I Am A Flyer

The Forbidden Zone

The war had been forgotten. Zak, Tarrod, the bald gang members – all had gone completely still and silent, staring at the dark flyer who now stood in their midst. Fighting suddenly had become the last thing on their minds.

The flyer stood motionless, his helmeted head facing a certain boy. His very presence seemed to ooze dark intent, a chilling heaviness that hung in the air.

Jett was frozen in horror, paralyzed. His mouth worked, struggling to form words, but not a sound was uttered. The moment of sinister stillness continued, until finally, Jett managed to stammer out a word.

"R-Raven!"

This can't be happening! Jett's thoughts were panicked, terrified. He-he can't be here! No! I was so close! So close to getting home. N-no. . .

"Jett." Raven's voice was so very quiet, so soft – yet anybody could hear the dark menace, the angry storm that raged in its tone. The flyer's head turned slowly, looking over the frozen bald people, the paralyzed Crossfires. He seemed to gaze at them as a hunter would at his prey. "What is this?"

Horror coated Jett's brain. His legs, somewhat freed from their numbness, startled to tremble. Surely, Raven wouldn't - !

But he's a flyer. Flyers are murderes, killers. Monsters. What's to stop him?

A new wave of panic washed over him, making him stagger forward, not sure what he was thinking, or doing. He stared up at Raven, doom thudding in his head. Without his mind's consent, his mouth stuttered.

"W-why -?"

The flyer didn't move or respond, but Jett knew that Raven was watching him. Gulping shakily, Jett struggled to get his thoughts in order.

"W–w–why m-me?" He managed to get out. "I – I d-don't - "

A hand shot out, its fingers closing around Jett's neck, cutting off his weak attempts to speak. The fingers were vises of steel, cutting into the boy's airway. Jett stared up at Raven in sheer terror, his small hands clutching the flyer's wrist, trying to make the flyer let go.

It was useless.

"You do not understand," Ravens softly said, his grip tightening on the boy's neck. "You do not have a choice – your will means nothing. Stop thinking it's all about you. It's not."

Jett's eyes welled up with tears, even as his world became hazy. It hurt. But despite the fog and burning and hurt, Raven's voice cut through like a knife.

"You are selfish, Jett. Selfish and naïve. This world is filled with people, not just you. Most of them are suffering and miserable, because people like you do nothing. They just go about their way, thinking only of themselves.

"This is a war, Jett. A war in which you must take part, You have no choice."

But. . .I don't want to fight. I just want to go home! That's all. . .home. . .

"I will show you," Raven's voice spoke quietly, firmly. Jett could only make out a dark blob, but the flyer's voice was clear. So painfully clear. "I will make you understand."

With that terrible note of finality, Raven released his hold on Jett's neck. The boy would've fallen, but Raven wrapped an arm around the boy's waist in a firm hold.

A second later, the flyer's boosters were activated; jets of hot, compressed air sent both of them hurtling upwards into the sky. Raven extended his free arm, and the wing unfurled. It was barely able to keep them aloft, but it was enough. The flight was jerky and uneven, but it was short, bringing them to the high, gray wall.