Leather Wings

Best in a cage

It was a very quiet night. Aaron couldn't sleep. It was so many interesting things here. What was that big gray thing for example? And the invisible boxes with people in it? He listened to his comrades. They were talking to him.

" Aaron! Aaron!" they shrieked. "Tell us! Tell us!"

Aaron didn't listen. He was so curious. What were all the strange things around him?

"Stupid!" he shouted in his head. "You know what that is! It's the computer and the glass-boxes with suits!!"

He was beginning to lose it! Why? What was it that had gone so wrong in the serum? He became more and more bat by the minute! Soon, he would be a mindless animal, who only thought about blood and meat! What if he attacked anyone? No…Bruce would find an antidote! He would! But, it was so nice being like this. No responsibility, no thoughts. No problem in the world.

"No! Don't think like that!" he screamed in his head. "No, no!"

…………………….

Kathy woke up early. Was it a dream? Yeah, what else could it be? She was so worried about Aaron. If he became more and more bat, what would happen to them? He would surely kill them…no question about it!

"Kathy, dear?" her mother yelled from the kitchen. "Breakfast's ready!"

"I'll be right there mum!"

She dressed, brushed her hair, took the school-bag and ran down to the kitchen.

She ate her breakfast under silence. Her mother looked at her.

"What's the matter, Kathy?" she asked worried.

"Eh, nothing! Just…a little tired."

"Is it the job?" her mother asked even more worried.

"The job?!"

Her mother sighed.

"I know how you feel, darling!" she said. "You have both the school and the job with Bruce Wayne. It must be quite hard on you?"

"No, no! It's not that!" Kathy said and smiled a little. "It's just…a friend doesn't feel so good, that's all."

"Ohh, do I know that friend?"

"No, but he's working for Mr Wayne too."

"Okay, is he cute?" her mother asked and tittered.

"Mum!"

"Sorry, sorry!" she laughed. "But I'm curious! How is he?"

"I'll better tell her, or she will never quit…" Kathy thought. "Well, he's kind of the serious, quiet guy. He is very intelligent and like chemistry. His father was a scientist!"

"Ohh, well is he cute?"

Kathy didn't answer. She looked down at the table.

"Kathy?"

"I have to go now!" she said and run to the door. "Bye mum!"

Then she ran away to the bus. Her mother just sat there and stared.

"Teenagers…" she tittered. "Can't hide anything!"

…………………

When Kathy came to the school she soon forgot what she was thinking about. High School! Never a quiet moment. The first two lessons were math and biology. Not really her strong side. Later, when she was on her way to the cafeteria she almost collides with Mark Wilson, the guy she had been on a date with not so long ago.

"Ah, hi Kathy!" he said and blushed.

"Oh, hi Mark." she said.

"You never called me back after our date! What's the matter? Am I so boring?"

"No! It's not that!" she said quickly. "It's just…I haven't had time, that's all…"

"It's the job, right?"

"No, it isn't! A friend is…sick." She said quiet. "I…I need to be with him right now!"

Mark looked hurt.

"Oh, okay…"

"But when he becomes better we can see each other!" she said. "If he never becomes better?"

He shined up.

"Oh, okay!"

She smiled then she left the cafeteria in silence. She wasn't hungry anymore.

…………………

It became worse! He could feel that. And he didn't just change inside! He changed outside as well!

Now he didn't have that little black nose, his sister had loved so much. He had a typical bat-snout! And more fur as well! He had grown a huge mane on his back. The only good thing with this was that his wings had become longer and more powerful than the old ones. And his fangs had become stronger and longer as well. But with the fangs came the blood- thirst. He couldn't hold himself for much longer. He was so hungry. So hungry.

"How do you feel Aaron?" Kathy asked from the other side of the bars.

Aaron had said that they would lock him in a cage before he would hurt anyone.

He grumbled. The serum had taken so much effect that he couldn't really talk anymore. Just a few words.

"Not…good…" was the only thing he said.

"What isn't good, Aaron?" she asked worried.

"Hungry..." he grumbled.

Kathy looked at him.

"He's hungry Mr Wayne!" she yelled.

But he wasn't there.

"Hey, were did he go?" she asked.

"Called…called…mother…" Aaron manages to say.

"He's calling you mum?"

He nodded.

"Okay…I don't have any food here. Maybe I can get some in the kitchen.

"Don't…leave!" Aaron shrieked.

Kathy turned around and looked at him.

"It's okay! I won't leave you!"

Aaron looked at her.

He was so hungry. He could smell her blood from miles away! Maybe she could give him some of it?

"No!" he screamed in his head. "No! No! Don't think of it! Think of something else! Okay!?"

But it smelled so good. So good.

Kathy picked up a book from her school-bag.

"Aaron? I have a chemistry-book here! Do you want me to read it for you?"

"Chemistry? Yes, yes! Read it! That will keep my head clear!"

He looked at her and nodded.

She opened the book but before she could even start to read, she screamed a little.

"Ouch! I cut myself on the page!"

That was it! Aaron couldn't hold himself. He threw himself against the bars. He shrieked and growled.

Kathy backed a few steeps and looked scared.

Aaron didn't see that. He didn't see anything! He just smelled the blood that came from Kathys finger. It ran down her arm until it dropped down at the floor. Aaron stared at it and began to bit after her and drooled.

Kathy almost cried. This wasn't Aaron! This wasn't him!

"Aaron! Stop it!" she yelled.

Then the bars brake and he was over her in less than a minute! He growled and Kathy screamed when his strong teeth forced trough her skin. A lot of blood landed on the floor and formed big blood-pools. Kathy cried and screamed. Terry and Bruce came running in to the cave!

"Oh, shit!" Terry swore. "Bruce! Get the sleeping-injection!!"

Kathy was already unconscious by the pain. Bruce gave Terry the injection and then he jumped and landed on Aarons back. Aaron shrieked and tried to get him off. Terry took the injection and stacked it in Aarons back. He roared, and then he fell unconscious to the floor. Terry jumped down and dragged him back to the cage.

"I think we need stronger bars." He said. "How's Kathy?"

Bruce had placed her on a hospital-bed they had in the cave.

"Not so good." He said quiet. "She lost a lot of blood."

Terry just stared.

"But she will be okay, right?"

"Of course. But I must stop the bleeding." He said. "Terry can you give me the medical-box? It's in that locker."

Terry nodded and ran to the locker.

Bruce bandaged Kathys arm and gave her morphine for the pain. Later she woke up by the pain. It was late at night. The morphine had stopped working. She looked around. She lied in an unfamiliar bed. Then she saw were she was. In Mr Waynes house. She was trying to sit up but the pain in the arm forced her to lie still. She cried.

"Aaron…" she thought. "I must see him…That was not him! I must go and see if he's okay…"

She forced herself up and walked to the living-room. She pulled the lever and the secret door to the cave opened. She brought a small lamp with her so she could see. She walked to the cage. Aaron was asleep. But his eyes were open! They had stacked him with a sleeping-injection. He had lots of chains around him. She started to cry even more.

Why? Why had he drunk that stupid serum?! Why?

Just then, Aaron blinked and tried to lift his head and look at her. She shivered and backed as fast as she could.

He looked at her with painful eyes.

"Kathy…" he manages to say. "Why…are you…crying?"

She didn't say anything. She walked in to the cage and sat herself beside him. Suddenly she saw her chemistry-book that lied on the floor. She picked it up.

"I can read to you know?" she asked and smiled to him.

He couldn't smile back. Instead he nodded.

…………………

Next morning, Bruce found Kathy lie under one of Aarons wings. He hadn't touched her at all.

He just sighed and let them be.

Later Kathy woke up. Her arm was hurting really much!

"I better go back before Bruce will see that I'm gone."

She was just about to go out from the cage when Bruce came. She looked at her.

"Eh, I'm so sorry! I had to go and see him! I'm so sorry."

Bruce just nodded.

"I understand that Kathy. But be careful!"

"I will Mr Wayne!"

"Good."

Aaron was asleep. It wasn't so cosy with all the chains, but it worked. At least he couldn't hurt anyone. Suddenly he woke up. He was dizzy, but he thought clear. He looked around. Kathy was gone. But it was morning, she had breakfast and…Breakfast! His stomach was growling after food. He saw Bruce not so far away.

"Bruce…" he said with a little growl in his voice.

He turned around and saw that Aaron was awake.

"Aaron? What is it?" he asked.

"Hungry…food…blood…"

He sighed.

"Haven't you done much damage already with you blood-thirst?" He asked sarcastic while he opened a little freeze that stood with the cage.

"I'm sorry…" Aaron said quiet. "Is…Kathy…okay?"

Bruce looked at him.

"You should know that? Wasn't she with you the whole night?"

"Yes…she…was"

"He can barely talk…" Bruce thought worried. "What have I done?"

Aaron looked at him.

"Can…you…turn off…light?" Aaron said quiet. "My eyes…"

"Yes, of course!" Bruce said and threw a blood-bag in to the cage. "Bon apatite."

Then he turned off the light and leaved Aaron for himself.

………………..

Later in the afternoon, Aaron didn't say a word. They had moved him to a larger cage made of strong glass. He didn't need to have the chains anymore. Right now he hanged upside down with his wings around him. He hadn't said a word the whole day.

Kathy sat on the couch in Bruces living-room. She was kind of dizzy after the morphine. Suddenly it ringed on the door. Bruce was asleep. After all, he was old. Terry wasn't there.

"I'll better take it." Kathy thought and went to the door.

Outside stood a middle-age woman and a girl who was a little older than Kathy.

"Eh, hallo?" Kathy said. "What can I help you with?"

The woman smiled.

"I'm Francine Langstrom and this is my daughter Elizabeth." She said. "We came here to see Bruce Wayne."

Langstrom? Was this Aarons mum and sister!?

"Oh, right this way ma'am!" Kathy said quickly.

She showed them the living-room. Then she woke Bruce.

"Mr Wayne!" she whispered. "Mrs Langstrom is here!"

He blinked surprised, then he stood up.

"Good afternoon Francine!" he said shook her hand. "And hallo, Eliza!"

"Hi Mr Wayne!" she said cheerful.

Then Francine turned to Kathy.

"Oh, you must be Kathy Brown, am I right?"

"Yes, that's me." Kathy said. "Nice to meet you."

Francine smiled. Then she turned back to Bruce.

"Well, can we see Aaron?" she asked worried. "Is his condition worse?"

"I'm afraid it is…" Bruce said. "But you can go down and see him!"

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Elizabeth said. "I have missed him very much!"

Bruce sighed.

"I'm afraid that the serum has taken so much effect that he can't talk anymore." Bruce said.

"But I hope that's okay?"

Elizabeth looked hurt.

"It's okay…" she said and smiled a little. "As long as I can see him."

They went down to the cave. Elizabeth ran to the cage.

"Aaron!" she yelled.

That voice? Aaron recognized that voice. And that smell! He recognized that smell to! He opened his wings and looked down.

"Eliza!!" he thought happy.

He shrieked and flew down to her.

"Aaron…what have they done to you…" Elizabeth said quiet.

He licked at the glass and shrieked at her.

Francine came to the cage too. He looked at her with painful eyes.

"Mum…"

Francine looked back at him, then she turned to Bruce.

………………..

Later, Bruce sat with a red mark on his face. It was after a slap from Mrs Langstrom. They had went home.

Kathy looked at him.

"Are you alright Mr Wayne?" she asked.

"I'll be fine…" he said. "I deserved it…I was to reckless! Kirk was careful and worked a long time because he was afraid this would happen!"

"Ohh…"

Bruce stood up, then went to his bedroom.

"Can you give Aaron his dinner?" he asked, then he closed the door.

Kathy just sat there. Bruces big dog Ace walked to her, and started to lick her all over her face.

"Better go down and give our other pet his dinner." She said.

Ace started to grumble.

"Do you want to come too?" she asked.

He barked and followed her down to the cave.

………………..

Aaron did not feel well. This glass-box he was looked in was too small! He needed to get out. He wanted to smell and feel all the other things that was outside. Why wouldn't they let him do that?

I familiar smell crossed his nose, and started to sniff around. It was that human with the brown hair. Her name had he forgot. But he could trust her, that he knew. She came down the stairs and walked to him.

"Hi Aaron!" she said. "Hungry?"

Hungry? Of course he was hungry!

Aaron shrieked and scratched at the glass.

Maybe he could hit and scratch the glass? It maybe could break then?

Then he could be free!

Kathy opened the freeze and took out a plastic-bag full of blood.

She shivered when she looked at it. She had never liked blood. Everytime she or someone else bleed it ended up that Kathy was the one that fainted.

She fast threw the bag in to the cage. Aaron throw himself over it and started to tear the bag up.

Kathy looked away. She absolutely couldn't look at that! He really was a animal now…

………………..

He wanted out! Why couldn't brown understand that?! Brown? Yeah, he could call her Brown!

She just sat there outside the glass-box and looked at some strange paper-heap. Once in a while she looked at him. But then she went back to the heap. It was like…she kept an eye on him! Now, what should he do?! If Brown was there, how could he brake out of the box now!?

Then he got an idea!

"My precious bats!" he shrieked.

Kathy blinked surprised and looked up.

"Why is he shrieking?" she wondered.

"Bats!" Aaron called. They responded and shrieked back.

"Aaron! Aaron!" they shrieked. "Tell us! Tell us!"

"Get me out of here!!" he shrieked load.

Kathy started to scream and landed on here knees.

"My ears!!" she screamed. "My ears! Aaron stop it!"

Suddenly she heard the other bats. She looked up. The whole cave went black and she was surrounded by all of the bats in the cave.

"Aaron!!" she screamed. "What did you do!?"

He didn't listen. He just continued shrieking.

"Get me out of here! Get me out of here!"

Suddenly all of the bats went to one direction. Aarons cage! Kathy suddenly realized what he was up to!

"Aaron, stop it!" she yelled.

But it was to late. All the bats flew right into the glass. It brake…

Aaron shrieked and flew out of the broken cage.

"Very good, my precious." He shrieked. "Now you can rest."

All of the bats shrieked back, then they flew away.

Aaron looked at Kathy.

She stand up and stared at him.

"Aaron, don't do it…" she said cold.

Aaron growled at her.

Then he flew away with the other bats. It was night. Time for hunt…