I held Anika in my arms. I didn't pay much attention to who took Ashton. I was worried about everyone else, and they could see that. Even poor Anika was comforting me with her thoughts, though I didn't have time to think much. Anika held my backpack in her arms as we took to the sky. It wasn't as long as the journey here, but it was still a very long journey. My wings were still sore from before, so I was a little unsteady at first. But as my wings got into the steady pace, I was good.
Ashton
When they landed, they all fell, letting me go. It was a thrill to fly that high in the air. I looked around for Ellie. She was laying with Anika in the shade of a tree. I went over to her. They were automatically asleep, all of them. So, I sat down next to her under the tree, closing my eyes too, hoping to get some sleep.
Hakuna Matata <3 RIP to all my friends who didn’t make it.
Jackie had ridden on Michel's back, probably because I was too weak to carry her and because Michel was there when we found her so she probably trusted him more than the others. Wee flew for what seemed like hours, though I wasn't paying attention. All I knew was that once we hit ground I was asleep. Just like that.
Jackie
I rode on Michel's back. It was weird being so high up, flying, but it was also really cool. Exciting. What I wouldn't have given to see the looks of everyone's faces if they saw me soaring through the air on someone's back. The thought made me laugh.
Even just hanging on to someone, I was more or less dead when we landed and sleep simply came. I couldn't imagine how tired everyone else must have felt.
"Blah blah blah. You feel trapped in your life. Here is what I am hearing: happiness isn't worth any inconvenience."
My wings felt like led. Jackie weighed a thousand pounds and so did my eye lids. I wished so badly Blake was in my arms. When I looked into her eyes strength just went into me. Whenever I swayed or swerved Jackie's heart beat faster and her hands dug into my skin. I tried not to flinch. This human was annoying me more and more.
At Kaylee's word I landed. Hard, a jolt went through me. I dropped Jackie like a bag of potatoes. Then turned realizing she hadn't caught herself.
"Sorry," I started, but her eyes told me she knew I was exhausted. Blake landed beside me.
"Hey" I said.
She didn't reply. Her eyes were already half shut. I sat down I was way to tired to do more. She followed my example. Blaise handed us a blanket. Blake turned on her side away from me. I laid down putting my arm around her. Her breathing became slower heavier. Knowing she was safe I finally let my eyes close.
When I first woke up it was still dark. For a minute I simply took in my surroundings. My wings were folded tightly against me. Michel had his arm around my waist and was sleeping beside me. I could feel his rhythmic breaths.
At first I wondered what had woken me, then I decided it was simply my inconsistent sleep patterns. I snuggled against Michel and drifted off into dream world.
Jackie
I woke to the sound of a twig snapping. Blake seemed awake too, but fell asleep quickly. A few silent minutes passed and me and my paranoia stayed tuned to sound. After ten minutes whoever had made the noise decided all was clear for I heard another twig snap. Then another. In the darkness I could vaguely make out the shape of several humans. One of them put their hand over my mouth just as I started to scream.
"Blah blah blah. You feel trapped in your life. Here is what I am hearing: happiness isn't worth any inconvenience."
I walked over to where Anika and Ellie were and sat beside them and Kaylee. Eventually, I drifted off.
Anika
Humans... getting Jackie... somehow the thought of this pierced my mind before I was falling asleep.
When your life is based around the face of Sawyer from Lost you know you're officially obsessed. -- Join Isha's SB, the Shadows! And mine, Lament of Innocence! And LDR's, Dark Fey! And- ok, I'm going to shut up now.
When I opened my eyes again, my head was on Ashton's shoulder, who was fast asleep. I didn't care. I rubbed my eyes. Something was wrong. I looked around, making sure everyone was here. Someone was missing. Jackie, I realized. I stood up, an arm wrapping around my waist, and hand covered my mouth. I kicked and scream as I noticed the humans. Everywhere.
No, I thought. This can't be happening. Anika! Anika, wake up! Her eyes fluttered a little, then opened. Don't move! I'll tell you where they take me! When they leave, tell the others! I could tell she was scared, but she nodded and closed her eyes again.
~Ashton~
Before I knew it, I was asleep, Ellie's head on my shoulder. This was nice. I heard something in the forest, but I didn't think it was too serious or anything, because no one else made any movements. I fell asleep quickly.
Hakuna Matata <3 RIP to all my friends who didn’t make it.
Something moved next to me. I rolled over without opening my eyes, must be Blake. But, the blanket flipped off me. I didn't want to wake up Blake so I curled into a ball goosebumps covering my arms. I heard something move next to me.
"Jackie?" I whispered. There was no reply. I looked around, there was no moon tonight. Something was moving among us. Then one loomed over Jackie. For some reason I kept still. My hand did move to my dagger though. A hand went over my mouth. I was quickly flipped onto my back. Hands brushed up and down my clothes. When they came to my hand I reacted. My knife stabbed into flesh.
"Fuck" My head was pushed into the dirt, and something pulled my dagger away. I struggled trying to sit up. Something was making me groggy. My arms were weak. Someone tied my hands together behind my back.
I was scared. Ellie, please don't leave. We all need you here. And others were leaving too... I wanted to wake up Blaise but I didn't want him to get hurt... I saw them grabbing Michel... Oh, geez, it was all a living nightdream...
Are you ok? I asked.
For now, Ellie replied. Stay hidden, Ani.
I want to come help you.
Don't.
I kept my eyes tight shut so it looked like I was sleeping. Suddenly, I felt cold hands grab me. I kept completely still.
"Should we bring her?"
"Maybe soon. But for now we leave with the ones we have."
Thank you...
When your life is based around the face of Sawyer from Lost you know you're officially obsessed. -- Join Isha's SB, the Shadows! And mine, Lament of Innocence! And LDR's, Dark Fey! And- ok, I'm going to shut up now.
I focused on Anika while they took me away. I noticed they had Michel too. I stretched my wings out, hitting the man behind me. He fell away, and I bolted, but there were too many of them. Two more men grabbed my arms tightly, hurting me.
"Ow! Let.Me.Go!" I said struggling. They dragged me along, and I tucked my wings in, not struggling anymore. When we got to where they were taking us, I realized we were in danger. I was still half asleep, so it hadn't dawned on me earlier.
They pulled us into the hospital, and lead us down long halls. They were all white. Enough to make me go insane. They threw us into a large white room. I looked at my arm where bruises were already forming.
"You OK?" I asked Michel. He nodded. "You?" I wasn't sure yet. I rubbed my arm. "I think I'm going to have bruises, but I'll be fine." I was scared for one. Scared that everyone else would be in danger now. But what else could I do other than keep in contact with Anika.
According to her, everyone was going crazy asking us questions. I did my best to answer. I was getting a headache, and I could tell Michel knew that. He told Jackie, who had been talking too much, to be quiet. I wasn't sure if that was for him, or for me, but I was thankful for it, either way.
Hakuna Matata <3 RIP to all my friends who didn’t make it.
When I woke up in the morning Michel was gone. I sat up and surveyed the area. He wasn't the only one. Ellie and Jackie were missing too. I sprang up. Our camp looked raided. "Guys!" I yelled. "Guys!"
Jackie
They shut us in a little white room. I couldn't take it. I liked freedom, not restraint. I didn't understand why they even took me; I wasn't a winged one.
"Oh, my gosh! Where are we? I can;t stay in here! The walls are closing in! How do we get out? What happened to the others? How could they--"
"Shut up," Michel said.
"Hmph..."
Inside I was still screaming. How could they stand being here when they were so used to freedom? I was about to pass out.
"Blah blah blah. You feel trapped in your life. Here is what I am hearing: happiness isn't worth any inconvenience."
I sat my legs sprawled out in front of me cursing under my breath. I wished I had my music or anything else to do. After I had told Jackie to shut up not a sound had been made. I was angry. I never thought that the humans would be this heartless. I wished Blake or Kaylee was here. They would know what to do.
Just as I stood up the door opened. I woman in white clothes stepped into the room. She had a syringe in one hand.
"Hey," I said "Why are you doing this to us? Do you think we aren't human. We can speak your language, and we think the same." My voice was strangely calm. "We are not different." Now my voice rose slightly.
I opened my eyes, touching Michel's arm. "Shh," I said. "We don't want to be in more trouble than we're already in." I said this too low for anyone to hear unless you had good hearing like us. Even Jackie was clueless to what I said. He sighed. "Wanting to prove a point wont help us out here Michel. This isn't the place to start fighting them. We're trapped, and in case you didn't know, it's by them." Even though Michel refused to admit it, he kept quiet.
The woman wasn't the only one with a needle. I stayed away from her. I needed to be conscious so that I could keep in contact with the others. She approached me, and I reacted like a child. I hit the syringe out of her hand with my wing. Michel looked at me confused. I pointed to my head and whispered "Anika" to him. He nodded in understanding. Jackie took the shot willingly, and it didn't seem to do anything. She looked ten times calmer to me.
Hakuna Matata <3 RIP to all my friends who didn’t make it.
Deep breaths. That's what I told myself over and over and over. It helped calm me. A little. When the woman came in with the syringe I willingly took it. No point in arguing; if it was for a winged one it wouldn't harm me... I hoped. Then again, it was obvious I didn't have wings. I was still clueless as to why they took me instead of a different winged one.
After the shot I felt fine. At first. Within a couple of minutes my head fogged and I wasn't sure what happened to Ellie and Michel, whether they surrendered or not. White mist spread through my mind, creating a haze. Then came pain.
It was like someone was poking needles all along my body, starting with where I got the shot. But these weren't teensy little sewing needles. These were foot long, half-centimeter in diameter needles that hurt like heck.
I wasn't sure how, but somehow I was in torturous pain and yet my mind was still numb. All of me was numb. Yet in shocking pain. I couldn't move. I couldn't scream. I couldn't force myself to breathe, yet somehow I was still alive. Nothing made sense, at least not to my searing-pain-yet-numb mind.
"Blah blah blah. You feel trapped in your life. Here is what I am hearing: happiness isn't worth any inconvenience."
The woman approached me. I stiffened, but didn't move. Jackie looked completely lost to the world, and I wanted to see where I was. Ellie May was right even if I didn't admit it. We were going to have to get out of here by force, or ... She took one last step forward, and I jerked away at the last second. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she frowned. She seemed angry or mad.
She backed away, then jumped forward stabbing me before I could react. I pulled away again this time flapping my wings. The hit and she stumbled. I grabbed the the syringe, and then before I could think about it an realize how stupid it was I stabbed the needle into her arm. Ellie May gave a little gasp as I drove my thumb down forcing the pale liquid into her flesh.
My arm throbbed. It was numb, but it was screaming at the same time. I shook it trying to get rid of the feeling.
I have a Gumbie Cat in mind, her name is Jennyanydots; Her coat is one of the tabby kind,with tiger stripes and leopard spots. — T.S. Eliot, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
