Flight : 11
Thomas slowly walked around me. He ran a hand along my back and down each wing as he inspected my newly grown feathers. I stood in the center of the room with my wings outstretched as far as the room would allow. Lizzy stood in front of me, nibbling her nails. It had taken months of patience, but now I was sure that the feathers were long enough. As eager as I was to start learning how to fly, Thomas was very adamant that I wait.
"They look great." He said as he stopped in front of me. I looked down at the crisp, bright white feathers. "You still need to be careful though, most people learn when they're younger than Lizzy." He jabbed his thumb back at her. "But 10 isn't too old either."
"So let's go! I want to get started!" I folded my wings and made for the door but Thomas stepped in front of me.
"Later tonight, I know just the place to practice. We just can't do it during the day." He winked.
The construction site.
"I want to come too." Lizzy frowned and folded her arms over her chest. "If you don't let me, I'll tell Mrs. Wren."
Thomas and I shared an irritated look. It was impossible to keep any secrets from Lizzy. Not only because she lived in the same room, but also because she was just as adept in reading minds as we were. Thomas took a deep breath and turned to face her.
"We can't leave you alone there, Liz. We're going to be jumping through it and coming back up the road tower." He tried to explain. "That means when we jump down, you can't follow us."
"I'll be fine." She said stubbornly. Thomas groaned and rubbed his forehead.
"Mrs. Wren needs help preparing tomorrow's breakfast." I offered but Lizzy stood fast, glaring. When she had made up her mind on something, there was no budging her. I sighed in defeat.
"You need to stick to us like glue, you understand?" Thomas pointed a finger. "Talk to us, let us know what's going on, where you are, everything."
"I'm not a baby." Lizzy put her hands on her hips.
"Never said you were." Thomas looked back at me.
…
The construction site was only half a block away. Lizzy, Thomas, and I waited in an alley for the last of the workers to leave for the night. It felt strange seeing the site again. The last time we had passed it was on our way into the city. Dad had explained how the street had collapsed into the level below us.
Large, flat sheets of metal covered most of it now, but a 20 foot wide hole still remained open. Cones and warning tape surrounded it. Thomas' plan was to teach me to glide first. He wanted us to jump through the hole and glide the 100 feet down to the next level, then come back up using the center road column. It had sounded like a great plan at first, but now that we were here, my nerves were getting the better of me.
"Why can't I just learn by jumping off a building?" I shifted my weight from foot to foot.
"Unless you know how to get up onto the roof in the first place?" He pointed up at the top of the buildings on either side of us. The walls were smooth concrete with no hand holds or foot holds.
"How did you learn then?"
"I learned how to take off from the ground first." Thomas waved the question away. "Besides, how cool is this? We can jump straight down into the next level, it's like the ultimate shortcut."
Half an hour later, the last of the workers had packed up and were walking away from the site. Thomas got up from his sitting position and crouched down in front of Lizzy. He held her arms gently and looked up at her.
"Pinky promise that you won't run off or talk to anyone but us." He raised his pinky. She immediately wrapped hers around it and they shook. "Good. Now follow me."
Thomas moved out from the alley quietly, Lizzy and I close behind him. He navigated around the cones, tape, and road blocks until we were at the very edge of the metal sheet. He stopped there and hesitantly set a foot down onto the shiny surface.
"Lizzy, stay here." I told her and she nodded, her jaw tense. She had been brave all the way up until now, but I could see this was getting to her. "You can hide in there." I pointed to the small, temporary shack built onto the edge of the site.
"How long will you be gone?" She asked nervously. I looked to Thomas, who shrugged.
"We'll let you know. Just hang tight."
Thomas had moved out onto the metal sheet and was now only a couple feet from the large hole. I moved to his side, my wings partially open in anticipation. Thomas made flying look so easy, so graceful. But now the open space felt terrifying.
"When we jump, open your wings when you get past the hole's edge. You don't need to flap yet, just hold them open and let the air carry you." He said quietly. I stared into the hole. I couldn't see any light down there. It was a pit of darkness that led to nothing.
"100 feet?" I clarified and he nodded.
"I can go first if you want. Then I can direct you as you go."
"Yeah, let's do that." I swallowed hard. Thomas stepped closer to the edge and rolled his shoulders, loosening his dark green wings.
"Don't worry, the first time's always the scariest." He looked back with a smile, then tipped forward head first. He dove into the hole and instantly disappeared. I inched closer to the edge and peered down into it.
Is he okay? Lizzy's scared voice squeaked in my head. I nodded, knowing that she was watching me, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. My heart was about to break out of my chest and my hands were sweaty.
Jump, Newt!
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then I stepped out into the open space and let myself fall forward.
Immediately I wanted to scream and flail my arms to try and grab something. My stomach leapt into my throat as the horrible sensation of falling filled my chest. Everything was dark and disorientating. I had flipped right side up again.
Stay flat on your belly. Open your wings gently, not too sudden. Thomas' voice was calm and solid. I obeyed, leaning forward. Air rushed past me and stung my eyes and whipped my hair back. I opened my wings the tiniest bit and was shocked at the difference. A little more.
And then something overtook me. I opened my wings fully and it was like a parachute had opened. The air caught me as if I had hit an invisible net. The feeling was incredible. I soared forward, allowing the air to support me. All feelings of fear and anxiety vanished, and I slowly opened my eyes again.
The ground below looked like a huge chess board with criss-crossing street lights and houses. The massive center column was illuminated to the left. I was coasting in a wide arc, following the contour of the city wall. The air rushed past my ears, roaring and pulling at my clothes. I reached my arms out to either side and grinned widely.
You're doing great for a first timer. Thomas said and I looked down. He was below me, maybe 15 feet down, beaming up at me with a huge smile. His hair whipped into his face and his dark green wings made him nearly invisible against the dark city. He moved his wings gracefully, automatically, as if he didn't even need to think about it. I looked ahead at the city wall. It moved past me quickly, but always stayed the same distance from me. I looked over at my right wing. My feathers ruffled in the wind, but the wing was tilted slightly more up than my left.
A thought occurred to me. Arwys had dipped her wing and it made her turn completely. I could probably do the same-
Don't try it, Newt. Just glide for now.
It was too late. I had moved my left wing inward slightly and the air immediately pushed me down and to the left. The movement was so sudden it flipped me over completely. I was falling again, only now I was tumbling head over heels. My wings flapped hard, desperate to level myself.
Get back onto your belly!
Fear ripped my heart out and the dizziness was overwhelming. But somehow, I managed to get back onto my stomach. My arms and legs spread out and my wings opened once more, yanking me upward.
It hurt. It hurt a lot.
I held my wings open stiffly, not wanting to make the slightest movement again. The ground was much closer now. The street below was well defined and houses rushed past.
How was I going to land?
Aim for the small park. It's just up ahead. Thomas said and I looked forward, squinting through tears and wind. A small square of green grass and benches was coming up quickly. Pump your wings back and forth to slow yourself down and touch down with your feet. Like this.
Thomas was moving a little faster than I was, so he moved forward a few feet. I watched him carefully, mimicking his movements best I could. He lowered his legs, tilted his wings and began back beating the air to slow down. His heels hit the ground first and he ran to catch himself. I looked down at the ground streaking by, I was going way too fast.
My heels hit the ground but jarred me so badly that I tripped and hurtled forward. Wings flapping, arms flailing, I landed on my chest and slid forward about 10 feet before coming to a stop. The grass wasn't real; it was turf. Unforgiving turf that rubbed my hands and knees raw. I lay there for a few moments groaning. Thomas ran up next to me and knelt down.
"Are you okay?" He panted. I groaned again and pushed myself onto my hands and knees. I was shaking all over and my arms could barely support me. I leaned back to sit down instead. My wings were still open but felt hot and shaky.
"I think so." I looked around. I was on the ground. I wasn't dead. I looked up. The ceiling of this level looked the same as the level above it. Small, orange bulbs filled the space and cast everything in an orange light. Only one small spot was dark; the hole we had jumped through. I looked over at Thomas and his wide smile.
"You did it!" He flung himself onto me, wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug. I hugged him back and buried my face in the crook of his neck. He pulled away and clapped a hand on my shoulder.
Liz, I did it! I flew! I mentally shouted to her.
That's awesome! You have to tell me all about it. She responded and Thomas grinned at the same time I did. She had sent the message to both of us.
"Alright, let's go. We have a long walk back." He pointed up at the center column. I inwardly groaned. If only we could just fly back up through the same hole.
I stood and winced as my skinned knees protested. My wings folded against my back, warm from the exercise. Flying would solve my problems, I felt. If I ever needed to escape or be alone or just think, I could do that by flying. Nothing could ever hold me back ever again.