Part Two: The Manticore Facility

7.

Have you ever been late for something, and it feels like time's dragging by and you're not getting anywhere? That's what the past three days had felt like to me. Half of our flock was missing, and if it weren't for Nudge needing to rest then I'm pretty sure that Fang and I would have gone the whole way without stopping. But finally we were there, the huge building rising up ahead of us.

'Any ideas, voice?' I asked, amazed when it actually replied.

'Leave Nudge and Fang outside, go in and make a scene- open your wings and fly around. Make sure they can't tell that you want to be captured though, they'll take you to your flock. Once you're in there I'll help you get out.' Came the almost instant reply. Choosing for once to trust it I turned to the remaining two members of the flock.

"Okay guys, you two are going to stay here, I'll go in and get myself captured. They'll take me straight to the flock and I can get them out from there." I said, Fang raised an eyebrow.

"And why not take us with you?" He asked.

"Just in case this plan doesn't work, then at least we're not all in there. Then you can try and bust us out. Okay?" I asked, Fang looked doubtful, but the determined look in my eye obviously told him that I would win the argument anyway. Sighing loudly, he nodded. I heard Nudge protest, but I was already halfway across the street.

A blast of cold air hit me as soon as I stepped into the building, and I walked into the middle of the room- people turned to stare so I covered my actions under the pretence of trying my shoelace.

'This good enough for you, voice?' I thought.

'Yes, Max. Now go for it.' Came the answer. Nodding slightly I pulled of my jacket, whipped out my wings and launched myself into the air. A few people gasped, but no-one seemed taken aback by the fact that there was a winged girl streaking through the air. That's when the security guards began to morph, leathery back wings sprouting from their backs. 'Let the fun begin.' I thought to myself.