spread my wings

chapter 13

Seeing in Color

An eagle.

A huge, feathered, American bald eagle, looking me straight in the eye.

I started at it.

It started at me.

     Neither of us moved, or even blinked for a long time. After a long while, when the suspence was about to absolulty kill me, a thought stuck me.

     This was a bird. Just like me. Maybe...

I unfurled my wings and slowly fanned them toward the large bird.

A fluffy primary feather drifted free of my wings.

The eagle turned its head to follow it, and it seemed to sniff the air slightly.

     If I could understand it, I was sure that it would have shrugged its shoulders. Without even looking at me, it took off from the lichen-covered branch.

I let out a breath, not aware that I had been holding my breath all this time.

That had been a close one.

The eagle didn't seem to be hostile now, more like host entertaining for an unexpected guest.

I smiled, and took off.

It seemed intelligent, more so than most people anyway.

     I decided to name her "Jemma." She seemed like a Jemma.

    we flew together for hours, me wary at first (considering she was a giant raptor with razor claws), but soon without abandon.

     Miles and miles of completely new terrain, a challenging breeze, and a new friend proved to be a greater distraction than i has anticipated. 

     It was little wonder that i diidnt see that cluster of sand-colored buildings squatting on the desert floor beneith me. 

     One moment, i was drifting along, doing a great loop around Jemma, the next, all i saw was garnet drops catching on my hair and clothes.

Blood. 

     i instictively ran a self-dignostic, but found myself ungharmed. Jemma however, has hurtling towrds the earth so far below, obviously dead.

She had taked the bullet meant for me.

I barely had time to gasp before a silver streak darted for me. 

i twisted on instict, and dodged my own reconing. 

i wasnt fast enough for the third bullet that went through my wing however.

I was falling.

     Spinning round nd round like an out of control airplane, i barely cought a glimpse of the buildings below me. One glimplse was enough.

     A streak of lightning went through my mind - colores, faces, familiar feelinmgs of chemical modified terror. Memories.

I felt the beginnings of shock coming on, and knew that it was over. 

     I wondered if they would catch me before i hi the ground. But they would, of course they would, i was their little experiment after all. 

The one that escaped. 

     The last thing i though of before i passed out was whether or ot they would kill me before they dissected me. 

{sorry for th horrible spelling and grammar. And yo know, writing another chaper out of no where for the first time in six months. Hush mortals, don''t question me! anyway, I'm onp a fast-moving bus and my stop is in about 30 seconds.}