2.Charlie
I sat back in my chair, still shocked. I'd just sent someone a picture of me, with my wings. But she had sent the first email. I liked the look of her, she had long blonde streaked hair, and her wings were tawny. I suppose you could call them tan. They were streaked too, with white and cream. I think they were anyway they looked like streaks.
I saw another email popping up. It was from Jasmin. I wonder if she'll let me call her Jas or Jazza. I clicked on the email. It popped up instantly. I wondered if Jasmin had fast net. I read it and almost laughed. She sounded like a teacher! But the email was too serious to laugh. She was too right. If they had wanted us too know about each other, we would already. So we had to keep this secret. So I sent back:
Hey Jasmin, sorry I was so crazy before. I was just excited. I thought I was
I was the only one. I hope we can find the others. If something bad is going down we'll probably need them. What kind of bad stuff? If u can't get to those papers easily, don't try. I'll start looking for the others. Charlie.
"Charlie! Shouldn't you be in bed? Asleep?" called Mom.
"Aww Mom, I wanted to go flying."
"Its 10pm, and it's snowing out."
"It's called a coat."
"Bed!" ordered Mom.
I sighed and logged off, before heading outside to call Sammy in. The young husky trotted up to me and we jogged to my room. It's largish, with a double bed and a walk in wardrobe. My favourite feature was a life-sized poster of a hawk. I got changed into my pajamas and dove under the doona. Sammy came and curled up on my legs like she was a hot water bottle, like always, it felt nice she was there.
The next morning I fed Sammy then got myself breakfast. It was still dark out so I pulled on my warmest coat, with slits in the back, and went outside. I shook my wings out and jumped upwards. In seconds I was racing upwards in a vertical climb. I ducked and weaved, moving my wings slightly so I swooped and span. I loved the feeling of flight; it was so exhilarating. The best thing in the world.
I started to wonder about Jasmin, how well she could fly, what it would be like to fly with her, how wide her wingspan is, if she has any bird-like traits. After about 10 minutes I landed again. Sammy was sitting patiently, waiting for me. I pulled my wings back in my coat; they were still warm from the exercise. My cheeks were numb from exposure. I shook my arms a bit too warm them up and said to Sammy;
"Come on girl, lets see if we have mail from a certain friend."
She wagged her tail and followed me into the house.
I logged onto my email account and saw I had one unread email. From Jasmine…
Hey Charlie
I don't know what's going to happen. Except that it's bad. Two things we need; find the others and see if they know anything; get those papers. Try and find out stuff, and work out what might happen.
Jasmin
Hmm, okay. Find the others. I couldn't get to the papers, unless I fly to Australia, so I have to find the others. So I replied:
K Jas
Read u loud n' clear. Find da others.
Cya
I sent it and logged off. Again. I started looking for the others. She had found me through chat rooms, so that would probably be the best place. I tried for an hour and a half. I was just about to leave when 'freakyfriend' logged on.
freakyfriend oi, guess what, my friend was sleeping over, and I swear, when she got up off her sleeping bag, she left a feather there. And her pillow aint a feather one. I think she might have wings or something.
I froze and stared at the text. It couldn't be true, and it wasn't that easy. I had nothing to lose but.
CharlieWonka can u give me her email
freakyfriend no, but when shes on here, her nicks LittleMermaid
Damn, I thought I could maybe send her that picture of Jasmin. I logged off and logged back onto my email again. I'm glad I have a short password. And then I emailed Jasmin again.
Jasmin, found a kid screaming about finding a feather in her friends bed when there was no feathers in the house. She's on a chat room from that awesome game u talked about. Her nicks LittleMermaid and her friend wont give me her email.
Talk to u soon.
Mom walked up behind me and cleared her throat. I clicked send and minimized it.
"Who's Jasmin?" she asked playfully, "your girlfriend."
"As if, she's just a friend." I answered quickly.
"From where?"
"Chat sites."
"You're emailing someone from a chat site? Isn't that dangerous?"
"Isn't having wings weird?" I asked.
We both laughed, it broke the mood. I thanked god she didn't pry more. Then Sammy started barking her head off. Me and Mom stared at each other, startled.
I raced outside and saw a battered black sedan pull up in our driveway. Dad was driving it. But it wasn't our car. In the passenger seat was a man with tinted glasses. He had brown hair and was rather tall. He scared me for some reason.
Dad got out first and I forgot the other man. Dad had been away on business for almost too months. "Dad!" I called out, and ran to him.
"Hey trooper. How's my little guy going?"
"I'm not little, professor, I'm thirteen." I kidded. (the professor part anyway)
He ignored me. This wasn't right. He looked pale, scared. There were big bags under his eyes that I'd never seen before.
"This is Mike, Charlie," he said stiffly, "I've told him all about you."
That triggered my senses. NEVER would my Dad tell anyone about my wings. Ever. Mom looked worried. Then Mike stepped towards me.
Sammy barked and barked. An angry, cold bark. Her hackles rose up and she started to growl, never taking her eyes off Mike.
"I'll take her out back." I said quickly, hoping to be excused.
"No, I'm sure Steve will. I'd like to see you properly."
I had never heard a voice so cold, harsh, commanding, and used to being in control. So I froze. He grasped my upper arm and squeezed the muscle. Hard.
"Come." He muttered.
All of a sudden Sam's barks turned into a snarl and she leapt at Dad. He jumped back in shock and let go of her. She flung herself at Mike and he kicked out at her. She snarled again. The most animal sound I'd ever heard. And sank her teeth into his arm. He cursed and cursed, but kept hold of my arm. I twisted and kicked him in the gut. He let go but Sammy didn't.
Mom screamed. "He's only a kid."
"FK this bloody dog, he's her pack you IDIOTS." Spat Mike.
I stood about five metres in front of them. Sammy let go of Mike's arm and ran over too me. I bent down to pick her up, as I did I saw Mike rushing forwards, blood dripping from his ripped sleeve. I snapped out my wings and leapt into the air. They watched in awe, Mike watched in hatred. I heard Mom scream, "stop him, he knows about the others." Before I raced away. I looked down again, struggling to keep Sammy up, to see an old man, watching me.