Chapter 4...
Uh, I have no idea what to say about this one. This was easier to write at the start. Mainly because Archer just hates the world so his input to the story is mostly 'Just let me bitch about people and I'll behave'. Everyone else is so complicated.
And uh, is this really the Flock's first appearance? Well that took a while. I really dislike writing them. They keep doing weird things and making me hate myself. And about the weird 'dream' in the second split... I have no idea what I was writing. Hell, it wasn't even meant to be in this. I just started writing it and then bamn! It fit.
So thanks to 5253Racer, The Nemean Lion and Bird That Flies At Dawn for the reviews. And thanks to blueninja28 and kell young for alerting/favouriting respectively. You guys make me happy~.
Standard Disclaimer applies. I own nothing 'cept Hexx, Archer & the others who really didn't appear in the books.
"Run me through the plan again?" Archer rolled his eyes, leaning back in his cage. Hitting his head on the top, he scowled, leaning forward again. In the cage opposite his a dark skinned male sat, hiding a grin at Archer's fault.
"One last time Scales or I swear to Death I'm gonna-."
"Going to do what?" The black male interrupted, a sly grin covering his face. "You can't do jack shit from over there, and even if you could Hexx would kill ya for trying." Scales let out a laugh as Archer's face contorted into a mask of composed rage. He scratched absentmindedly at the skin of his neck, the rough texture of it making a sickening noise.
"Scales! Pay attention and stop shedding!" Archer all but hissed from his cage, green eyes narrowed in a poisonous glare. Scales grinned sheepishly, dropping his hand. Archer flicked his glare to the other caged occupants of the room, silently daring them to make a noise and attract the Erasers. They all flinched away, save one. Well, she was dead so it hardly mattered.
Before he spoke again, he glanced at the cage next to his. Havoc lay curled in on himself, brown hair stuck to his face with blood, sweat and tears. Multiple cuts covered his bruised and battered form, some still bleeding. This was why they needed to get out. It was one thing for him to take a beating, he was used to it. But Havoc... he had always been protected. Hexx always had his back. Always. She took every one of his punishments and made them hers. It was a wonder why she didn't have two sets of wings to boot.
Shaking his head to clear it, he refocused on the matter at hand. His face became a composed mask, a hint of anger still shown in the crease of his brow.
"It's a simple job. Here's what you need to do…"
Black fire burned. It licked up to the ceiling and curled out the windows.
He should have been screaming.
It snaked around him, up to his waist, and then higher. He could sense it curling in his airways.
He should have been choking.
Burned flesh hung from the ceiling. Flakes fell off the body, into his hands.
He should have been retching.
Arms encircled his waist and he was pulled away. The bodies watched him go, eyes lifeless.
He should have been crying.
He should have been doing something! He should have felt those flames! He should have… He could have…
Archer's eyes snapped open, his breathing irregular. Gods above did his back hurt. He should be used to sleeping in awkward positions by now. That wasn't the issue though. That 'dream' was, and had been for the past few days. Archer didn't reflect on it yet.
He ran a hand through his hair, the greasy strands revolting his cleaner side, and regulated his breathing. His green eyes scanned the room slowly, taking in the sights of the others, fast asleep; or as close as they would ever be without death. He shut his eyes, resting a hand on the cold metal beneath him. There were no scientists or wolf hybrids nearby, so he was safe for a little while.
With this time limit in mind, Archer shifted his position so he sat facing the cage beside him. His eyes were still shut and he forced himself to open them. Havoc's shaking was the first thing he noticed. The tears were second. He hadn't started screaming yet. That was good.
"Havoc?" Archer kept his voice low, constantly aware of the risk of the traitor waking up. He already had enough shit to deal; them exploiting the 'weakness' he had gained once Hexx left would just push him over the edge.
The brown haired boy didn't stir, didn't move. Archer's eyes narrowed. He needed Havoc to wake up, before the dream progressed.
"Havoc…" He reached through the bars of their cages and gripped Havoc's wrist. Sometimes, rarely but sometimes, he was glad he was malnourished.
Havoc's eyes shot open this time. His breathing stilled as his grey orbs flitted around him. No fire? He was safe? A tug on his wrist and Havoc was pulled back into the real world. He wasn't safe. And why was someone holding his wrist? Was he going to be taken away? No! They couldn't!
"Havoc." Grey eyes met green and Archer had a flashback to a day almost ten years ago. He shook his head mentally. Not now. Not yet.
"Ar…cher?" Archer swore to himself that the feeling of a weight lifting off of him was only because Havoc hadn't begun screaming and alerted the wolf hybrids. It wasn't relief that he was okay. Please. Archer only felt relief when it came to himself.
"Yeah." Archer paused, his next words sticking in his throat. But he'd say them anyway, because once they found Hexx, Havoc would recount everything that had happened. And he really didn't want to be hit with a bunch of metal. "You okay?"
Havoc stiffened. Was this really Archer? He glanced at his black haired friend again and the trace of annoyance at the lack of answer reassured him. Yeah, it was.
"Havoc's fine." Archer nodded once and withdrew his hand. He couldn't take any more risks.
"Go back to sleep then." Archer's words were final; absolute. Not that Havoc was going to argue. Green eyes watched as Havoc curled into a ball, his breathing evening out almost straight away. Reassurance was a powerful drug.
Archer sighed and then leaned back, careful not to hit his head. He began tracing the bruises along his forearms, thoughts elsewhere. Two weeks… Who'd a thought it? And in a day they'd… No. He wouldn't jinx it. His eyes slid shut, following Havoc off to dream land.
Across the room, tucked into a corner cage, a small figure smiled. Weakness found.
Hexx sighed, arms curled around her stomach. She didn't have the energy to do this anymore. She had barely made it flying for 3 hours after she left the Dr's house; the gravity pull was too strong. And now, a week later, Hexx wasn't sure if she could keep walking, let alone fly.
A low grumble and Hexx groaned, head dropping to her knees. She needed food. And she needed it now. Her muscles had no strength left to carry her body weight. She had been getting dizzy spells that lasted up to ten minutes at a time. If it continued like this Itex wouldn't have to worry about terminating her.
"Oi, bitch." Hexx groaned again. Now? Really? Rolling her head to one side, she blinked blearily.
"What?" Oh god no. A street gang. A bloody street gang. A part of Hexx disappeared, yelling for the wolf hybrids and men with needles to take her away as she realised just how little strength she had left. Could she even stand up?
"You're on our turf."
"Really now?" Hexx would have slapped herself. If she could have lifted her hands. Why did she have to talk back? The gang members snorted, sharing a chuckle.
"Bitch thinks she's smart." One of the side members stepped forward.
"We should teach her a lesson in respect."The glint of a knife caught her eye. Hexx felt her stomach drop.
Shit.
She gasped, drawing sweet oxygen into her battered lungs. Blue eyes wide open as she arched her back off the ground. Oh gods above did her wings ache. And not just her wings; everywhere hurt. She must have been painted with a stunning array of bruises for this amount of pain.
"She's awake!" Hexx froze instinctively at the boy's voice, her breath pausing in her airways. Who was there?
"Angel, can you hear now?" The voice was quiet and female. Hexx dropped, back hitting the floor. Her eyes shut and she tried not to clench her hands into fists. What sort of name was Angel? Then again, what sort of name was Hexx?
"No..." came the rather forlorn answer to the first question. Hexx breathed out silently; she had to get up soon.
The movement was sudden, and jarred her healing ribs. Mentally cursing, Hexx curled her arms around her waist. She should have taken it a bit slower. She was aware she was being watched, but made no move to make eye contact.
"Are you okay?" Hexx tensed, and then raised her eyes quickly. Her eyes locked onto the speaker, a tall girl of around fourteen years old. Light brown hair fell to her shoulders and into her darker brown eyes. Something tugged at Hexx's memory banks but she pushed it aside, choosing instead to answer the question.
"I'm fine." A splash of confusion crossed the girl's face and she leaned in closer, hands on her hips.
"Say what?" Irritation flared through Hexx's mind. Was she that quiet?
"I'm fine." Hexx repeated at a louder level, hand dropping to her side. Her eyes flicked away from the girl and down to the grass at her feet. A movement caught her attention and her eyes snapped up, locking onto the black dog that had shifted. He sat at the feet of a blue eyed, blonde haired young girl of around six.
"Why?" Hexx asked suddenly, eyes snapping up to the brown haired girl again. The girl blinked, taken aback.
"'Why' what?" Hexx's attention shifted again, this time to the dark haired boy who stood behind the one she had been addressing. A flash of green ran across her mind and she inhaled swiftly, ignoring the searing pain in her ribs. She had to stop remembering.
"Why'd you care?" Hexx turned her face away, words quieter. She wasn't trusting these people. Not yet.
"You were being beaten up by those guys! And you weren't even conscious!" All eyes turned to the dark skinned girl who had spoken up. "We couldn't just leave you there! You could've died! Plus, they had knives and everything!" Hexx blinked once, blue eyes guarded. Really? A reason that simple? Who were these kids?
"Whatever." Hexx pushed off the ground, wincing as several of her bones cracked. Apparently this worried the girl who had first spoken, as she stepped forward.
"You shouldn't move around so much." Her tone held authority, making Hexx want to obey. "Those guys beat you up pretty badly." Hexx focused her eyes on the grass beneath her, trying to string a coherent thought together.
"I've suffered worse…" Hexx finally muttered, turning away from the group. Flashes of memories clouded her brain and she frowned, rubbing her eyes.
"Max, we can't just let her go…" Hexx stiffened, even as the supposed leader-Max-sighed.
"It's her choice Angel." Hexx began walking quicker, her shoulders rising. She couldn't hear them. It was that simple.
Max turned her back on the departing girl and shrugged at her flock. She could understand why the girl refused to listen to them; if she had been in her situation she wouldn't have listened to herself either.
"But Max! She was still injured an-!" Max resisted the urge to frown at Angel and instead stuck her hands in her jacket pockets.
"Yeah but she's a big girl, she can deal with it." She interrupted, using her leader voice. Angel pouted, her blue eyes pleading.
"Max! Hey! She fell down!"
"Huh?" Max spun around to find Gazzy and Nudge running towards the girls fallen form. She had fallen face first into the dirt. The rest of the flock walked over quickly, Iggy kneeling by her side to check for re-opened injuries.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Nudge fidgeted in her place, looking worried.
"I think she just passed ou-" Iggy froze, hand hovering over the girls back. There was a pause and then Angel gasped.
"Ig?" Fang prompted, stepping forward. The blonde pyromaniac seemed to shake himself out of his shock and looked up at Max.
"Guys... She has wings..."
