FWIP-FWIP-FWIP-FWIP

That was the noise which greeted me as I woke up. It took my aching brain a moment to realize what it was.

Helicopter blades!

They sounded very close, too.

Opening my eyes, I realized the reason for that was that I was actually in the helicopter. This was definitely not a good thing. I had the mother of all headaches, to boot.

Speaking of mother...

"Hello, Echo." Andrea sat next to me. "It's nice to see you again."

"Wish I could say the same," I mumbled. Looking around, I could see the other passengers: Erasers.

"I'm sorry that we had to end this experiment so soon. It was rather interesting, wasn't it?" Andrea said.

"Experiment?" I replied.

"Letting the two of you escape. We wished to see how you would survive in the outside world."

"You mean... I wasn't going to be killed after all?"

"You were, but I convinced the others that this would be a decent way to test how a lab-raised recombinant would react to a non-lab environment. We were somewhat pleased at the results. Of course, you were hardly a success, as far as those things go. Useless wings and all. Evisceration was somewhat more impressive, but I suppose she could blend a bit better. All in all, an interesting project."

"You mean... this whole thing was just another test? All planned out?"

"Yes, Echo."

Then it wasn't just an act of kindness.

"What now?" I asked.

"We will return to the School. Your ultimate fate will be decided there. If you are lucky, perhaps you'll simply have your wings amputated, and a new set of tests run. Your sonar, after all, did turn out well."

"And if I'm not lucky?"

"A painless death."

Neither option sounded particularly appealing. There was still one thing I needed to know.

"Are you... my mother?"

"Yes."

No elaboration. Just the simple affirmative.

"Why did you let this happen? Why did you let me get my DNA screwed with? Why did you leave me with a bunch of psycho scientists?"

"I was asked twice to donate ovum to create experimental subjects. You were the result of the first time. Evisceration was the result of the second."

Ah. We were sisters, after all. Or at least half-sisters.

But... to Andrea, I was just another experiental subject. She didn't love me. Perhaps she felt sorry or guilty enough to show some level of kindness, but not the mother I'd dreamed about.

"Where's Viss?" I asked.

"She managed to escape the crash. We do not know of her current whereabouts."

I was glad of that, at least.

Echo? Where are you?

Her voice rang in my head. I tried to answer.

They got me. I'm in a helicopter now.

No! I thought you had escaped! I should have grabbed you, I should have done something, but I panicked. I am so sorry! I am a coward... Viss trailed off.

You couldn't have done anything. You'd have just ended up caught too. At least this way, one of us stays free. And I'm not going back to the School.

What do you mean?

I unbuckled my seatbelt.

"What are you doing?" Andrea asked.

I reached for the door handle.

"Sit back down this instant!"

I opened the door... and jumped.

"Echo!"

Echo!

The voices of my mother and sister came at the same moment. I unfurled my wings. They wouldn't stop my fall. They wouldn't even slow it enough for me to survive.

But...

It feels like I'm flying.