Chapter 12 – Big bad wolf

We're surrounded!

I woke up instantly and sprang to my feet as my internal radar woke me. There were people everywhere, all around us!

I scanned the forest line surrounding the clearing. Any normal human would just see trees and bushes. I saw trees, bushes and a whole pack of erasers, hidden in the undergrowth. I practically leapt onto Max and shook her awake.

"Get up now! There's eraser's everywhere," I hissed.

She shot up and sprinted over to Fang. I took a deep breath and made a high-pitched bird call.

Triiiiiill!

All the flock woke quietly but alarmed. Nudge actually started to frantically search the sky for 'the bird' until she realised I had made the sound. Max coughed to get their attention then she spoke quietly.

"Everyone, up and-" She didn't finish.

Three erasers charged out of the tree line, one carrying a handgun. Max and Fang seemed to act on the same brain wave by grabbing Angel and Gazzy and throwing them into the air. They spread their wings and shot high into the air.

I ran straight at the armed eraser before he had time to aim. Suddenly, something came over me, another kind of flashback like I had during my escape. A stocky man grabbing and moving another figure, throwing punches and sparring. I instantly knew what I had to do to disarm and take out my enemy.

Just as the eraser took aim I grabbed his hand in mine and twisted my body so my back faced him. In one swift movement I released the gun's ammo magazine and pushed back the topslide, jamming the gun. Meanwhile, I thrust my other arm's elbow into his gut and he doubled over in pain. Then I clasped both hands around the eraser's gun hand and rolled him over my back. He flung over me and landed facing the sky, just as I slammed my fist into his jaw, knocking him out.

Once again, I stood stunned. I had taking down an armed eraser in less than three seconds in a single move. How did I just do that? I began to think before realising there were more erasers to deal with. I dodged to the side as one lunged at me, brushing my cheek. In return, I spun to one side and kicked him between the legs. Usually I'm a bit more sentimental towards a man's private area but this was life and death. Frankly, I'd choose life every time. Besides, he was an eraser after all. He sunk to the ground with a low whimper.

I quickly glanced back to see the flock was taking off into the sky. I unfurled my wings and jumped high. With a few powerful strokes I cleared the trees, leaving the group of angry wolf men howling up at us. I joined the flock in the sky and we hovered in lose formation.

"How did you know they were coming?" asked Gazzy, his eyes frantically looking below us.

"My internal radar kindly decided to warn me," I smirked and they all grinned.

Then I winced as my brain flashed visions again. Strangely I felt no pain, just that I had left my body for a moment like 'Ok, be right back.'

I saw blurry images of a group of buildings in what seemed like an industrial estate. Then a large one with dull red bricks and a sign above the garage doors but I couldn't make out what it said. Some kind of warehouse. The image changed and this one was much clearer. I saw a housing area, with many, many small homes in circular cul-de-sacs. I saw a sign next to the door that showed part of the address. And below that, there was a name; Manuel Cole.

All of a sudden it stopped. I opened my eyes to see five pairs of eyes starring at me. Six if you count Iggy.

"Are you ok?" Nudge asked with concern.

I nodded. After an uncertain nod, Max gestured for the flock to move out. My mind was reeling now. Who was Manuel Cole? I felt that I recognized that name as well as the house I had seen in my brain images. And yes, I know that seems like a strange sentence. I looked around at the flock, as I realized I had to leave them. They had their mission, I had mine. They wanted to find their parents.

I wanted to find myself.