This one would be mine. It took quite a while to get done, and it was a little slow coming together at first. But, it's done. :)

Track One: Life Starts Now by Three Days Grace

Track Two: Freak Out by Avril Lavigne

Track Three: Use Somebody by Kings of Leon

Track Four: Anthem For the Underdog by 12 Stones

*Ember*

"Bel, watch out!" I yelled, my eyes going wide with fear as I saw a flyboy smash a heavy, thick glassed water vase over her head. I growled when I saw her go down, my fists clenching and my jaw locked in anger. The flyboy I was currently fighting with, well… he was no longer a problem. I snapped out my charcoal wings, and lunged at the one who attacked Bel. He tried to run, but it was useless. I had him in my iron grasp, and I wasn't planning on letting him free for hurting my best friend.

I heard his wrist snap in my grasp, and he let out a howl of pain. I smirked, triumphantly, and brought my leg around in a roundhouse, making contact with his head in a sickening Crack! His eyes went wide before rolling back, and I scowled.

I hated killing. It sickened me, to my very core, and a lot of nights I couldn't ever sleep because every time I did every person I'd ever killed visited me- each a different night. I was sure by now I was only a 16th through the list though; that'd be one long waiting line. Imagine the lines for your favorite ride at Disney World or Six Flags, or whatever you do, on a summer day when your entire school system, along with all its county schools, and every other kid in the state was there on that day. Multiply that by ten, and you have half an idea of what that waiting line would be like.

I hated myself for it; no, I despisedmyself for it. My heart tore itself to pieces every time I hurt someone, and every time I killed something it was like driving a million knives into my body- every pore had a needle ten inches deep, and I was being torn to pieces. I hated seeing the life leave someone's eyes, I didn't care who or what it was. I wanted to cry every time I'd been forced to kill a little bunny, or rat, or squirrel for food. They were innocent. They'd done nothing to deserve being killed. Now, Erasers and Flyboys were different. They were evil; they would kill me or my family if I didn't kill them. But…still. Every single day is a different chance to turn your life around. I knew that every day almost, I took away far too many chances. That wasn't my place to judge, and it wasn't my place to tell someone they'd had enough chances, so suck it up and face the price you pay for your mistakes. People weren't evil; some people just needed someone to help them out a little.

But of course, I had to take lives- even though I hated it. It didn't bother any of the others near as much as it did me. I think they'd all gotten used to- or as used to it as you could possibly get. I often found comfort in talking to my brother about it, though. He and I had similar minds; we were siblings. He was a guy though, so it didn't daunt him as much. It bothered him, but he knew it had to be done and so he did it. I think part of that was the fact he had a baby sister to look after, though. I knew Talon had the mindset he had to protect his flock, and he did anything to protect us- no matter what the personal cost to him was. I admired that, but I also hated it. Talon needed to think more about what could happen to him, sometimes. He'd very narrowly escaped death on more than one occasion, and I didn't want that to become habitual. I knew he didn't care as long as we all were okay, but he needed to be more careful.

I pulled myself from my thoughts; I couldn't dwell on shit like that- especially not right now. I had to find that kid, then get Bel and him out alive. I finished off the last flyboy in the room, and I heaved Bel over my shoulder in a fireman's carry. I dashed up a flight of stairs, hugging my wings tightly to my body on account of the small stairway.

I was uneasy, I felt like I was being followed. That was never a good feeling, and I'm usually right about it. I again pushed the thoughts aside as I kicked down the door in front of me after laying Bel beside the entrance. There was a scream from the room, and my eyes found a little boy.

He looked to be around Ash's age, so maybe 11 or 12, give or take a year or so. He had cropped brown hair, that stuck up a little on the sides with it slightly shorter in the middle. He had a cute face, but it was currently twisted in fear as he huddled into a corner with medium sized sparrow wings cascading around his frail body.

I took a cautious step towards him, and he cowered closer to the wall. I sighed.

"Are you Gabriel?" I asked softly, kneeling down on one knee across the room.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice shaking as he tried to steady it.

"I'm Ember,"

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here to rescue you. My Leader asked me to save you, so you can be a part of our flock and we'll take care of you, honey," I said softly, carefully studying his face. Before he could reply, a group of Flyboys burst through the window opposite him. I sprang up, drawing a hidden knife from my belt and lunged at the one closest to Gabriel. He flinched, looking away as I shoved the blade into the Flyboy.

I was sick, disgusted with myself for doing that in front of a child. I couldn't dwell on the thought though, because there were still three or four more attacking me. I fought hard, but I was getting tired. I was already exhausted, and I was nearing the point of fatigue. But, no. I had to keep going. I couldn't let down Talon. I couldn't let Gabriel get caught, again. I couldn't let down Bel. I had to protect her, she needed me more than anything now.

There were three down, and two to go. And they were big. I dug my heels in, and kept going. My fist collided with one's chest, but before he could retaliate I flipped away- to the one heading to Gabriel. I sent him a nice, jaw-breaking uppercut. However, the other both were closing in on me. I was backed into the corner with Gabriel behind me.

And then, we were saved.

A boy swiftly handed a quick sequence consisting of several uppercuts, hooks, kicks, and jabs to the two. He turned his attention to one, and I attacked the second. Within moments, they were finished off.

"Who the fuck are you," I spat at the other avian boy. He had dark, midnight black wings that matched the shade of his shaggy hair perfectly. His dark grey and black eyes met mine with some degree of amusement.

"You're welcome for saving your life, it was no problem. Oh, by the way, I'm Fang," he said with a teasing roll of his eyes. I smirked, placing one hand on my hip.

"Thanks, but, I need to be getting back," I replied, and I knelt down to face Gabriel again. He looked at me with new eyes. "Do you think you can come with me?"

"Um, I…. uh, sure," he sighed, heaving himself off the ground. I ruffled his hair as I stood up, head and shoulders over him.

"You may need some help," grinned Fang, and I arched an eyebrow.

"And, why is that?"

"Well, you're exhausted. You've got to get him to wherever you're going, and you have your friend who is passed out and, might I add, a little bit taller than you? You may be badass, but you can't kill yourself."

I glared at him, hard. But, it didn't intimidate him.

"Fine," I growled. "but you better keep up."

"Oh, I will. Don't even worry about that," he grinned, and I smirked back. He quickly retrieved Bel, and motioned for me to lead the way.

I took Gabriel's hand, and we dove from the window with Fang close behind us.