9
I stirred slightly, hearing rain plinking off an aluminium roof. The same noise I had every morning for the last sixty days. I heard the heavy breathing and footsteps of Mr Large, and leant over to punch Iggy in the arm. He woke up with a start, and started getting off of the thin mattress they called a bed. But who was I to complain, I'd spent most of my life in a dog crate. I copied his motion, and hurried to the freezing shower without complaint. If I didn't go in I would be forced in.
I know understood what people said about basic training. I would never put us through this, unless I hadn't figured they'd throw us out like everyone else if we didn't make it. I stripped off my few clothes, and stepped it. It was like I expected, freezing.
I heard shuffling as Iggy followed me in and started to strip and go into a different cubicle. I quickly stepped out, and grabbed one of the towels. I dried myself off quickly and started getting dressed. I was pulling my t-shirt over my head, when I heard familiar footsteps on the other side of the door. It opened and I heard Fang gasp. I pulled the shirt down, my face red. I couldn't work out why.
He had seen me naked, I had seen him naked many times before. But this was different.
"It's called knocking." I grumbled.
"Okay, I'll remember that for next time." He smirked, dodging out of the way so I couldn't hit him, and gestured me out of the room as he pulled his t-shirt over his head.
I walked back into the main room, the one with all the beds, and spotted Large leaning over Emily, shouting at her. She was cowering on the floor. Her partner, Isabella, was standing there, looking frightened. Large shouted one last insult, and Emily went pale-faced. He turned to glare at the rest of us.
"You little kiddy-winks will now be running the assault course with full packs for 6's little⦠Insult. This will be your exercise from now till lunchtime. I want you all to do five full circuits each. At least."
I winced. Five circuits of the assault course, was hard, for normal humans. But Large had decided that us bird kids had to do it twice for every time they did, carrying twice as much. He turned and met my eyes, smiling evilly.
I glowered back at him, and lost my temper.
"Shouldn't you be the one doing the five laps? Lose some of those extra kilos? Oh that's right, you're an evil sadist who's scared of fish-fingers. Do you get paid extra to be a bastard or was that in the job description."
His face went a funny shade of purple, and he threw me into the wall. I heard Iggy yelling and Emily scream. I hit the wall hard, and felt my left wing go crunch. Shit shit shit. Ow, that hurt. Large was now over the top of me.
"Not so clever now birdie are you?" He snarled, shoving his hand onto my throat.
I kicked him in the stomach. It was useless. I was super-duper strong compared to most people, but Large could handle most professional weight lifters. I didn't stand a chance.
"Well I'm not the rapist holding a eleven-year-old against a wall, so I'm obviously smarter then you. Well less evil anyway. Are you in a club? The evil bastard club?"
"So brave aren't you? You're all words. I got your back to a wall, now you're hopeless. Don't piss off people when you're in a position like this," snarled Large, "just a hint, you'll live longer."
I stared into his crazy eyes. His face was close to mine, and my feet were off the floor. I glanced past his massive head, into the room. Mike was standing by the door, his eyes hopeless. Isabella was staring at me, Emily was looking at the floor. I gasped for breath. Then the door opened silently. My mouth almost dropped open, but I caught myself before I gave them away. Standing in the doorway, dark eyes grim, long black hair dripping from his shower, his dark wings hanging loosely away from his shirtless chest, was Fang. He was holding a pistol. Standing behind him, one finger entwined in Fang's belt was Iggy, holding a rifle, pointing deadly straight at Large.
"Maybe you shouldn't threaten my friends, just a hint, you'll live longer." Snarled Fang.
He had moved so quickly, now the pistol was against Large's skull. Large's face went white. He dropped me, and I fell to the floor, my legs crumpling under my weight. He turned slowly around, hands raised. I scrambled to my feet, and took cover behind a steel bedpost.
Iggy was paler then his normal tone, sheet white. His hands were shaking. I think Large noticed as well, he stepped back, Fang moving with him.
"You will be thrown out on the street for this." Snarled Large.
"Max, get out of here." Said Fang calmly.
"No." I said.
We scowled at each other, neither of us wanting to give in. Iggy looked between us and then lowered his rifle. Large smacked the pistol out of Fang's hand. We sprinted to the door, me yelling 'U and A guys!"
We burst out and flew up into the clear morning air. I led the way out of the training compound and perched in some trees out of sight of the main building.
"Good one Max. What do we do know?" Muttered Iggy.
"Max. Why did you do it?" asked Fang.
"He's a dickhead." I answered. "I guess we wait here for things to calm down a bit."
A/N- WOW two chappies in a two nights. I've noticed ppl putting this story on their favourite stories list and not reviewing. COME ON GUYS! How lazy can you get?
