behind one another, trying to scare them. It looked like a game of some kind. I shuddered. An evil water oriented splashing game. That's just my opinion though.

I looked over at Vis. I couldn't tell whether he wanted to join them or go to sleep. He looked about as exhausted as I felt. He had that look in his eyes, though. The one that says "I have to tell her something important but I have a feeling she'll kill me for saying it". I've seen it often.

Read and review!!!! That's all I have to say 'cause not enough people are!!!!!! It makes me sad!!

Skye