that smell...I hate that smell. I thought I was done for in the last attack but I was alive still...but my situation was different...there was a different smell one that I knew. A warm shadow was shielding my from the light... and the erasers were growling and circling again. I heard the Whitecoats shouting at my protector. ' What do you expect to gain from portecting him!' ...I remember her eyes...Bree...
"
PC?..PC?"...I yawned "What?" staring into the darkness
of the night...Blind as a bat. The flight was long and slow. So I
couldn't help but doze off. I turned my attention to Roc..so I
wouldn't be rude.
" You didn't answer my question."
"
What question ?" I asked.
" Why are we going south? Why
not north?"
" Cause Roc...the S in south means safe.
The N in north is...uh...No man's land."
" Really? Or
are you making that up?"
" Yeah you got me ...but its
true regardless. North is bad knews I used to live up... North up
until a few weeks ago."
" What happened?" I really
didn't want to answer that question...not right now...not with the
dreams I've been having lately. I hoped something big would come up
to redirect the subject. Then something silver blazed off in the
distance. It wasn't a star because my sight wasn't good enough to see
stars. They were...
" Lights.." I said.
"
Lights?"
" Look ! " I said pointing down. "
What's down there? I can't see in the dark very well."
"
Its a city...I hope you're not going to ask me what city it is
because I don't know." Roc said adjusting his grip on my shirt.
"I can probably tell .."
" What but you just
said"
"I know what I said...but when things are really
bright at night I can see them in silver. I'm looking for a pattern
give me a minute." My eyes started connecting the dots of light.
" Aquila" I muttered.
"This is the place take me
down there...please." Roc began his descent it was nice and
smooth...He was a good flyer unlike a few people I knew. We landed on
the top of some kind of building.
" Where are we?" Roc
asked.
"Charlington a small obscure town not many people
know it exists."
" Now what?"
" You sure
do ask a lot of questions."
" Well I have a young
inquiring mind," Roc said folding up his wings.
"Cute."
I said flatly. "I need a phone... Is there anyone nearby...kind
of obscure so no one will see me?" I heard walk shuffling around
"No"
" Alright then We are going to have to
steal one. She won't like it if we just come unannounced...she'll
kill us."
" Who is she?"
" You'll find
out." I muttered becoming impatient with Roc's interigation. "
Look I have trusted you thus far..because you saved my life. But-"
" BUT WHAT?" I snapped. " I am usually a very
passive person-"
" Cat"
" Yeah whatever!"
I said making a swiping gesture in the air. I heard Roc back away a
little. I brought the threating hand close and took a deep breath. "
Look. Would it be so bad to trust someone you don't know? Especially
a fellow experiment? We have trust issues I know, everyone from the
School has a serious trust issue. But have I ever given you a reason
not to trust me?"
I heard Roc shuffle around again.
"No...
But I'm keeping an eye on you."
"Ha...better keep two
on me if you think I am that tricky." My ears caught the sound
of wandering feet below.
" Roc what is that?"
"
Some one below..its dark I can't see him...but he has a cell phone."
" Okay...let's take him." Before he could protest I
followed the sound of my victims movements and pounced on him quickly
knocking him unconsious.
"I hope no one heard that."
Roc said dragging the body and propping the person against the wall.
" No one heard ...
I would know." I said. I pushed a random button on the phone and
it lit up and then I realized something. " CRAP!" I
shouted. Roc looked up in alarm. " Erasers!" he shouted.
"
Shhhh...someone could hear us." I said. I heard Roc sigh. "No,
Erasers aren't the problem...The buttons on this darn phone are too
small. I can't dial the number... Come over here I need your
fingers." I could tell Roc found this annoying and hilarious
even though I couldn't see the expression on his face.
"Tell
me the number" Roc said supressing a laugh.
"
1...2...3...What's this are you giggling!"
" Nope.."
" You stupid lair!"
" Shhhh you said someone
could hear us," Roc said sarcastically. I couldn't deny this
situation was quite comical...but I needed to make my phone call, so
I went ahead and told him the rest of the number and Roc handed me
the phone. The phone rang and I waited anxiously for her to pick up.
I hope they hadn't gotten to her.
" Hello?" I sighed, I
recognized her voice, like a piece of glass smooth but still had the
ability to cut.
" Hey Bree."
" PC is that
you?"
" Who else?"
"yeah...What's up?"
" I was just calling you to let you know that I was in
town...annnd I was comin to visit."
" Oh really that's
nice. Can't wait to see you."
" Yeah..you still in the
same place?"
" Uhhuh!"
"Good I'll see you
in ten...by-"
" PC hows the weather?" My blood ran
cold I hated it when she asked that question.
" Its fine,
Bree...Why?"
" Bring an umbrella with you because it's
GOIN TO RAIN WHEN YOU GET HERE!" Then she hung up. I dropped the
phone as if it had cooties.
" What's wrong? " Roc
asked.
I looked at him a little hesitant then asked. "You
still trust me?" Roc's were at the ready to spring open. "
Where we are going...It's perfectly safe but there is one more place
we have to stop at before we go."
" What is that?"
Roc asked nervously.
I sighed and shook my head. " I need to
buy a plant."
Roc sighed and then bust out laughing. I
turned red even though my skin was covered in fur.
" What
the heck for?" Roc asked finally getting control of himself.
"
Bree asked me what the weather was like."
" So?"
"So that means she is going to beat the crap out of me when
she sees me... I need a peace offereing basically." I muttering
staring at the ground.
" I see." Roc said trying to be
understanding. He wasn't doing a very good job.
"
Whatever...go and find a place where they sell plants and look for a
money tree..yes there is such a thing. Here." I shoved a roll of
money into his hand.
" This is ridiculous."
"
I know...you want to live or not?" I said looking Roc in the
eye. It seemed to finally occur to him that I wasn't kidding. He was
gone in a flash and fortunately came back with the right plant.
"
They were having a sale."
" Lovely...now gimme."
He handed me the plant and we headed towards Bree's...
ts always good to go and see friends...especially if you last saw them on good terms...or is it...
I hated the fact that Roc looked human, all except
the wings of course. I was suprised at how well he could hide them.
He walked on the side walk among other people while I was confined to
hiding in the shadows and making my way by roof top. Me and Roc
finally stopped in an alleyway.
"Where is your friends
place?" Roc asked."We've been wandering around the city for
almost an hour...are you lost?"
I flattened my ears "Lost?
Me? Nope...if there is one thing you should know about my Roc is that
I always know where I am going." I began to walk around the
alleyway searching for the entrance.
"Are you sure?"
Roc asked sounding doubtful.
"Here it is" I said
kneeling down. I felt the ground and sure enough this was it,an
ancient manhole with three scratches in its cover. I gingerly removed
the cover and noxious fumes rose to meet me.
"THat thing
stinks," Roc said replused by the smell.
" It'll get
better...If it makes you feel better I'll go first...cause I already
know i'm stinky. Here, hold the plant." I knew where the ladder
was so I didn't have to search for it and began my descent in to the
dark tunnels where Bree lived. When I was finally at the bottom I
looked up " Are you coming?" I asked. Roc looked down at me
and then finally summoned the courage to plunge into the dark stink
of the sewer. He slipped on the ladder twice and complained about the
stench...I was more concerned about our peace offering. If there was
one thing that was worse than being stinky it was Bree.
" I
hope this is worth it," Roc said handing me my plant.
"
Well now is your chance to turn back , Roc you're a big kid,you
decide. If you're coming. stay close."I advanced keeping my hand
against the wall feeling for the scratch marks which were my guide.
We had been walking for an hour paert of the reason was that I
was lost even though I didn't admit it to Roc or show it in my
movements.
" Hey PC?"
" Yes, Roc?"
"
How old are you?"
" What kind of question is that?"
I asked rubbing my hand against the wall hoping to find a scratch
mark.
" I don't know just curious? Come on answer the
question"
" old enough," I said, in truth I had no
idea.
" Well that is vague."
" Well that's all
you get."
" Okay...How long were you at the School?"
" Long enough," I said, truthfully I had no idea
either."How about you ?"
" All my life...as far as
I can remember. I never knew my parents."
" I'm sorry
to hear that," I said growing uncomfortable with the
conversation.
" Did you know if you had parents?...or were
you even human to begin with?" I dug my claws into the wall
until they made a screeching noise.
" Are you alright?"
Roc asked.
" I'm fine," my voice was shaking, anger was
awakening inside me and more images for my mind's eye. ' control
yourself. he meant no harm.' I chanted in my head. I looked over my
shoulder, "Lets have some quiet time shall we?"
"
Okay, I'm sorry if I upset you."
" Its cool." I
moved my hand on the wall and found another scratch mark. Yesss.I was
on track. We entered an open area where a bunch of tunnels drained
into it. A brilliant silver light came into my vision, it was Bree's
house. Infront of us was a thick steel door with five deep gashes in
it. "Here we are," I said happy and a little anxious. I
tightned my grip around my plant." Before we knock, Roc. Be
prepared for anything that comes through this door. Bree is not only
slightly paranoid, but she's mad at me. For some reason I don't know
yet. All I'm asking you to do is be on your guard."
"
okay."
I took a deep breath and knocked three times...
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...whatever that means...but it sounds ominous...
The door made loud clanking sounds as I smacked it with my
fist. I gave plant to Roc " You'd better hold on to this...it
could get ugly." Bree's glass voice resonated on the otherside
of the steal door.
"Speak the password." she said
innocently enough that I figured she must have been bluffing over the
phone, but I knew better.
"What password?" I asked.
"
You may enter," Bree replied. I heard various locks being
latched and finally the door began to ease open.
I sighed "This
is stup-" Suddenly very sizable broom stick came down on top of
my head. " OW! Bree! Ow-stop-OW-It!" I brought up my arms
to shield myself from the merciless broom, but to no avail. CRACK!
The broomstick finally broke over my head. "Ha! weren't
satisfied til you broke the broom. eh? Bree?" I taunted. An
angry fist clipped my jaw and I went flying into the air and landed
with a splash in the frothy sewage water.
" PC are you
alright?" Roc said approaching me.
" Stay away! This is
between me and her" A large frying pan came flying out of the
entrance and missed me by inches. I mangaged to dodge most of the
appliances. When projectiles stopped coming from the entrance I
relaxed a little. "Hehe I'm glad she didn't use the knives like
she did last time," I chuckled nervously to Roc. Roc was even
more anxious than he had before squeezing the life out of our plant.
" I didn't forget," a voice said. The doorway was
opened all the way and standing in the threshold was Breeaka. She was
rather tall with steely blue eyes. Her hair was long brown and laced
with grey feathers. Tiny sable feathers framed her face and lined her
arms. Bree's lips were pressed together and she tossed a meat cleaver
in her hand. I swallowed following the metallic projectile with my
eyes.
" Its nice to see you, Bree."
" I
know... Its nice to see you too... so I CAN CLEAVE YOUR FUZZY BUTT!"
she snarled throwing the meat cleaver. I caught it just before it
reached my face which was a good thing except for the fact that the
blade made a cut in my palms.
I held up one of my bleeding
hands," See its all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Good
thing you didn't take my head off." Bree crossed her arms and
snorted, she had nothing else to throw. " Look I know you're
mad...but I traveled and very long way to see you," I said
gesturing for Roc to give me the plant. He tossed it to me and I
approached Bree like you would an angry dog, nice and easy. " I
brought you a money tree," shaking it gently.
Bree looked at
the plant and raised an eyebrow. "another money tree?" "
truce?" I said shaking it again. Her ice queen face finally
cracked a smile " You're lucky you look cute holding that plant.
Come on in and bring you're friend with you."...
I had finally made it to Bree's...would things get easier or would they get harder?...
Despite the enviroment outside of Bree's house the inside was
very clean. Bree stopped us in the entry way.
" You two are
not going any further until you've had a bath," she said.
"
Are you implying that we smell funny?" I asked already knowing
the answer.
" Yes"
" But there is only one
shower."
" I 'm aware of that PC afterall I do live
here... You're going to have to R.P.S...for it."
"RPS?"
Roc asked. "
Rock Paper Scissors," I said translating
the acronym.
" Oh . Okay." We both readied our
fists...Rock, Paper Scissors...Shoot! I chose rock, it had always
worked for me before. But then Roc chose...PAPER!
" Dang
it!" I said. Bree chuckled softly and left the room then
returned with a bar of soap and towel, then tossed them to Roc.
"
Down the hall on the left. Enjoy," she said. Roc nodded timidly
and went down the hall.
I snorted and said" Yeah... and
don't use up all the hot water. " I hated losing in Rock Paper
scissors...it took me years to master the stupid thing. I looked over
at Bree, without warning she came up and to me and gave me a big hug.
I wasn't expecting this since she tried to maim me earlier but I knew
she never would unless I did something really bad. She was nice and
warm and dry unlike me, who was wet and stinky.
"Bree...you're
going to crush your tree."
" Its okay I still have the
fifty other peace offerings stored in my work room."
"Really?
You kept them all?"
" Of course... you smell like
sewage."
"I know." I wrapped my arms around her
and them we parted.
"I'll put this one on my desk," she
said. Bree gestured for me to follow but first I wiped my feet. I
followed her into her work room which was fillied with piles of
books, papers,a spiffy looking desktop computer and of course all of
my money trees.
" So what brings you this far south?"
Bree asked placing her newest addition on her desk. " I know you
did't come here just to bring me another money tree."
I
smiled " You're right..."
" How's Damine and
Julie? Did Seven ever stop drinking those slushies?" Bree was
asking so many questions it was overwhemling me. They were all very
good friends and they brought back memories of good times. Good times
when I felt that people wanted me around. But I had to tell her what
happened. It was cold...but true... " Bree...they're all dead."
