Because of Autumn

-Chapter 5-

I Never Knew You

I dropped the phone. It hung by the cord, dangling above the floor. I could faintly hear Dr. Martinez's voice calling out, "Iggy, Iggy! Are you there? Iggy?"

No matter what though, I had to get out of here. I had to leave as fast as I could. I had to leave before they come for me. I had to…

Tears swelled in my eyes. I thought I was done with this. I thought I was done with running away. I thought I was… No. I have to remember who I am; what I am. I am a mutant freak that is prey to some of the world's greatest scientists… and their experiments. I am a blind 14-year old avian hybrid. I am a… I'm just Iggy.

I rushed through the house back into my room and snatched my clothes I originally had on when I came to Autumn's house. I then hurried my way back to the door, but someone stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Iggy! What's wrong? You're a hot mess!" Autumn cried out. I grasped her hands and held them close.

"Autumn, I have to leave. Now." I told her, trying to keep my voice straight.

"But- but why…?" she asked back, her voice cracking. I blinked and slightly nodded.

"I can't tell you but-" She turned away, sniveling. I put my hands on her shoulders and pulled her back from leaving. "Autumn… Autumn! Listen to me!" I yelled. "It's not like I want to leave! I don't! It's that I have to!" I abruptly stopped, realizing my true intentions.

"Autumn… I… I- I finally found somebody that I want to protect besides my family… you. And in order to do that, I have to leave… and forget all about you-."

"What!" She backed away again. "Why do you have to forget about me? I thought you were different from the rest of the people I've met!"I grit my teeth.

"You got the last part right." I growled. "Listen, I want you to be safe… and unfortunately, that can't happen around me."

"Iggy…"

I wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I… I have to go now."

She sniveled again. "O- Okay."

With no hesitation, I left. We were trained that way: To leave somewhere with little to no warning, and with no remorse. I, unfortunately, didn't otherwise, and as I ran out of her neighborhood, tears streamed out of my eyes and left tracks in the air behind me. I headed to where my instincts lead: The woods.

Deep within them at a clearing, I stopped and dare not make a noise. My ears scanned the area for any possible life form that could be after me. There was a small snap of a twig and I whipped my head to the source.

There was a deep growl. An Eraser.

"Looks like I stumbled upon a meal." The deep voice cackled. My heart stopped.

"No… you planned this, didn't you?" I questioned it. "And I thought all of you were dead!"

"Poor mistaken little bird, for we are all too well alive." He took a step closer. I took a step back. Another crack of a branch caught my ear.

"Iggy…?" whispered a soft voice. Oh no.

I turned my head to that voice. "Please don't tell me… Autumn…?"

"My my, what have you got here? An appetizer for me? Or a toothpick for when I'm done with you?"

Autumn gasped. "Wha- what is that!"

"AUTUMN! Get behind me, NOW!" I yelled. She slowly got behind me.

Autumn… please don't hate me… please don't… please don't do anything rash… I flared my wings out. This forced feathers to fly everywhere. No longer did my wing hurt… for now… for I had something I wanted to fight for.

Autumn's soft gasp was registered in my brain as awe… and fear…

I lunged at the Eraser with all my strength. He leapt out of the way and nicked me in the mouth. I wiped the blood away and took to the air. However, this was too much strain on my hurt wing and I fell back to the ground.

"Pathetic." The Eraser clawed at my already hurt wing. I could feel his claws dig deep into my feathers and into the muscle. I screamed at the top of my lungs. The warm blood oozed over my wing and dripped onto the ground.

I can't fight without the Flock here! I don't know where to hit! I tried to calm myself down. I then closed my eyes and focused everything into my hearing. There was the lightest pant to my left and I swung a hard punch at it. Much to my surprise, there was a whimper as my fist made contact. I hit him!

I kept closing my eyes and throwing kicks and punches into the Eraser's furry body. Finally, after gasping for breath, like I am, the Eraser fell with a heard thump to the ground. No, not dead, just unconscious… until-. I was thrust backwards and was thrown into Autumn.

And there was a cliff behind us.

I felt the wind rush up against me, but there were more pressing matters: Autumn. I held fast with my wings spread, but it was no use. The two of us were too heavy for me to carry, but I was able to soften our fall into the trees some 50 feet or more below us.

I bit my lip to hold back the pain on top of the pain I already had. I gradually stood up, but my wings were like heavy weights that drooped.

I clenched my fists. "This… this is the real me, Autumn. Some kind of mutated freak that brings nothing but pain to everyone around them…" I held back more tears. "You… you probably don't like me anymore, don't you, Autumn…?"

She hesitated. "Iggy… No… I'm sorry… You're right… I don't like you anymore." Footsteps came closer. "I love you."

And with that, she kissed me on the lips.

She pulled back while I remained frozen in shock. But, slowly, that shock turned into a small smile. "Autumn… I… I…" I fell to my knees and started laughing in that awkward, psychotic way. Rain poured down from the sky and soaked every bit of me. I held over my right eye.

She loved me. Somebody actually loves me.

Author's Notes: *Wipes tear* This is soooo sad! Here's to all of you lovers of this fanfic of mine! I HAD to end the chapter here, so sorry is it's short. Forgive Me?

Please Review. Thank you.