See! I told you that
once things couldn't get any worse something always comes along. I
didn't know what to say as I saw them sitting there…They looked
the same as they had the last time I saw them…although a little
more aged. My mom looked the happiest to see me…more excited than
she had been when I learned to ride my bike without training wheels.
Like I said, I didn't know what to say and I couldn't help but
notice myself backing away towards the door until I heard it lock
behind me. Darn it. My dad stared at me sternly…the look he gave me
that conventionally meant, "get your skinny but over here."
Slowly I came closer…Please don't ask me to sit…if somebody had
dropped a pen I would have instantly clinked to the ceiling and
hissed.
"Just don't stand there," my dad said. "Sit
down." AH! He said it. I sat down and tried to look calm, but the
sight of them was very unsettling…I knew they wouldn't do
anything to hurt me…Right? The chair was cold and the air was
colder and my palms were already sweaty.
"Hi," I said,
quietly.
"Hello, Seth…sweetie, how are you?" my mom said.
Sweetie? She called me sweetie! She had no right to call me that!
"I'm okay…Why?"
"Oh nothing, just wanted to
ask…it's only polite. After all, we haven't seen you in so
long. How many years?" she said looking at my father.
"I
can't remember the exact number, but it has been a while hasn't
it son. I see you've barely changed."
"What do you mean?"
I asked.
"Look at you…I expected you to be a bird kid or some
other kind of creature."
I suppressed a growl. "Well…I am
very different, Dad," I chewed on the word…it was unfamiliar to
me now, since I hadn't addressed anyone that way. "…those many
years that you can't seem to recall I have changed quit a bit."
"Show us then," he said leaning back in his chair. I looked
down at him indignantly as I stood up and began to change. As I
transformed I made sure that they heard every pop and crackle of my
bones…anything to make them just as uncomfortable as me. It
actually hurt a little bit, since I had been in human form for a
while. After changing I sat down again. My mom put her hand over her
mouth and looked a little disturbed. My dad stared at me with
calculating eyes.
After a brief pause, he scratched his chin and
said, "Not bad, Seth…not bad." He turned to my mom and they
began to talk to each other using scientific diction.
I tapped
the table with my claw. "Hey I'm still present here…What's
going on? Why are you here?"
My mom looked shocked. "To see
you Seth…I thought you might appreciate it."
I couldn't
help but smile…the kind of smile you give someone when you are
really pissed off and you don't want the person to notice.
"That's
a very nice gesture ma'am…but do you think you could have done
more for me?" "What do mean?"
I held up a finger and said
"Well let me think a minute… Oh yeah, perhaps, oh I don't
know...Getting me out of Lab 7 …before THEY TURNED ME INTO THIS
THING!" I stood up quickly and pounded a fist into the table. My
father got up too.
"SIT DOWN!"
"MAKE ME!"
"Don't
make me call them in here," he said sternly, locking eyes with me.
"You'd do that?"
"If I must."
"Go ahead," I
said getting in his face.
"Seth, please!" my mom cried.
"Please just sit down." I snarled at her, showing my fangs, then
obliged her.
"So why are you here?" I asked.
"We've
come to make you an offer," my dad said.
"An offer?"
"Yes,
Your mother and I work for another lab, with the most elite
Collectors in the country. We've heard of your performance in
catching experiments. So we've decided to commission you. You would
live with us just like before and you would do the same work you have
done here only under far better conditions. Your skills will be put
to better use at this facility. You'll be assigned to a group of
highly specialized experiments that are being trained for a very
special assignment."
I had a guess at where this was going, but
ventured to ask. "What kind of assignment?"
"Capturing
Maximum Ride and her flock." ….
At this point any
self-respecting teenager would lash out in a fit of rage, but me? I
couldn't help it…I burst out laughing and I wasn't faking it.
"What is so funny?" My father asked his voice tight. I slowly
stopped and than tried to suppress my giggling. "Answer me," he
demanded. I held up a hand and took a deep breath. My mom looked at
me concerned; she must've thought that I was seriously cracked.
"Funny… You know for a second, I thought you guys were
actually here to rescue me…but in fact... You're just making my
life even more miserable."
"And that's funny to you?"
"It's the irony."
"Seth," my mother said softly.
"We only have your best interest in mind."
"You're not
the first person to tell me that recently. A Whitecoat told me that
shortly before they cut my partner's wings off," I said sharply.
She gasped again.
"Seth, we would never do anything like that!
Not to you!"
"Oh really then explain to me, mom…how's
being a FREAK in my best interest."
My father looked even more
agitated and my mother fell silent. She looked at my dad for
guidance.
"Lee Ann, can you leave us alone for a minute?" he
asked.
"But…"
"Come on," he said softly escorting
her out. "Let me talk to him, okay…everything will be alright."
After she had left, my father turned on me with a murderous stare. He
seated himself again and laced his fingers. "Seth…you would do
well to respect your mother, because without her you would've been
gone a loooong time ago. We never told you the reason why we let Lab
7 take you. Well now let me explain it to you, maybe after this you
will see things differently."
"I doubt it…but go ahead, I'm
listening."
"You were never supposed to make it past infancy
and develop into a normal human. We had been working for the School
for many years. At the time, Lee Ann was pregnant, arrangements had
already been made, that once you were born, we would give you up. But
when your mother held you in her arms she refused to give you away
for anything…not even money, which is what we would have received
in exchange. The Board consented and she was allowed to keep you, for
the time being. When you turned five, your mother and I were informed
that your use would be required in your early teens. Until then we
were to document your development."
"What was my supposed
use?" I asked, I had always wanted to know why they did what they
did…but now as I had said before, I really didn't want to know at
all.
"To put it simply, the School wanted to experiment with
multiple DNA grafting. Grafting avian and human was easy enough…but
to combine several strands at once in a later stage of development…
that was the challenge. According to your information in the School
database…you have three identifiable DNA strands that are visible
in your phenotype, Maine coon, pigeon, and human."
"I already
know that."
"However, there are seven more strands grafted
into your own. They used the same technique on you that they used on
Ari. That much fusion of DNA should've killed you or turned you
into something completely useless. But more importantly, the whole
point of multiple DNA application was to create a creature with the
best qualities of various animals. Your best attribute of being able
to take punishment is owed to several different animal species… and
you haven't had to use this…but your digestive system is more
similar to a hyena's…meaning if you needed to, you could
potentially eat carrion, a talent that many experiments lack."
"Yippee, I can eat road kill at will," I said lamely. My
father's frown deepened, but continued.
"But now Seth… your
purpose has been served. The data that has been collected from you
has already been put to use…those Jawz that escorted you here are
one of them…the flying Eraser are another although that needs to be
perfected. But besides that you were scheduled for termination a long
ago. The fact that you are still alive is due to the contract you
made with Jeb as well as your prowess as a Collector."
"You
told me I would think differently about this offer…I haven't
changed my mind." "Don't you understand?" he said through his
teeth. "You aren't worth anything, to anyone, anymore. This offer
I am making you is a chance for you to be useful. If not they'll
put you down…like a dog. The problem with that contract with Jeb is
that he can break it anytime he likes…when he sees fit. Do you
really want to live that way? At the whim of some stranger?"
"You
do realize he's outside."
"I do…but he can't do a
thing. We a higher rank than he is. He can't touch us without the
board's approval. Do you understand now?"
I leaned back in my
chair and put my arms behind my head. "The way I see it, John…Even
if I was to go with you the outcome would be the same. If we capture
Maximum Ride and everything you hoped for is achieved, you'll still
put me down. After that, I will be of no use…isn't that what
children do? Once they decide to not play with a toy anymore…they
toss it?" John was my father's first name and I think he resented
me for calling him by that.
"Seth," John hissed.
"There
is no amount of scowling that is going to change my mind…I'd
rather be killed by a complete stranger than my own parents. My mind
is made up," I said firmly.
"NO!" Lee Ann, my mother burst
into the room "You must accept, Seth! Please!" she begged sitting
down at the table. "Please!"
"Lee Ann, I thought that you
of all people would understand."
"NO! You're mine! You do
what I say! "she said staring at me angrily…there was something
else that they were not telling me. Then my blood ran cold as an
image of her formed in my mind…Ana…my sister…..
I growled instinctively
and my fur bristled. "Ana…how is she?" I asked my voice coarse.
Lee Ann gave me the coldest of stares, all of her maternal love that
she had displayed was gone.
"She's just starting high
school…the same one you attended," she said. "And she is doing
very well."
"What are you planning to do to her if I refuse?"
"She will be taken to a lab as well and she will be changed to
take your place." These people were SICK…how they could do
something like this?
"SO you'd take her life away from her
just so you can fulfill the stupid need to capture Maximum Ride!"
"We aren't going to do anything," Lee Ann said. "YOU are.
You're the one that is going to be responsible for taking her life
away from her. If you refuse, it will be YOUR fault that she will
never see prom night or graduation."
"You guys never cared
about my well being…this is all about Ana…you'd rather her lead
a normal life than me…"
"How dare you say that about your
sister!" Lee Ann snapped. : All you can blame is fate, Seth…that
you were unfortunate enough to be my firstborn!" I was taken a back
by her change of tone.
"Now that you know what is at stake,
will you accept?" John asked. I sunk in my chair…I hated this,
everyone else was in control accept me…when was it going to be my
turn? I was beginning to think that that chance would never come. As
I sat there and thought, I began to change and shaded my eyes with my
hand. When I looked up at them again…they stared at me expectantly.
"May I have some time to think this through?" I asked them.
Lee Ann and John looked at each other and their gazes softened.
"We
will give you three days, Seth. In that time seriously think about
it….we will speak again." John said.
"Thanks," I
whispered. I got up and headed for the door, I looked back at them.
The maternal love in Lee Ann's eyes returned.
"See you again
sweetie." I grunted and left.
"Nice to have family isn't
it?" Jeb asked as I walked out into the hallway.
"DON'T screw
with me, Jeb…You'll regret it," I replied softly looking at him
out of the corner of my eye. He didn't say a word and Chase
escorted me back to my room…. I had a lot to think about….
"So… are you going
to explain it to me?" I asked as Chase and I walked.
"Explain
what?" he said as we walked back onto the black tile floors.
"This."
"Oh, this is the lobby…it was built a couple
years ago after Max escaped. It was used as a front… to not give
away any sign of what actually goes on here. There are tours and
everything."
"Tours of what?"
"There is an entire
wing of the School that people can walk through, Erasers are
forbidden to transform in that area. To outsiders this place is a
pharmaceutical company, which just so happens to be in a very obscure
location."
"Interesting," I muttered.
"Jeb spares no
expense when hiding this place...It's expensive…but it is not as
gritty as killing off guests whom by accident wind up on our door
step or taking them for experiments." The thought was
chilling…you're lost and want to get home, then you find this
place and then they haul you off to become eraser chow or worse. We
moved on and headed back to the wing where everything wasn't a
front. My encounter with my parents wasn't as wholesome as I had
pictured it. Ana…that was my little kid sister…I hated her as I
thought about my memories of her and her little innocent games she
used to play with me and the life that she had that I wouldn't ever
match. But she couldn't be blamed, after all she didn't even know
what our parents did for a living…did she? I doubt it. This was a
tough decision a whole new can of worms had been opened and I was
being forced to eat everyone.
Upon my arrival, I found that they
had moved Raf back into the room and guess what he was doing? …no,
not sleeping. Raf had nose buried in a shiny new puzzle book, as
usual he ignored me as I walked in. He sure does like those things,
an enormous stack of them were piled next to him. After Chase left I
sighed and buried my face in a pillow. I was hoping it would wrap
itself around my head and suffocate me…but there is no such thing
as a possessed pillow.
"Tired?" Raf asked.
"Uh," I
said, my voice muffled. "I'm tired of a lot of things, Raf…you
might want to be specific."
" I just meant in general."
"Yeah…I'm tired in general too." I brought my head up for
air. "How are you feeling? I see you've got a new puzzle book."
"I'm okay…Kane bought these for me. She's been
very…what's the word?"
"Nice?"
"Yeah."
"I'm
sorry about what happened Raf…it wasn't supposed to end that
way." I said rotating onto my side. "Don't worry about it…what
happened, happened."
"Why did you do it?" I asked.
"I
told you back when we were at Lab 7 that you were the only friend
I've got and I would be an idiot to jeopardize that," He said
calmly, turning the page. "I have to really like you in order to do
what I did." I smiled and Raf did the same, you know beside his
occasional homicidal tendencies and being as animated as a statue…Raf
was alright.
"I learned something very interesting from that
fight," Raf said.
"Oh?"
"Yeah…I never shared
anything about my origins, PC, because I didn't remember them. That
fight with the experiments helped me remember and now I wish I still
had amnesia."
"It can't be that terrible," I said,
thinking of my current situation with my parents. It sucked.
"Oh
yes it can," he said gravely. "You know why Whitecoats are afraid
of me?" I shook my head and the memory of Dr. Porter suddenly
flashed in my mind. "They are afraid of me, because of what I did
to my creator…the only person that both loved me and mistreated me
at the same time…my creator was my father and I killed him." I
swallowed slowly as Raf explained in detail what had happened between
them on the day he discovered his powers. Then he told me about the
dream that he had been having for the last several months the one
about him being a little kid, with crows flying all around and
shadowy figures on the outside of the living shield. "The person I
was holding onto was my mother…" he said. " She was dead…one
of the shadowy figures was my father and he was the one that had done
it… and SHE was there too…she was and is …my sister," Raf
whispered. I knew he was mentioning Mercy. I wasn't at all
surprised, after all Mercy and Raf's resemblance was uncanny. Mercy
never really talked much about her origins either and she also
claimed to have no recollection of it. "…The dream always end
with me being tranquilized…and it has never changed. After She had
searched my mind it unlocked the rest of my memories," Raf said his
claws tightening around the sheets. "I was taken away at birth like
all the rest of the bird kids, but later on I escaped. The funny
thing was, I had never taken home and I very distantly remember my
mother's face, but I somehow I knew where to find her. When I wound
up at the door step in the pouring rain…the woman that was my
mother was….terrified of me. She loved the girl I call sister and
she hated me….because to her with my clawed hands and black wings…I
was a monster. Then when the day came and she lay there dying and I
rushed to her side…she still pushed me away. That was the day that
I got control of the crows…I never knew what happened to my
sister…during that time." Raf rubbed his face with his hands "I
don't think I want to talk about this anymore."
I nodded and
didn't press. "Did this talk help?" I asked curiously.
"A
little…it's past there is nothing I can really do," he said.
"But, just so you know…I do appreciate having you around, PC."
"Thanks." I said "At least I'm useful for something that
doesn't involve ruining other peoples lives. You're not the only
one with family problems." I rolled over and decided to sleep. I
didn't feel like getting changed or anything all I wanted was to
sleep. To forget about life for a little while and drift, close my
eyes then fall into nothing…..
I opened eyes into the
dim light of the clock, next to my bed then winced as the lamp light
from the other side of the room pierced my pupils.
"You're
still awake?" I asked.
"Don't act surprised, you've only
been asleep five minutes. Besides I've been sleeping for several
days, I can't even if I wanted to…I'm not tired." I grumbled
to myself and turned away from the light and closed my eyes again.
But sleep didn't come and all the cares that I had left behind were
coming back to me. Feeling overwhelmed, I sat up and curled into a
ball then closed my eyes again. I ran my fingers through my hair
several times. Terrific.
"If you can't sleep, try one of
these puzzle books. These will wear you out in no time." I walked
over next Raf's bed and picked one up. When I notice the garment
that Raf was wearing had torn slits in the back. I choked as I saw
bandages through it, where Raf's wings used to be. I turned away
and sat down on my bed and pulled out a pen. The first crossword was
enormous with over one hundred questions. Raf wasn't kidding when
he said that this would tire me out.
"Does it hurt?" I asked
with out thinking.
"Hurt?"
"You know where your wings
used to be."
"It hurts from time to time…but actually I
think it is an improvement. I feel lighter and besides, what's the
point of flying if it hurts you. Don't worry about it, PC…I don't
have that much attachment to the sky." I sighed heavily and tried
answering the first few questions, which were extremely hard….this
was almost like homework. The thought of my discussion with John and
Lee Ann, not to long ago was getting to me. I sat at the edge of
Raf's bed and our fake conversation of checking spelling began:
PC: My parents came to see me today.
Raf:
Really? You know your parents?
PC: Yes,
unfortunately, they came to make me an offer.
Raf:
Let me guess, one you can't refuse, right?
PC:
Yeah, since I've been doing my "job" so well they want me to go
with them to work at their lab. There I would be assigned to a group
that is training to capture Maximum Ride.
Raf: THE
Maximum Ride?
PC: Who else…But you know I can't
do that. If I do it will make me one of the most despised experiments
ever. She had given so many people inspiration, who am I to take that
from them.
Raf: What happens if you refuse?
PC:
They will take my sister to a Lab and she will take my place.
Raf:
That's rough…I didn't know you had a sister too.
PC:
Yeah, well she's my baby sister and on top of that she's not a
psycho like yours.
Raf: Very funny.
PC:
Anyways, I don't know what to do.
Raf: I don't
know what to tell you PC…this contract you're in with Jeb is
getting more personal every time.
PC: I know….
I sighed and worked on more of the actual crossword puzzle. When was it going to be my turn to be in control? I think I already knew the answer and I didn't want to listen to it. But the answer was a resounding "never". In life some things are given to you, other things, usually the ones you want the most, you have to reach out and take them. In my current position there was no chance of me being in control…I would have to take it from those who held it. I realized that now and my brain started ticking….
PC:
Raf, I think I know what I have to do.
Raf: What is
that?
PC: I can't let them do this to Ana. So I
am going to do what every big brother should do…I'm going to go
protect her.
Raf: How do you plan to—
PC:
I'm going to leave the School
Raf looked at me with the typical "you're crazy" look…
PC: Don't worry, I can make this work…I've got three days to pull this off and I think that is all the time I will need…….
"Here you are, sir,"
I said respectfully as I handed Jeb the report, in 12, times new
roman, single spaced just as he requested. Jeb leafed through it with
calculating eyes.
"Thank you, Kane. I will have to give this a
full review later," he said.
"Very good," I said and
turned.
"Kane."
"Yes?"
"Remember, those people
that came here last night?"
"I do they said that they were
PC's parents."
"That's right, they made him an offer to
go and work for them in at another Lab, to help catch my Max. PC was
given three days to decide starting today. Would you be a dear and
keep an eye on him for me?"
"Why? Do you think PC might try
something?"
"I don't know, but just do that for me will
you. Report to me if there is anything odd about his behavior; even
if it is slight…let me know."
"Alright," I said.
"Good,
I know I can always count on you," Jeb smiled. I nodded and left
the room and headed back to the front desk and continued my work, for
the next several hours then headed to the mess hall where PC and
Rafmire would most likely be. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to be
a snitch of Jeb, at this point after experiencing what PC's life
had been like I didn't want to do anything to hurt him. But Jeb
gave me order….Hopefully PC isn't planning anything…..
The
plan I had come up with was complicated and would need every bit of
the three days given to me to make it work. The School wasn't like
Lab 7, it had more security than you could possibly imagine and I
would have to get around that. First off I wondered the School.
Anytime I got stopped, I just plainly said I needed to move around so
I was just wondering. They all give me the same warning, "don't
go wondering into restricted areas," and I always assured them that
I wouldn't. After half the day, I had come to the inescapable
conclusion that getting out of here was next to impossible. There
were very few areas where there were no cameras and that included the
bathrooms used by the Whitecoats and the janitor closest. They were
good places to discuss planning with Raf, but other than that they
were completely useless. At dinner I continued to calculate ways of
getting out of here. The door to the mess hall opened and Kane walked
in. The Erasers whistled at her as she walked by their table. She
ignored them and procured a try of food. Then to my surprise came
down and sat in front of me.
"Hello," she said pleasantly.
"Hello?" I said.
"How's Raf doing?"
"He's
okay…but he still can't get out of bed."
"So what have
you been up to? I heard about your parents."
"Oh? What did
you hear?"
"That they make you an offer to capture Maximum
Ride, Have you made a decision?" she asked.
"I've been
thinking about it …but there is more to it than just the offer.
Nobody told you what will happen if I refuse."
"What will
happen?"
"It's really nothing you need to concern yourself
with Kane. But right now I am still undecided about what to do."
"Oh," she said scattering the corn on her plate. What was she
getting at? What was she looking for? I decided to not bother
figuring it out…one thing you can always count on is if you give
someone enough rope they'll hang themselves. I finished my dinner
and got up "Nice talking with you…if you don't mind I'm going
back to my room now."
"Okay," she said. I left the mess
hall and headed to my own. Inside Raf was sleeping with a puzzle book
on his lap. I sat down and pulled out my picture of Jeb and my
sharpie, to add to my artistic masterpiece. I extended his enormous
mustache up to the top corners of the photo and blacked out some more
of his teeth. This was amusing for about two minutes. I had already
butchered most of it from pervious fits of boredom. I moved to the
family photo, and with new devious creativity, set to work on my mom
and dad. This reminded me of the situation…there were cameras
everywhere and I am sure that there were plenty in the ventilation
system. I could get a more accurate picture if I talked to Kane she
was allowed in my restricted areas than I was…But no…it's too
risky. I've learned my lesson from Fox, you can't trust
personnel, for nothing, they turn on you too easily. There has to be
an angle something I hadn't thought of yet . The best time to
escape would be during the daytime. If what Chase told me about the
Lobby was true the Erasers can't transform or touch me there, out
of fear of exposing what they are. This fake place may work to my
advantage. But even so the problem was getting there. The Eraser
types I had seen were the regular kind and Jawz. There were no
Wratihs or Land Sharks from what I have seen but I can't overlook
the possibility that there might still be some here. The whole
situation was frustrating and it was making my head hurt. Raf yawned
and stretched.
"Enjoy your nap?"
"Very much," he
muttered sarcastically. He reached for the remote to the television
and started flipping through channels. Among the busy colors and
flashes a channel caught my eye.
"Raf, stop, go back one." On
this channel a woman dressed in a suit was pointing to some funky
looking graphics on a map of the general area. There was one
particular cluster of pixels which caught my attention. It was
massive with a thin green outside and a thick yellow and red inside.
A thunderstorm and by the looks of it,it was going to be a rough one.
According to the lady on the screen this atmospheric monster would be
here by Wednesday…day three… As the weather women went over the
specs of the storm it occurred to me that this might be the break
that I desperately needed…..
"PC? Is this how you spell rutabaga?" Raf asked me as he passed his puzzle book to me with a message inside:
Raf: So you're going to make the
attempt huh?
PC: Yeah, if the meteorologist is right, a storm
like that could knock out the power. Hopefully long enough for me to
make some head way for an escape.
Raf: You do realize this place
is bound to have generators.
PC: I have thought of that…that is
why I need to cover as much ground as I can before that happens. If
luck is willing the storm could knock out the generators too. But I
am not getting my hopes that high. With a storm this violent a
lightening strike is inevitable. I wish there was some way I could be
certain.
Raf: Perhaps you could ask Storm?
PC: No, the guy
hates me…after all we are the ones that captured him. He won't
bargain with me.
Raf: How do you know that?
PC: I don't
need to know, Raf, it's common sense.
Raf: Sometimes people
change…they are willing to do things and strike alliances with
people they hate to get something they want, you of all people should
know that, you've done the same.
PC: You're right…How am I
supposed to talk to him?
Raf: No clue…Tomorrow is day two...I
would suggest being a little less cautious and I think I should
emphasis "a little". Try coaxing Kane.
PC: Kane? No way…she
came over to eat with me today and she asked me about my decision.
Something smells wrong about her.
Raf: Well does it really
matter, if she's curious?
PC: Yes, because if she's curious
that means Jeb is curious. I only get one shot at this I can't
afford to mess it up.
Raf: Come on, PC, all you have to do is
stay two steps ahead of her. You can turn people around…I've seen
you do it. Kane is no different.
PC: That's easy for you to
say…you're the one in bed all day.
Raf: Well if I was feeling
stronger maybe I would help you. But also think…what choices do you
have? Not many? Either rely on chance or try and make an offer with
Storm. If he cooperates things will move a lot more smoothly.
PC:
We'll see.
"Hey, Raf, can I have the remote if you're
not going to watch TV?" He shrugged and tossed it to me. I began to
flip channels and finally settled on the Food Network and watched a
show on how to make apple pie.
"Why are we watching this?"
Raf asked.
"We aren't watching anything, I am…Why? Because
I like it."
"Geez, you like food so much you'd think you
would way 300 pounds."
"Actually I do weigh 300 pounds…but
that is just because I have thick bones." After the show was over I
switched off the television and went to sleep.
