Chapter 13

A figure watched the room through a camera hidden above the door. He listened to the conversation they had about the girl, Keira II's past and watched the reaction of the boy as he found out what had happened to him. The figure was amazed the boy had lasted that long, the shock of seeing a winged, kid, an attack by the Erasers and the pain of the transformation, most people would have given up by now. It was too bad about the other one, how she couldn't be around much longer, it would have been interesting to survey the change in her personality since her last stay at Haven. Perhaps he could convince the higher ups to postpone her termination for a while longer. He didn't really want to lose the boy specimen and she was the only link he had to keeping sane.

There was a timid knocking on the door, followed by the doors slamming open and the secretary who had knocked hurrying out of the way of a tall, attractive, blond haired woman with a white coat covering her outside world clothes. Her piercing blue eyes immediately locked onto the figures own grey color ones as she stormed over to his desk.

"What is the meaning of this!" She shouted at him, "Keira II was scheduled for Termination and three new specimens were bought in and experimented on without my permission? Who authorized it?"

"I did," The figure replied calmly, "Although you might be surprised to hear that one of the specimens helped Keira II while he was still human, and therefore was my interest sparked about how he was so easily able to cope with things. I believe you work started with finding a cure for genetic mutations?"

"Yes," the woman replied briefly, "But the problem is that one of the specimens died during the changing process. We can't keep taking people out of the public eye and experimenting on them. The public would get suspicious. We've already had to move once because the FBI got too curious."

"Oh, we won't need to worry about that," The figure replied, "You'll recognize one of the, 'specimens', as you so politely called them. Take a look."

The woman walked around the desk and peered at the view the camera gave of the room. She peered in at the darkened room and saw the figures held in two of the cages. Then she saw the ripped t-shirt the boy was wearing, the blond mop of hair the covered his head, and last, his face. She recognized the face… it was her son, Nathan.

"You knew," She replied, "You knew he was my son and you still authorized it? You told me my family wouldn't be harmed, that they would be left alone. You swore it. Now where is my daughter, Danielle and my other son, Jake?"

"But you see," The figure replied, "Your son was able to down on of our Erasers protecting that girl. He used a .357 Magnum and blew a large hole through the heart and part of the left lung. He willingly helped the girl, and I believe I said your family would be safe, so long as they didn't get involved. As for your other children, three specimens were bought in, only two are still alive."

"You mean…?" The word choked in her mouth, but she was able to finish the sentence, "You mean that one of my Children are dead and the others just more specimens to study? What has happened to them?"

"Well you daughter and eldest son were to be changed, altered with the Avian recombination, you youngest son was changed with the wolf re-combination as he happened to be the youngest and would live a little longer."

"You monster," She replied, to him, tears falling down her face, "You monster. How can you be so cold and heartless? They are your children as well."

Chapter 14

I awoke to the familiar darkness of the room and the cold metal floor of my cage. I was feeling better than before, but was still nauseous from my transformation. At least the pain has stopped, I thought, but now I have wings. I reached over my shoulder and felt my hand brush the feathers on my new wings, making sure I wasn't dreaming, and pulled a feather out, feeling the small sting as it came free. I examined the feather; it was tan brown and snowy white in color, blending together to form a marble like patterning, like Laura's wings.

I tossed the feather aside and my eyes watched it float to the ground outside my cage. My night vision had greatly improved and I was able to look around the room. Many of the cages were empty, but my loathing for this place only increased when I saw what where in the occupied cages. I don't even know how to describe the horrors that looked back at me in fear and anger, or the others that lay breathing shallowly, almost near death.

Lastly I saw Laura in the cage next to me. She was asleep, shivering in the cold and at memories of that past now resurfacing. She looked pale and frightened lying in her cage, so fragile, so helpless, that I felt compelled to comfort her, but I knew she wanted to act tough, like back at the house and just for her sake, I let her. She had her ways of dealing with things. I don't know what I felt for her, but there was something there. I had never been good at making friends or forming bonds with people easily, yet I barely new this girl sitting a few feet away from me naming herself Laura. I didn't know much of her past, what she liked or disliked, yet here we were, facing probable death and she had become someone I could trust, one of the only people I found I could trust, now that my life was more chaotic than ever before.

As if sensing my gaze on her Laura stirred from her sleep and looked at me, putting on a fake smile, but I could see the pain in her eyes at being back here.

"Sleep well?" she asked. "How are you feeling?"

"I was passed out," I replied, "So I slept like a rock. As for how am I feeling? I'm feeling fine, a little nauseous, but fine. The pain has finally stopped."

She smiled, genuinely this time, and sat up with her back against the cage. We both tilted our heads as we heard footsteps approaching the door, a moment of silence, and then the turning of the handle and the door swinging open, a silhouette stood in the doorway. A light bulb came on and I had to shield my eyes from the painful light that illuminated the room until they had adjusted. I heard footsteps approach my cage and then stop in front of it. I heard the sound of the lock being opened, heard the sob as arms reached in and pulled me to them, out of the cage and hugged me.

"Nathan," A female voice said softly, one I recognized, "I'm glad you're alright. I'm glad you're safe."

"Mom?" I asked weakly, "What are you doing here?"