Chapter 17 – Trust and other dangerous motions

Slowly, I sat down again.

My body tensed, every muscle stiff and ready.

I just glared at Jeb. I didn't know him well but Max had told me everything.

"Thank you," he said after I had made myself uncomfortable on the bench.

"I can't trust you," I said coldly, "Max told me everything."

"Max doesn't see the big picture yet," he replied softly, his eyes softening.

"And sometimes, trust isn't allows always as important as knowing what you need to know."

Already I was tired of his cryptic answers. I longed to just grab him and shout into his face 'Who am I?'

"I know about you Phoenix," he said, looking out at the pond's still water. "I know your looking for answers."

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to smack him right in the face. He seemed to notice yet he remained calm and collected and continued his speech.

"Most people don't know what they want or where to find it, but you do. You just have to remember."

"I can't remember," I hissed angrily, my teeth bared, "You whitecoats did that to me. You made that mistake. Just tell me what I want."

Jeb sighed, still not making eye contact, and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"I don't know all the answers Phoenix," he said, "But I can help you find them. You see, I was there when you were made, when you were developed. Although I wasn't directly linked with your 'construction'," he said, putting air quotes over 'construction'.

My blood was starting to boil. I couldn't stand this, all this talk about being made by them. Deep in my throat, I made involuntary low bird growls. Jeb ignored me and carried on.

"I'm going to help you find what you want, but only because it will help you find your place in the big picture. I know the man who was assigned to your project. Another 'whitecoat', as you would say. His name is Manuel Cole."

I tensed and gasped slightly. Was Manuel Cole the I had visioned? It seemed likely.

Right on cue, I had another brain flicker. I saw that same house but this time I could see the full address; Cole's address. More images flicked of the housing estate.

Then they stopped. I opened my eyes and to my relief, nothing had changed. I could see the pond and the crowds of people…but no Jeb.

I looked around me but he was well and truly gone, like he had just vanished into thin air. Talk about freaky.

Next step I guess was to find Cole's house. Strangely, my brain could sense where it was, in which direction and how far like it normally does when I can home in on somewhere. It was like it had unlocked the memory of where this place was and now I could home in on it like a bird homes in on its nest.

Thank you extra 4% avian genes.

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It turns out the house was actually in the suburban areas west of the main city.

After having a lovely lunch from the cop's backpack, I was now flying way high above the city searching for Manuel Cole's house.

Up here, the sounds of the city were much quieter and I could just coast on thermal currents that rose up towards me. I cooed as the warm air filled my wings, the feathers on my arms and back rustling softly.

It was pure bliss.

I was almost glad that I was alone and on the run.

Cautiously, I scanned the neighborhood around the house. There were barely any cars parked outside so I presumed just about everyone had gone to work.

I tucked in my wings and skydived straight down, using only my wing tips to guide me.

I pulled up at the last second and landed softly on the ground, in the fences between two houses.

I brushed off my arms and rolled my shoulders and wings before folding them in. In front of me was the cul-de-sac. Across the street was the house I had seen in my brain visions.

Wondering if that sentence would ever sound normal, I strolled casually towards the front door. This definitely was the right house. It looked almost exactly the same in my mind and the address and name were clearly shown on the sign.

I couldn't see any lights on and there was no car in the driveway. I walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.

Sure, I could try and break in but why bother if someone inside could just open the door. I rang the bell again and even knocked on the door but no one opened up.

Okay, Plan B, I thought.

Scanning around to check if anyone was watching me, I reached into the backpack and pulled out a small tool, shaped uncannily like a small gun with little attachments on the front. It was the cop's lock gun, very useful for breaking into houses.

Strangely, I was pretty confident how to use it. Which meant what?

After changing the end piece of the lock gun, I jiggled it around in the door's lock. After a couple of minutes the door clicked opened.

I swiftly moved inside and closed the door behind me.