The Angel Experience
By Holly-Batali
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the flock, Itex, or any of the eraser bastards. I DO own Kat; GO HYBRIDS!
Chapter 16: Karma and Flame
Kat walked brusquely to the living quarters, coolly ignoring the flames which erupted from every direction. As she reached the heavy metal double-doors that led into the living quarters, she opened them with a swift right-footed kick. She strode in purposefully, her eyes raking the abandoned bunks and the piles of lab coats on the floor. She was only here for one thing. She moved through to the back of the room, her eyes darting from object to object. She was at the back of the room now, and she knew that he was here somewhere...her uncovered cat's ears twitched. Sure, why not right behind her. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms not even bothering to turn around.
"You do realize that there's a fire in here, don't you?"
She could hear the sneer in his voice as he replied, "no freaking duh."
"And do you also realize," she continued, "that you are either going to die in the fire, or I will kill you here and now? Quite frankly, I prefer the second option."
"Oh really," he sneered. Kat turned around, putting her hands on her hips. "Well I'll double-check that for you, shall I?"
He stopped smiling and snarled at her. She hissed back at him, then growled. And without even thinking, she launched herself at him.
She grappled with a few kali punches, then resorted to instinctive, spontaneous improvisation, and attempted to slice his legs out from under him. He pushed her to the floor with a well-placed chin-crack kick, and she went down onto her hands. She balanced on her hands, her body at a ninety degree angel to the floor, and sliced him, her back leg coming in behind his knees, and her front leg slicing at his ankles. He dropped and she rolled on top of him. She pummeled any inch of skin she could reach, often using her elbows and head as well. after a particular combination--a well-placed back-fist to his left temple follewed by the same elbow to that same spot--she slammed her elbow into his neck with enough force to crack a cinderblock.
She heard the satisfying crack! of bone and he cunvolsed, then lay still. She got up, panting and bleeding heavily from the nose and right shoulder. She leaned over, on her knees, and watched with detatched alarm as the room began to collapse around her. She took one last look at the dead eraser and said, "That was for you lǎoshí," then she walked away.
As she jogged out into the hallway, she stopped. Iggy would be setting off the charges soon. In fact, why hadn't he set them off already? She set off at a running pace, enjoying the feeling of stretching her legs, despite the ironic scenery. She came to the swimming pool, and, quite aware of the irony concerning her previous escape, she dived into the pool and set off to the parallel side. She didn't mind getting wet; tigers enjoyed the water, and besides, the extra moisture would help her in the fire.
She climbed out of the other side and ran for the loading bay, hurdling fallen pieces of raftors and debris. She kicked open the bay doors and ran over to the large loading area.
The doors were closed.
She was trapped.
Wait...there was a small hole in the metal, and it was growing increasingly large, fire encircling the edges. Then Iggy's charges went off simeoultaneously, and she made a split-second descision. Rolling her eyes at the irony of it all, she jumped through the "flaming hoop," out into the night, propelled by the explosion and flames.
She rolled her landing and came up into a kneeling position. She began to stand, just as she heard Nudge's voice screaming "KAT!" She looked up in time to see the entire flock running up to her. Max and Fang were in front, with Iggy right behind and the younger ones scrambling behind them. Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel flung themselves on her, knocking her flat, causing her to crack her head on the cement.
"Are you okay?" Max asked.
"Yeah. Well, xiàn zaì, wŏ toŭ tŏng." Now my head hurts."
"Wha'?" asked Iggy. "Speak English please."
Kat rolled her eyes. "Rolling my eyes Ig. I said, 'now my head hurts.'"
They all turned to watch Itex burn to the ground, and Kat felt herself smiling.
Her first real smile.
"Well?" asked Iggy irritably. "What does it look like?"
"It's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my entire mutated life." Kat replied, her voice cracking in several places. She was suprised at the sincerity of her words, and to see her eyes slightly blurring.
The flames engulfed the horrid place as the flock and Kat sat down at the edge of the trees, watching it like a fireworks display. Max and Fang talked quietly while Nudge, Angel, and Gazzy lay down on their stocmachs to watch. Kat sat next to Iggy, hugging her knees as the pyro leaned back on his hands. After a few more minutes, she lay down and curled up on her side.
Finally, finally, the nightmare was over.
Authors Note: YAY! THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER!! I STILL HAVE AN EPILOGUE TO WRITE! REVIEW! (Please?)